Now *that’s* a computer

obviously the gaming graphics are sub-par

Lenovo makes some of the best laptops available. My old T41 still runs great!!! --tayme

subzero Now, now. That's $500 over the base MacBook Pro for the base of the high-end W700 model of the W series. Remember, there's also the W500 for $1349 which is $650 less than a base 15" MacBook Pro. And, of course, even with your sticker shock, the W700 IS still cheaper than a 17" MacBook Pro. Of course, that's only true as of 8:38AM PDT.

You know what I was really impressed by lately? The new Intel D945GCLF2 motherboard. It's got an Atom 330 processor @ 1.6GHz that's not only dual-core, but also supports Hyperthreading (yes, Hyperthreading). That means *4* CPU charts in the Performance tab in Task Manager. This board sells for ~$85US and includes the CPU. It has a GMA 950 on board, so it DOES technically support Vista Aero. It also supports 2GB of single-channel DDR2 RAM. I put 1GB in one of these, installed Vista Home Premium x64 SP1 with the latest drivers from Intel's website (specifically for this board), and tested out 1GB of DDR2-800 (clocked to the maximum speed of 667MHz that the board supports), and a WD "green" 500GB hard drive on it (it was free from my supplier). These are scores that I got from it: Processor: 4.2 Memory: 4.3 Aero Graphics: 2.2 Gaming Graphics: 2.9 Disk: 5.7 That's pretty freakin' impressive for an $85 board and CPU combo, considering that it also supports Aero. I dunno if maxing the RAM out to 2GB will make a difference in the perf test, but 4.3 is still pretty quick considering it's only single-channel. Definitely worth a look for a SFF PC.

By comparison, the new 15" MacBook Pros are $2000 and $2500 depending on CPU, RAM, Hard drive, etc. (The 15" Lenovo W500 is $1350) And the Mac Book Airs are $1800 and $2500 So the Lenovos are looking inexpensive!

(wierd) Sorry about the double posting.

Honestly in the current economic climate, how can anyone justify tossing over $1000 on a computer is beyond me. I can understand if it's a business investment, but as just some toy for a student?

*...and yes, there's always this: http://tinyurl.com/6zxkhn But what a kludge. And an EXPENSIVE kludge at that.

lotsa It's a bizarre set of choices in the new Apple laptop line. Dropping Firewire on the new Mac Books, raising prices, a new video connector that's compatible with nothing on the market (except their one new display), dual onboard graphics chips that you manually select between, a zero button mouse, 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 finger gestures... Just an odd announcement.

But, DRWAM, they have a new manufacturing process that Steve thinks is cool. Don't you think everyone's willing to pay more to subsidize that? :-)

@ lotsa "AlumiMacBook" Oh for crying out loud, it's spelt ALUMINIUM. Aluminum is bad enough, but AlumiMacBook, please gods no! Meanwhile, on a serious note. What's this new video connector and twin graphics cards? and why have twin graphics cards anyway? (unless it's for SLI / Xfire, of course)

gorath On the twin graphics chips, the two are similar nVidia chips but one is more powerful and the other is more power-saving. You get the choice of graphics that are 55% of a modern desktop video card (according to the presentation) or good battery life and make that choice by switching between them. They run one at a time and don't do SLI.

@all: If i understood correctly from my very brief musings (<10secs), the primary video is integrated. The MBP's have a secondary discrete GPU. The reason is for battery life, since the built-in GPU is part of the Northbridge. The Northbridge needs power anyway because it's the link between the CPU and the rest of the hardware on the motherboard and dynamic power management from within that chip is more energy-efficient than from a completely separate GPU. I would imagine that this being an NVIDIA chipset-based notebook motherboard, the discrete GPU in the MBP's is using an MXM-style interface (modular card) to the rest of the mobo. It does beg the question though: WTF were they thinking going with NVIDIA, NOW of all times, now that NVIDIA has all this bad press about defective GPU's and chipsets? Just another Apple blunder. Ya, that stock ain't lookin' too good....

@ mike, LMAO! haha. I've often wondered about mid or rear engined cars, or more specifically, ones where the, erm, luggage storage space? is under the bonnet/hood rather than at the back of the car. Is is still correct to call it a boot, or a trunk? Neither of those words alludes to being at the rear of a car I suppose. It just somehow feels wrong to refer to it as trunk OR boot. Hood however, seems innapropriate, 'cause isn't "hood" just a shorthand term for "engine hood" or "engine cover"? anyway, nevermind, it's not exactly important, unlike the spelling of ALUMINIUM, which is all-important, dammit!

@ "Delmont" :Is lotsamystuff actually not talking positive about Apple? Delmont: Save your fake shock for a time when "mikegalos" actually says something positive about Apple--or anyone other than Microsoft or a Microsoft partner. That's actually one of the signs of the Apocalypse, I think (although it's been a while since I read Revelations). Or maybe it has something to do with the Mayan calendar.

I like cake. "OHNOES! TEH APOKALYPZ!"