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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

MacBook Pro alternative?

Malik Tigrine

Malik Tigrine

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Hi,

I just received my two scarlet, and i'm looking for the best portable solution. I know, the way to go is Apple and his MacBook but i'm much more confortable on windows, so can you advice me the best windows solution?

ps : i'm in europe


Best Regards,
 
I like Lenovo W-series for PC laptops. I use one every day.
 
There are only two notebook/laptop computers on the market right now that I would recommend for serious creative/ post / image work...

HP EliteBook -- big, heavy, powerful, wow that's a nice DreamColor screen. Wish they made a 4K retina screen model.

MacBook Pro Retina -- Sleek, lightweight, fast, Thunderbolt & USB3 for fast I/O, lovely screen with oodles of pixels. Wish they made a 17" 4K model.

Both run Windows very well.


There are a couple other compelling options out there from PC vendors, but nothing I prefer over the above two. ASUS and HP both have some sleek systems, as well as Sony and Samsung, but none are as nice as the MBPR. Origin and a couple others have a few that rival the 17" EliteBook, even beat it on a few points, but they don't have the DreamColor display or the world-wide support. The above two are tops for build quality. My MBPR is probably the best laptop I've ever owned. A new model should be arriving very soon, literally any day now, with updated CPUs. As much as I like my current model and I feel the CPU is just fine, I will upgrade to the new version if I can get more than 16GB RAM. That's been the one shortcoming of the system... It really needs 24~32GB in the top configuration.

The Lenovo laptops, especially their Workstation 'W' series, are great as well. They don't have the GPU or screen options on the same level of the HP though.
 
Jeff, are you thinking they may in fact offer 32GB RAM on the new MBPr? That would be the Holy Grail for a Mac laptop for me. I'm sure it will be same deal where you will have to order it that way which will drive price up, unless they don't hit us with a premium on the RAM upgrade.
 
At this point, 32GB RAM is more wishful thinking than anything. I'm expecting new CPUs in the lineup here real soon, but anything beyond that is speculation... We can hope.
 
i agree that the mbp retina might be the best laptop i have ever owned...which is why i probably expect so much from it and with that sometimes comes disappointment.... the 16 ram drive me crazy.....
are the new cpus really that much an improvement over the existing ones? i thought they are more of a slight improvement in speed but more efficient in all aspects?
i would upgrade in a second for 32 ram and 2vram....i doubt either will happen....for 99.9% of all people 16ram with 1vram in that package with that screen is more then they will ever need, especially if the new processors (and mavericks) add another hour to the already amazing battery life....
 
The new CPUs are only a slight improvement. If you need a new laptop today, I would at least hold off until after the Apple unveil here in the next 45 minutes or so before making a decision. They may not announce new laptops, it may just end up being a silent update when they ship, which should be soon. But There really are no new GPUs to upgrade to. The current CPUs are just about as good, you might gain 3% boost with Haswell. Yeah, it's really that small... More RAM is the upgrade we all really need. We can only hope.

I'm betting Apple won't ship new Macbook Pro and Air systems with Haswell until they can ship with OSX Mavericks and Thunderbolt 2. Both should be ready within the next 3 to 6 weeks.
 
Malik T. said:
I just received my two scarlet, and i'm looking for the best portable solution. I know, the way to go is Apple and his MacBook but i'm much more confortable on windows, so can you advice me the best windows solution?
Click to expand...

As both a Windows and OS X user, I have only one recommendation. Try to get comfortable with OS X. OS X/Retina Mac Book Pro is the best solution for portable media work. You'll probably not look back...
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
There are only two notebook/laptop computers on the market right now that I would recommend for serious creative/ post / image work...

HP EliteBook -- big, heavy, powerful, wow that's a nice DreamColor screen. Wish they made a 4K retina screen model.

MacBook Pro Retina -- Sleek, lightweight, fast, Thunderbolt & USB3 for fast I/O, lovely screen with oodles of pixels. Wish they made a 17" 4K model.

Both run Windows very well.


There are a couple other compelling options out there from PC vendors, but nothing I prefer over the above two. ASUS and HP both have some sleek systems, as well as Sony and Samsung, but none are as nice as the MBPR. Origin and a couple others have a few that rival the 17" EliteBook, even beat it on a few points, but they don't have the DreamColor display or the world-wide support. The above two are tops for build quality. My MBPR is probably the best laptop I've ever owned. A new model should be arriving very soon, literally any day now, with updated CPUs. As much as I like my current model and I feel the CPU is just fine, I will upgrade to the new version if I can get more than 16GB RAM. That's been the one shortcoming of the system... It really needs 24~32GB in the top configuration.

The Lenovo laptops, especially their Workstation 'W' series, are great as well. They don't have the GPU or screen options on the same level of the HP though.
Click to expand...
It was either HP or Dell that just announced a >3k display on their next workstation class mobile - I think it was Dell. I've bought a number of both (both for myself and for guys in my group) and while the 8770 is a strong machine (It's what I use now), I think the Dell's have been more problem free overall. Sadly Apple doesn't make anything to compete with either the 8770 series or the Precision M when fully kitted out. Have not tried Lenovo (didn't have a competing machine every time I was in the market). Edit: it's Dell - 3200x1800 full sRGB Gamut.
 
Asus and a few other laptop manufacturers have recently released systems with the new nvidia gtx 760m and haswell m chipsets, I don't imagine a new mbpr is far behind. Nvidia also just released the gtx 780m gpu as well. My assumption is that apple has been waiting for the official release of TB2 and usb 3.1 before releasing a new mbpr.
 
Jett He said:
Dell really? I thought it was the HP Zbook with that resolution. http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/10/hp-zbook-mobile-workstations/
Click to expand...

Both, Dell Precision M4800 and M3800 also feature 3200x1800 display options. Thinkpad W540 is releasing soon with 2880x1620. Off-topic, and a bunch of ultrabooks. 3200x1800 is the new standard for the 13.3 to 15.6 premium laptop. Incidentally, Asus Zenbook 15 shipped with a 2880x1620 display option in Europe last generation, but never made it to other markets.

Shiblon Wixom said:
Asus and a few other laptop manufacturers have recently released systems with the new nvidia gtx 760m and haswell m chipsets, I don't imagine a new mbpr is far behind. Nvidia also just released the gtx 780m gpu as well. My assumption is that apple has been waiting for the official release of TB2 and usb 3.1 before releasing a new mbpr.
Click to expand...

Macbook Pro Retina, like Precision M3800 or Zenbook 15, are portable machines which sacrifice GPU performance for thickness/weight. You will never find a GTX class GPU inside one of these machines; these machines are designed for mid-range GPUs using upto 40W (M3800 does have a mid-range Quadro instead of Geforce). For GPU performance you have to go for something bulkier, which use 100W or more, each. With the proliferation of GPU utilization, particularly with the upcoming GPU R3D debayer/decode, half an inch thick and a KG or two more is well worth the compromise. Though the Zbook 15 and Thinkpad W540 look like very promising middle grounds.
 
Thank's for all your answers.

you have convinced me, i will take a MacBook Pro Retina. Now the problem is Apple... They will release the new Retina Haswell in october with Maverick OS, i think, and i need a portable station for my project, in 1 week maximum.
So i'm frustrated to buy the actual macbook but i don't think that i have an other way.
 
Malik T. said:
Thank's for all your answers.

you have convinced me, i will take a MacBook Pro Retina. Now the problem is Apple... They will release the new Retina Haswell in october with Maverick OS, i think, and i need a portable station for my project, in 1 week maximum.
So i'm frustrated to buy the actual macbook but i don't think that i have an other way.
Click to expand...

You can get a 60 day return period at Best Buy by becoming a Best Buy Reward Zone Premier Silver member by spending $2500 there. I'm not sure if it applies to products you buy before you have the status though.
 
Alex Kiritz said:
You can get a 60 day return period at Best Buy by becoming a Best Buy Reward Zone Premier Silver member by spending $2500 there. I'm not sure if it applies to products you buy before you have the status though.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, i'm in France
 
Alex Kiritz said:
You can get a 60 day return period at Best Buy by becoming a Best Buy Reward Zone Premier Silver member by spending $2500 there. I'm not sure if it applies to products you buy before you have the status though.
Click to expand...

And certain brands are exempt from the 60 day policy, Apple being one. Same thing when they offer 15% off coupons and other such things, never works for Apple, Sony, Samsung, game systems, etc.. Pretty much it's just there to get you in the door and only works on crap you probably don't want. :(

Right now isn't the best time to buy a new system. Lots of new stuff hitting the market in the next 30 to 60 days. A couple new Haswell chips in the line-up, Thunderbolt 2, possibly some USB3.1 offerings. Apple isn't the only one with new stuff about to launch. If you need it, you need it, but if you can find a way to wait you'll do better.
 
If you need it, you need it.....I don't think we will see TB2 in Mbps soon and even if, it will take a while for TB2 stuff to hit the market anyway.....haswell will be a very barely noticeable speed bump, I doubt GPU will make big jumps either.....
in the end apple has really high resale value...if you need it now! there is no way around it anyway.....
 
Malik T. said:
Unfortunately, i'm in France
Click to expand...

Hi Malik, If you could see how win 7 Clevo goes with Redcine X and Premiere, I am not sure you go Apple. I am not computer reseller, but I use Clevo for my second year with Red and I am so happy that I would not go back to Apple. I live in France near Paris too if you wnat to see.

Just a little link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe52s3CqZS4

Olivier
 
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