News - Refreshed Apple MacBook Pro launched with Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs, AMD graphic

[Platinum]

Yea very wary of Sonys after spending 3 years in Tech Support
My laptop wishlist :

Hi Res screen
Fairly good GPU that can handle some gaming
Good build quality so Acers ect are out.

Unfortunately features like this cost money.

And god no not a Dell, there current inspiron machines look like they are designed for the early learning centre, horrible things.

Really the only machines I have seen that I like and would be happy using day in day out are the HP Envys and the Macbooks.
It really does surprise me that most company's are happy chucking out the same clone of every other laptop on the market machines year in year out, very few stand out these days.

[usxhe190]

Platinum, Lenovo is coming out with the e220s and e420s soon. Believe they have nice screens. Not sure of GPU though.

[Barakka]

Is Lightpeek an open standard?? Can motherboard companies put it on AMD motherboards too??

If it is propriety and only is going to be found on Intel motherboards I could care less TBH.

It's not open it's an Intel proprietary standard, but it's a controller chip, so similar to the Intel PRO LAN chipset I suppose... whether AMD will adopt it or develop something compatible will have to be seen. But AMD have gone down the USB3 route which Intel have dropped but LightPeak will be able to use/run USB3 via an adaptor so.....

[TheAnimus]

because plat your special, most people don't want half those features and vote with their wallets.

This is also why the HP envy hasn't sold that many, and why HP aren't bringing half the options to small countries.

I'd really recommend getting a good quality SSD too, most manafacturers options on this are crap, so look at aftermarket and making sure its possible.

[MaddAussie]

Yea very wary of Sonys after spending 3 years in Tech Support
My laptop wishlist :

Hi Res screen
Fairly good GPU that can handle some gaming
Good build quality so Acers ect are out.

Unfortunately features like this cost money.

And god no not a Dell, there current inspiron machines look like they are designed for the early learning centre, horrible things.

Really the only machines I have seen that I like and would be happy using day in day out are the HP Envys and the Macbooks.
It really does surprise me that most company's are happy chucking out the same clone of every other laptop on the market machines year in year out, very few stand out these days.

I almost bought a HP Envy (might be an idea to speak to Olly as I almost got mine in the US as it was way cheaper) but ened up building a SSF for semi mobile gaming and a tops spec dell vostr v130

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It's not open it's an Intel proprietary standard, but it's a controller chip, so similar to the Intel PRO LAN chipset I suppose... whether AMD will adopt it or develop something compatible will have to be seen. But AMD have gone down the USB3 route which Intel have dropped but LightPeak will be able to use/run USB3 via an adaptor so.....

Connection standards such as USB,SATA,e-SATA and firewire are found on all platforms. If Intel makes the technology available to other companies to use then fair enough. If not I am not interested TBH.

I don't want a return to the 1980s.

[aceuk]

It's not open it's an Intel proprietary standard

The fact that manufacturers don't have to pay Intel any royalties or license fees should help speed up ThunderBolts adoption.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4194/i...as-thunderbolt

Apple learned its lesson after FireWire licensing slowed adoption - the Thunderbolt port and controller specification are entirely Intel’s. Similarly, there’s no per-port licensing fee or royalty for peripheral manufacturers to use the port or the Thunderbolt controller.

[Zhaoman]

My laptop wishlist :

Hi Res screen
Fairly good GPU that can handle some gaming
Good build quality so Acers ect are out.

...<snip>

Really the only machines I have seen that I like and would be happy using day in day out are the HP Envys and the Macbooks.
It really does surprise me that most company's are happy chucking out the same clone of every other laptop on the market machines year in year out, very few stand out these days.

That is very true. I would add a quality SSD to that list and that would be my perfect laptop. The Alienwares pretty much tick everything on that list but I cannot stand the pompous alienware branding and lights... it's a shame because they are the only laptops that really have everything.

edit: and they are hideously expensive

edit2: Kobalt are refreshing their range and this one looks really good: http://kobaltcomputers.co.uk/gs150_overview.html

It has the full range of Sandy Bridge cpus, 540m with optimus, OCZ vertex 2E ssds and it doesn't look half bad. A decent spec (with SSD) will cost around £1100 and granted it doesn't have thunderbolt but it does have USB3 and it says it's available from mid-March. This has now currently topped the pile in my 'what laptop to get in the summer' backburner list.