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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: noodles256 on Fri, 18 March 2011, 22:44:30

Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Fri, 18 March 2011, 22:44:30: I scrunged up $600 by selling some useless electronics I don't use anymore. My parents have also decided to help me fund a new laptop on the condition I visit them at least once every month.

So now I am at a dilemma. I have an iMac as my primary computer right now, but I wouldn't want to get another desktop since I am never at my apartment. So naturally my only option would be to get a laptop.

I want a Macbook Air since I know it is perfect for school since I don't need much memory and I love the portability. BUT the problem is I am a PC gamer and Macs can't cater to our hunger. Sager just restocked their NP8130 (though it won't ship for another 2-3 weeks which is a big deal-killer) which is running a pretty good system for only $1200. The Macbook Air has nothing really going for it other than being a good school computer. I wouldn't be able to use mech keyboards to their full potential either if I buy a Mac Air.

on a sidenote - My g/f surprised me with a Ducky Year of the Tiger Blue Full-Sized keyboard which is oddly perfect since I don't have my Filco Reds anymore. BUT I HAZ ONE PROBLEM, it doesn't work on Mac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GAH

So if I get a Macbook Air, I probably will have to sell that Keyboard to. I am leaning pretty hard to the Mac too. Derp
Title: Sager laptops are beasts!
Post by: thatdudeberto on Sat, 19 March 2011, 06:02:41: I say go for the sager. I myself just preorder the sager np5160. Yes unfortunately you do end waiting two week for restocks to come and and another one or two depending on you modifications by it's worth it.

I've seen the apples Mac books and yes they are sexy and portable but if you like gaming and like having the option of customizing your laptop and not feel like you have sold your soul to the devil sager is the way to go. They offer cheap customizations that blow away a Mac book pro. Even if you dont or cant afford to upgrde you still get a better deal with sager's because it comes with an nvidia gtx 460 standard. Though is you want portablility for school the sager np5160 isn't too bad because it doesnt weigh much but still has gaming power. If you really want a power but with style you should also check out ASUS computers.

Good luck.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: bytemeavaj on Sat, 19 March 2011, 06:40:36: I've never been one of those who chose form over function. I say get the one that does the most for you. Simple as that. If you value portability, you know what to do. If you value a higher screen resolution and performance, choose the Sager. Me personally, I would never settle for anything less than a 1200P or 1080P resolution screen and discrete graphics.

Also, sell your iMac too after you get your Sager. This comes with the GTX 460M right? That's a good mobile graphics solution.

Also, I carry a 12 pound (with 240W adapter) Dell Precision M6500 everyday (17 inch laptop) with a bunch of other things. So don't tell me the 15.6" Sager isn't portable! Haha!
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: iMav on Sat, 19 March 2011, 07:13:22: I have the maxed out 11.6" MBA (1.6GHz C2D, 4GB ram, 128GB SSD). I absolutely love it. I always hated the MBAs because they were only thinner then the MacBooks, with the same form factor (and neutered performance-wise). But the smaller form factor and decent performance of the new mini MBA sold me.

As for gaming...it plays minecraft just fine. :)
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: Butterfly on Sat, 19 March 2011, 09:57:16: I don't think gaming on a laptop is ever very good. I would sell the iMac, build a decent desktop gaming pc (i am sure could be done for less than 1000$'s) and but the MacBook air- they are very nice.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 19 March 2011, 13:38:27: The iMac is my main storage computer. I have about 31 gigs of music and all my data, so selling that isn't really an option. I am not really a big fan of ASUS, it was the brand of laptop that just broke after two years. I am probably going to get the Sager since I have been yearning for Crysis 2 and I need a computer that can handle it.

Thanks for the advice.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: Ekaros on Sat, 19 March 2011, 13:42:14: Quote from: noodles256;314423
The iMac is my main storage computer. I have about 31 gigs of music and all my data, so selling that isn't really an option. I am not really a big fan of ASUS, it was the brand of laptop that just broke after two years. I am probably going to get the Sager since I have been yearning for Crysis 2 and I need a computer that can handle it.

Thanks for the advice.

Umm, 100$ for 500GB-1TB external hard-drive?

Or are we talking multiple terabytes of data?
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 19 March 2011, 14:41:28: Quote from: Ekaros;314424
Umm, 100$ for 500GB-1TB external hard-drive?

Or are we talking multiple terabytes of data?

But MAC uses a different memory type. It's not easy just to switch, I have a 250gb harddrive but it only works on Macs
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: lootbag on Sat, 19 March 2011, 14:50:43: Pretty sure that is just how the hard drive is formatted.
Format as NTFS, and away you go.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: Ekaros on Sat, 19 March 2011, 14:58:07: Quote from: noodles256;314441
But MAC uses a different memory type. It's not easy just to switch, I have a 250gb harddrive but it only works on Macs

Use FAT32, only issue with it is limit of 4GB for single file, might have to use some software to split those up.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 19 March 2011, 15:03:33: Quote from: lootbag;314447
Pretty sure that is just how the hard drive is formatted.
Format as NTFS, and away you go.

My old laptop wouldn't read off the hard drive. Idk, maybe iMav can help explain
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: Seriously on Sun, 20 March 2011, 14:31:31: Grab this driver for OS X (http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/2010/10/ntfs-3g-for-mac-os-x-2010102.html) that'll read and write to standard, NTFS-formatted hard drives. Then move all your data, or use Time Machine, get a MBA, and restore the image onto the MBA.

edit: As for a decision, I used to be PC-only, and gamed on it all the time, then I went to school. It was a Mac or a gaming notebook, like an ASUS or Sager. Went with the 13-inch mid-2010 MBP. The 320M can handle a lot of things I throw at it, but it's not that great. The Air has the same card, and I can pull off 20FPS at the lowest setting the Crysis 2 demo allows, but the Air also has a < 2GHz Core 2 Duo. Unless you want to be playing everything at low- I'd suggest against an Air. If you really love OS X, go grab a new 15-inch. The video cards in there are blazing fast, and so are the processors.

However, what Butterfly suggests is the ideal setup, IMO.

edit 2: Or, you can sell your iMac and get a 15-inch or 17-inch MBP with a 6750M video card. This'll also come with the newfangled Thunderbolt port, which I doubt you'll ever use, but who knows?
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: bytemeavaj on Sun, 20 March 2011, 22:50:56: Quote from: ripster;315042
Get a AMD Fusion NotBook MacBookAirKiller for half that price and spend the money on books and beer.

HP DM1z

Well, it's not THAT great for gaming so maybe spend the money saved on a GF for entertainment. $600 should be enough dating to beat lots of Call of Duty sessions.

What happens if Vader jabs that lightsaber into the headphone jack?
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Tue, 22 March 2011, 11:03:34: Going with a Macbook Pro 13 inch with SSD.

And I will build a PC later. thanks for help
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: .XL on Wed, 23 March 2011, 12:33:58: I have a 15'' macbook pro and I also built a windows gaming pc. I think that's the best way to go...but I'd be mac everything if I knew how to hackintosh an AMD (too difficult it seems).

It's a shame not being able to play some games on the Mac, but every month more and more new games are coming to mac. I play mainly HoN and SC2, both which can be played on a mac. The screen on the mac is also much, much nicer than anything offered at similar price point laptops (that I've found).

The new MBA is pretty nice...the old one I wouldn't think about getting, but the new one is pretty cool. A macbook air and a hackintosh desktop would be just what the doctor ordered for me :p

Or you could grab the maxed out 13'' MBP which has the same specs as the Sager, and use it mobile and in your desktop. That's my other option when it's time to get a new laptop, and I like it the best. With a few cool docking stations out you can sit the laptop down connect it to the 2 screens and you have a desktop. (i prefer the more power you can get out of the desktop, though).

EDIT: Didn't read your last comment. That's the best way to go, congratulations.
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 11:58:38: got an Alienware m17x on the way.

Upgraded ram to 6 gb, 2gb radeon 6970m, 1920 x1080

all for $1681. Haggled around $450 off asking price
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: .XL on Sat, 02 April 2011, 12:51:36: Quote from: noodles256;323336
got an Alienware m17x on the way.

Upgraded ram to 6 gb, 2gb radeon 6970m, 1920 x1080

all for $1681. Haggled around $450 off asking price

...how do you haggle with alienware...?
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 13:01:05: Quote from: .XL;323368
...how do you haggle with alienware...?

Call dell and try to get a U.S. agent.

I got $100 off for education and the rest was from pure will power. Took about a week of talking to reps to get it that low
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 13:53:49: Quote from: ripster;323385
I still would've gone with the $500 NotBooks.
]

BUT MOM, this one has pretty lights!!!
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 13:56:30: Quote from: ripster;323395
Actually at a dinner with some friends the woman across from me raved about the backlit keys.

I kept my mouth shut. In real life I'm quite polite.

that was my mom probably
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 14:30:09: how did you like the food? I thought it was quite mcdonalds-esque
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: Pylon on Sat, 02 April 2011, 14:47:53: Quote from: ripster;323385
I still would've gone with the $500 NotBooks.
Show Image
(http://canv.as/ugc/original/5dc54d58ac06d8bc879426a15e0dbeca3195ac64.png)

Hey, an Otaku Thinkpad with unusual hinges that's 14-15" widescreen in the first frame and then changes into 12" 4:3 X-series in the next...
Title: Sager NP8130 vs Macbook Air
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 02 April 2011, 15:40:48: Quote from: Pylon;323422
Hey, an Otaku Thinkpad with unusual hinges that's 14-15" widescreen in the first frame and then changes into 12" 4:3 X-series in the next...

vut are u saying