Are there any laptops that rival the Macbook air?

[shaemus]

Have a look at the Samsung ativ range. I downgraded from windows 8 to. Best laptop i have ever had. A new range has just ben released. You have few options available. I think even a touch screen on one model. Good service from samsung in Thailand on the one occasion i needed it.

Mine was a replacement for an Asus which was a lemon from the box. When i purchased that laptop i found the $1000 extra for an apple to much.

Good luck

[nervona1732]

Dude, get a freaking apple. I have been struggling through the quagmire of security issues since I have learned how to use a computer. All of that was with a PC. They are garbage. After I got my mac pro I will never and I mean never touch or be in the same space as a PC again. I am sold. I LOVE MY MAC. End of story. Do yourself a favor and get a MAC. You won't be disappointed. No I don't work for apple I am now just a loyal customer. I should have listened to my son 8 years ago. A bit more pricey but well worth it.

Have fun with your MAC!!! Cheers

Neil

[IMHO]

PC World = Asus ux305 simply the best ultrabook

Ars Technica don't agree: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/04/asus-zenbook-ux305-its-no-macbook-but-its-a-good-midrange-laptop/

Still it is an interesting device for the money, no doubt about it.

[IMHO]

The Mac is also the product of exploited workers and a company without ethics and as the Chicog said, "an overpriced vanity purchase".

Yes correct there is a reason why Apple got to the wealthiest Company in the US

Good Advertising

and Away overpriced products

Yeah, millions of devoted users have no idea they are using an inferior product, and never in their life have used a Windows machine so how would they know any better? It's that good Apple advertising that makes us converts for life, despite the clearly inferior experience you say we're having. The richest company in the history of the world is built strictly on smoke & mirrors, not on quality products.

Nicely put

Right - computers are like girlfriends - when you find a better one, you tend to stay with them longer. When she gets too old, you generally look for something similar but younger. They're not like wives where once married, you'll put up with all their flaws. Some guys just don't get it

[arunsakda]

The new MacBook. Lighter and thinner than MacBook Air, and has Retina display. Don't know if you can get in Thai yet but they have in Japan. Apple Store in Waikiki had display models but must order/waiting list.

Edited June 22, 2015 by arunsakda

[KhunJack]

Not sure you're asking a the right question. Not sure it's the hardware that is the problem, it's more the operating system. If you want the best of all worlds, buy the Mac Air and install Bootcamp so you have a windows partition for the odd program you cant run under iOS.

Go with the Macbook Air you won't regret it... small learning curve transitioning from Windows to Mac.

Re: Bootcamp... stay away from it. If you want to run Windows use 'Parallels' (virtual machine software about $80 AUD)... absolutely Brilliant.

I made this error when I purchased my first macbook pro in 2012, as I'd never used a Mac before I set the partition at 60/40 in favour of windows. Big Mistake... once you have bootcamp you are stuck with it unless you start from scratch again.

With bootcamp, I soon got very tired of switching between Mac and Windows... enter Parallels... allows Mac and Windows to operate at the same time, drag and drop files etc... they work together as one.

For work I need Windows for the ERP, access to servers etc also MS Office for Windows is far better than Office for Mac; however, I use Mac for everything else. Honestly, you don't even know you have 2 operating sytems running together.

Worried about performance? ok... if you're a gamer forget it... for everyone else, the IT guys at work have benchmarked my machine running Parallels/Windows and nothing in my company comes close. Yes, that's predominately due to the Mac's hardware (awesome machine) but it shows running windows through a virtual drive doesn't present any bottlenecks.

When running Parallels you don't partition the drive so 100% of the available hard disk space is there for both Mac and Windows; Bootcamp holds you to the partition which can be very limiting as your needs change. Yes, there's software that can apparently change the partition... I've tried a few to no avail.

Upgraded my Macbook 6 months ago without Bootcamp... installed only Parallels (and the version of Windows I wanted)... happy days.

I second that....

The easy use of the MAC's is refreshing. The design is in my opinion just superior and fun to use.

I had PC's, Laptops, Tablets from the beginning. About 6 years ago I switched PC, Laptop over to Apple, never want go back to a pure Windows machine.

I still need to use windows from time to time and for that I have also installed Parallels, it's just 2 clicks and my MAc's look like a windows PC.

MS office I gave up a long time ago and using free, opensource Libre Office.

For the mail I went from outlook to Thunderbird.

Price wise, yes ... you get what you pay for... Apple using all the time the newer components.

If money matters .... have a look at Dell XPS 13

[Thakkar]

I don't think anything matches it for being an overpriced vanity purchase, no.

Whether it's expensive depends on how much you value your time. I use a Mac to get stuff done that need getting done. It just works, doesn't give me trouble and I don't waste time.

This leaves me more time to do the important things, like watching porn on my PC while commenting on TVF.

T

[thailandforumaddict]

Since few years it's impossible to buy a small ultraportable windows computer.

So incredible, some PC costs more than Mac and are less powerful.

It happens snce the tablet trend.

I hate Mac and do not want one but they are the best light wieigh powerful computers on the market.

Fuxxx PC makers !

[thailandforumaddict]

SURFACE is good but even more expensive than a mac... crazy !

I think you will find the move to Mac very difficult. I use a Microsoft Surface Pro3. running on Windows 8.1

Very fast SSD, touch screen, also has touch pen, flicks between a pad with Apps and the full desktop so easily. Batteries for around 8 hours. Detachable backlit keyboard.

Check it out.

[wabear]

I just got the new Surface 3 (new one, not the PRO). The screen might be too small for you (10.8 inches), but it's very light, has no fan and runs cool. It's Windows 8.1 with a free upgrade to 10.0. The keyboard is much better than before. Costco in USA has a package with Surface 3, keyboard, and pen. If you get the larger RAM and storage it's $699 at Costco, quite a bit cheaper than a Mac.

[hawksway]

Plenty of Windows Notebooks around less than 2KG in weight, especially from Microsoft and Asus, the latter as I can confirm uses it's patented "Ice Cool" system to protect the scrotum; but I think you are missing the point. Apple Users buy MacBook Air and MacBook Pro because these are the only ones which can run the Apple IOS Operating System which has a massive following. If Apple today decided on dropping IOS and moving over to the Windows OS, then they would see their share price wiped of the Board.

At the end of the day though it's down to the Applications you need to run. If it's going to be email or Web, Microsoft's Office 365 Home with a free terabyte of Cloud Storage on annual subscription is available for Windows and IOS.

You can also save a lot of money by purchasing a Windows Notebook - normally supplied in Bangkok without Windows and equip it with Ubuntu Linux instead. Linux, like IOS uses a unix parent base and comes with a choice of mail clients, web browsers, DVD Writing etc.

These days Apple's superior speed advantage are, for the most point, a thing of the past. Linux is perhaps the fastest but all very close.

[csabo]

After long time Windows user I got my Mac Air 11". The only regret I have is waiting so long. Go buy your Mac!

[Monkeyrobot]

X240 or X1 Thinkpads from Lenovo

XPS13 from Dell

I'm sure there are other props.

PS: I've got my X230 for 3 years, perfect!

I just purchased the Dell XPS and a great machine but Microsoft can stick Windows 8 where the sun don't shine , what a shit design . The designers should be sent to work for ISiS but they would probably be shot after a week once the IS boys realised they were complete idiots.

[mesquite]

If Apple today decided on dropping IOS and moving over to the Windows OS, then they would see their share price wiped of the Board.

Or put another way, if apple decided to produce a grossly inferior product their share price would plummet.

[csabo]

I think you will find the move to Mac very difficult. I use a Microsoft Surface Pro3. running on Windows 8.1

Very fast SSD, touch screen, also has touch pen, flicks between a pad with Apps and the full desktop so easily. Batteries for around 8 hours. Detachable backlit keyboard.

Check it out.

Omg. Win 8 vs iOS. Puh-lease!! No one in their right mind or has tried Mac would go Win. Which are you?

[PaPiPuPePo]

I don't think anything matches it for being an overpriced vanity purchase, no.

I guess your time is worth a lot less than mine.

[PaPiPuPePo]

I'l add this in case the OP is still paying attention:

The MacBook Air's are the only Mac laptop's that still have a silver (metal/metal-coated plastic) rand around the screen. All the others have glass to the edge with a black rand like tablets. Two comments about that: first, it's not as nice to look at. Second, it's probably going to disappear soon, i.e. Apple is very likely to rev the MBA lineup pretty soon. I was very recently talking to a store manager about that and while they really don't know what's coming when, he agreed they're due for a revamp. So, you might want to hold off on purchasing one until fall, if you can--not that they'll be revved then, but the form factor hasn't been in a few years.

As to Mac's being over-priced...I don't know that anyone has put up a comparison of profit margins between makers. You can extend the warranty on your Mac indefinitely, though not for free, but as long as it's under warranty they will fix any problem, no questions asked, and quickly. Also, if you bring in the same machine a number of times, you can as for a CRU (complete replacement of unit) and they will honour that. Tell me of a maker on the Windows side that does that. You can pay now, or you can pay later....

And as my quip above says, what's your time worth?

[mikecat]

I agree with Hound, Lenovo is the way to go. They are very reliable and Mac and other apple items are not as reliable as people seem to think and neither is the follow up support. So at least check it out.

[PaPiPuPePo]

Not that I've seen.

I've only had macs for years and tried to get off the Apple train about a year ago. I looked around and the problem is storage. Apple is the only company that has high capacity flash drives. This is why their machines are so light. And partially why they are so expensive as well.

Apple is far from perfect. I've had my share of issues. Their support has really dived over the years, especially since the passing of Mr. Jobs.

But it's still your best bet for a laptop.

The Macbook Air is an amazing machine and I would recommend it. Because of the flash drive the computer starts up in a few seconds.

I agree that their service can be lacking compared to how it used to be (which really was red-carpet treatment). I recently had a major issue with my MBP and had some very bad service. In the end though they did right by me (gave me a new retina MBP in exchange for my older non-retina machine). The manager I talked to at some length agreed they're having problems finding enough quality staff due to their rapid expansion in Asia. Anyway, keep your machine under warranty, and compared to most CS these days which is at best barely useless, Apple's still doing pretty good IMO.

[thrilled]

I will give you 1 tip. Do not buy A chrome book if you want iTunes .Can't hookup my iPhone ,or iPad. It's fast google

Operating system.A cheap price.

[Altalake]

Been an Apple guy for about 12 years now. Got fed up with Bill Gates' stuff.

I have an iMac 21" and MacAir 13".

Apple is a VERY greedy company tho', and you pay thro' the nose for all. Apple is a grab-your-money machine.

But I like the OS (Operating System) more than Windows - and I must say it is more "fun" to use than the PCs. But you certainly pay for it.

As for Security, I seem to get just as much Spam and rubbish as I did on a PC.

[smccolley]

Take a look at the Lenovo Thinkpad. They have one with a solid state hard drive that is very thin and light. The salesman says it boots 10 times as fast as the standard hard drive. The battery life is good also. In America it costs about the same as the MacBook Air.

I didn't buy one as I purchased another Lenovo model a few months ago.

Just to expand on that. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is a nice machine. It has almost the same form factor as the Mac and is all solid state. I am very happy with it and have had no issues over the last year or so since I got it. Bootup is very fast compared to normal drives. Not sure about the price as it is a company machine, but it can't be as much as a Mac...

[TeaMonkey]

I was looking for a new laptop recently and although being a Windows app programmer I chose a 2015 Macbook Pro with the force trackpad. This is the first Apple computer I've used and so far I like it. It runs Windows fine using Parallels (although it uses more battery power), is well built, has a good screen and the trackpad is actually usable unlike any other Windows laptop I've used. It's also extremely quiet - the fan has only come on about 4 times and that was when I was installing software. So far I have not needed to use a mouse. I only run Windows on it when programming and spend the rest of the time in OS X as I prefer this now.

Price wise there are a lot of Windows machines cheaper than MacBooks but these tend to be comprised by build quality, poor screens etc. There are also quite a few Windows laptops more expensive than MacBooks. The two main ones I was comparing it to were the Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface. After reading comments about fan noise, even when just web browsing (I hate noisy computers) and the Surfaces mediocre keyboard I ruled these out.

The other advantages are not having to worry about reinstalling the OS and finding all the drivers - the Windows laptop makers are constantly bring out new models with different hardware. The Macbook built in backup (Time Machine) is one of the best I've used. And if it totally fails to start you can boot from the bios and install the OS over the internet.

There are also Apple stores in almost any country if you need to get your computer fixed.

[IMHO]

Take a look at the Lenovo Thinkpad. They have one with a solid state hard drive that is very thin and light. The salesman says it boots 10 times as fast as the standard hard drive. The battery life is good also. In America it costs about the same as the MacBook Air.

I didn't buy one as I purchased another Lenovo model a few months ago.

Just to expand on that. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is a nice machine. It has almost the same form factor as the Mac and is all solid state. I am very happy with it and have had no issues over the last year or so since I got it. Bootup is very fast compared to normal drives. Not sure about the price as it is a company machine, but it can't be as much as a Mac...

The Thinkpad X1 Carbon sells for around 68K Baht (street price) in Thailand - the most similarly spec'd Macbook Air (13", 4GB RAM, 256GB flash storage) sells for 42K Baht.

The Air is 26K Baht cheaper.

[thailandforumaddict]

I cannot find the SAMSUNG ATIV in Thailand ? Where are they sold ? (the good ones with i-core 5 or icore-7, not the shit ATOM that even are shiiit for a tablet !)

[thailandforumaddict]

Thank you for your report.

I also hesitate as I hate the mac things, but this is the first time that I cannot find a very powerful light windows computer...

Are they all stupid to only focus on tablets ? I hate mac but I wish they fuxxx the PC sales to show all these retarded PC manufacturers that they are monkeys !

I was looking for a new laptop recently and although being a Windows app programmer I chose a 2015 Macbook Pro with the force trackpad. This is the first Apple computer I've used and so far I like it. It runs Windows fine using Parallels (although it uses more battery power), is well built, has a good screen and the trackpad is actually usable unlike any other Windows laptop I've used. It's also extremely quiet - the fan has only come on about 4 times and that was when I was installing software. So far I have not needed to use a mouse. I only run Windows on it when programming and spend the rest of the time in OS X as I prefer this now.

Price wise there are a lot of Windows machines cheaper than MacBooks but these tend to be comprised by build quality, poor screens etc. There are also quite a few Windows laptops more expensive than MacBooks. The two main ones I was comparing it to were the Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface. After reading comments about fan noise, even when just web browsing (I hate noisy computers) and the Surfaces mediocre keyboard I ruled these out.

The other advantages are not having to worry about reinstalling the OS and finding all the drivers - the Windows laptop makers are constantly bring out new models with different hardware. The Macbook built in backup (Time Machine) is one of the best I've used. And if it totally fails to start you can boot from the bios and install the OS over the internet.

There are also Apple stores in almost any country if you need to get your computer fixed.

[thedemon]

I cannot find the SAMSUNG ATIV in Thailand ? Where are they sold ? (the good ones with i-core 5 or icore-7, not the shit ATOM that even are shiiit for a tablet !)

Samsung itself no longer imports notebooks to Thailand. You may find some shops selling grey-market imports but then unlikely to be a good price.

I have bought several ATIV Series 9 over the past couple of years from ebay and then had them shipped here from the US. That has worked well for me. Obviously no Thai keyboard though.

[Jaggg88]

Ive had 3 laptops and everything around the hd's has failed but never the hard drive itself. Still the faster bit works for me

rijit

Really? I'm an IT professional and 75% of laptop problems are HDD failures - most other issues are minor. SSD are really just a bunch of memory sticks - now I had a memory stick spend 6 weeks in the wash m/c (stuck under the rubber seal door seal) and after drying out still worked. Try that with a HDD.

[hound]

Take a look at the Lenovo Thinkpad. They have one with a solid state hard drive that is very thin and light. The salesman says it boots 10 times as fast as the standard hard drive. The battery life is good also. In America it costs about the same as the MacBook Air.

I didn't buy one as I purchased another Lenovo model a few months ago.

Just to expand on that. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is a nice machine. It has almost the same form factor as the Mac and is all solid state. I am very happy with it and have had no issues over the last year or so since I got it. Bootup is very fast compared to normal drives. Not sure about the price as it is a company machine, but it can't be as much as a Mac...

The Thinkpad X1 Carbon sells for around 68K Baht (street price) in Thailand - the most similarly spec'd Macbook Air (13", 4GB RAM, 256GB flash storage) sells for 42K Baht.

The Air is 26K Baht cheaper.

The Repair guy at Best Buy in America said that hard drives are the most common part to fail and that Lenovos are the most reliable computer they sell. This is the model I was looking at. True it's in America, but I think Thai prices are only slightly higher. This one is about 40K baht in America. ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd Generation

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Processor Intel Core i5-5200U Processor (3MB Cache, up to 2.70GHz) Operating System Windows 8.1 64 Display 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080) with WWAN Graphics Intel HD Graphics 5500 Memory 4GB PC3-12800L on MB Hard Drive 128GB Solid State Drive, Serial ATA Wireless Intel 7265 AC/B/G/N Dual Band Wireless + Bluetooth Version 4.0 Warranty 1 Year Depot or Carry-in Battery Rapid Charge, Integrated

[davejonesbkk]

Ok thanks for all the answers guys, will probably go with a Mac eventually then just for the battery life and weight!