Time For A New Laptop

[Sheryl]

Well it's time for a new laptop. I've been using a Lenovo and happy with its durability but unhappy with:

1) Battery life -- zilch, and yes i replaced the battery...twice

2) Speed especially at start-up. Was fine when I got it but has progressively slowed to a crawl, my friends and colleagues all tell me this is due to Windows OS and that a switch to Apple will avoid this even if using Windows for Apple. Is this true? Does Windows for Apple somehow pick up less viruses or whatever undetectable trash it is that causes start-up to become so slow? Will it be less likely to constantly do things on its own I don't need or want (as regular Windows does...e.g. check to see if WiFi is connected and tell me it is not, despite my unclicking that icon and certainly not needing to be told etc etc)..??

I do need high durability as I take my laptop oput into the field in rough conditions. But I also need speed and long battery life. I have no choice about Windows as I have to use files from others which are always in Windows/MS Office so whatever I get has to be Windows compatible/MS Office compatible.

All advice welcome! I'll be buying in Phnom penh where the full range of brands is readily available.

Thanks!

[ShopBoy]

Definitely a Windows base machine if you need to use it in outdoor rough conditions.

IMOHO Lenovo builds are still one of the toughest build lappie out there, i do own a mac and like them for the east of use and almost non existence of virus but the screen do get stains easily and you also get cosmetic blemish easily on it's silver case.

[thaimite]

What was the specification of your original laptop?

RAM, CPU speed version of windows etc..

I do not dispute that it may be time for a newer model of laptop, and I am by no means a Windoze fan, and do agree that system slowdown is a feature of that OS, but having the above information will help others advise you on the best laptop to buy.for your needs.

Needing to read / write MS office files does not mean you need to stick to windows.

Both Apple and Linux platforms have no trouble in that department,but without knowing more about your way of working and favourite programs I would hesitate to suggest you move away from what you are familiar witFinally I agree Widows would benefit greatly from an "I am not a moron and am prepared to take responsibility for my own actions" check box which would tell it to globally stop reminding of stupid things like "unused icons" in your desktop or wireless not connected

Reason for edit

- two many spellink miss-steaks

[Tywais]

I bought about 6 Lenovos for one of our facilities a few years ago and they are still running fine. They don't go into 'the field' per say but do travel for meetings to various areas of the country.

As for Windows, if it is Windows XP,yes it slows over time due to poor memory and disk management. Windows 7 on the other hand dynamically tunes the system to prevent a slowdown over time. From my experience I have no problems recommending Lenovo.

[Darrel]

The OP doesn't say what version of Windows he is running but the original speed can be restored by wiping the drive and reinstalling the operating system. This is especially noticeable on XP, as mentioned. It may be that some programme (possibly malware) has been installed that is causing the slowdown. It may be that the hard drive is too full also. If he is running XP then it is also quite likely that some bloated antivirus software has been installed that is slowing the machine down.

Apple machines will open MSOffice documents from Windows machines without any problem. Even so I would never buy one, not least because I would have to buy all new versions of all my software, a lot of which doesnt even exist for OSX anyway. Apple machines are not inherently faster than Windows machines, though the OS is less likely to be "tampered" with by rogue or badly-written software, and this is what often slows down Windows machines.

Apple does cost much more to buy and run than an equivalent Windows machine. Apple machines are also subject to malware and hacking via websites, not to mention security issues with software, so no one should imagine that by buying an Apple they will never have that problem. It probably will be less of a problem though.

Battery life depends on the design of the individual model of laptop, not on the OS. There are plenty of Windows machines that last as long or longer than Apples.

[jybkk]

The OP doesn't say what version of Windows he is running but the original speed can be restored by wiping the drive and reinstalling the operating system. This is especially noticeable on XP, as mentioned. It may be that some programme (possibly malware) has been installed that is causing the slowdown. It may be that the hard drive is too full also. If he is running XP then it is also quite likely that some bloated antivirus software has been installed that is slowing the machine down.

Apple machines will open MSOffice documents from Windows machines without any problem. Even so I would never buy one, not least because I would have to buy all new versions of all my software, a lot of which doesnt even exist for OSX anyway. Apple machines are not inherently faster than Windows machines, though the OS is less likely to be "tampered" with by rogue or badly-written software, and this is what often slows down Windows machines.

Apple does cost much more to buy and run than an equivalent Windows machine. Apple machines are also subject to malware and hacking via websites, not to mention security issues with software, so no one should imagine that by buying an Apple they will never have that problem. It probably will be less of a problem though.

Battery life depends on the design of the individual model of laptop, not on the OS. There are plenty of Windows machines that last as long or longer than Apples.

In (over)simplified: MacOS is less likely to catch some crap because it doesn't let the user do so much. But by being just a bit careful about what you install and making sure you have the latest updates, then you'll be fine. Things you should NEVER install: Free Registry Scanner/Accelerator/Whatever.... anything that claims it will make your computer faster, Browser toolbars, Free screensavers...

And don't let your thai friends plug their thumbdrive on your computer. You wouldn't believe where it has been and how many computer STDs they can carry.

[smiling mantis]

Definitely a Windows base machine if you need to use it in outdoor rough conditions.

IMOHO Lenovo builds are still one of the toughest build lappie out there, i do own a mac and like them for the east of use and almost non existence of virus but the screen do get stains easily and you also get cosmetic blemish easily on it's silver case.

Sadly I have to agree, if we're talking about the 17" unibody models. Awesome performance, beautiful in every way, but fragile beyond belief. Their response to the various problems is that you should just buy a new one. I'd consider doing that maybe once every three years, but yearly? Also, Apple Support Asia is a tough crowd.

Now, a MacBook Air I would think might be a bit more sturdy. If I go Apple again, it will almost certainly be something like this, or maybe the 13".

[Sheryl]

Thanks, this has been very helpful. Based on the info provided I think I can rule out Mac and stick with Lenovo. I am indeed running Windows XP so if Windows 7 is less prone to slowing down that is good news.

My current laptop is "Genuine Intel ® CPU, T2300 @ 1.66G Hz", 504 MB Ram, 70 GB hard drive and nowhere near full. I have done every imaginable virus and malware scan so I don't think malware is the problem.

I do use Kaspersky which does contribute to the slowness but have used it from the start and things are vastly slower now than when I first got the computer.

As to programs used - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Express, Firefox, SPSS and a few small specialized DOS based programs.

I rrealize battery life has nothing to do with OS. But it has been an issue with the Lenovo I have now (N series) and from what I read is often an issue with Lenovos. Can anyone suggest a model that is good for battery life? I'd also be interested in any models that are lighter weight, I went and priced Lenovos today and the models I saw where all well over 2 Kg. I often have to carry it long distances in the field and so lighter would be nice....

[thaimite]

504MN RAM!!

I would definitely recommend increasing that. With the later service packs XP needs at least 1GB, and 2 or 4GB is recommended.. I think your would be amazed at the performance difference and RAM is VERY cheap at the moment

Edit

I have just done a quick Google and without knowing the model of your machine 2GB is probably less than 1000 baht, and maybe as low as 500 Baht. Any shop selling RAM will usually fit it for you free as well. It only takes 5 minutes.

If buying a new machine makesure you have more RAM. However if the salesman tries to sell you more than 4GB it is a waste of money unless Windows 7 64bit is installed

[smiling mantis]

504MN RAM!!

I would definitely recommend increasing that. With the later service packs XP needs at least 1GB, and 2 or 4GB is recommended.. I think your would be amazed at the performance difference and RAM is VERY cheap at the moment

Yes! This is my new call to arms... why or why are still stuck with standard configs hosting even 2GB or 4GB??? I want 32GB! I want 64GB! The stuff is as cheap as can be, 32-bit CPU's are ***GONE*** and virtualization (and everybody in my opinion should be running this) eats up all the RAM you can feed it.

It's the new cocaine... and it's legal! C'mon already!

[sbk]

Asus is good, I have Acer and am happy enough with it, if you want small go with a netbook. Mac's are expensive, and expensive to repair, they are prone to cd drive failure.

My sister is a Mac person and uses them for her business and her IT guy bemoans the constant Mac issues, they have difficulty with networking, often wont' work with some routers etc etc, his list is quite long (after working with many Macs for at least 6 years- he does have quite a bit of experience).

There are some "rugged" notebooks out there, you might want to look into, but if you are looking for lightweight and portability a netbook (no cd drive tho) is a good choice, but wear your glasses and increase the font size, the screens are small!

[Tywais]

My current laptop is "Genuine Intel ® CPU, T2300 @ 1.66G Hz", 504 MB Ram, 70 GB hard drive and nowhere near full. I have done every imaginable virus and malware scan so I don't think malware is the problem.

Ouch! I've run XP with that ram amount in the past and a jump to 1-2 GB makes a significant difference because you are now memory swapping to disk which will slow the system down significantly. One possible scenario is to increase the memory to 2GB or 4GB if possible and install Windows 7 home edition on your current notebook. Then if you still want something for traveling get a Netbook PC which currently are not very expensive compared to a new notebook.

My old MSI Wind netbook with a 1GHz Atom CPU runs Windows 7 just fine with 2GB memory which means the newer netbooks will run very well. Battery life on them are significantly better than on a full size notebook. Screen sizes are of course smaller, 10-11 inches but depends on your needs. Also, can add an external monitor, keyboard & mouse to convert it to a desktop.

[Sheryl]

OK, I'll try upgrading the RAM.

How easy is it to upgrade from XP to Windows 7 (in terms of not losing any files)?

Maybe I can delay buying a new laptop after all...which would be nice. I've been researching the web and the new Lenovo U300 sounds very good, if I can delay purchase by a year price may go down

[Tywais]

OK, I'll try upgrading the RAM.

How easy is it to upgrade from XP to Windows 7 (in terms of not losing any files)?

Maybe I can delay buying a new laptop after all...which would be nice. I've been researching the web and the new Lenovo U300 sounds very good, if I can delay purchase by a year price may go down

As for any major changes, be sure to backup all your important data to an external drive before doing the new OS install. There is no Windows XP upgrade path to Windows 7 so will need to be a 'clean' or fresh install.

Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 - Microsoft tutorial

More how to and maintaining your data

[Tywais]

Make sure you have the latest drivers downloaded before doing the OS change I'm guessing you have a N100? > N100 Drivers.

I believe this 2GB is compatible with your laptop. Your current Lenovo has two memory slots so you can buy one 2GB card for 1000 Baht and later add 2GB if you wish.

Invadeit.com

Again, I'm assuuming a Lenovo N100 series based on the info you have supplied.

[thaimite]

For what it's worth I have bought 2 Samsung laptops for friends / family in the past year and they have both been very good.

Do the upgrade first. You have little to loose and take your time about finding the right replacement.

All hardware now supports 64 but operating system whether Windows or Linux and that is the way to go for future proofing.

[nikster]

Definitely a Windows base machine if you need to use it in outdoor rough conditions.

IMOHO Lenovo builds are still one of the toughest build lappie out there, i do own a mac and like them for the east of use and almost non existence of virus but the screen do get stains easily and you also get cosmetic blemish easily on it's silver case.

Sadly I have to agree, if we're talking about the 17" unibody models. Awesome performance, beautiful in every way, but fragile beyond belief. Their response to the various problems is that you should just buy a new one. I'd consider doing that maybe once every three years, but yearly? Also, Apple Support Asia is a tough crowd.

Sorry, this is total BS. I never had a laptop that lasted as long as the unibody MBP, Windows or Mac. It's near-indestructible. It's cut from a single block of aluminum, and it has a scratch-proof glass screen.

The MacBook Pro unibody is by far the most sturdy laptop design out there. My 17" unibody is nearly 3 years old (early 2009). I still have 5 hours battery life (from nearly 6 originally) on a 17" screen with 1920x1200 resolution. The screen looks like on day one. The whole machine looks like on day one, really, apart from a few scratches here and there.

And that despite the fact that it's been thrown into a backpack and carried around me everywhere for the last 3 years, every day, 365 days a year. I am working remotely, and I frequently travel. This machine has been places! It's been carried on motorbike trips (bumpy!!), airplanes, boats, cars, bicycles, on hikes, into the desert, to the islands, etc.

I had the battery replaced under warranty after 2 years because it was on 70% - show me another manufacturer that will warranty their battery for more than 1 year! There is none. Batteries are considered consumables. But in the unibody, the battery is guaranteed for the whole 3 years.

As for Apple being a "tough crowd" - it's a bizarre statement. I went to the CM Apple store, they did a battery test, then told me come back in 2 days to pick up and install your new battery. "Tough" isn't' exactly the way I'd describe it.

To open MS Office documents, you need Mac Office 2011 for the Mac. It's pretty expensive to buy (just like Windows office) but also easy to get from your local DVD shop for 100 baht (also just like Windows office). Up to you.

The only concern I would have for rugged outdoors use is the glossy screen - it's a fantastic, super bright screen, and it looks better than any PC screen I have seen, even now in 2011. But due to the glossy nature, it's reflective, and doesn't work well in direct sunlight. There is an option for a matte screen, but matte screens can't be glass, so it's a trade-off. Either you have a super tough un-scratchable glass panel that's reflective - or you have a normal plastic panel that's matte. Almost all PC laptops have plastic screens, BTW.

I love my glass screen - when it's dirty, I take some tissue and scrub it hard. No worries! It just cleans! Would never go for anything else again. On my previous laptops, both Mac and Windows, I always had to baby the screen, wipe it with soft cloth and special screen cleaner, and it would get scratches and keyboard imprints after a few months anyway. I do abuse my machines, squeeze them in tight backpacks, etc, so that's why. But the glass screen is still flawless.

AppleCare warranty, contrary to what's been said above, covers anything and everything for 3 years. It's a world-wide no-questions-asked warranty. You can research that everywhere. Apple tops consumer satisfaction ratings for the last I don't know how many years.... it's an extra, and not cheap, but well worth it.

No viruses is an added bonus.

Once you go Mac, you never go back

PS: One more thing: Macs don't slow down over the years like Windows does. No need to re-install it. Transitioning to a new machine is also way more efficient and that alone, for me, makes up for more than the price difference. The Mac transfers all settings, users accounts, documents, *and apps* from the old system, easily and painlessly. So it takes about 2 hours from unpacking a new mac to get my exact old setup back - ready to work in 2 hours. Most of those 2 hours is just copying of data from the backup drive.

[Digitalbanana]

OK, I'll try upgrading the RAM.

How easy is it to upgrade from XP to Windows 7 (in terms of not losing any files)?

Maybe I can delay buying a new laptop after all...which would be nice. I've been researching the web and the new Lenovo U300 sounds very good, if I can delay purchase by a year price may go down

Try before you buy, most old laptops don't take today's standard RAM sizes or types. I'd just get a whole new laptop.

[SantiSuk]

Have a Lenovo X60s nearly 5 years old. Love it to death but it suffers all the symptoms you mention. It speeded back up very considerably when my two year antivirus contract with PC Security Shield (who I would not recommend) expired.

I want to restore to factory defaults but fear I will lose my reseller-installed Microsoft Office software (I didn't purchase software discs, do not have a Product key and the official UK Lenovo reseller where I purchased it closed down). Am I right in assuming that Office would need to be manually reinstalled if I do a restore to factory defaults?

Edit: I will buy a new one in the next year or two. The X1 looks tasty if expensive. This time I would buy maximum RAM and the largest battery (the batteries now claim a much longer power time). Last time I went for minimum weight - an objective that was partly frustrated by the same thing that the OP mentions - cr@p battery life - the small batteries soon deteriorate to well less than 2 hours so you need to carry 2!

[Tywais]

Try before you buy, most old laptops don't take today's standard RAM sizes or types. I'd just get a whole new laptop.

Based in this spec from the OP "Genuine Intel ® CPU, T2300 @ 1.66G Hz" this is a dual core CPU. Also using that info and going to the Lenovo site it is SODIMM DDR2 5300 memory which is standard and readily available. My previous post linked to said memory.

Sheryl, if you supply the exact model number, such as N100, than it will be easy to point you to the correct memory. Also, a clean install of Windows 7 will also require a new install of all your applications such as Office, etc. So be sure to have your application disks ready before doing it.

Nikster# - She still wishes to run Windows applications whether on Mac or Laptop and she has legacy DOS applications so MacOS would not suit her. Of course she could run a virtual machine such as Parallels but not sure DOS apps will run and it adds an additional level of complexity which I suspect she would prefer not to deal with.

[thaimite]

Have a Lenovo X60s nearly 5 years old. Love it to death but it suffers all the symptoms you mention. It speeded back up very considerably when my two year antivirus contract with PC Security Shield (who I would not recommend) expired.

I want to restore to factory defaults but fear I will lose my reseller-installed Microsoft Office software (I didn't purchase software discs, do not have a Product key and the official UK Lenovo reseller where I purchased it closed down). Am I right in assuming that Office would need to be manually reinstalled if I do a restore to factory defaults?

Edit: I will buy a new one in the next year or two. The X1 looks tasty if expensive. This time I would buy maximum RAM and the largest battery (the batteries now claim a much longer power time). Last time I went for minimum weight - an objective that was partly frustrated by the same thing that the OP mentions - cr@p battery life - the small batteries soon deteriorate to well less than 2 hours so you need to carry 2!

Restoring to factory default will loose ALL the informration you have added and updates you have done since first buying the computer.

Not only will you have to re-install office, but also the windows services packs,anti virus and any other programs and data you have accumilated over the years.NOT recommended and certainly not without FULL backups. If using XP, Be prepared to spend an extra day just upgrading XP to the latest service packs and updates

[Darrel]

Have a Lenovo X60s nearly 5 years old. Love it to death but it suffers all the symptoms you mention. It speeded back up very considerably when my two year antivirus contract with PC Security Shield (who I would not recommend) expired.

I mentioned this in an earlier post as being a likely suspect for slowdowns. AV software on XP can be pretty dire and it pays to get the right one.

I want to restore to factory defaults but fear I will lose my reseller-installed Microsoft Office software (I didn't purchase software discs, do not have a Product key and the official UK Lenovo reseller where I purchased it closed down). Am I right in assuming that Office would need to be manually reinstalled if I do a restore to factory defaults?

Your Office installation is most unlikely to be part of the manufacturer's restore procedure. It may be but I doubt it. The dealer should have given you installation disks and a product key. Not to have these casts doubts on the honesty of the dealer. You may find that the installation files and key have been copied into a folder on the hard drive so worth looking for that.

So you would almost certainly need to buy a copy (MSOffice 2010 Home edition for activation in SE Asia is available quite cheaply here, around 3KBaht) or indeed use some replacement like OpenOffice, which is free.

[Sheryl]

yes, N100.

So now we have a vote for MacBook in terms of durability, interesting.

I will certainly uipgrade RAM if I can, from the sounds of it will probably not try to install Windows 7 on the current machine, but will buy a new one soon which at this point has come down to a choice between the new Lenovo U300 (supposedly comparable to MacBook Pro and the U300s to MacBook Air) or Macbook itself. Macbook costs more, on the other hand the Lenovo U300 just came out this month so not much user experience to draw on. I have faith in Lenovo's durability (tho not so sure the U300s would be the same as in order to make it light, it's aluminum casing) but on the other hand the fact that MacBook is less virus prone is a BIG plus. I work in Cambodia for multiple agencies making it necessary to receive and open files from multiple sources and Cambodia is Virus Central of the world. Over the years I;ve picked up things here no program could clean, more than once .....

[richard_smith237]

15" Mac Book Pro for 3 years....

It travels with me extensively. I used MS Office on it (with MS Office 2011 for Mac, previously an older version of Mac office)

I have a split HD to run Windows for when I need to use specialised work software that only operates in Windows.

The aluminium case is a little fragile and does dent easily. I have a plastic shell to protect it.

The MacBook Pro's are more expensive than their counterparts. In simple terms, you get what you pay for.

Unforeseeable circumstances aside, I can not see myself switching from a Mac - It's simply been too reliable.

[Tywais]

but on the other hand the fact that MacBook is less virus prone is a BIG plus.

Only if you run MacOS and not Windows XP or Windows 7 on it. It's the operating system that is vulnerable not the computer itself. And if you wish to continue running your same windows applications than you will need to virtualize MacOS with something like Parallels or find Mac replacements such as Office for MacOS. If you have DOS legacy applications they may run only under Windows.

[smiling mantis]

Definitely a Windows base machine if you need to use it in outdoor rough conditions.

IMOHO Lenovo builds are still one of the toughest build lappie out there, i do own a mac and like them for the east of use and almost non existence of virus but the screen do get stains easily and you also get cosmetic blemish easily on it's silver case.

Sadly I have to agree, if we're talking about the 17" unibody models. Awesome performance, beautiful in every way, but fragile beyond belief. Their response to the various problems is that you should just buy a new one. I'd consider doing that maybe once every three years, but yearly? Also, Apple Support Asia is a tough crowd.

Sorry, this is total BS. I never had a laptop that lasted as long as the unibody MBP, Windows or Mac. It's near-indestructible. It's cut from a single block of aluminum, and it has a scratch-proof glass screen.

The MacBook Pro unibody is by far the most sturdy laptop design out there. My 17" unibody is nearly 3 years old (early 2009). I still have 5 hours battery life (from nearly 6 originally) on a 17" screen with 1920x1200 resolution. The screen looks like on day one. The whole machine looks like on day one, really, apart from a few scratches here and there.

And that despite the fact that it's been thrown into a backpack and carried around me everywhere for the last 3 years, every day, 365 days a year. I am working remotely, and I frequently travel. This machine has been places! It's been carried on motorbike trips (bumpy!!), airplanes, boats, cars, bicycles, on hikes, into the desert, to the islands, etc.

My single block of aluminum flexes and twists, and the unit has now needed to be taken in for service twice to restore the fit between the lid and the body. I should point out that the unit did suffer a drop, but of only a couple of feet, while in a padded case. Contrast that to my PowerBook G3 (Pismo) and MacBook (original model), both of which feature plastic cases and which have suffered multiple drops and of far greater severity, both of which were/are going strong six years in, without any case issues whatsoever.

My experience suggests that 17" is just too large a size to be using the unibody design. Or, they need more "body" in that unibody. I see the design working well for a smaller machine like the MacBook Air, however, also noting that this was the machine Apple originally devised the unibody design for. At that size, it's probably as you say, near-indestructible.

I had the battery replaced under warranty after 2 years because it was on 70% - show me another manufacturer that will warranty their battery for more than 1 year! There is none. Batteries are considered consumables. But in the unibody, the battery is guaranteed for the whole 3 years.

Show me another manufacturer who requires the unit to be taken in to service simply to change the battery! It's amazing how you spin this as a plus. Especially considering your lifestyle, travelling to many places. How much down time are you set to experience if the battery goes and you're out in the sticks? The ability to carry a spare and be able to install it at a whim is prerequisite to the lifestyle you describe.

(continued in next post owing to quote block limit)

[lopburi3]

As said a change to 2meg RAM should make a huge difference - I upgraded several Toshiba's about a year ago and they are still going strong with no speed issues (but also upgraded to Win7). XP is getting very long in the tooth so if you have the programs you need (or can download) I would make the change - it is really easy and have done 5 myself with no loss of any data (and not that computer savvy). Windows has an excellent program that will save your data and list everything you need to re install. But you will need an external hard drive (which you should really have for home anyway as a backup system). Windows 7 does not slow down and has excellent free virus/malicious software tools.

An external hard disk. You'll need to move your files off of your PC before you install Windows 7. To make this easier, we recommend a free download called Windows Easy Transfer, which will require an external hard disk. They're readily available at electronics and office supply stores, and they provide an easy way to add additional storage space to your computer.

The original installation discs or setup files for the programs that you want to use with Windows 7. You'll need to reinstall your programs by hand after installing Windows 7. When you run Windows Easy Transfer you will get a report that lists the programs that you are currently using with Windows XP.

[smiling mantis]

As for Apple being a "tough crowd" - it's a bizarre statement. I went to the CM Apple store, they did a battery test, then told me come back in 2 days to pick up and install your new battery. "Tough" isn't' exactly the way I'd describe it.

So based on their fulfilling their promise to warranty a $100 part, you are going to disparage my six years experience with Apple Support Asia. Fine. Tell me how you'd feel if you took your laptop into service, only to be told that it would take a month to order the part and have it delivered and installed into your laptop. And during this time, without your laptop, your repeated calls as to the status of the repair were responded to in a positive way, that yes, the part was indeed either ordered, on its way, or that the repair was in progress. How would you feel if at the end of this month you were to be told that it was all one big misunderstanding, that no part was in fact ordered, that not only was the repair not completed, but that they are no longer interested in fixing your MacBook Pro because they don't believe the failure is covered under warranty!

Then tell me, how would you feel if after buying a replacement MacBook Pro, these same people came back to you and said that they were sorry, that they made a mistake, and that wouldn't you like to come in and have your original unit serviced after all.

I'm sitting here with two MacBook Pros. I only need one. And I'm out a few thousand dollars because of this nonsense.

I got other stories too. Trying to get replacement power adapters (because they're always going bad) is a 50/50 proposition. Just getting on the phone with them is often a battle. Apple Support Asia is a different entity entirely from Apple Support US, for I have also considerable experience using, and which I regard as exemplary.

To open MS Office documents, you need Mac Office 2011 for the Mac. It's pretty expensive to buy (just like Windows office) but also easy to get from your local DVD shop for 100 baht (also just like Windows office). Up to you.

Running pirated software you bought in Asia on your MacBook Pro? I would never consider doing this, not in a million years. I value my time, and my sanity.

(continued in next post owing to quote block limit)

[smiling mantis]

The only concern I would have for rugged outdoors use is the glossy screen - it's a fantastic, super bright screen, and it looks better than any PC screen I have seen, even now in 2011. But due to the glossy nature, it's reflective, and doesn't work well in direct sunlight. There is an option for a matte screen, but matte screens can't be glass, so it's a trade-off. Either you have a super tough un-scratchable glass panel that's reflective - or you have a normal plastic panel that's matte. Almost all PC laptops have plastic screens, BTW.

I love my glass screen - when it's dirty, I take some tissue and scrub it hard. No worries! It just cleans! Would never go for anything else again. On my previous laptops, both Mac and Windows, I always had to baby the screen, wipe it with soft cloth and special screen cleaner, and it would get scratches and keyboard imprints after a few months anyway. I do abuse my machines, squeeze them in tight backpacks, etc, so that's why. But the glass screen is still flawless.

How good is flawless if half the time you can't use it? I have to sit here with the curtains drawn just to browse this site. Oh I know, I'll just buy an external display from Apple and everything will be alright. Wrong, they have glossy glass surfaces too. No choice in the matter either. Go online and check out the feedback at Apple's own online store about this issue. It's not pretty, even if the screen can be, under optimal conditions.

AppleCare warranty, contrary to what's been said above, covers anything and everything for 3 years. It's a world-wide no-questions-asked warranty. You can research that everywhere. Apple tops consumer satisfaction ratings for the last I don't know how many years.... it's an extra, and not cheap, but well worth it.

Just lost a key on my keyboard. Not covered, even though the unit is under AppleCare. They say they have to replace the entire keyboard. That's your unibody design for you.

Now I did manage to sort this one out... but only after calling Apple Support US several times, speaking to supervisors every time, and having to list the constellation of Apple products I've purchased over the years, before they'd grant the exception.

What kind of design is that? Key just falls off, and can't be put back on? You have to replace the whole keyboard? Oh, and by the way, because we made it that way, it's too expensive for us to cover under warranty? Gimme a break.

(continued in next post)

[smiling mantis]

No viruses is an added bonus.

Running pirated software? Check back in a couple of years lol.

Once you go Mac, you never go back

Because you can't run the OS (satisfactorily) on any other hardware, may have something to do with it.

I might get a MacBook Air a couple of years down the line when this unit is out of warranty and I'm completely on my own with it. This is my tenth or eleventh Macintosh, so it's not like I'm a basher. But running around here in SE Asia, if I had to do it all over again, I'd just buy netbooks and when inevitably something goes wrong, treat them like disposables. Of course, I'm happy running Linux, and outside of the browser, emacs is all I use, so I can live small.