test

[TCO]

test

[TCO]

I'm not banned anymore, I guess.

[Darius871]

what was it this time?

[TCO]

I was 230 for several years recently. Here's my best before picture (at 212, already a month into losing weight, end of July):

(redacted)

[TCO]

Here's current weight, 160, beginning of December:

redacted

[Asher]

Nice work

[TCO]

crap...why are the pictures so big.

[Asher]

Link them like this:

<img src="http://blah.jpg" width="800">

[notyoueither]

Your eyeballs should bulge when you suck in that hard.

[TCO]

Nice work

I am thinking about buying a Mac laptop. Honest...not a troll. Was going to do a thread on it. Need something for work. Guy on the plane next to me was running Windows on his Mac and raving about it...said the hardware is better than a Dell and such. And maybe it would teach me more about computers to have to use a Mac. (since you start it within Mac...so I'd learn Mac and Windows.)

Thoughts? Usage would be for consulting (powerpoint, word, excel, etc.)

[notyoueither]

Asus and Toshiba have the best reliability numbers according to some info I've seen recently. That agrees with my experiences.

Running Windows on it defeats one of the perceived strengths (security).

[Asher]

I run Windows on a Macbook Pro, and a LOT of people I know do. The quality is definitely higher than virtually any laptop out there -- even the ThinkPads are pretty shitty now. I've had family and friends with tons of problems with ASUS, Toshiba, and Sony ones too...and Dell especially.

It's fine, but the big thing is if you're using it for consulting...always carry a mini-DVI/DVI (depending which model you get) to VGA adapter. 90% of projectors are VGA only, so you'll need the adapter to use them.

[TCO]

I run Windows on a Macbook Pro, and a LOT of people I know do. The quality is definitely higher than virtually any laptop out there -- even the ThinkPads are pretty shitty now. I've had family and friends with tons of problems with ASUS, Toshiba, and Sony ones too...and Dell especially.

It's fine, but the big thing is if you're using it for consulting...always carry a mini-DVI/DVI (depending which model you get) to VGA adapter. 90% of projectors are VGA only, so you'll need the adapter to use them.

Good catch. Yeah...definitely need to project at the client site.

[TCO]

I think I am going to do that Macbook Pro thing then. Just need to pay for Windows (7, Vista or XP?) And MS Office (I guess the most recent?) Anything else?

[notyoueither]

I run Windows on a Macbook Pro, and a LOT of people I know do. The quality is definitely higher than virtually any laptop out there -- even the ThinkPads are pretty shitty now. I've had family and friends with tons of problems with ASUS, Toshiba, and Sony ones too...and Dell especially.

It's fine, but the big thing is if you're using it for consulting...always carry a mini-DVI/DVI (depending which model you get) to VGA adapter. 90% of projectors are VGA only, so you'll need the adapter to use them.

Apple was not that high, but still...
http://theappleblog.com/2009/11/17/a...ability-study/

[Asher]

I have a strong distrust of those figures and the company who sourced them/makes them up.

My brother has an ASUS laptop and within a year the cheap paint they use to coat the laptop was wearing off and the WiFi burned itself out.

At work the sales forces all use Toshiba laptops and they're so unreliable it's a running joke on the IT floor.

On the other hand, I've had a MBP for years, my SO has, many of my friends and colleagues have...zero problems with the hardware.

[notyoueither]

What do you know about the source that I do not?

I'm not sure that a single incident with an Asus laptop is indicative of anything. I can show you rugged laptops that have had the crap beat out of them. I've got a cheap Acer (Aspire) that runs flawlessly after three or four years. Should GP buy an Acer? The point is how reliable they are over larger numbers.

Your Toshiba experience sounds a bit like the made up sort, unless your company buys low end consumer models.

[notyoueither]

And that is something that needs taking into account with those numbers.

Most of the companies sell a large number of low end units in the consumer marketplace. HP, Acer and Gateway probably the most.

What surprises me are the numbers for Sony and Apple, who do not really, compared to Toshiba (who do dabble in the low end).

[TCO]

I think I am going to get the MBP. Just go to a store or order on phone or what? And will it work with printers and such? I need to buy a printer (really like to get a scanner/faxer/printer thingie).

[Asher]

What do you know about the source that I do not?

I'm not sure that a single incident with an Asus laptop is indicative of anything. I can show you rugged laptops that have had the crap beat out of them. I've got a cheap Acer (Aspire) that runs flawlessly after three or four years. Should GP buy an Acer? The point is how reliable they are over larger numbers.

Your Toshiba experience sounds a bit like the made up sort, unless your company buys low end consumer models.

They're Portege M750, not cheap. And definitely not made up.

The point is you should do some real research into where that company gets their information. Consider, for example, that the VAST majority of Apple repairs are done through Apple stores and done entirely privately without any opportunity for other companies to source the repair data.

The source of their data are people who buy SquareTrade product warranty plans. Do you honestly believe that's indicative of anything of substance?

[KrazyHorse]

Great job, george.

[TCO]

Thanks Kitty. Gained average 40% strength on lifts as well.

[notyoueither]

They're Portege M750, not cheap. And definitely not made up.

The point is you should do some real research into where that company gets their information. Consider, for example, that the VAST majority of Apple repairs are done through Apple stores and done entirely privately without any opportunity for other companies to source the repair data.

Speaking of Apple's service...

http://theappleblog.com/2009/11/23/r...d-for-smokers/

Reason to Quit: Apple Warranties Void for Smokers
Written on November 23, 2009 by Darrell Etherington

I quit smoking four years ago, but before that, I was a dedicated smoker for a solid decade. Luckily, I never had any Mac trouble that would necessitate a warranty replacement during those 10 years, or I might’ve been out of luck. Apple has denied Applecare warranty service in at least two separate instances due to the effects of secondhand smoke, according to Consumerist.

In both cases, smoke was to blame for repairs not performed, but not because the malfunctions the computers suffered were due to damage related to cigarette smoke. Instead, the fact that the Macs had existed in houses where people smoked had resulted in the machines being labeled health risks, which was grounds for repair personnel to refuse to work on them.

...

[Asher]

Giving smokers the short shaft

[notyoueither]

By the way, the source of the data does repairs under extended store warranties. No, Apple does not do those.

[notyoueither]

Giving smokers the short shaft

I thought it was very humorous.

[Asher]

By the way, the source of the data does repairs under extended store warranties. No, Apple does not do those.

That's exactly what I said.

[TCO]

I want to pay for whatever ripoff extended warranty, loaner insurance plan thingie they have. I am murder on laptops and figure I am a big risk...will be the one who gets value from the premiums.

[notyoueither]

You DanSed an extra line, but I believe you are misguided.

When someone pays a significant amount of money for extra warranty with a purchase, I think it is safe to assume that that warranty would be relied on when a consumer runs into a problem.

In cases where original vendor warranty applies, the extended warrantor would receive the unit, evaluate it, and forward it to the vendor for repair if parts are involved and they are not authorized to do repairs. I would bet many bagels that SquareTrade is authorized for most all of the vendors on the chart. Apple authorization is not difficult to get.

[Asher]

Get AppleCare. It's the main reason I also like the MBP.

If something does go wrong in the 3 years of apple care, take it to an Apple Store and it's fixed on the spot.