EliteCM.net

So I've had my Toshiba Satellite for 7-8 years now and have been very satisfied with it overall, but recently it decided to slow down so badly (something broke internally) that it's basically a paperweight at this point.  All odds point in the direction of getting a new laptop.  I mostly use my laptop for internet access, basic music and video editing, storage (although all music used for when I DJ is run off of an external HD), running multiple programs at once, and of course to run Serato ScratchLive (my DJ software).  So, since I'm in the market for a new laptop, what do you guys recommend that'll meet my needs?  Like I said, I've been really satisfied with Toshiba reliability and am most accustomed to Windows-based PCs, so should I stick to familiar territory (even though I've read some posts about issues between Intel i3, i5, & i7 processors and my DJ program), or should I learn something new and shell out a bit more money by crossing over to Mac territory and get a Macbook Pro or something?  All opinions are welcome.  Thanks in advance.

My advice would be to stay with what you like. A laptop lasting 8 years is remarkable. If I were in your shoes I would buy another Toshiba product since you have had good luck with them in the past. Check out the Qosmio series of products they are very very impressive. Generally software issues with new hardware get sorted out pretty fast so I'm sure they will fix the compatability issues with your software in no time.

I would stick with Toshiba.  I've been extremely happy with my Satellite.

I'm sure you guys know what I am going to say. Get a MacBook. If you look at consumer reports, every category Apple has a computer in except for one, the top three or four are all Macs. It's been like that for the past few years too. In my opinion the only downfall is the price. You are probably going to pay twice as much for the same or maybe even lesser specs. Even if it has lesser specs, ram, HD, processor, don't be afraid of it. I guarantee you it will still be fast than a PC. So, basically, if you are willing to spend $1200 plus, go Mac. If not, stick with Toshiba...

umm.. if its going to be software incompatibility with the Core i3/i5/i7, then it wouldn't matter if its an Apple product or not.  Most of the new MacBook Pro laptops come with a Core i3/i5/i7 processor.

So you can either save money and get something without the latest processor class, Core 2 Duo's are still very fast and capable processors, or you can get something with faster specs and wait for the software company to release a patch that will make it compatible.  They have to, at least if they want people to continue using their product.

In my opinion, I would stick with what you know, especially if it works for you.

Get a Macbook pro its worth every penny

The white MacBook and the base 13" MacBook Pro still have the Core 2 Duo. Both my sister and I have the Core 2 Duo and they are more than enough for anything I could ever need.

and come with 10hr battery with should be more then reasonable compair to other notebooks on the market

ive had my macbook for 2 years and love it....no complaints

Either/or you'd be good with.  Mac book or Toshiba.  Having a laptop for 8 years is miraculous.  Then again, anything  you get now a days would be blazing fast compared with your old laptop.  A good friend of mine has a mac book and he's running windows on it.  I'm amazed at how fast that thing is.  Of course it did cost him a lot more than my Toshiba.  In end its your preference.

Why bother over paying and learning a new OS?

If the toshiba works great. I would not switch up brands. try getting a Core 2 duo or maybe AMD processor. Also check slick deal often, they have really excellent deals on electronic stuff.

I also looked at the problem with the i-series and your dj software. The only problem seems to be with the old usb 1.1 and it not reading or crashing the program. That can be easily fixed with a BIOS update.

http://serato.com/faq/scratchlive#6157 (http://serato.com/faq/scratchlive#6157)

True.  Both Apple and Windows-based PCs come with these i-series processors now, so it's an issue either way.  Serato says that Core 2 Duo processors experience less problems, but if I do go with i3, i5, or i7, a basic computer update may work (as suggested by thisaznboi88).  Either way, even though there will be some crossover issues with some programs I use now and a learning curve, the Macbook Pros are very tempting.  I just wish they weren't so damn pricey.  The entry- level one is priced okay, but a 13" screen is kinda small.  It's funny though, because on my DJ forum, almost everyone suggested to go Apple and don't turn back.  Here however, the opinions are leaning more towards sticking with Toshiba lol.  Yes, it lasted 7 years (and can still last, just very slowly), but I also took great care of it.  My first laptop (Compaq) was nothing but a piece of shit that eventually hit the "3 repairs = we'll give you a new computer" policy at Best Buy.  What a nightmare.

Side note:  I think it's pretty neat how you can run both Windows and the OSX operating system on a Mac, and vice versa on a PC.  How much does it cost to get this to happen though?

I've been happy with my Asus.  It's a netbook, but it works well for what it's intended for.  I know a lot of computer guys that prefer Asus because they manufacture a lot of the parts that most other companies put in their machines.  I am however not a computer guy, so this should be taken with a grain of salt.

Dave- I am not sure of a legitimate way to put Mac OSX on a PC. For a mac though, you have two options. You can either bootcamp it or run parallels. Bootcamp, the computer boots up in either OSX or a Windows OS that you pick one you first turn it on. Parallels, you always boot up in OSX but you can run windows as an app, so basically, it is just open in another window and you can minimize it if you want. Bootcamp is free and comes on every Mac, all you have to do is buy the windows Operating System. I currently have Windows 7 Home Premium on mine, I "had to have" a windows machine for a class last semester. The professor was convinced it wouldn't work on anything else. Parallels, you have to buy. I think it is around $150. I'm not really sure, I bootcamped mine which was very easy. Basically, you open up disc utility then insert the install disc and you're done once it's done.

As far as the learning curve for the Mac OSX, there really isn't much of one. I got my first Mac last year. It probably took me a week or two of just messing around on it to get all the necessities down. Then, probably a month to learn and remember all the hand gestures and keyboard commands. I think the hardest transition is going from Mac to PC because the PC seems to be missing a lot of what the Mac has to offer where the Mac has everything the PC has plus more.

Tim your assumptions about Asus is 100% correct they make good shit!

I like Asus have build few pc's using there mother boards there reliable  , but buying new laptop comes down to his needs and now adays its a long term investment  stick to your price range and most times you get what you pay for.

Sorry, can't do netbooks because I need a CD/DVD drive and as many usb ports as possible.

Bill:  Yeh, maybe I'm wrong in saying that a Windows-based PC can get the OSX operating system put onto it, but thanks for confirming that a Mac can get Windows put on it.  "Bootcamp" is what I've read about before, and it's a neat idea.  I've never heard of the Parallel method.  I've used Windows XP for years, but it might be cool to see how Windows 7 runs.

I think my biggest obstacle now is to figure out out of all of the programs I've bought and use regularly at this point, if any of them are "Windows-only" applications, because than I'd have to repurchase some stuff for a Mac if I decide to go that route.  I figure that most programs nowadays are cross-compatible though... I hope.  Buying all new software would suck ass.

Dave, I was just pointing out that my Asus is a netbook and not a laptop.  It was just to point out that it is only used for basic functions.  I primarily use my MacBook for most of the stuff I do that is not work related.  Going on what Bill said, I ran Windows XP on Boot Camp and with Parallels on my MacBook.  I prefer Parallels because it is less cumbersome and I can switch from browsing with Safari on the OSX (which I'm more comfortable with) to Kpro running on XP.  It's a lot easier than booting between two different operating systems. 

^ Is Kpro a Windows-only program?

Dave, Acer is a good laptop company as well, so you could look into them. I've never owned a Toshiba, but if you got that much life out of yours, then I would turn back to them.

As far as the software compatibility between what you have now and what you'll be getting, I don't think it matters what kind of processor you get in your new laptop. What programs do you use on a regular basis? I could look up and see if they will work with Windows 7.

Personally, I wouldn't waste your time switching to Mac. You've got a setup that you've been used to for so long, why change it now? Plus, you're going to be paying a shitload more money for an Apple product.
My girlfriend has a MacBook, and she bought iLife '11. She went to go load it up, and it was like "Fuck you, you're not running the latest version of our software, which will cost you moar monies. :flip:" So she had to go out and buy Snow Leopard just to install iLife. I was reading through the new features in Snow Leopard, and there were like 5 things total. All Apple has to do is change the name of their OS, and bam, it's something new. /rant

So, check out Toshiba, Acer, and Asus. Those are all really good laptop brands. HP is okay, but I absolutely hate how they bloat up Windows with their shit. Their computers would run so much faster on a clean install of Win7. IIRC, Gateway is basically a clone of Acer as well.

Yes, K Poo is a Windows only program.

Jeff, I feel your pain and totally agree with you.  It's fucking bullshit.  That is the main reason why I do not consider myself a "mac guy".  As much as I like their stuff, I'm not that brand loyal.

Once you go mac you"ll never go back lol i use linux and i use wine for my windows apps which isn't that many and i also been on the bandwagon with cloud computing so no matter what i choose to use i have accese to all my files form anywhere  >:D have you decided what your top choices models are yet?

Please don't even say HP Jeff. I had my old one fixed twice then replaced then fixed two more times. I'm using a dell now, and I've been impressed but, its only 6 months old so I don't anticipate issues in that short a span. I have to say that the IBM/Lenovo Laptops I get from work seem bullet proof.

I'm surprised, because my family has owned nothing but HP for years, and we've never had hardware failures. However, they all ran slow as shit because of all the bloatware.

If you went so far with a Toshiba, I'd suggest you go back to them and look at a similar product.

I have an HP laptop now, and I just hate how heavy it is, but love everything else about it.

haha..  but i disagree..  I, for one example, recently purchased a Lenovo laptop with Windows 7 on it and I'm currently typing this on my MacBook Pro, lol..  The Lenovo is my primary development machine..

Well, many people here have various opinions on what to get, which is to be expected, so this topic has become a moot point in a way.  I dunno.

I actually went to an Apple store yesterday to get some info.  What a different world that place is though, jeez.  Regardless, they were helpful, and what helped more was that an associate I talked to was also a DJ.  However, there would be some downsides to switching to Mac, such as some programs that I use now being "Windows-only" compatible, and some odd formatting malfunctions that could come up on my external hard drive.  Sigh.

I haven't really narrowed down which brands I would get, but I know that I immediately avoid Compaq.  Had too many bad experiences with them in the past, which actually lead to me getting my current Toshiba for free!  And hell, this Toshiba is actually running fine again after an odd week-long slump.  I have no idea what to think.  ???

Keep an eye on it.  Hardware failures are not fun, especially if it leads to the processor overheating.

Macs are good machines, the hardware selection that Apple selects is typically very good.  But there are a lot of good machines out there, and in my opinion, Windows 7 is very nice.

If you decide to get something new, and are going to go with a PC, stay away from HP and Compaq (Compaq was purchased by HP a while ago I believe).  A lot of good brands have already been named in this thread.  From there, it's pretty much features and form factor of the particular laptop.

From what I've read, HP has one of the highest failure rates when compared to other manufacturers.  It's something like 28%.  Another thing I would consider is the level of support you get with whatever you decide to go with.  You want to make sure that when you have a problem, the manufacturer will be helpful in solving your problem.

CNA - WTF is "cloud computing"?

HP and Compaq break really fast.

I had a compaq and it broke in 2 years. *crap*
My friends HP just died and smoke came out, it lasted also 2 years *crap*
My uncle dell lasted for about 4 years and then it died, smoke came out *okay* customer services was A+
Acer is okay. My friend laptop motherboard died after 4 years. *okay*
Friend Leveno. The old one were really good, but then the new one had issue, especially with there customer service. No one picks up or they give you the run around.

Asus, alienware, apple are all pretty good, but they cost $$$ excellent customer service. Quality laptop. Asus and alienware can be custom build to your spec *same goes for dell*.

I never test a toshiba yet, but I really like it. My friend has the one with the bass control. I
 

alienware = dell.

Cloud computing is basically where all of your programs and stuff are stored on a server, and you run them from there. So basically if your computer were to die you don't lose anything. Thats a really simplicistic explination I didn't want to write three paragraphs of technical stuff.

yup basically so no matter what computer i choses to use my laptop desktop or net book all share my files and stay in sync

I just bought another Dell product.. This one is for the women for her b day. Paid $400 including tax and shipping! :)

I have a dell studio with the core i3 and love it. I run adobe cs4 master collection and 3ds max with no problems. Oh if anybody is looking for a new laptop I have one for sale bnib. When I ordered mine dell sent me two LOL!

How much

Got it, thanks.