New/Old Laptop

Final Fantasy Online Forums > Community Discussion > The Dork Squad

08.30.2011 8:05pm

Thread Creator

one.gun
Cornbread, interrupted.

So, I sold off my MacBook last night for a cool $700. Now I have a dilemma.

I want a computer I can keep at the house, but not necessarily a desktop replacement. I want to also a purchase a tablet as my primary travel machine. The issue isn't so much the tablet as it is a replacement for my MacBook.

I have two options:

1. Switching back to Windows after years of OS X experience. Not a problem, but my main backup is a Time Machine file, though I did backup individual files should the move to Windows take place. I'm currently looking at this machine:

<a title="Don't hate me because its Best Buy." href="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ASUS+-+Laptop+/+AMD+A-Series+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Brown+Suit/2881042.p?skuId=2881042&id=1218360613837#tabbed-customerreviews">Asus</a>

It's cheap cheap cheap, but incredibly powerful when over/underclocked. I like the look of it, too. It's backordered, however, and it could leave me without a computer for weeks.

2. This guy near me is selling his ex-wife's (old) MacBook Pro 15". She used it for Farmville and little else. I'm getting the impresion it's part of some divorce settlement. If I drive up to him and take it off his hands, I can have it for $400.

<a title="Beware -- CraigsList." href="https://austin.craigslist.org/sys/2555110968.html";>MacBook</a>

It would be a simple Time Machine backup and small upgrades here and there would make it comparable to my old machine. Plus I would have it as early as tonight. That said, its several generations behind current standards. I don't use my computer for anything awesome (aside from Netflix, Hulu, etc.). I don't even play WoW anymore.

What are your thoughts/suggestions? I'm at a loss, and I trust you guys.

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08.31.2011 8:38am

Arckanghel
Pirate.

I absolutely love the ASUS laptops I've had. My girlfriend also has one. The ones I've used have both been the Republic of Gamers line, and hers is the productivity line as is the link you gave. I think if you pick up the ASUS you'll enjoy it and have a new machine that you won't have trouble with. I think with the MacBook though you'll be at home, it's an older one, behind the times and could prove to be unrealiable in its age. For the prices, I think the ASUS is a clearly better value due to the power you're getting and the fact you'll never be stuck thinking you got screwed on an old laptop.

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08.31.2011 8:16pm

Dh
Not in the face!
The Alpha and the Omega

As a guy who works on computers for half of his living, my vote is also for the ASUS. However, I'd look to see if you can't find the K53E, which should only cost you $50 more (if that) and offer a Core i5 Processor. I'm actually working on one right now for a client (we're wiping off the bloatware and adding his company software) and I think he paid $479 for it. It has a nice, crisp display, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, HDMI out, and all the goodies you'd expect from notebooks that are twice the price.

I'm a huge fucking AMD fanboy, but I am not fond of their series-A processors. HP put them in a line of notebooks and they perform like shit and overheat like crazy. This K53E hasn't broken a sweat and I've been annihilating it with file copies and updates. You simply can't go wrong with ASUS and Intel is still making the best processors on the market.

I've got nothing against Apple as they make a real solid, reliable notebook, but their products are way overpriced and just do not compare to what you'll get out of a PC notebook. And when it comes to PC's, I always tell people to avoid HP and Toshiba.

I made this for you!

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