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What exactly is the problem? My next notebook would probably be an Ultrabook, and the reviews of some of the models didn't sound so bad. Some look good, too - t
by Tichy 14y ago
What exactly is the problem? My next notebook would probably be an Ultrabook, and the reviews of some of the models didn't sound so bad. Some look good, too - that alone is a huge improvement, given that until recently all notebooks except Macs were extremely ugly (in huge part owed to the tasteless use of "piano lacquer").
My only gripe at the moment is the screen formats. Once again Apple seems to be the only one that gets it right. Those widescreens are just too tiny (all 13'' are not the same).
What other computer besides an Ultrabook would you buy (Apple excluded)? I praise lightness above most other features.
- paulgb 14y agoI don't think you can exclude Apple when looking for the problem. Last time I compared Macbook Airs with Ultrabooks, the Macbooks were better computers for the price. The so-called "Apple tax" doesn't seem to apply to this category like it does to regular laptops/desktops. (Or, as the article suggests, perhaps the Intel Tax is equally taxing)
- cstross 14y agoI run on Apple kit because I like the design and build quality, but being reliant on one control-freak supplier brings me out in hives. So I periodically look around to see if there's another supplier I can alternate with. Nope. Lenovo's thinkpads are nice, but by the time they're spec'd out like a Macbook they cost about 10-20% more. (Better keyboard, though, and that lovely anti-coffee-spill drain to save your ass from the once-in-five-years oops.) Some of Dell's premium laptops look nice and are cheaper ... except the specs are lower end and by the time you add all the extras back in you're paying as much for a Dell as for a Macbook Pro. It's frustrating! Why can't anyone else build laptops as good as Apple that don't cost even more than a Mac?
- Scramblejams 14y ago> Why can't anyone else build laptops as good as Apple that don't cost even more than a Mac? They don't have Tim Cook.
- robin_reala 14y agoEconomies of scale. Apple simply build more of each SKU than anyone else, and have an extremely efficient supply chain.
- jfb 14y agoApple has the best logistics in the world, hand's down. Too, they have what, a dozen SKUs, of which half are phones or tablets?
- dnissley 14y ago> Lenovo's thinkpads are nice, but by the time they're spec'd out like a Macbook they cost about 10-20% more. This baffled me, so I did a comparison: The low end (2.3ghz i7, non-retina) 15" MBP with the 8gb RAM upgrade and the hi-res screen upgrade costs $2000 even. The Thinkpad T430 configured with similar specs (different video card -- nvs 5200m vs gt 650m, worse screen resolution -- 1600x900 vs 1680x1050, better processor -- 2.6ghz) came to $1464. The Thinkpad W530 configured with similar specs (different video card -- k1000m vs gt 650m, better screen resolution -- 1920x1080 vs 1680x1050) came to $1419. Maybe you were comparing different things though?
- bryanlarsen 14y agoHe was probably comparing the MBA against the X1 Carbon.
- taude 14y agoI agree, there isn't much Apple tax at all on The MB AIRs. The higher-end 15" MB Pros, though....
- rm999 14y agoUltrabook makers learned this the hard way last year: http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/03/intel-ultrabooks-unable-to-undercut-macbook-air-prices/ http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/03/intel-ultrabooks-unable-... It's a tough spot. Apple is a several years ahead in product design and is undercutting prices at the same time.
- Tichy 14y agoI haven't researched much, but the last review I read said the Air had the worst screen of the recommended models (I think they talked about Zenbooks, Samsung Series 9 and some other). Whatever - even if they cost the same, can't you imagine some people just don't want a Mac? I actually like the Series 9 design. I would install Linux, though. The only reason I am still unsure about ditching the Mac is the faint possibility of having to do iOS development in the future. Truth be told, and sorry, that is emotional not so much rational, but I loathe Apple. As for the tax, it is probably true that Apple ships the largest numbers, but they buy their parts (like displays) from other companies. These companies presumably have therefore also access to cheap parts.
- simonh 14y agoMy two colleagues on either side of me recently bought new laptops One bought the 13" Air, the other bought a 13" Asus Zenbook. Seriously, I am not making this up. The Air is very noticeably lighter. I have no idea why because the specs on the Asus and Apple sites say there's only 0.05kg in it in ASUS favour, but my hands very definitely say otherwise. Maybe Asus doesn't include the weight of the battery? Pure guess though. Of course the Air is significantly more expensive. Personally I'd say the touchpad and screen on the Air are better, but not hugely.
- dpark 14y agoSeems unlikely that Asus excluded a non-removable component from the weight measurement. It seems more likely that your hands are lying to you. Maybe they weight distribution is different enough that it causes one to feel lighter. Maybe something else. If the manufacturers claim 50g apart, they're probably being truthful, and a cheap postage scale could confirm.
- HarshaThota 14y agoIn addition to the Zenbook that's already mentioned, Samsung's Series 9 is also worth a look.