Tagged Products - 2gb+2.4ghz+dvd

HP Pavilion DV9700T 17" Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 at 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray DVD Drive, 1.3mg webcam, 64-Bit Vista Premium w/SP1)

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were included. I'm not likely to ever buy the photo cartridge.

My setup: HP c4580 connected wirelessly to a ZoneAlarm z100g. I've printed with Windows XP SP3 (32), and Vista SP1 (x64) which are also connected to the zonealarm z100g's wifi network.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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were included. I'm not likely to ever buy the photo cartridge.



My setup: HP c4580 connected wirelessly to a ZoneAlarm z100g. I've printed with Windows XP SP3 (32), and Vista SP1 (x64) which are also connected to the zonealarm z100g's wifi network.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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$700 SSD upgrade on Apple's site. 7200rpm drive is something a tech savvy user can install themselves, though.
6. Price. Base model is $1299.
7. $1299 model does not have backlit keyboard. $800 Dell laptops have this.
8. Display appears to have poorer contrast and viewing angles than previous model, even when using a Spyder calibration device. Also display is only available in glossy which some consumers do not like.

Other points consumers should be aware of:
1. Aluminum body; better displacement of heat than previous model, but body may dent easier.
2. Button-less trackpad, people will have to retrain their muscle memory, but is rather easy to get used to.
3. Display port replaces mini DVI port, but at least they have new adapters to DVI and VGA.

Overall: I am generally neutral on this redesign. Very pleased with graphics upgrade, but equally disappointed by lack of ports, poor LCD display, and glossy only option. Bottom line, I can get a Dell Latitude for $800 with eSATA and Firewire--but, of course, it can't run Mac OSX.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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with these new aluminum MacBooks I think things have changed. You get a backlit keyboard in the higher end model (which is the one I'm reviewing), an aluminum body (of course), and a multitouch trackpad. I think the backlit keyboard is the nicest addition. It's really something you appreciate more once you've used it. I've never had any difficulty typing in the dark but I can't see myself ever buying a machine without a backlit keyboard again. It's incredibly helpful when you need to type a special character or press a function button. If you don't have the usual key positions memorized, I imagine it's even better. This makes the high end MacBook feel a lot more like a MacBook Pro.

Regarding the aluminum unibody Apple likes to talk about so highly, it's very nice. While they did this with the Macbook Air, it seems much more refined with the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. My one complaint, which I feel will fade over time, is that it sometimes looks too perfect. I don't mean this as a backhanded compliment, but that there is such a thing as being so perfect it lacks a human touch. Think about listening to a computer play a song versus a human. It's just not as good. Well, technically the computer is better but that human touch is relevant to us. This machine is so exact and precise that it sometimes feels inhuman. At the same time, it is rather stunning. I think I'll get past the lack of human imperfections as I get used to looking at it each day.

The multitouch trackpad is something I'm not foreign to, as I used a MacBook Air for awhile. The new trackpad space is identical. I found this very fortunate as I don't like buying new machines without being able to get a Marware Protection Pack as well. Luckily I bought a MacBook Air pack and it fit perfectly. Even the trackpad film fit. While multitouch gestures didn't make their way into my regular routine too often, I did use them here and there and am glad they now exist throughout Apple's line of laptops. The disadvantage of the new trackpad is the lack of a button. Yes, the whole trackpad is a button and yes it's very clickable. The problem is that sometimes the click doesn't register. I turned on single and double taps for left click and right click (respectively), but sometimes those don't register as well. If this were my first Apple laptop, I'd panic and run to the Genius Bar for help. Since I've been through a few of these, I've found that it takes a month or two before you really break in the button. I've had the laptop for about ten days now and it's already working better. Still, I wish it just clicked as expected out of the box. For those that are wondering how you click and drag if there's no actual button, you just kind of pretend there is a button. While Apple gives you the entire trackpad for tracking, and you can click pretty much anywhere (with resistance building more and more as you move upwards), you can expect this trackpad to work just like the MacBook Air's trackpad. The space where the Air's button would be is where you can safely rest a thumb (or whatever) for clicking. It will not register as a second finger as easily. If you pretend there is a button at the bottom of the trackpad, you'll quickly forget there isn't one.

But those are the bells and whistles. As far as performance goes, there's not much excitement in regards to speed. The computer's architecture has changed, but the Core 2 Duo processors aren't really much faster (or any faster as the case may be here). The big jump is in the new graphics processor from NVIDIA. I'm not going to pretend to be a hardcore gamer. I don't play many games, and especially not when it comes to those that are GPU-intensive. I can't give you frame rates from World of Warcraft or anything like that. What I can tell you is that the new NVIDIA graphics make for smoother performance around the operating system and seem to contribute to 1) better battery life and 2) a cooler system.

One of my favorite things about this laptop is that it doesn't really get hot. I ran an H.264 video encode today so I could put a video on my iPhone and it didn't feel hot at all. The MacBook Air heats up in about five seconds and then cripples the GPU first, before throttling anything else, and gets pretty warm. You could iron a shirt with the old MacBooks and I won't even start with the MacBook Pros. I can't believe how cool this machine has been. I'm not punishing it with endless work, but for it to make it through a twelve minute video encode without breaking a sweat is pretty amazing. It's the first time I've used an Apple laptop and didn't worry about becoming sterile. I don't know what they did, but it's wonderful.

I get about four hours of battery life under normal usage. While this still doesn't quite match what Apple promises, it's the highest I've ever, realistically, gotten out of an Apple laptop. I'm more than happy with four hours. I rarely use my laptop off of the power adapter anyhow.

Another neat feature of the new MacBooks (and MacBook Pros) is that you can use your iPhone/iPod touch stereo headset with microphone to record (crappy) audio and have basic control over iTunes. Since I swap my iPhone headphones out of the iPhone and into the laptop very frequently, this is fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I've been interrupted and clicked the microphone on the headset to pause the song, only to remember that I can't. Now I can. This is wonderful.

So far I've only had good things to say and that's because, overall, this is an excellent machine. I want to talk about a few bad things, however. In my opinion, the biggest flaw is the display. This is why I've rated it a four and not a five. The display is an embarrassment. If you have any intention of doing any visual work that actually matters, this machine will be completely useless to you. The viewing angle is so terrible that no matter where you are, you will not get even contrast. I don't notice it quite as much when I'm surfing the web or just writing, but when I watch a video it's very apparent. If you do visual work and it's not just for fun, do not buy this machine. Get a MacBook Pro where it's not an issue. Even the old MacBooks have better displays. I don't do visual work on this machine for that reason. If it's not critical, I might, but for the most part I work on my desktop machine instead.

Another downside about the display is that it's glossy. These look cool and all, but the reflections are obnoxious when you can't easily avoid them and you don't get very accurate color or contrast. This is a fault of the panel itself, too, but the glossiness just ruins it further. For general use, this isn't a big deal. If you want to color correct or design, Apple has pretty much opted to screw you over regardless of how much you decide to spend on their hardware. Matte screens are just not going to be an option anymore. I think this is a stupid choice, because the people who kept Apple alive are the designers who chose Macs early on in Apple's history. The loyalists are generally not fond of glossy screens and have been vocal about it. I think having an option is fine, but forcing people to use glossy screens is awful. Being a loyalist and needing a matte screen, I've just started using my laptop for everything but color critical work. It's allowed me to prefer working on a smaller screen, which is nice because it means less computer to cart around. I've been able to work around this problem, but my situation allowed for it. It's still a big problem for a lot of people who can't defer to a desktop.

The other disadvantage is a lack of Firewire. While I rarely employed Firewire in my laptops, especially after using the MacBook Air (which has none), I still liked having it around. I don't really miss that it's gone. Again, this is primarily due to having a desktop companion that can connect with just about anything. Whether or not this is a major issue is really up to the individual. If you know you need it, you have your answer. Personally, I wish Apple would've kept it until they had something better to replace it with. Maybe they couldn't fit it into the new, slimmer casing. I would just like to see a USB 2.0 alternative, since USB 2.0 doesn't quite live up to its claims.

When it comes to upgrades and replacements, this machine gets a little better and a little worse. If you're upgrading from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook Pro, you're getting easier upgrades all around. If you're used to upgrades in a MacBook, however, I'd say things are better and worse. If you want to replace RAM, you have to remove the bottom case. It's not that hard to do but it means keeping track of quite a few screws and exposing the entirety of your machine's innards. If you're simply replacing the hard drive, however, you can pretty much just yank it out. One of the first things I did is replace the hard drive with a solid state disk. They're getting cheaper and you can get a 120GB or 128GB drive for much less than what Apple offers. But on the plus side, if you do want your computer to come with an SSD you now have that option as a custom order. While in tests SSD hasn't really proven to have too many benefits, in real world practice it makes the machine feel much snappier. For that reason, having an SSD is worth it.

Apple's RAM upgrade prices are also not as terrible as they used to be. At least, it seems that way. A RAM upgrade through a third party only saves $10-20. When spending a lot of money on a new machine, I think many people would choose the convenience over the comparatively small savings that come with doing it yourself.

Anyway, that pretty much covers the majority of the relevant pros and cons of the new MacBook. So far I love it. I think it's a wonderfully made machine. It's sturdy, it's attractive and it works really well. I've very pleased with it and as long as you can handle the poor display, I highly recommend this MacBook.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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to it. Two finger scrolling and right click are very convenient. And there are no arguments against the superiority of Mac OS over Windows, and especially Vista. Mac OS applications are lot more fun and easier to use, not to mention less crashes, freezes and viruses and malware.

I miss dedicated PgDn and PgUp keys; it also lacks numLk, Home, End, and Del (forward) keys. Lack of Firewire can be a problem if you do not have another computer with one and need to use it for camcorder etc. Card reader is also absent and it is not easy to transfer camera pictures unless the camera also works as a card reader. Neither is there an express card slot or 3G modem. Cost is definitely a lot more than similarly equipped Windows notebooks. Mac versions of Quicken, Quickbooks, Dragon speech and several others programs are not as good as Windows versions which I have been using under Windows and Fusion.

I feel the ideal weight for a truly mobile computer should be 2-3 lbs and screen 12 inches. 13.3 inch screen has a big footprint and 4.5 lbs is slightly heavy. MacBook Air is not as powerful, is expensive, has smaller hard drive and lacks ports. And the main reason to get MacBook Pro is if you need firewire port and do lot of graphics intensive work. I loved my ThinkPad X31 with 12.4 inch screen, 3 lb weight and all the ports. For me the ideal computer would have been a ThinkPad X200 with Mac OS; but in absence of that, this MacBook is next best choice.

13.3 MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz 2GB 250GB SuperDrive - Black

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5
westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200
fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd
western digital passport 320gb usb external hd
pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)
logitech wireless keyboard & mouse

As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.

pros:
fast, lightweight, long battery life
cons:
slow graphics chip

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5

westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200

fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd

western digital passport 320gb usb external hd

pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)

logitech wireless keyboard & mouse



As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.



pros:

fast, lightweight, long battery life

cons:

slow graphics chip

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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This is not confirmed, but there is substantial discussion online suggesting this is the case. The 9600M is essentially a 32 processor computer (running at 120 gigaflops). So, a MacBook Pro will actually gain in speed over time. The MacBook does not have a separate graphics card that can work this way.

3. MacBook Pro graphics are twice as fast as MacBook graphics, so if you do anything visual with your computer (digital photography, video, games, etc.) then everything will run much more quickly and smoothly. Some games that are just barely playable on the MacBook become fun and seemless on the MacBook Pro.

4. The MacBook Pro has a firewire port (omitted from the new MacBook).

5. The MacBook Pro has an expansion card slot (really handy for adding a memory card reader or 3G roaming internet).

So, for the extra $400 (MacBook 2.4 GHz vs. MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz) you get a lot of extras that you will notice and use. And you will avoid the poor LCD on the MacBook. You are still stuck with the highly-reflective glass screen (if my eyeglasses can get anti-reflective coating, then why not this computer screen?), however, so it's only four stars until they solve that problem.

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don't get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.





TRACKPAD
I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button---per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it's trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company's DON'T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.




GRAPHICS
Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.


OVERALL
overall this laptop is at the top of it's class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5.....first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we're in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don't think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi----i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company's...cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.



CONCLUSION
The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

HP Pavilion DV9700T 17" Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 at 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray DVD Drive, 1.3mg webcam, 64-Bit Vista Premium w/SP1)

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the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don't get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.











TRACKPAD

I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button---per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it's trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company's DON'T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.









GRAPHICS

Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.





OVERALL

overall this laptop is at the top of it's class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5.....first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we're in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don't think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi----i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company's...cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.







CONCLUSION

The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

HP Pavilion DV9700T 17" Notebook PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 at 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, Blu-ray DVD Drive, 1.3mg webcam, 64-Bit Vista Premium w/SP1)

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the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don't get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.

















TRACKPAD


I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button---per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it's trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company's DON'T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.














GRAPHICS


Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.








OVERALL


overall this laptop is at the top of it's class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5.....first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we're in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don't think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi----i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company's...cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.











CONCLUSION


The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

Sony VAIO® VGN-SZ760NC 13.3" Ultra Mobile Notebook PC

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have your office or adobe cds ready, you can use the trial versions in the meantime for a while...

The overall design is really sleek, and keyboard really feels soft and nice, your fingers are sliding on the keys. The downside is after a year of frequent use there is a slight wear that you can guess from the outer look which keys are used most frequently (may be this is a problem in all computers out there). It is still fully functional however a better material should be used.

Some people say it doesn't come with a restore cd, well it has a very nice restore program, you can just say go and it restores the computer to after factory state, and if you like you can burn your own DVD's too. It would good to have an xp downgrade cd though for those who want to use xp.

As it comes to the service I don't have experience with other brands to make a comparison however I can comment on my personal experience. In the past I have sent my previous computer for the fan had started making too much noise. The next day I called sony service, a prepaid overnight ups box arrived to send the computer to them and the computer came back within a week with the fans cleaned up and problems fixed.

As to compare between different models although initial models had some problems, it is improving in time, going quieter and faster.

The only problem I have is that I have to pay attention extra care to protect the lcd as the casing is pretty thin and doesn't feel strong enough. I wish they made it a little more sturdy.

In the overall it is definitely a fast, sleek and very portable computer. I would definitely recommend this computer if you want a portable one yet you do not want to sacrifice performance.

Apple MB403LL/A 13.3" MacBook - White

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(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.

So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).

The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.

The Software (is what makes Macs shine):
OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.

The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.

You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.

Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.

The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.

Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.

Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.

If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.

Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):
I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.

Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.

There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.

Viruses and Security:
Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.

Caveats:
Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.

The Bottom Line:
Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

HP Pavilion Elite m9300t Computer System, Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz), 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM, 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive, LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW,

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and required a phillips head.

Sony VAIO® VGN-SZ760NC 13.3" Ultra Mobile Notebook PC

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computer, since you'll tend to want to stay near AC power.

5. Build quality - a laptop that isn't well built will soon start to fall apart just from everyday wear; parts can come loose, hinges can break, etc. Build quality is extremely important to any portable machine.

6. Computing power - a laptop that performs tasks slowly or can't perform certain intensive operations is of reduced value, no matter how portable, since it forces you to perform some of your work on other computers. Portability should not come at the expense of too much computing power.

The Sony Vaio SZ is one of the few laptops today that excels in all of the above areas. There are laptops of all sizes, weights, and varieties, but the Sony SZ is exceptional in that it balances performance, lightweight, silent operation, long battery life, etc. virtually without compromise.

- The Sony Vaio SZ is very light and portable, at 4.0 pounds. That, combined with it's size (13.3") makes it perfect for carrying around effortlessly, while the screen is still large enough for every-day use. It can easily be picked up and carried around with one hand, whether the lid is opened or closed.

- Most importantly (to me), the SZ has an excellent cooling system. Not only does it stay exceptionally cool internally (~30C CPU core temp) and externally (almost always cool to the touch no matter where you feel), but even when running on non air circulating surfaces like a blanket or a pillow, temperatures never raise more than 1 degree.

- The SZ runs almost completely silently. During the day, it's fan is almost impossible to hear unless held directly against the ear.

- Battery life is excellent. A well tuned system should be able to get 5+ hours easily, and 6+ hours is quite possible during word processing and light web browsing. I've personally got over 5 hours while doing various tasks including web browsing, watching videos, word processing, installing software, etc.

- Build quality is almost unmatched by any other brand. The SZ's carbon fiber chassis and aluminum palmrest makes up a very sturdy (yet lightweight) laptop. It feels very solid, even when picking the laptop up with a single hand (no real creaks or any warping at all). The keyboard and palmrest has no discernible flex unless you push unnaturally hard on the keys, etc. The screen (lid) is unusually thin (about the thickness of a hardcover book), yet remarkably sturdy (thanks to carbon fiber). The no-latch screen hinge works very well at keeping the lid closed, and at keeping it firmly in place when open. Even when holding the laptop upside-down by the body, the lid does not come open.

- Depending on your model, the SZ will range from very fast to incredibly fast. My model (the SZ750) has a relatively low-end T8100 2.1 GHz processor, yet it's still roughly 3x faster than my 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 HP laptop, and roughly 2x faster than my 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon64 desktop (not counting dual core - for modern applications the performance difference is 2x what's mentioned above).

Now on a less practical side, here are some other things about the SZ:

- The SZ's screen is one of the best on any laptop, with the possible exception of some newer laptops like the Sony Vaio Z. Color reproduction is stunning - better than many desktop LCD monitors. Brightness is incredible for a laptop - at 100% brightness it is actually uncomfortably bright indoors, and is bright enough to be viewed in direct sunlight outdoors.

- The SZ keyboard is different from most other laptops in feel (although the key pitch is 100% standard so you don't have to worry about adjusting to a cramped keyboard as with smaller laptops). Some people love the SZ keyboard, others hate it. I personally like it much better than any other laptop keyboard I have used, but if possible you should try a display model to see if you like it.

As to the underlying technology, the SZ has quite a few features that make all the above possible:

- WLED backlit LCD display - the display of the premium SZ models (such as the SZ750) is lit with White LED technology, as opposed to the outdated CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent light) on most other laptops. WLED displays are brighter, more vibrant, and considerably more energy efficient (resulting in longer battery life) than CCFL displays.

- Unlike most other laptops, the SZ has two GPU (graphics processing unit) chips - one from Intel that is energy efficient but relatively slow, and one from NVidia that is more of a power hog but very fast (useful for gaming and 3D rendering work). A "Stamina / Speed" switch allows you to switch between video cards, although unfortunately a reboot is required.

- Advanced internal circuitry (7 layer [possibly incorrect]) helps save power and prolong battery life compared to competing models even with identical CPU/GPU/etc. components.

- The standard 6-cell battery included with SZ premium models (like mine) is one of the highest energy capacities of any battery of it's weight / cells - 5800mah capacity. Most 6-cell batteries found in similar sized laptops (and even larger, heavier ones) are 4800mah - 5200mah.

The SZ does have some disadvantages, but fortunately they're relatively minor:

- When you first get an SZ, it comes pre-installed with a lot of "bloatware" - in other words, lots of software you probably won't need or want. Bloatware will slow down your system and reduce battery life and performance. This may be an issue if you're a beginner with computers, but otherwise it's not as hard to remove as some people say.

- The SZ series has a known issue where, when not connected to AC power, if you turn it off overnight, the next day the battery will be drained about 1-3%. This usually isn't a major issue, and if it is, it can be solved by simply removing the battery when not in use for long periods of time.

- (Most importantly, to me), replacements of the standard battery included with SZ premium models (model BPS10) doesn't seem to be available for order in the US (although I have no need for a replacement yet). Instead the BPS9 is offered, which is inferior (.1 pounds heavier and 5200mah rather than 5800mah). To get an identical replacement battery you would probably have to import from Europe or Japan.

Overall, the Sony Vaio SZ is an excellent "lap top" computer, far better than any competing brands (at the time of this writing). Unlike some competing ultra-portable laptops, the SZ does not sacrifice performance - it has a full power CPU and GPU, yet it still maintains excellent battery life and light weight. And unlike some high-performance portable laptops of similar size and weight, the SZ keeps exceptionally cool and runs remarkably silent.

Putting it simply, the SZ is the perfect "lap top" computer, which you can use wherever you go, for everything you need. It's light enough to be not at all uncomfortable to carry around. It rarely gets more than cool to the touch, whether being used on the lap or on the bed. It gets excellent battery life, ensuring that it will run (cool and silently) for many hours (5+). Build quality is extremely high (carbon fiber, very well put together), which means you should get many years of enjoyment out of this excellent, well proven and tested laptop (it's been around for years, and has generated an excellent reputation).

Sony VAIO® VGN-SZ760NC 13.3" Ultra Mobile Notebook PC

...

computer, since you'll tend to want to stay near AC power.



5. Build quality - a laptop that isn't well built will soon start to fall apart just from everyday wear; parts can come loose, hinges can break, etc. Build quality is extremely important to any portable machine.



6. Computing power - a laptop that performs tasks slowly or can't perform certain intensive operations is of reduced value, no matter how portable, since it forces you to perform some of your work on other computers. Portability should not come at the expense of too much computing power.



The Sony Vaio SZ is one of the few laptops today that excels in all of the above areas. There are laptops of all sizes, weights, and varieties, but the Sony SZ is exceptional in that it balances performance, lightweight, silent operation, long battery life, etc. virtually without compromise.



- The Sony Vaio SZ is very light and portable, at 4.0 pounds. That, combined with it's size (13.3") makes it perfect for carrying around effortlessly, while the screen is still large enough for every-day use. It can easily be picked up and carried around with one hand, whether the lid is opened or closed.



- Most importantly (to me), the SZ has an excellent cooling system. Not only does it stay exceptionally cool internally (~30C CPU core temp) and externally (almost always cool to the touch no matter where you feel), but even when running on non air circulating surfaces like a blanket or a pillow, temperatures never raise more than 1 degree.



- The SZ runs almost completely silently. During the day, it's fan is almost impossible to hear unless held directly against the ear.



- Battery life is excellent. A well tuned system should be able to get 5+ hours easily, and 6+ hours is quite possible during word processing and light web browsing. I've personally got over 5 hours while doing various tasks including web browsing, watching videos, word processing, installing software, etc.



- Build quality is almost unmatched by any other brand. The SZ's carbon fiber chassis and aluminum palmrest makes up a very sturdy (yet lightweight) laptop. It feels very solid, even when picking the laptop up with a single hand (no real creaks or any warping at all). The keyboard and palmrest has no discernible flex unless you push unnaturally hard on the keys, etc. The screen (lid) is unusually thin (about the thickness of a hardcover book), yet remarkably sturdy (thanks to carbon fiber). The no-latch screen hinge works very well at keeping the lid closed, and at keeping it firmly in place when open. Even when holding the laptop upside-down by the body, the lid does not come open.



- Depending on your model, the SZ will range from very fast to incredibly fast. My model (the SZ750) has a relatively low-end T8100 2.1 GHz processor, yet it's still roughly 3x faster than my 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 HP laptop, and roughly 2x faster than my 2.2 GHz AMD Athlon64 desktop (not counting dual core - for modern applications the performance difference is 2x what's mentioned above).



Now on a less practical side, here are some other things about the SZ:



- The SZ's screen is one of the best on any laptop, with the possible exception of some newer laptops like the Sony Vaio Z. Color reproduction is stunning - better than many desktop LCD monitors. Brightness is incredible for a laptop - at 100% brightness it is actually uncomfortably bright indoors, and is bright enough to be viewed in direct sunlight outdoors.



- The SZ keyboard is different from most other laptops in feel (although the key pitch is 100% standard so you don't have to worry about adjusting to a cramped keyboard as with smaller laptops). Some people love the SZ keyboard, others hate it. I personally like it much better than any other laptop keyboard I have used, but if possible you should try a display model to see if you like it.



As to the underlying technology, the SZ has quite a few features that make all the above possible:



- WLED backlit LCD display - the display of the premium SZ models (such as the SZ750) is lit with White LED technology, as opposed to the outdated CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent light) on most other laptops. WLED displays are brighter, more vibrant, and considerably more energy efficient (resulting in longer battery life) than CCFL displays.



- Unlike most other laptops, the SZ has two GPU (graphics processing unit) chips - one from Intel that is energy efficient but relatively slow, and one from NVidia that is more of a power hog but very fast (useful for gaming and 3D rendering work). A "Stamina / Speed" switch allows you to switch between video cards, although unfortunately a reboot is required.



- Advanced internal circuitry (7 layer [possibly incorrect]) helps save power and prolong battery life compared to competing models even with identical CPU/GPU/etc. components.



- The standard 6-cell battery included with SZ premium models (like mine) is one of the highest energy capacities of any battery of it's weight / cells - 5800mah capacity. Most 6-cell batteries found in similar sized laptops (and even larger, heavier ones) are 4800mah - 5200mah.



The SZ does have some disadvantages, but fortunately they're relatively minor:



- When you first get an SZ, it comes pre-installed with a lot of "bloatware" - in other words, lots of software you probably won't need or want. Bloatware will slow down your system and reduce battery life and performance. This may be an issue if you're a beginner with computers, but otherwise it's not as hard to remove as some people say.



- The SZ series has a known issue where, when not connected to AC power, if you turn it off overnight, the next day the battery will be drained about 1-3%. This usually isn't a major issue, and if it is, it can be solved by simply removing the battery when not in use for long periods of time.



- (Most importantly, to me), replacements of the standard battery included with SZ premium models (model BPS10) doesn't seem to be available for order in the US (although I have no need for a replacement yet). Instead the BPS9 is offered, which is inferior (.1 pounds heavier and 5200mah rather than 5800mah). To get an identical replacement battery you would probably have to import from Europe or Japan.



Overall, the Sony Vaio SZ is an excellent "lap top" computer, far better than any competing brands (at the time of this writing). Unlike some competing ultra-portable laptops, the SZ does not sacrifice performance - it has a full power CPU and GPU, yet it still maintains excellent battery life and light weight. And unlike some high-performance portable laptops of similar size and weight, the SZ keeps exceptionally cool and runs remarkably silent.



Putting it simply, the SZ is the perfect "lap top" computer, which you can use wherever you go, for everything you need. It's light enough to be not at all uncomfortable to carry around. It rarely gets more than cool to the touch, whether being used on the lap or on the bed. It gets excellent battery life, ensuring that it will run (cool and silently) for many hours (5+). Build quality is extremely high (carbon fiber, very well put together), which means you should get many years of enjoyment out of this excellent, well proven and tested laptop (it's been around for years, and has generated an excellent reputation).

Apple MB403LL/A 13.3" MacBook - White