Apple and Macs: New products, iMacs, iWork, iLife

[dougb]

I'm looking closely at the Asus g75vw form my laptop. The msi gt780 also looks really good.

Doug

[dbdynsty25]

Get the Asus. Love their products.

[dougb]

Get the Asus. Love their products.

Ordered the Asus G75vw. Thought long and hard about the Macbook but the extra expense of getting another copy of windows and office and the specs on that Asus tipped the balance.

Thanks for your help Db! Now just have to attend to my wife's selection - she was somewhat annoyed that I'd gone ahead and ordered mine without finalizing a recommendation for hers LOL! Wasn't sure about the netbook for her with just 128 gb drive.

Doug

[dbdynsty25]

Get the Asus. Love their products.

Ordered the Asus G75vw. Thought long and hard about the Macbook but the extra expense of getting another copy of windows and office and the specs on that Asus tipped the balance.

Thanks for your help Db! Now just have to attend to my wife's selection - she was somewhat annoyed that I'd gone ahead and ordered mine without finalizing a recommendation for hers LOL! Wasn't sure about the netbook for her with just 128 gb drive.

Doug

Congrats, that's gonna be a nice machine.

And as for your wife, LOL...do you have a few models in mind and we can start narrowing from there? 128gb is definitely not much space, but it all depends if she's going to store a ton of music/movies/pictures on it. If not, it's plenty. I never come close to filling up my 128gb MacBook Air drive, so it's not big deal for me.

Main downside of MacBooks and space is that they charge a hefty premium to upgrade from 128 to 256...the 13" in fact can't even be purchased w/ the 256gb SSD unless you bump up to the $1500 model.

[dougb]

Congrats, that's gonna be a nice machine.

And as for your wife, LOL...do you have a few models in mind and we can start narrowing from there? 128gb is definitely not much space, but it all depends if she's going to store a ton of music/movies/pictures on it. If not, it's plenty. I never come close to filling up my 128gb MacBook Air drive, so it's not big deal for me.

Main downside of MacBooks and space is that they charge a hefty premium to upgrade from 128 to 256...the 13" in fact can't even be purchased w/ the 256gb SSD unless you bump up to the $1500 model.

Looking closely at the Asus machine you suggested for my wife. I think we've pretty much decided not to go with the macbooks - amazingly my wife's university doesn't support macs(and it's a university that holds itself out as a real computer science leader so go figure).

I'll need to take a closer look at what she has on her current computer and whether the storage might not be as much as an issue as I think. When I chatted recently with some computer store people they thought the notebooks might not hold up to use a a desktop replacement. I might normally dismiss that except that the store mostly sells custom builds and I generally find the people there knowledgable. I'd like your read on that - would overheating become a problem on the notebooks?

Thanks,

Doug

[dbdynsty25]

Are you saying notebooks or netbooks? You've said both in the past two posts.

My wife's Asus u46 (now the u47) is a fantastic machine...she hasn't had a desktop in years and uses it for some photo and video editing and it doesn't get too hot. I mean it heats up a bit but all laptops do eventually depending on how demanding the task. It's got the huge hard drive if that was an issue for you...but obviously it's not SSD. That doesn't prevent you from putting your own in the future. Easy upgrade.

For what your wife does...that u47 is more than enough. $750 now.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+14%2 ... &cp=1&lp=1

[Danimal]

So Apple apologizes for forcing a shitty map program on us instead of actually giving us a choice.

[wco81]

You can't load maps.google.com on the browser?

Or if that's not good enough, buy another brand?

[dougb]

Are you saying notebooks or netbooks? You've said both in the past two posts.

My wife's Asus u46 (now the u47) is a fantastic machine...she hasn't had a desktop in years and uses it for some photo and video editing and it doesn't get too hot. I mean it heats up a bit but all laptops do eventually depending on how demanding the task. It's got the huge hard drive if that was an issue for you...but obviously it's not SSD. That doesn't prevent you from putting your own in the future. Easy upgrade.

For what your wife does...that u47 is more than enough. $750 now.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+14%2 ... &cp=1&lp=1

Yeah sorry DB it's notebook.

Thanks for the help.

Doug

[dougb]

Are you saying notebooks or netbooks? You've said both in the past two posts.

My wife's Asus u46 (now the u47) is a fantastic machine...she hasn't had a desktop in years and uses it for some photo and video editing and it doesn't get too hot. I mean it heats up a bit but all laptops do eventually depending on how demanding the task. It's got the huge hard drive if that was an issue for you...but obviously it's not SSD. That doesn't prevent you from putting your own in the future. Easy upgrade.

For what your wife does...that u47 is more than enough. $750 now.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+14%2 ... &cp=1&lp=1

Any thought on the Lenovo T430? My wife is looking at that and has spec'd it out at just under $1000 cdn with the rebate. I5 with the upgraded screen and 500 gb drive and 4gb ram.

Thanks,

Doug

[dbdynsty25]

I wouldn't buy a windows windows laptop with under 6gb of ram. 8 is preferable of course. That u47 has better specs all around and for cheaper. Hmmm.

[dougb]

I wouldn't buy a windows windows laptop with under 6gb of ram. 8 is preferable of course. That u47 has better specs all around and for cheaper. Hmmm.

Problem I'm having on the 14" asus is that best buy in Canada aren't carrying it. Trying to see if amazon Canada carry it.

Thanks,

Doug

[dougb]

Got my new Asus G75 - wow gonna have some fun with this machine. Don't really have too much in the way yet of software that would stretch it too any degree, but sure was nice seeing PES running smooth as butter at max detail.

Wife has ordered the Lenovo - I recommended the Asus but it's her decision LOL! For what it's worth I think the Lenovo is a good machine and her current Lenovo has served her well.

Doug

[dbdynsty25]

Nothing wrong with a Lenovo...especially if your wife has already used one and was a fan of it. Brand loyalty is a powerful thing...just ask the iSheep.

[dbdynsty25]

So got two 32gb iPod 5G touches because I forgot about one of my pre-orders (yeah, that means I order too much crap). Got the all black one and the white and silver. Both are FANTASTIC looking and they are quite fast. It's about time they put the current generations iPhone screen on the iPod touch instead of a cost saving version like the last two versions. It is definitely a beautiful piece of machinery and the design is stunning. Tho whomever decided it was a good idea to make the camera lens protrude so it doesn't sit flat on a table needs to be shot. So dumb...I'd rather have a thicker device that sits flat than thin and wobbly.

Sound is typical Apple which is middle of the road for the most part. Paired with my V-Sonic GR07s is just so so with very little bass impact, but once I use my cheaper Soundmagic e30s, the bass begins to fill out. So I guess if I'm going to use my high end IEMs I'll have to get a little amp to go with it, but 90% of my listening is at the gym these days, so I use the cheaper Soundmagic IEMs there anyway. Much easier to replace 40 dollar headphones than 160 dollar.

[Diablo25]

I picked up the new iPod nano a few days ago. It's much smaller than I expected. It's a bare bones iPod which is fine with me. I mainly got it for my workouts. I run a lot and love that Nike + is built in...no more need for the sensor on my shoe. I am pleased with it. Now I just need to find a nice little belt clip case somewhere. Can't find one anywhere (in stock) yet.

[Leebo33]

I also picked up a 7G Nano. I've been using a 5G 16GB and although it was fine I upgraded for the independent volume control, bluetooth and touch controls. I'm a long distance runner and there were times, especially in summer, when I was unable to use the wheel and I hated not being able to control the volume without messing with the wheel. I have a GPS watch but I'll have to mess with the Nike+ as a backup. I'm pleasantly surprised by the new earbuds. They aren't the primary ones I use but at least I didn't put them right back in the box. I can at least use them as a backup or take them if there is a threat of rain.

[dbdynsty25]

Who's the idiot who thought the camera protruding from the back of the new iPod touch was a good idea? I'm sitting at home on my PC listening to music on my new iPod and Ultimate Ears 6000 (awesome set of full sized headphones btw) and any time I go to navigate the iPod the damn thing rocks back and forth.

Sure, they wanted to make it thin as hell, but they also lost two important things...consistency on the back and they also apparently had to get rid of the ambient light sensor which I really don't care about but a lot do. Would it have killed them to make it a mm thicker to make it a more cohesive product? It's really a shame it's kind of annoying because the rest of the device is pretty damn spectacular. Guess I'll have to get a little snap on case or something to level off the back.

Oh, another huge annoyance, but this is iOS6, not the device itself. How the hell come we can't add a track to a playlist while we're listening to it? You have to go to the playlist, click on the edit button, and then search for the song and then add it. Why can't we just long press the song or title or whatever and have the option? Ugh...Android FTW with their contextual menus.

[greggsand]

Not really a "mac" product (though heavily apple endorsed), but probably not worth starting a new thread. Anyone buy a Nest Thermometer for their home? Thinking about checking it out.

[Spooky]

Not really a "mac" product (though heavily apple endorsed), but probably not worth starting a new thread. Anyone buy a Nest Thermometer for their home? Thinking about checking it out.

There was some posts about it in some thread a little while back. Not sure which thread though. I am very curious about this as well...Been close to pulling the trigger a couple times.

[Danimal]

I've had a Nest installed for about a year now what do you want to know? I absolutely love it and it has saved me money on my heating and cooling.

[greggsand]

I've had a Nest installed for about a year now what do you want to know? I absolutely love it and it has saved me money on my heating and cooling.

Yeah, I've yet to read a review that doesn't say the exact same thing.

[fsquid]

the Nest thing does look interesting.

[Danimal]

What I can say about the Nest is this.

1. Does everything it says it does. Make heating and cooling a no brainer.
2. Send you monthly reports on your usage so you can look at where that money is going.
3. I installed it myself. I am not handy

There are some small quirks to get use to like setting to a temp like 70 there are 3 clicks on that 70 so if you go to the high end it will shut off but by the itme the thermostat registers it might be 71 in the house.

The auto away and iPhone app are the best thing ever. My thermostat know where I am, what the weather is and adjusts.

The auto schedule is cool but turn it off after 2-3 weeks and it learns you patterns. Otherwise lets say you are sick a week and its cold so you boost the heat if the learning is still on it can effect your schedule.

[Danimal]

Oh and most importantly don't let a normal HVAC guy near it. they will tell you it is full of s*** or they never heard of it. Thing saves you money, HVAC guys don't like it.