Question:
Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Hi again..I posted on Sep 14 (re: Dell D620 vs. Macbook...just click on my user name to find that post) with my questionnaire and my concerns. However looking at more options, I'm stuck again!!! I wasn't quite keen on the Dell D620, mainly because it's not the prettiest thing, but also because of its screen issues which I was reading about on this site and others. The macbook was cool but the nightmare of using Adobe CS2 and other windows specific programs while I'm trying to finish up grad school really freaked me out. Also, to upgrade your harddrive you DO void your warranty UNLESS you do it through the designated Apple people (which means more $$).
I started to consider other options such as the Dell M1210 and the Fujitsu S7110. The Dell M1210 seems a bit TOO small but still bulky. And I have heard that it is a bit of a nightmare when it comes to reformatting (so anyone with insight into this problem, please reply!). But it has the 100 GB, 7200 rpm option which rocks. The Fujitsu S7110 is currently my candy of choice because it's super thin, has an eraserhead (like the Dell), and I've had a Fujitsu before and it was awesome. But it's pricey for what you get, and I only had a 1 year warranty on it so I never used their service.
Also, I heard that 7200 rpm is minimum to run Vista, and I refuse to become obsolete when this comes out next year, so I feel like if I compromise and get a 5400 rpm HDD, I will lose out.
So I am posting again to get your feedback. All except the M1210 are about the same price ($1700). So it's really not about price. I'm especially curious about S7110 owners because there doesn't seem to be very many postings and I am a bit worried about that!
Thanks for all of your help. This has been a great site for knowledge gathering!!! :)
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Hello Potential Mac User lol, Well first off I would say (personally) that I consider Apple the communist computer company. I would pick either an HP or the Fijitsu for what your looking for. Secondly you do not need a 7200 RPM Hard Drive to Run Windows Vista, whoever told you that must have been on acid. In the Second Quarter of 2007 Seagate and Samsung are releasing Hybrid Hard Drives which will work in place of todays SATA drives. The Hybrid drives will blow a 7200 away, so don't worry about that, I say HP or Fijitsu! Best of luck!
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Hello Potential Mac User lol, Well first off I would say (personally) that I consider Apple the communist computer company.
Please, they're just as fascist as any other American company. I think they've proven that with iTMS.
The hybrid drives aren't going to be the ground breaking development people seem to expect. They'll aid in bootup time, that's about it. The access speed of flash is much faster than traditional magnetic disks, but the transfer speeds still blow. Don't expect too much or you'll only be disappointed until MRAM production ramps up (years).
That said, don't worry much about rotational velocity. 5400 RPM will be enough for most laptop users, 7200 RPM being a nice improvement if the heat isn't an issue (it is on any Dell.)
I agree on the S7110, though. It's the lightest 14" you're going to find short of the Y5. Fujitsu has traditionally had the best screens around, though that's faltering lately. The SXGA+ model is also matte, which I think is a good thing. Their build quality and keyboards are average. That is, better than Dell, but not a Thinkpad.
But being an artist, I'd suggest the Apple. You get an excellent screen without any doubt, with a choice of matte or gloss. You also get the best environment for graphic arts out there. Font management, for example, is moving forward nicely while it only stagnates in Windows and Linux. The build quality is also quite good. While it's cosmetically rather fragile, you really have to slam it around to do any real damage. Beyond the hard drive, they're always easier to take out.
Errr.. are you looking at the Macbook or Pro? I'd probably go the S7110 over the base Macbook model. Also, if you're looking at the pro you might look at the Lenovo T60 w/ Flexview as a Windows alternative. It should be in the same price range.
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Hybrid Drives will be faster than most current 7200 RPM drives, they will use much less power aswell which is a HUGE consideration when thinking about buying any notebook. While I do agree that Apple are just as fascist as other PC companies they do really lock you in when you buy their products which I consider to be over-priced for what they really are (laptops anyways). Yu can do basically anything on a PC that you can do on a Mac. Ubuntu or Kubuntu is a good XP alternative if need be. I stand firm!
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
I dont know what other programs you're talking about...
BUT!
Adobe CS2 works VERY well in Apple.
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Thanks for the input guys. I heard that the 7200 rpm was just leaps and bounds faster and I actually think I read in another forum (not thie one) about the Vista compatibility.
I am considering the macbook, not the pro. I agree, I am a little hesitant with the macbook simply because I am in a PC world and I haven't been totally gung ho about my 2GB iPOD Nano. It's crashed twice and because I got it from the future shop WITH a 3 year warranty, I thought I would be able to just bring it back for a new one, but Apple wants control of their 1 year warranty so I have to send it directly to them. grrr...
I also think that the Dells are nice but I've also heard they have the highest return rate...however, this doesn't factor in the ease that you can return your dell (I'm assuming).
The Fujitsu is a nice choice, and although no camera or built-in mic (I skype a lot so again, another hesitation to this computer).
I think I'm almost ready for the big decision (Fujitsu). But I am easily swayed so I am going to go on a hunt to find these computers in real life. I've played with the macbook and it was really nice but actually heavier than i thought it would be. We have a bunch of the D620s at work and so far, they haven't made me fall in love...
still confused :)
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Sure, a hybrid 7200 RPM drive will be faster than a current 7200 RPM drive because it will use higher densities and be on the cutting edge of technology. The flash memory will have very little to do with it except when dealing with a lot of very small files which are accessed in a relatively predictable manner.
I'm with you on Ubuntu, I'm using it right now until I get Arch or Debian configured on my new T60 :)
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Unfortunately Fujitsu has never been all that popular in this country, so it's never been the easiest to find reviews for their larger machines (the ultraportables are the popular ones.) Also, Fujitsu's last generation in the S7xxx series was a bit of a bomb, so people seem to have been frightened off. I'm really not sure how well they've recovered, but they did well with the P7120 after the P7010 was less than people expected.
You're just barely in the range for a T60 with a 15" Flexview. If you extend your budget just a bit you'll be comfortably into the range, and you'll have the best of everything. IBM and now Lenovo engineers really know thermal management. The keyboards and build quality are extremely solid as well. They're also very open about who made what parts and will exchange pretty much at your whim (don't overdo it), so if you get a Sony battery it should be pretty easy to get a Sanyo or Philips. Most importantly, however, the Flexview screen is IPS which means excellent color, and the backlighting is very even to a slightly varying degree.
But I'm a Thinkpad whore, so take that into consideration. I'm absolutely in love with my new machine, and I don't think I've ever met a Thinkpad owner who wasn't.
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
Ubuntu is great:)
About the Hybrid Drive maybe I greased it up a bit, it will only perform better under Windows Vista :-p yet another reason that you will be forced to upgrade I suppose.
Answer:
Re: Dell D620 vs M1210 vs Macbook 2.0 vs. Fujitsu s7110
I just found this thread so I like to ask a question. Did they solve the limited write cycles for flash in the hybrid drives? Cause typically they are rated for 10k erase-write cycles. Which is one of the reasons they were never used to replaced harddisks before. Lack of ram etc quickly kills them with the swapping.