Apple vs PC
In my current quest for a lighter laptop to buy for my upcoming Uganda trip I’m currently stumpped. First of all, I’m ticked at HP. Seriously guys, what is your deal. Does AMD have naked pictures of you? Why does it seem like all of your in store models are AMD powered? Did you guys not get the memo that AMD is so 2005? Honestly, if I wanted a second rate budget computer for surfing the web and typing papers, maybe, but I need power! Furthermore, what’s with the clunky designs? I can hardly believe this actually bothers me (Mr. Function over Form) but Sony, Dell, and Apple all have gorgeous laptop designs and you guys just made your previous designs shiny. I can get a 15.4″ Dell 1525 that weighs 5.2lbs while your 15.4″ designs still weigh nearly 7lbs. Even your 14″ models aren’t that exciting. I was such a big fan but I can’t help but feel like you guys have grown complacent in your short stay atop the computer manufacturer mountain.
Secondly, I’m seriously considering getting a Macbook. It makes my skin crawl to say that but, alas, it’s true. I’m actually kicking myself for not buying one when I was at Fry’s yesterday. They were closing out their 2.0ghz models for $899 which is $200 off the retail price. By the time I saw the display, walked around the store thinking about it, and returned they had pulled it down (presumably because they were now out of stock). Tomorrow I will probably go back over the mountains to the Los Gatos Apple Store (the closest one to Santa Cruz) and ask them to convince my why I should buy one. I still don’t care about the pretty design or the whole iLife thing (really, I don’t really care about iPhoto if I can’t edit anything with it) but that may be the best option out there. I’m really annoyed with the way that most pc laptop manufacturers aren’t putting their midrange models out in stores. You either have to buy the bargin crap or pony up for the top end models. Who knows, maybe I need to just wait until after I get back and lug my big DV5000 tank back overseas and wait for something else. If they release an XP based EEE PC with an 8″ LCD I would be all over that, but I don’t think that’s coming any time soon. Oh well, I stil got three weeks right? 
