I am thinking of purchasing a notebook and would like some insight on what everyone has and what they can recommend.

I am looking for a notebook with the following

Built-in Wireless (prefer 802.11g)
WXGA screen (wide-screen)

Any suggestions based on the two requirements?

http://www.apple.com/powerbook/

:D :D :D

Wide Screen

Wireless 802.11G (Extreme)

Ability to Burn DVD's

No Micro$oft Winblows :)

yeah, i know APPLE is probably the way to go .. but i've always used Windows and wouldn't like the adjusting to APPLE just yet.

http://www.Dell.com
if you have to buy a windows laptop Dell makes some very nice ones.

Studies have shown that Mac OS is easier to learn than windows.

Other studies have shown that windows makes you do things the Bass Ackwards way. There are more efficient ways to use a computer (handle resources, UI etc), and MS is re-doing all of that in longhorn (due in 2006). So if you are looking for a system that has more holes than swiss cheese, wont have very many updates or newer versions till 2006, and just plain sucks... get windows :)

But not to get into a windows bashing thread here... The main question is, what do you plan on doing with your laptop?

Do you plan on doing any webdesign work? If so, photoshop and dreamweaver are better on the mac.

OS X is based on FreeBSD, so you can even have your unix shell, run apache/php/mysql, and do development on the road!

That, and the powerbooks are Titanium Alloy, so if someone attacks you while you are using it in public, you can close the screen, beat them across the head with your laptop, and continue where you left off! :)

I would like to use it on the road with wireless access to view email, slight web work (web design, etc.).

I just made the move to the MAC world and I love it. But I still use my PC ...

There's a couple other ways to go about picking up a laptop, and (if you're smart) get a purty good bargain in the longrun.


One:
Ebay has some great deals daily. If you're SMART about who you buy from there, you'll have no problems, and get a cheap laptop as well.

Two:
Pawnshops often have computer type stuff. While this is more effective in larger cities, you might find something affordable there too.

Some say go with Dell, personally I've had big problems going that route, so I generally try to stay away from them any more.

My latest laptop:
HP Pavillion (SP), 800m processor, 128m ram, 10g drive, dvd -- bought for $300. I've had it since July and I have had zero problems with it.

Im getting a sony vaio, any thoughts on sony?

And I am looking for a good laptop with UXGA screen resolution (1600x1200) on a 15" LCD or bigger. Toshiba 5205-S705 looks really good, very bright screen (the brightest I've ever seen so far).

:)

Just a suggestion, I got the compaq evo n1020v for about 1,200 dollars which wasn't bad and it's 2.4 ghz, 738 mb ram, 40 gig ide drive, dvd burner/player, 32 mb video card radeon ATI. It works great, long battery life too and it's medium sized.

I would be lurry about a Vaio, especially the laptops. I recently got a GRT100 Series one and it took a dump within 2 weeks. The hard-drive and the mother board was toast. After dealing with customer service and told it would be a month for a new one, I sent it back. A niece had better luck with a Vaio as she had it for about a year.

As for Dell, my friend delt with them for her work, and although some of their boxes are good, she got fustrated with their CSR trying to get something fixed.

On Macs, my next desktop box will be one, a G4 or G5, although my laptop is a HP. I like both systems.


Originally posted by NickGuru
Im getting a sony vaio, any thoughts on sony?

It's "Mac" and "Apple"; not "MAC" and "APPLE".

Originally posted by Fiber
It's "Mac" and "Apple"; not "MAC" and "APPLE".

Who really cares? If I want to put emphasis MAC I can :D

Also, about the Sony Vaio's ... I have a GRX560 w/ a 16" screen ... and I love it. I had an issue with it over heating ... sent it out for repair and had it in 2 days total. Can't beat that.

Guess you're were luckier then me. I really believe I got a lemon though...

Originally posted by KIAHost
Also, about the Sony Vaio's ... I have a GRX560 w/ a 16" screen ... and I love it. I had an issue with it over heating ... sent it out for repair and had it in 2 days total. Can't beat that.

I just got a 17" PowerBook (recently upgraded to 1.33 GHz G4), and it's great. iBooks and PowerBooks have the best wireless reception, or so Steve Jobs has informed me via his keynotes. 1" thin, less than 7 pounds... it's just great :D