Laptop or Shuttle?

[dave87]

Basically, with uni coming up I'm in need of a new system. As I see it I have 3 options:

1 - A mac laptop - something like a macbook pro
2 - A windows laptop - the Sony SZ1 or the Asus W2JC come to mind
3 - A Shuttle with a 20" Dell widescreen or something

Each has their advantages and disadvantages, but I'm looking for something reasonably powerful with a half decent graphics card - something like the new core duo & a 7600 or x1600, better if its in a shuttle. Storage really isn't an issue, however speed is - so smaller faster hard disk over larger slower one - my current rig will be converted to a fileserver to dump all my crap on It's gunna be used to play some games, mainly work etc though, so a reasonably nice kb etc is a must. Screen size, widescreen would be good but not essential, reasonably high res cause I dont like scrolling much and have reasonable eyesight.

Budget wise - im flexible - looking at a grand upwards, though if its something special I'm willing to go up to jus under 2. This should give me a fairly decent spec machine in any of the three categories above.

I am willing to consider alternatives, though no silly suggestions such as a CM Stacker its gotta be able to fit in a uni room & be semi portable (hence the consideration of laptops & shuttles)

Anyhow....suggestions please?

Dave

[SingingOrange]

shuttle all the way, or mATX is even better.

I recommend you wait for the new intel conroe too.

regards

[awm]

I would reccomend that Mac. I have a Powerbook and it works great, I'm pretty much addicted to the portability. The MacBook would also double as a PC. Its nice to have a reliable clean, and non-microsoft OS to use most of the time. But there are times when you need XP, plus with 2 OSes even if one needs to be reinstaled you have the other to work on. I think no mater what route you go you want a Core Duo 2 as razor1911 said. A conroe in the shuttle or a Merom in a laptop. If your budget allows it you might want to invest in dual monitors regardless of what you choose. A laptop + a monitor works great for me. My 15" laptop screen is nice, but when I'm programming my 2001FP gives me the real estate I need. Of course what you do may not need an external monitor but I've found it makes so much more everyday difference than any other upgrade to a reasonable system.

[vicar]

Go for shuttle, or build one based round a sugo. Powerful, nice and portable

[UltraMagnus]

i would go with the windows laptop, nice to have the battery option, and nice to actually have software to run.....

[lightsource]

I say go with the mac, if you can go for the PowerBook Pro, becuase WOW, its just like the G5, other than the obvious speed differences and size, but I mean, the PowerBook Pro is your best bet becuase when you think about it the PowerMac G5 starts at $2000, while the PowerBook Pro starts at $2000 BUT it has a monitor and the new intel core duo meaning you can dual boot either by yourself or with mac's BootCamp program.

[SingingOrange]

if price and upgradbility is an issue, then get mAtx board, its sure fun to build. but you might run into problems during building it

[dave87]

Or the fourth option perhaps? Im thinking both?

As some have suggested, you can spend a grand and get a nice shuttle, and then get a cheaper laptop - just to do work on - ie a word processor, nothing more?

(yea building systems is fine, i've built quite a few)

[Noni]

Yeah, that would IMO be the best option.

A cheapy dell laptop just for word processing would be good, and the shuttle for more serious work and games!

[UltraMagnus]

for simple work a Pentium 2 laptop running linux would do....

as for the mac, dont forget you can run OSX on a normal x86 laptop, takes a little work but it works quite well.....

mac laptops really did loose their main appeal when they switched to x86, battery life

[dave87]

Yeah, that would IMO be the best option.

A cheapy dell laptop just for word processing would be good, and the shuttle for more serious work and games!

I am indeed tempted

Just gotta work out with the rents how blank a blank cheque will be

[Noni]

Lol,

If you want I could spec you if you give me a budget!

Thanks.

[Koolpc]

I would say a nice Laptop as you are more free then to take it anywhere while at Uni.

[Dark Horse]

Laptops are getting pretty good these days, this link might be worth a look:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/PNphpBB2-v...0491aea1.phtml

Basically top of the range dell inspiron 9400 with:


307-N03946r - £1,383.25 Delivered
Intel ® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 (2.16 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows®XP Media Center Edition 2005
1024MB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2x512)
100GB (5,400 rpm) SATA Hard Drive
17" Wide Screen WXGA+(1440x900)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™Go7800 GS
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive with Software
Second Primary 9 Cell 80 WHr battery [Included in Price]
Intel® Pro WLAN 3945 Internal Wireless (802.11a/b/g 54 Mbps) for Duo Processors
Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth 2.0 Module

For £1380 instead of the usual £1900

If the link doesn't work (didn't for me, go to dell.co.uk and use eval code 307-N03946r)

[ifyouknowme]

shuttle cos it uses standard pc parts meaning u can fix it and it costs less to fix