Alternative to Apple

bgsather

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Feb 15, 2012
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I am looking for a windows based laptop that has just as nice if not better display than an Apple Macbook.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 

samuelspark

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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230171 Ultrabook set to compete with the Macbooks.

Quote: "Preface: I come from a Macbook Pro and it was the only mac machine I have ever had. 1 mac to 10+ pc ratio. This is a review for the DH73 (I7 256 SSD). I will move to appropriate listing when it's available.

- Absolutely wonderful build quality. I find it to be at a higher level than my MBP. The spun metal finish on the top looks great when it's not in direct flash flair in press conferences.

- Meets all of the advertised claims: I've counted my startup time to 7~seconds and the 2 second standby is accurate.The machine is incredibly fast and snappy, very lightweight and mobile, thin, great specs etc. It's really the perfect size as well; perfect resolution for the screen size.

- Keyboard is wonderful. Zero complaints at all.

- Battery life seems spectacular. Even when it's in power-save mode, I can watch netflix in the highest quality. I will update when I attempt to watch a 1080p video in power-save mode, and might work in some non-highly gfx intensive gaming.

Cons: - Colors seem a little bit off out of the box. I have yet to calibrate them, so I won't comment as to whether or not this is a byproduct of an only decent screen panel, or just needs calibration.

- Trackpad is not as good as my MBP, but each driver update has improved it substantially, and I expect it to be on par sooner rather than later. As it stands now, I haven't found an option for 2-finger gesture scrolling to have the scroll come to a slow stop if you release your fingers. It only does a set # of lines at a time. Also, very small accurate movements are slightly difficult.

- Speakers sound wonderful, but my left speaker gives off a noticeable vibration buzz. Will see how it is after 10+ hours of use.

Other Thoughts: All that being said, easily the best laptop I've owned. Blows my mbp out of the water."

The $350 more expensive version with 128 gigs of SSD space and an i7. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230169
 

bgsather

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Feb 15, 2012
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I am looking for a windows laptop that has the same bright and vivid colors as a macbook pro display.

I am a photographer by trade and I am sick of looking at the washed out bad colors of most laptops but I cannot afford a macbook nor do I want to buy all my software over again.
 

samuelspark

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What's your budget? And are you going to travel a lot? Screen size preference?
 

bgsather

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I can afford up to $1000.

Not much in the way of travel.

The screen size needs to be a minimum of 15 inches.
 

sewalk

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HP DV7-6C80US

Almost identical to my DV7-6163US except that it's 200MHz faster and has 2GB more RAM than mine. BD-ROM/DVD-RW and a 750GB HDD with a 2nd 2.5" bay for your choice of SSD, though you'll need a special $40 cable HP decided not to include for it. LED backlight makes for a bright vivid display that's a whopping 17.3". The extended 9-cell battery provides incredibly long battery life for a laptop this size.

You say you're not going to be traveling much so the 6.75lb heft shouldn't be too much of an issue for you.

I haven't used a MacBook in ages but I traded up from an Asus Pentium-M 15.6" laptop that served me well for almost seven years. I could never find an affordable alternative that had as good a display. You should be able to check one out at your local Best Buy or Fry's to see if you like the display. I'm not a photographer so my tastes aren't as discerning as yours. All I know is that mine looks good to me.
 

samuelspark

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Yours is $70 more with integrated graphics and a 5400 rpm hdd. You do have the quad core though.
 

bebangs

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sewalk

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The integrated graphics kinda grates on me but I'm learning that HD Graphics 3000 is not completely worthless. It's about as good as an old GeForce 7600. Pretty decent 5-6 years ago, still semi-usable, and a hell of a lot better than GMA900.