Advice on laptop
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It has been so long since I've bought a laptop (five years?) that I'm seeking your advice.
I need an Apple product (please, to be compatible with everything else I own) to use during a post-surgical recovery (it's my foot, but it's gonna be a stupid long time). I absolutely need a real keyboard (hence a laptop, not a tablet) and I'd like it to be able to play movies (so it needs a DVD player). Naturally I want to be able to read email and rant at Doug on Facebook, but that goes without saying. What's your advice? Pamela ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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This may be a trick question, but what the hell: go to a Mac store get a Mac laptop? Sent from a phone, hence the succint brevity... Sent from Android. On Jan 24, 2013 6:53 PM, "Pamela McCorduck" <[hidden email]> wrote:
It has been so long since I've bought a laptop (five years?) that I'm seeking your advice. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <[hidden email]>
writes: >It has been so long since I've bought a laptop (five years?) that I'm >seeking your advice. > >I need an Apple product (please, to be compatible with everything else I >own) to use during a post-surgical recovery (it's my foot, but it's gonna >be a stupid long time). I absolutely need a real keyboard (hence a >laptop, not a tablet) and I'd like it to be able to play movies (so it >needs a DVD player). > >Naturally I want to be able to read email and rant at Doug on Facebook, >but that goes without saying. What's your advice? > >Pamela Depending usage MacBookPro is the most versatile and stable. It has a DVD player and Netflix works fine. Apple offers also less expensive options. Patrick Dufour 107 College Street South Hadley, MA 01075 ph: 413-538-5569 www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdufour ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
When my last MB died, I looked at the replacement price and decided on a MBA (Macbook Air) + a mac mini for house use. The point is that the MBA was a great buy and I'm loving it. And with the leftover savings, you can add to your ecology .. like a iPad or some sort.
The MBA's battery life is abs fab, and might have impact your decision.
Hope all is well, -- Owen On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 6:53 PM, Pamela McCorduck <[hidden email]> wrote: It has been so long since I've bought a laptop (five years?) that I'm seeking your advice. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
I've been happy with my MacBook Air. I wound up buying an external CD/DVD player which I needed to install Parallels/Windows on a separate partition but it was very inexpensive.
Ed __________ Ed Angel Founding Director, Art, Research, Technology and Science Laboratory (ARTS Lab) Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, University of New Mexico 1017 Sierra Pinon On Jan 24, 2013, at 6:53 PM, Pamela McCorduck wrote:
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Douglas Roberts-2
Did you notice that? Sent from Android. <snicker> On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 6:57 PM, Douglas Roberts <[hidden email]> wrote:
Doug Roberts [hidden email] [hidden email] ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Edward Angel
Ok, now that I'm back in front of a real (Linux) computer: I have a new MacBook pro, and I've gotta say: it's slower that shit. I've got 5 year-old Linux Laptops that are faster and more functional than it. But, if you are wedded to the Mac infrastructure, go to a Mac store & let a Mac salesperson sell you a new Mac laptop. Seriously. That's how they stay in business.
--Doug On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 7:30 PM, Edward Angel <[hidden email]> wrote:
Doug Roberts [hidden email] [hidden email] ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
Go back one generation, get a refurbished one from Apple, pile on the
memory. Get a "real" bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, unless you like keys that don't move very much. I'd second the motion on investigating a mac mini with a big honking monitor. You can hang out on the recliner with the wireless keyboard. On 1/24/13 6:53 PM, Pamela McCorduck wrote: > It has been so long since I've bought a laptop (five years?) that I'm seeking your advice. > > I need an Apple product (please, to be compatible with everything else I own) to use during a post-surgical recovery (it's my foot, but it's gonna be a stupid long time). I absolutely need a real keyboard (hence a laptop, not a tablet) and I'd like it to be able to play movies (so it needs a DVD player). > > Naturally I want to be able to read email and rant at Doug on Facebook, but that goes without saying. What's your advice? > > Pamela > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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Not a trick question, Doug. I really need to know.
One vote for rehabbing an old MacBook, one vote for getting a MacBookPro, one vote for…well, going to an Apple Store and putting myself in the hands of the twelve-year-old geniuses (is that what I got from you, Doug?). Thinking hard about this. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Douglas Roberts-2
On 1/24/13 7:34 PM, Douglas Roberts wrote:
> Ok, now that I'm back in front of a real (Linux) computer: I have a > new MacBook pro, and I've gotta say: it's slower that shit. I've got > 5 year-old Linux Laptops that are faster and more functional than it. http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-us/surface-with-windows-8-pro/home ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Edward Angel
Whoops, more votes coming in. The idea of a MacBook Air plus external CD/DVD player is very interesting.
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
It was your hard "must be a Mac solution" requirement that tipped me, Pamela. The good news is that limits your options. The bad news is ... Never mind. Seriously, if you need a Mac, get a Mac. Putting yourself at the mercy of the Mac minions is part of the (very large) premium you pay for the privilege. Get a big one; get a small one, but get a Mac. There are no alternatives to their very expensive hardware/software clubhouse. They've built a walled garden. Fwiw, I'm similarly unsympathetic to those who voluntarily place themselves at the tender mercies of the M$ oligarchy, also. But it's a tough love. Sympathetically yours, -Doug On Jan 24, 2013 8:38 PM, "Pamela McCorduck" <[hidden email]> wrote:
Not a trick question, Doug. I really need to know. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Marcus G. Daniels
Oh, you're a sadistic sonofabitch, Marcus. I kind of like that. On Jan 24, 2013 8:39 PM, "Marcus G. Daniels" <[hidden email]> wrote:
On 1/24/13 7:34 PM, Douglas Roberts wrote: ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
Doug is right about linux systems being quite zippy.
On the other hand, the MBA has a SSD (Solid State Disk) which makes it MUCH faster. I'm ordering SSD for my mini and going to use the nifty tool set Steve S and I have talked about so much lately.
Digital Ecology is real. If you have a lot of windows systems or phones then considering synergy is important. I live sorta in the middle: Google apps and services, Mac hardware/software because I'm a unix user .. I have more terminal windows open than any other kind .. and Mac is Unix under the cover.
So I'd say consider your ecology first. Then within that, what'd be most fun, frivolous, easy, silly, joyful, sexy, annoying to family and friends and so on.
-- Owen
On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 8:40 PM, Pamela McCorduck <[hidden email]> wrote: Whoops, more votes coming in. The idea of a MacBook Air plus external CD/DVD player is very interesting. ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
Pamela -
Macbook Pro unless you really don't use the DVD often or in unusual places, then Air with an external DVD/CD for the rare software upgrade that requires it. In my experience, watching movies on DVD is the one compelling reason not to depend on an external drive (as with MacBook Air or iPad). - Steve > Whoops, more votes coming in. The idea of a MacBook Air plus external CD/DVD player is very interesting. > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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I agree that DVD optical drives make sense. But really, we only use one .. on the mini. It shares well with all the other computers and the TV (after ripping). And with NetFlix, Amazon, iTunes, torrents .. do you really use DVDs that much?
But it is an important consideration. -- Owen
On Thu, Jan 24, 2013 at 9:57 PM, Steve Smith <[hidden email]> wrote: Pamela - ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Steve Smith
On 1/24/13 9:57 PM, Steve Smith wrote:
> In my experience, watching movies on DVD is the one compelling reason > not to depend on an external drive (as with MacBook Air or iPad). > iSCSI & Wifi, problem solved? (combo untested) http://www.lg.com/us/data-storage/lg-N2B1DD2 http://www.attotech.com/products/product.php?scat=17&sku=INIT-MAC0-001 ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Pamela McCorduck
Pamela,
You can also share the DVD drive of another Mac from your new MacBook Air. Grant Sent from my iPhone On Jan 24, 2013, at 8:40 PM, Pamela McCorduck <[hidden email]> wrote: > Whoops, more votes coming in. The idea of a MacBook Air plus external CD/DVD player is very interesting. > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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In reply to this post by Marcus G. Daniels
It really comes down to convenience... not having to get up and cross
the room or go downstairs to load a movie in your comp... and while traveling... getting two things together (laptop and DVD) is hard enough without adding a third (DVD player). >> In my experience, watching movies on DVD is the one compelling reason >> not to depend on an external drive (as with MacBook Air or iPad). >> > iSCSI & Wifi, problem solved? (combo untested) > > http://www.lg.com/us/data-storage/lg-N2B1DD2 > http://www.attotech.com/products/product.php?scat=17&sku=INIT-MAC0-001 > ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com |
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I rarely need my remote DVD with my MacAir since for almost everything you can use a remote disk on another computer so I usually don't carry it on trips (although it weighs almost nothing). Possibly having something else to carry is offset by the weight difference between an Air and a heavier laptop.
Ed __________ Ed Angel Founding Director, Art, Research, Technology and Science Laboratory (ARTS Lab) Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, University of New Mexico 1017 Sierra Pinon On Jan 25, 2013, at 8:19 AM, Steve Smith wrote:
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