What laptop? I keep coming back to the macbook!

[Twizzle]

I need a laptop to replace my desktop machine as my better half has decided that it takes up too much room.

I currently have a home built system that is running Ubuntu on an Intel 6600 dual core cpu, 4Gb RAM and an Nvidia 9800 graphics card.

I use it for photos, a bit of movie editing, internet and email / office stuff. I don't play games but like to have my Compiz settings tweaked up.

My budget is around the £1000 mark and I am happy to 'downgrade' to a smaller screen than I have now (a 22" widescreen and 17" LCD running in TwinView) but think that 15" really is the smallest I could use for photo and video work. Whatever I get will need to run Ubuntu, but will probably dual boot as I have an iPhone.

Initially I was looking at the 17" macbook pro but sadly it is out of my budget!

I then started looking at some of the Sony Viao FW machinies such as the Sony VAIO FW51MF/H but it uses ATI graphics which I want to stay away from from a Ubuntu point of view. It also only has a 2 hour battery life which is, in my opinion, a little too short.

Dell always seem to be touted as good laptops but I really don't like the new wedge shape that they seem to have gone for and the Inspiron's have again got the ATI graphics if you go for anything a bit powerful.

I don't want a monster of a laptop so I am keeping away from the desktop replacements with 18"+ screens and ones that need a removal company to get it from room to room. Plus most of the ones I have seen recently seem to be covered in extra buttons and 'media controls' that I don't need or want (and probably won't play with Ubuntu)

Yesterday I spent about an hour in PC World looking at what was available (whilst trying to convince the HP rep that I didn't need his help....), but kept walking back to the macbook pro stand, as everything else is too big or garish or has ATI graphics or a really bad battery life...

I am now thinking that a 15" macbook pro may be the way it has to go but it is still that little too expensive for what you get.

Aside from my iPhone, I have never used an apple bit of kit and, untill Ubuntu :p, have always 'been a pc' (god I hate those adverts - especially the new Windows 7 ones!)

Am I just being sucked into the world of Steve Jobs or is there another laptop out there for me?

I know that there are countless threads on here about what laptop to buy but reading through them all still hasn't helped! They are either a different budget or relate to a different specification required.

[NightwishFan]

Try System 76. A bit pricy for me, but you have Ubuntu preinstalled and can get a very powerful system if you have the money.

http://system76.com/

[HappinessNow]

...I am now thinking that a 15" macbook pro may be the way it has to go but it is still that little too expensive for what you get....

You could go for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, that would be closer to your budget.

If I had to buy a new computer, I would buy an Apple.

[RabbitWho]

You could go for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, that would be closer to your budget.

If I had to buy a new computer, I would buy an Apple.

Why? Why buy something with a core 2 duo etc. from apple for 1000 dollars when the same specs cost 500 at dell or acer? or 700 at HP?

The only reason I could think of would be if you loved the way the thing looked or you loved OSX and couldn't live without it. ..

[Paddy Landau]

For that price, you could get a great laptop and a large screen to attach to the laptop.

Look around on websites for prices. I normally get good prices when I buy direct through Toshiba (http://www.toshiba.co.uk/); look around for special offers.

[koleoptero]

Just make sure you buy a decent laptop with plenty of ram and a good graphics card to use an external monitor when you need to do your graphics work. 15'' monitors are not good for graphics processing, not at all.

[cocopuffz]

I've got a HP HDX 16 and Ubuntu works out of the box with it. Everything including the media buttons. The only thing I haven't gotten to work is the HP media center remote control. Someone here got it working, but I use my Android to control my Laptop media anyways so no biggy. It's got a nvidia 9600gt and the drivers work great. Compiz works 100% etc.

I've seen a few under 900 (brand new @ Futureshop.ca) as it's been discontinued and has been replaced with the DV7 line.. I think...

[Twizzle]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I did look at the system72 website but being in the UK , I did not really want to buy a laptop from abroad. Plus I like the idea of being able to walk into a shop to look at the laptop - before buying on line for the discount :D.

As for an external monitor, I had not really thought of that. I was planning on selling my existing setup to put towards the laptop, but I guess I could keep one of the monitors and go for something a little cheaper.

That has of course, now opened a whole new ball park. I could go for a smaller but powerful laptop and keep a big monitor. So many options!!

[HermanAB]

Howdy,

I got a 13 inch Toshiba U500 yesterday. It has Nvidia graphics, Core 2 Duo processor and works OK.

[koleoptero]

I'd keep the 22'' widescreen if I were you. I'm telling you from experience that it's a pain to do graphics in a 15'' monitor (I have to constantly zoom in and out all the time) and 17'' laptops are not easy to carry around (plus a 17'' screen won't make much of a difference).

Make sure you have at least 4gb of ram, 4-5 multilayered images in gimp, or gimp and inkscape open at the same time take a lot of ram. And a decent graphics card. The processor doesn't need to be perfect imho, just good.

[docus]

In my opinion, Thinkpads are hard to beat - robust, well specced, Linux-friendly. They feel solid, not all flimsy and plasticky like some makes do.

[siimo]

Pick up a dell. Now a days they have intel i3/i5/i7 cpus to fit every budget and performance need.

[ssam]

have a look at linux emporium. the do linux laptops in the uk.

the thinkpads should be just as well built as the macbook, though a very different aesthetic.