OT : Which Laptop

[_Daemon_]

Get a macbook pro. With compatibility problems just run the apps through parallels. Problem solved.

[Hog_]

 

Get a macbook pro. With compatibility problems just run the apps through parallels. Problem solved.

 

 

I'm not exactly a Mac expert, but isn't the Macbook Pro around R25K?

 

 

 

[Azonic]

 

 

4gb or ram in a laptop. Dude' date=' what do yo want to do. Oh btw. You must run a 64bit version of Windows to use 4gb or ram. Otherwise you will just get 3.2gb as that is the limit on 32bit windows.

[/quote']

 

Yep, I ran into this the other day. I built a server to host our one website, with SQL Server 2005. I bought 4gb DDR2 800Mhz, flashed the latest BIOS, alles lekker. Then I installed Windows 2000 Server because its the cheapest I could get that supports SQL 2005. And now I got just over 3gb RAM in Windows.

 

Not overly peeved though, whatever RAM Windows sees is still running in Dual Channel. The website in question was being hosted on a Proliant server with 2gb RAM, and that was just-just not enough, so 3.2gb will be fine.

 

 

 

[Thug]

 

Get a macbook pro. With compatibility problems just run the apps through parallels. Problem solved.

 

 

I'm not exactly a Mac expert' date=' but isn't the Macbook Pro around R25K?

 

 

[/quote']

 

From R19 k upwards

 

 

[Azonic]

And for a personal machine, you definatelly don't need 4gb RAM! 2gb will be more than enough. My home PC runs with 2x 512mb DDR1 400Mhz, and that's plenty.

 

I'd recommend you get the best machine you can get, processing power wise and hard drive speed, with 1x 1gb RAM, and then later add on another gig.

 

And brands, whatever is says on the outside is just plastic. PC's are all the same on the inside... There are only 2 major CPU makers, maybe 5 decent motherboard makers and same for graphics cards, and maybe 3 decent hard drive manufacturers. Mix all those up, and you have the standard PC, take your pick what sticker you want to put on the outside of the case.

 

In other words, shop for specs, not for brands.

 

 

 

[_Daemon_]

 

Get a macbook pro. With compatibility problems just run the apps through parallels. Problem solved.

 

 

I'm not exactly a Mac expert' date=' but isn't the Macbook Pro around R25K?

 

 

[/quote']

 

From R19 k upwards

 

 

Just had a look jeez prices went up I paid around R16k for mine.

 

Then go for the blackbook, the black macbook.

 

[davidd]

I LOOOOOVEEE Dell, and want another one...

 

Mac is just a hack having to learn a new interface etc.

 

[Thug]

 

And for a personal machine' date=' you definatelly don't need 4gb RAM! 2gb will be more than enough. My home PC runs with 2x 512mb DDR1 400Mhz, and that's plenty.

 

I'd recommend you get the best machine you can get, processing power wise and hard drive speed, with 1x 1gb RAM, and then later add on another gig.

 

And brands, whatever is says on the outside is just plastic. PC's are all the same on the inside... There are only 2 major CPU makers, maybe 5 decent motherboard makers and same for graphics cards, and maybe 3 decent hard drive manufacturers. Mix all those up, and you have the standard PC, take your pick what sticker you want to put on the outside of the case.

 

In other words, shop for specs, not for brands.

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

Yep, thats what I'm looking at. Not bothered by the sticker on the outside.

 

So far, it looks like a Dell.

 

Anybody recommend Vista or should I stick with XP ?

 

 

[Hog_]

I've heard that Vista is still very buggy. Maybe it's better to stick with WinXP, but avoid WinXP64-bit: Apparently it's very difficult finding drivers for the hardware.

 

 

 

[Azonic]

I'll be with XP for quite some time to come... not interested in Vista.

 

Thug, I can get Asus, Gigabyte, LG and Toshiba notebooks at cost price from my dealers. Willing to help out if need be.

 

[davidd]

Stick with XP for sure. Apparently Vista has a service pack already?!

 

I think with alot of RAM vista should be good - but it goes have over kill on security and warning messages.

 

[Thug]

Thanks Azonic, will bear that in mind.

[Jaco Steyn]

Ideally I would like to get a Mac' date=' but compatibility issues with some of the programs we run would mean that I'd end up having to run a virtual Windows box under Mac, which kind of defeats the object.

Budget (including OS) is around R14 - R15k.
[/quote']

 

Why not stick with your first wish? According to http://www.zastore.co.za you can get the 13" Macbool Black with the following specs:

R14,999.00 Available Now!
	2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB memory 250GB hard drive1 Double-layer SuperDrive

If you are worried about compatibility, you can make use of Parallels or you can make use of Bootcamp. With Bootcamp you can have both Mac OS-X and Windows XP on the system making use of a dual boot system. You can then run your boring Windows based proggies in Windows XP, and when you are finished you can boot into the uber cool Mac OS X Leopard!