Similar Laptop?

[Fluffinator]

So right now I have my eye in the Macbook Pro for $1,300, are there any laptops similar (portable, lightweight, aluminum chasis) in this price range?

[Curufinwe_wins]

So right now I have my eye in the Macbook Pro for $1,300, are there any laptops similar (portable, lightweight, aluminum chasis) in this price range?

Zenbook UX303 is a direct competitor for much cheaper. Here was a review (I bought it for my sister. I myself own a refurbished broadwell xps 13 which is also a competitor but not full metal unibody.)

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/430108-asus-zenbook-ux303la-ds52tus51t-review/

 

The LG gram is also a competitor at this price point but is so new I don't know too much about it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0158XJX6U?tag=price475-20&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

The last one I'd recommend checking out is the HP Envy.

[RollinLower]

razer blade i guess? it also has a aluminum unibody.

some asus models have this too.

[Fluffinator]

Zenbook UX303 is a direct competitor for much cheaper. Here was a review (I bought it for my sister. I myself own a refurbished broadwell xps 13 which is also a competitor but not full metal unibody.)

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/430108-asus-zenbook-ux303la-ds52tus51t-review/

Did not know that exists thanks, however I'm skeptical to go with a Asus laptop because prior experiences..

[Fluffinator]

razer blade i guess? it also has a aluminum unibody.

some asus models have this too.

Well I would but there way more expensive.

[ALwin]

Asus, Toshiba, HP, Lenovo, etc. have made some laptops either similar in terms of size (thickness, portability) or the design of the Macbook.  However some use plastic/composites and the ones that are made from aluminium look very lame with their brushed aluminium bodies.  I don't think any other brand has an actual uni-body aluminium look of a Macbook Pro.

 

[Fluffinator]

Asus, Toshiba, HP, Lenovo, etc. have made some laptops either similar in terms of size (thickness, portability) or the design of the Macbook.  However some use plastic/composites and the ones that are made from aluminium look bawdy with their brushed aluminium bodies.  I don't think any other brand has an actual uni-body aluminium look of a Macbook Pro.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amz9IrZRmPc

Well the Razer Blade is similar but way out of my price range at over $2,000 so I thought naybe someone else would have something similar.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Did not know that exists thanks, however I'm skeptical to go with a Asus laptop because prior experiences..

Well their customer support isn't amazing by any means, but the zenbook themselves are actually really nice.

 

See above edit for additional options to check out.

[Fluffinator]

Well their customer support isn't amazing by any means, but the zenbook themselves are actually really nice.

 

See above edit for additional options to check out.

Wow LG into laptops, interesting.

[ALwin]

The biggest downside of the 13" Retina Macbook Pro is the lack of a dedicated GPU.  And if you are looking for a laptop for gaming, get a Windows one.  There will be non Macbook Pro laptops with dedicated GPUs that cost more or less around the same as the 13" Macbook Pro, most likely they will not look as sleek and stylish.

 

But if you are looking for a laptop and gaming is not your top priority, and you're familiar with OSX and like the look and feel of a Macbook Pro, go ahead and get one.

 

I was a Windows person all my life until about 5 years ago when I got myself a 3rd generation Macbook Air.  Before that I was a full on anti-OSX person, but when I switched over, I was amazed at how more efficient my productivity became.  I hated using touchpads on Windows laptops, but I love the touchpad on a Macbook.  I spend less time dealing with OS/software updates, less time dealing with anti-virus and malware scans, and to me it just seems more intuitive navigating through the system menus and application menus.  Mind you, I've a degree in IT and had been working as a professional for years, so I can work with almost any hardware and software, but that switch to OSX seemed to have made my life less stressful.

 

In the past 5 years, I've become so used to working with the touchpad on my Macbook that I find using a mouse to be much slower for productivity purposes, and this has increased my productivity by over 300%.

[ALwin]

Wow LG into laptops, interesting.

 

You didn't know LG made laptops?  There are quite a number of not so well known brands that make laptops or well known brands that few people realize they also make laptops.  I haven't seen many people discussing brands like BenQ here.

[Fluffinator]

The biggest downside of the 13" Retina Macbook Pro is the lack of a dedicated GPU.  And if you are looking for a laptop for gaming, get a Windows one.  There will be non Macbook Pro laptops with dedicated GPUs that cost more or less around the same as the 13" Macbook Pro, most likely they will not look as sleek and stylish.

 

But if you are looking for a laptop and gaming is not your top priority, and you're familiar with OSX and like the look and feel of a Macbook Pro, go ahead and get one.

 

I was a Windows person all my life until about 5 years ago when I got myself a 3rd generation Macbook Air.  Before that I was a full on anti-OSX person, but when I switched over, I was amazing at how more efficient my productivity became.  I hated using touchpads on Windows laptops, but I live the touchpad on a Macbook.  I spend less time dealing with OS/software updates, less time dealing with anti-virus and malware scans, and to me it just seems more intuitive navigating through the system menus and application menus.  Mind you, I've a degree in IT and had been working as a professional for years, so I can work with almost any hardware and software, but that switch to OSX seemed to have made my life less stressful.

Thanks for the great advice! I game at home (I have a decent setup two 980 Ti's, 1440p monitor, etc.) so I would only be gaming at home. The laptop would be for simple reports on the go. It seems the Macbook Pro is the way to go thanks.

[ALwin]

Thanks for the great advice! I game at home (I have a decent setup two 980 Ti's, 1440p monitor, etc.) so I would only be gaming at home. The laptop would be for simple reports on the go. It seems the Macbook Pro is the way to go thanks.

 

 

If all you want to use the Macbook is for emails, writing reports, browsing the web, you could perhaps save yourself some more cash and go for a Macbook Air.  It will be slimmer, lighter, easier to carry around.  

 

But the Macbook Pro, even the 13" model will let you do more things than just writing reports.  I don't think the Air has a retina display, but the Pro does and you can use it for simple photo editing with software like Lightroom, software development using Eclipse, web development using software like Dreamweaver, etc.

[Fluffinator]

If all you want to use the Macbook is for emails, writing reports, browsing the web, you could perhaps save yourself some more cash and go for a Macbook Air.  It will be slimmer, lighter, easier to carry around.  

 

But the Macbook Pro, even the 13" model will let you do more things than just writing reports.  I don't think the Air has a retina display, but the Pro does and you can use it for simple photo editing with software like Lightroom, software development using Eclipse, web development using software like Dreamweaver, etc.

I was originally gonna get it but I heard the same thing on the screen and that the colors can get washed out really easily at some viewing angles.

[ALwin]

I was originally gonna get it but I heard the same thing on the screen and that the colors can get washed out really easily at some viewing angles.

 

Yes, the Air's panel is not as good as the panels on the Retina Macbooks.  Neither does it age gracefully.