As the title says really,

I need to get a new laptop as the MacBook Pro that I have does not cut it for work purposes (Great at everything else BTW). New Macbooks are to expensive and lacking in horsepower for my work requirements.

I need a CPU / CPU's that support VT, I need a minimum of 8GB RAM (Yes, Minimum) , 15" Screen is better for portability, and a minimum of a 500GB SATA Drive.

The reason for this is that Microsoft have moved the goalposts a little for training and in the time I spend as a trainer (I split my time between training and consultancy) my courses (Config Manager, Exchange 2010, SCOM) have moved to a Windows 2008 64 bit platform running Hyper-V. I have NO option regarding software, I have to Run W2K8 and run Hyper-V for compliance purposes, and the Microsoft VHD's are pre constructed by them for Hyper-V.

With the PC at home, it is fine, I just got a case and selected good hardware and threw it together myself, but this I need a Laptop tp deliver from when onsite.

So, what do people have, or recommend, head back into Dell territory, HP?, Acer? Firewire 800 connectivity would be nice as I have a 1TB Firewire drive with all my VHD's stored on that, and it could keep a reasonable pace up on the VHD's running natively.

Cheers Folks...

Dell in a nutshell

VT in a laptop is going to be rare I reckon.

You should be looking at desktop replacements or possibly even gaming laptops.

I doubt you will get over 8GB in a laptop.

Thought about running RDP to your desktop?

Selling your mbp?

Thought about running RDP to your desktop?

It's a non starter mate, some secure site's don't give internet access. Nice idea though

I will be selling it Ian, Last of the "Pre-Unibodies"

2.5GHZ Core 2 Duo

4GB RAM

500GB SATAII Hard disk upgrade

Marware Protection pack fitted from new

Snow Leopard Upgrade

I need to spec and source a replacement lappy first though

Dell Precision M6500 - up to 16GB RAM, i7 extreme processors and a good size dent in your wallet... Although to be fair, I don't think it's any more than a MacBook Pro... The M4500 will go to 8Gb and leave a smaller dent in your wallet

Tony have you thought about Alienware

Not looked at them recently since going to the greener side of the fence (Apple) but i always thought they were the Dog's Danglies when it came to raw power.

Not sure if they have the other stuff you need but i know they are highly customiseable.

Tony have you thought about Alienware

Not looked at them recently since going to the greener side of the fence (Apple) but i always thought they were the Dog's Danglies when it came to raw power.

Not sure if they have the other stuff you need but i know they are highly customiseable.

Alienware are now owned by Dell and are marketed as gaming machines so you may end up getting the same processing power as one of the precision models, but paying extra for graphics cards etc that you don't really need...

Ok didn't know that one

See told you it was a while since i looked at them

i'd be interested in the macbook too should you sell...!

I'm currently writing this on a work Dell precision M2400 that I'm using for work.

- Quadro graphics.

- 4GB RAM (8GB is an option in the system configuration on the dell website)

- Supports VT on the dual core CPU I have

- 3 Year warranty and accidental damage cover was only £100 over the standard 3 year warranty

- Wireless and bluetooth

- Good battery life

- not much over 2KG, even including the DVD drive and battery etc.

- 14.1" widescreen monitor, and it's a right cracker too

- Only a 320GB HDD in my spec, but I can't see why you couldn't ask if the don't do bigger.

I'd very much recommend getting one from the precision range if you want a reliable workhorse.

I've attached below, and obviously the speeds there are with the CPU in a low power mode.

Hope that helps.

Edited 11 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

That does indeed help, thanks

As a temporary measure I have got the MacBook Pro working with 8GB RAM, it goes a bit wonky every now and again but never mind. Managed to con the X64 edition of Bootcamp into thinking W2K8 was Windows 7 and got that on in 64 bit version, just a couple of drivers to try and source and it's running fine.

OSX was then throwing it's dummy out going into a kernel panic, but I checked and I was running the 32bit kernel mode in Snow Leopard (which is the default on Mac's), switched the Kernel to 64bit, and no Kernel panic's, but now my USB Dongle from T-Mobile won't work with the 64 Bit Kernel. To be fair, that's T-Mobile's fault not Apple's.

I am reaching a crossroads though, do I persevere and try to get Hyper-V running when bootcamped to W2K8 or cave in and lay out the cash for a new laptop.

Have you got a Unibody MBP Tony or the last of the Non unibody ones?

Reason i ask is because i have the new 15" unibody (which apparently supports 8GB DDR3 Ram) and the wife has my old 17" one which was the last of the Non Unibody ones.

How much was the extra 4GB of ram?

Have you got a Unibody MBP Tony or the last of the Non unibody ones?

Reason i ask is because i have the new 15" unibody (which apparently supports 8GB DDR3 Ram) and the wife has my old 17" one which was the last of the Non Unibody ones.

How much was the extra 4GB of ram?

I have got the last of the non-unibody's mate, the A1260 2.5Ghz Core 2 Duo.

I will dig the invoice out, I got it direct from Crucial so will give you an accurate figure but I am pretty sure it was just under the £300 mark ..... not cheap :(

.....pretty sure it was just under the £300 mark ..... not cheap :(

Was that for 2 4GB Sticks? If it is thats quite cheap.

Edit - Just remembered the Non-Unibody ones were DDR2 not DDR3 so will be more expensive for the Unibody

Carl

Edited 17 May, 201016 yr by vRSCarl

That does indeed help, thanks

As a temporary measure I have got the MacBook Pro working with 8GB RAM, it goes a bit wonky every now and again but never mind. Managed to con the X64 edition of Bootcamp into thinking W2K8 was Windows 7 and got that on in 64 bit version, just a couple of drivers to try and source and it's running fine.

OSX was then throwing it's dummy out going into a kernel panic, but I checked and I was running the 32bit kernel mode in Snow Leopard (which is the default on Mac's), switched the Kernel to 64bit, and no Kernel panic's, but now my USB Dongle from T-Mobile won't work with the 64 Bit Kernel. To be fair, that's T-Mobile's fault not Apple's.

I am reaching a crossroads though, do I persevere and try to get Hyper-V running when bootcamped to W2K8 or cave in and lay out the cash for a new laptop.

The drivers are pretty good for the Dell, so if it was me, I'd probably get the new laptop and sell the Mac while it still has some value.

Obviously Just MHO.

That does indeed help, thanks

As a temporary measure I have got the MacBook Pro working with 8GB RAM, it goes a bit wonky every now and again but never mind. Managed to con the X64 edition of Bootcamp into thinking W2K8 was Windows 7 and got that on in 64 bit version, just a couple of drivers to try and source and it's running fine.

OSX was then throwing it's dummy out going into a kernel panic, but I checked and I was running the 32bit kernel mode in Snow Leopard (which is the default on Mac's), switched the Kernel to 64bit, and no Kernel panic's, but now my USB Dongle from T-Mobile won't work with the 64 Bit Kernel. To be fair, that's T-Mobile's fault not Apple's.

I am reaching a crossroads though, do I persevere and try to get Hyper-V running when bootcamped to W2K8 or cave in and lay out the cash for a new laptop.

Is that the latest firmware on ther t-mobile dongle? There's an upgrade available that has to be run from a Windows machine to allow for greater compatability with Macs... Not sure if it covers 64 bit support though...

Just buy a new 1 , or bring the dell here and i can sort it for you , it's the gigglepin usually good power washing and new coat of grease will definately sort it . hth. Ern

It's a MacBook ya senile old eeejit

And it's not the gigglepin, Carl told we it's the oggle oggle box.

It's a MacBook ya senile old eeejit

And it's not the gigglepin, Carl told we it's the oggle oggle box.

Its a goggle oggle woggle box Tony - Get it right

It's a MacBook ya senile old eeejit

And it's not the gigglepin, Carl told we it's the oggle oggle box.

Oh nice , hurling abuse at the more senior people on here , i offered in good faith, anyway its your phone that does'nt work or ya memory , now i'm gonna have to post a "dont like it here" thread

Could I interest you in apples latest in portable machines?

Portable ? what with a forklift truck????????????? anyway it'd tip his float over

IIRC you can get dell laptops with the core i7 these days.. no mention of them being any more cut-down then their desktop bretheren.

Something like a Dell Studio XPS 16 should do the trick... they do come with VT+ and can be specced with 8 gig.