lap tops

[flump2]

Can anyone recomend a decent laptop (or make).
I will be using it to build a complex website so will be needing a decent one. I was thinking a sony vaio but thats more for entertainment right? Will these suffice or should I consider another brand. Any model numbers?
Cheers

[vehelpfulguy]

I would have though for web site design a large screen was most important.

Most laptops are 15.4" but some are available in 17".

I would think a 17" screen was vital, not sure I would like to do web site design on anything smaller than that.

(In fact I use a PC with a 22" screen and that is great for web site design)

[fo3nix]

Web development?

Go for a Mac (seriously). A MacBook probably.

1) Runs Photoshop etc. equally as well as Windows.
2) It's already a Unix -- simply works better with most non-Windows servers that you'll be using.
3) With Bootcamp or Parallels, can run IE, Safari, Firefox, Opera, etc. all at the same time, ideal for testing client-end site changes.
4) Comes with lots of useful tools already, including svn, rsync, ssh.
5) Great apps like Coda, Transmit; text editors like TextMate and Emacs.

If you're primarily a coder, then a MacBook will suffice. If you're doing Photoshop stuff, go for the larger screen and power of the MacBook Pro.

[ACtheTROLL]

fo3 hasn't said it .... (so I will) STAY AWAY FROM SONY!!!!!

... good code is simple code - written by people who understand it - probably 70% of the professional web coders I know use either notepad or win hex. - (as do most machine coders)

I just don't like macs (I used to) - but even multimedia is (has) moved away from mac ... even mac is moving away from mac and hedging it's bets with windows compatibility

I'm puzzled with the laptop - designers tend to use ridiculously huge screens with big hairy multiprocessor workstations (these days multi - multiprocessors)

if you are creating your own graphics a lappy isn't good enough - whatever the brand and win or mac

if it's just code ... a pencil and an old envelope will do
and windows XP IIS web server is practically clockwork (for a single sandbox)

for testing you need every browser used over the last 5 years - virtual PCs don't need much power .... and again the scaleability of a desktop is better suited

when you say complex ... remember books are still the media medium of choice ... clever code is invisible .... if it looks lke a christmas tree .... it will be in the bin by new year

[flump2]

well I was going to try create the code myself and then pass on to a company to do the graphics.
I have always fancied a mac though but never used one before....
If I get a mac will I get any problems If I start to use programs on it? Also can you get them with firwire etc?
Are they easy to pick up?

[fo3nix]

"If I get a mac will I get any problems If I start to use programs on it?"

Well they use their own programs, not exactly the same ones on Windows. But there's always an equivalent, and lots of good freeware.

"Also can you get them with firwire etc? "

Apple invented Firewire, so all their computers work very well with it. MacBook Pro has FW800, the faster standard, as well as regular firewire (400).

"Are they easy to pick up?"

Given that you're going to be writing code for a website, so presumably know more than Joe Average about computers, yes, very easy. And there are many, many great forums to ask questions in.

If you do a Google search for images of corporate HQ offices of some well-known web-based brands, like Yahoo!, Flickr, Delicious, Google, etc., then you'll find lots and lots of Macs. There's a reason for this. They're really great machines for doing web-based work.

[flump2]

sweet Thanks for all the information. Learning the code is taking its time though. I�m only intermediate so far. A few months and I should be there though��. Bring it on. The apple mac pro here in hong kong is 300 quid cheaper too. Wow hopefully getting it this Sunday�

[flump1]

Good for you flumpyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy