Hellmark Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 I am looking at a getting a new laptop to replace my netbook (Lenovo S10e). I got the S10e, because at the time it was one of the best machines for running OSX, but I never got around to it. Now, I'm needing something with more grunt. I mean, my desktop, that was built in early 2005, geekbenches at nearly double what the S10 does (2069 vs 1095). Being that I am a poor college student, I cannot afford a new Macbook. I am eyeing some older models (the 2010 MB and MBP with the Nvidia 320M), but even they may be a bit out of my price range. Now, I have a handful of questions. At this point is it worth getting OSX on my s10e? I run Linux on it mostly, and lately its been getting slower and slower. Part of me has been wondering if blowing it out and starting fresh again would help. Also, I do want another machine. I'm wanting something in the 13" range, I'd prefer something not with intel graphics (other than the HD3000), and a little on the durable side (the S10e, despite how good the Thinkpads are made, Lenovo didn't bring that along when it made this Ideapad). Cheaper is better. What would you recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnjc2145 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 I don't have a lot of suggestions for laptops, but if you want one WITHOUT HD3000 be very very cautious you don't get a laptop with nVidia Optimus technology. I bought what I thought was a great laptop (Core i3 370m, nVidia GT 520m, 4GB RAM), but it has Optimus. Optimus is not supported on OS X, so it defaults to the integrated graphics which on my laptop were also not supported. Just be cautious. Almost every Intel-nVidia laptop combo from the last 2 years has Optimus. *Edit* I see that you said OTHER than HD 3000, that makes it a lot easier. What price range are you looking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellmark Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 I am cool with the HD3000, just not intel based graphics that were out before the 3000. The 945 in the S10e has been frustrating. I was hoping sub 500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnjc2145 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215244 < --- Similar to the one I bought from Newegg, I bought a refurb and it was great! With this one, you should be able to follow my install guide almost to the T to get it to work; they're practically identical http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834158085 <--- Core i5 2410m http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230203 <---- I've seen a couple guides for the K53E series installs http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101273 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101270 I just went to Newegg and filtered the laptops to $300-400 and $400-500 and then filtered it by Core i3/i5 I did not see any around the 13" range though; almost all were 15.4" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellmark Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16834215244 < --- Similar to the one I bought from Newegg, I bought a refurb and it was great! With this one, you should be able to follow my install guide almost to the T to get it to work; they're practically identical How's the build quality on the Acer? My experience with them is limited. Right now, I'm thinking about the AS5750-6667. Also, you get sleep working on it yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Vermelho Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 The Acer AS5750-6421 (link in your quote) has Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, which is not supported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellmark Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 What about the AS5750-6667? The Acer webpage neglects to mention graphics at all on any of the models. One store page I saw said it has the HD3000, but I want to make sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Vermelho Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 From a quick google HD3000 seems correct but I don't know if that's supported or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellmark Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 Ok, went back over, and looking at the other recommendations from before, and the Asus K53E seems nice. Can find a good deal on a K53E-BBR4. Is there any difference to this one? I've seen a lot of varying reports on the k53Es, such as no working wifi. I'm just not having good luck finding info on my own tonight, it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnjc2145 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 The Acer I linked has Intel HD 3000 with 2310m. My laptop is almost identical with the same 2nd-gen Core i3 with HD 3000 and the HD 3000 is natively supported by Lion. My laptop on the Acer website just said "Intel HD Graphics," no mention of the 3000 whatsoever. It's a Sandy Bridge CPU though, so they all come with Intel HD 3000. I decided to pull the trigger because I found it unlikely that they would include TWO integrated graphics (like the HD 3000 and 4500MHD (like Gringo said)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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