High resolution desktop replacement or ultrabook with external monitor?

mranderson · 18 Jun 2012 at 18:53

Having had a different business laptop every other year I have narrowed down what realy matters for my type of work. I would always get the highest resolution screen available for that specific model and then I would check CPU, memory etc.
Portability was not in the top of my list but avoided anything over 15". I am now thinking of getting a powerfull ultrabook with a high resolution screen. What do you think about this option?
Cost can be around the same (including the monitor).

alfalavala · 21 Jun 2012 at 15:27

Macbook pro retina?

Mercutio · 21 Jun 2012 at 18:12

He said a powerful ultrabook. Not an average ultrabook with an overblown price tag.

MasterBruce · 22 Jun 2012 at 20:38

Mercutio said:
He said a powerful ultrabook. Not an average ultrabook with an overblown price tag.

lol "average??" you sure about that?.. :rolleyes:

Mercutio · 22 Jun 2012 at 22:27

MasterBruce said:
lol "average??" you sure about that?..

It's a Mac hence VERY.

Mac = safe, proven (i.e oldish) tech with LOTS OF SPARKLES AND WHITE TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE. SPARKLES AND WHITE ARE EXPENSIVE YOU KNOW!!!

MasterBruce · 23 Jun 2012 at 09:51

mranderson said:
Having had a different business laptop every other year I have narrowed down what realy matters for my type of work. I would always get the highest resolution screen available for that specific model and then I would check CPU, memory etc.
Portability was not in the top of my list but avoided anything over 15". I am now thinking of getting a powerfull ultrabook with a high resolution screen. What do you think about this option?
Cost can be around the same (including the monitor).

Don't worry about the comments of average or expensive, (old technology esp the new model?, now that's a new one lol), if you can afford it get it, you won't regret it and will be using it for years. I've got a 2 year old Macbook Pro 15inch, one of the best purchases i've ever made. Used a Macbook 13inch before that for 6 years. Recently tried the new Samsung Series 9 (ivy bridge) 15 inch, Samsung make nice machines but for a high end device a really poor screen. If you can afford it do it, don't forget resale value, maybe expensive at first but won't be down to a couple of hundred when/if you decide to sell. I have Windows installed via Parallel for the odd occasion when I want it as well, 3 finger swipe on the trackpad and you go from OSX to Windows, brilliant stuff.

str · 23 Jun 2012 at 10:57

The new Macbook Pro has a screen resolution of 2880x1800 and it's IPS.

Is there anything else when high resolution is the first priority?

Mercutio · 24 Jun 2012 at 02:31

I'll eat a little humble pie here. The newer retina macbooks are actually quite reasonable. While you could get nearly all the tech the £1300+ retina model packs (minus IPS panel and thunderbolt) in a £800 laptop (eg Asus/MSI) if you compare it to a "premium" windows based laptop like the high end samsung/sony etc it does measure up quite well.

In my case I think i'd stick with a decent "high end" (tech wise) windows based laptop that did 1920x1080 in the £800ish range but I'll agree they have their merit for what they pack into a VERY small frame. As soon as you start adding a 256GB SSD to the equation (ok only another £140 at current prices so bringing my choice of laptop up to the £950 mark) the extra £350ish is maybe a BIT of a premium but the panel certainly warrents a fair chunk of that.