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Thread ID: 99921 2009-05-19 22:56:00 My friend needs laptop and I'm suggesting a mac - help! utopian201 (6245) Press F1
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775179 2009-05-19 22:56:00 Following on from my previous thread of a friend's laptop no longer working, she has asked me to suggest a notebook.

She doesn't want to spend too much but needs something more capable than a netbook.

No matter what I look for, I can't seem to find a laptop faster than a macbook for the same price or cheaper (macbook $1848).
13.3"
Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz
2gb ddr2 memory
120gb HDD
Geforce 9400M

I'm a 'pc person' and I always thought macs were generally more expensive, but I cannot seem to find a PC laptop with a faster GPU (faster than Geforce 9400M or Radeon 3470) and cpu for the same price or cheaper.

I've looked at Acer, Asus, HP, Sony and Toshiba. My friend doesn't really want a Dell since she wants to be able to see, touch and try out the notebook before she buys it.

The closest laptop I can find is the HP dv5-1210A/1209A ($1399), which has a Radeon 3650 but a significantly slower processor (AMD 2.2Ghz). It has a larger hard drive (but my friend already has an external drive) and a bigger screen than the mac (but the resolution is the same).

I always thought the mac tax was several hundred, but at this price point (considering macs are -not- supposed to be competitively priced), I can't see a better deal; slightly more expensive pc laptops are actually -worse- than the HP. Is there a line of notebook pcs which I'm not aware of... help!? am I going insane!?
utopian201 (6245)
775180 2009-05-19 23:05:00 Really depends what she wants to run, the GPU suggests gaming and for that MAC is a terrible choice. DeSade (984)
775181 2009-05-19 23:44:00 get the dv5 1209AX, i have that one and its great, even plays farcry well with no lag etc.
good price for the specs.
macs are overpriced anyway
GameJunkie (72)
775182 2009-05-20 03:16:00 No matter what I look for, I can't seem to find a laptop faster than a macbook for the same price or cheaper (macbook $1848).
13.3"
Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz
2gb ddr2 memory
120gb HDD
Geforce 9400M



Try harder:
Asus X56A 15.4" C2D MV P8400 2.26Ghz 250G 2GB VB
[ASUSX56A-AP0] NZ$1,615.90
Asus X56A 15.4" C2D MV P8400 2.26Ghz 250G 2GB VB

CPU Intel Montevina P8400 2.26GHz
Memory 2G DDRII 800
H.D.D 250GB HDD
VGA Intel GMA X4500HD
LCD 15.4" WXGA
Wireless LAN 802.11AGN 10/100/1000
ODD DVDRW S-Multi DL
O.S Windows Vista Business
Power Adapter 90W
Bluetooth Yes
Webcam 1.3MP WebCam


Took me about 5 seconds, didn't even look at other brands, or other models even yet.
pctek (84)
775183 2009-05-20 03:44:00 Hi thanks, that one is about the same price, but it has integrated graphics...

How did you find it? I can't seem to find a site which lists notebooks by CPU/graphics card in NZ (with availability in Chch). Pricespy only lists by model number which usually aren't that informative :)
utopian201 (6245)
775184 2009-05-20 03:51:00 Email Des at GlobeSpec, hes always seen me right in Christchurch
www.globespec.co.nz
DeSade (984)
775185 2009-05-20 05:49:00 www.pricespy.co.nz


Just be careful which shop you choose, some of them aren't that great with after sales service.
pctek (84)
775186 2009-05-20 22:07:00 Hi thanks, that one is about the same price, but it has integrated graphics...


Over $200 cheaper, bigger screen, bigger HD, faster processor...
Far better configuration (unless you want gaming)
Wheels (7227)
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