Is there a Macbook that will compete with this?

Someone on another forum suggested that I should look at Macbooks. Not really having any experience with Apple computers, I figured I would ask here.
Below is the notebook I am currently looking at, does Apple offer anything comparable?

Asus W90VP
-18.4 WUXGA (1920x1080)
-2.53ghz Intel Core2Quad QX9300
-6 GB DDR2 800 MHz
-Crossfired ATI 4870 512MB GDDR3
-Built-in 5.1 Channel Altec Lansing Speakers
-Sound Blaster X-Fi 7.1 Xtreme Audio
-2 discdrives (up to a Tb of space)
-BluRay
Details here:
http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-w90vpa1-order-p-2562.html

Read that someone benchmarked 20000 in 3DMARK 06 (Asus advertises it stock at 15000). What is the highest a Macbook has scored?

 

I'm not very familliar with Macbooks, but I don't think Apple has a laptop with Dual-GPUs.

 

Apple offers a 17" MacBook Pro with a 2.9GHz Core 2 Duo and 9600m GT but it isn't exactly comparable (or even close) with that quad core with blu-ray and dual 4870's.

You are obviously buying a gaming laptop so I am not sure why someone suggested you look at a MacBook.

 

I just preordered this laptop myself, friend. I'd do it. It's a hard to beat deal if you've got the money. There's no Mac that can compete with that, especially for that price. Let me reemphasize especially at that price.

 

You shouldn't look at the top of the line specs of a PC for an Apple equivalent, Apple doesn't try it. Throw the specs down a few notches (while keeping price consistently high of course for the OS and the Apple uniform), then look for an Apple equivalent.

 

and the fact that mbp is 2x lighter then Asus.

OP:no,there is no w90 equivalent. can you please tell us what task do you need to perform?

 

So you're saying that the only way a Macbook can compete is if I ignore top of the line PCs? I guess that answers my question.

I'm going to, thanks. Just thought I would check out the other side before taking the plunge, seeing as Macbook owners typically brag them up so much.

I was just playing around with the builds on the Apple Store website. I agree, their pricing is ridiculous.

That is honestly what I originally thought, but I figured they may have improved in that area now that they use PC components, so I figured it was worth checking into. Was looking for a desktop replacement that I could do graphic design (CS4, C4D, etc.) and game on.

 

are you going to move it a lot?do you need good battery life and excellent screen? if "yes" is the answer to the questions above,then you should consider 17" mbp's. if you are looking for gaming machine with raw power,then Asus is the way to go-but check out our w90's owners lounge-our members have lots of problems with them.

 

Apple's range of laptops isn't anywhere near as diverse as the PC laptop market, adn as a result there are a lot of laptops towards which Apple does not have a direct alternative.

Regarding quad core CPUs, I believe Apple is waiting for Intel to release quad core mobile CPUs before installing them in their Macbooks. Apple likes to keep their laptops thin, and a desktop CPU would cause pure havoc when it comes to thickness.

 

that is a gaming laptop. its too big for most people.

keep in mind that you could legitimately build the desktop version of that computer for 1/2 the price, and get 10 times the upgradeability, and approximately the same level of portability (0).

not trying to bash the laptop, its definitely a beast, i just recommend giving desktops one last glance before paying $2500 for a DTR laptop.

anyway, apple does not make computers with a focus on gaming. Apple puts decent graphics card even into their low end machines (something most manufacturers do not), so even an entry level macbook can play modern games with some proficiency, but apple also tops out around nvida 8800 level graphics, and the 9600GT GDDR3 in their laptops. you won't find what you are looking for there.

 

^em,there are notebook QC cpus-QX9300,Q9100 and Q9000!

 

Holy I forgot all about that! When is Apple going to put them in their new Macbooks!!! I want!!!

 

The QX9300 is a mobile CPU.

I agree with you on upgradeability and cost. You really can't beat a desktop PC for that. But I've tried portability, and no matter what the notebook weighs, it's going to be easier to handle than a desktop case.

I have a desktop (QX9700 Quad Extreme; 8800GTX SLi). I want a notebook desktop replacement so I can toss it in a bag with my DSLR and take it back and forth to work. I can't do that with my heavy aluminum Praetorian case.

Right now I have an aging Toughbook for when I must take a laptop with me, so I've carried a brick before. It will go from my desk at home, into a bag, into the trunk/boot of my car, onto the desk at work, and back again. Moving my desktop tower would kill me, but the solution doesn't need to fit in a manilla envelope either.



Anyways, thanks for all of the replies. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't another reasonable alternative that I was not aware of before making the purchase.

 

I'm having a sneaking suspicion that the OP was already buying the Asus, IMO he just came here to gloat that there's no Apple notebook with these same specs for less which is typical for a PC fan to do here.
This argument will probably go on forever, PC fans are a bit blind when it comes to reality. They constantly have tunnel vision. The sad part is that they put so much emphasis on specs alone as if that's the only thing that tells the real story.

There's no such thing as "PC components". Apple always used standard computer components, it was only the processor that they used which is Power PC. Here's my take which should give these PC fans a reality check:

Specs alone don't tell the real story. You can have (2) 500GB HDD's, one will cost $50 and the other one will cost $150.00. You can have (2) DVD or Blu-Ray disc drives one being much cheaper and one being much more expensive.
The same goes for the LCD screens, ram, fans, casing, speakers, keyboard quality in terms of flex. These are just examples of what you can get in both cheap and higher end.

It's very possible that Apple is using better quality parts than many PC manufacturers. Just the build quality alone on the Macbooks reveal this.
The OP may be getting a chuckle out of this whole thread because the Mac forum can't find him a Macbook to compete "Spec-wise" with the Asus. I challenge the OP or any other PC fan to show proof that Apple uses the same cheaper components as Dell, Asus or any other PC company in their low end line.
Those specs in the Asus bring up the price, who says the quality is as good on the inside, or if it runs cool or if it's light enough to carry around or if the casing or hinges don't creek after time passes.

 

yeah, this is what i thought as i read this thread. congrats on your new asus, op

 

Does that run OSX? Oh, wait, my bad, you'll have to settle with Windows.

 

Well,to be fair,I have to say that W90 I sow @ CeBit had excellent BQ and filed very solid!but,as I said,most of W90 owners have problems with their notebooks!

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=4647135#post4647135

 

All Mac vs. PC crap aside, I just took a look at that Asus, and it looks pretty sexy! No, it's not as thin as a MBP, and pictures don't tell you the build quality, but I was expecting to see another orange/green/purple flame graphics notebook with not a single straight edge in the all plastic casing.

From a design point, I don't think that Asus looks bad at all!

 

Yeah that asus definitely looks good, but I don't need that much power. I'd still keep a mbp.

 

I have to admit that Asus is sick but coming from a guy who use to lug his Dell 9100 then upgraded to E1705 everyday to work. My MBP is a godsend. Yeah, it isn't loaded like that Asus but I already have a pimped out Quad Core SLI desktop system. I bought the MBP for OSX and it being frakking portable & it doesn't feel like I'm carrying a tank with me.

 

Ya I agree, doubt the OP was actually asking to find out, more to gloat at the mac users because were not designed just for gaming.

To me the OS is enough for me not too care if I can run the latest games. Just being liberated from windows was good enough for me and many others. While I love my Asus G1 it's just too bulky and it's only a 15.4, no way you'd catch me lugging around a 18.4" screen anywhere!

 

Insecure about Macs again are you?

 

The guy asked if there were any Macs that could compete with the W90, and they're aren't. Now, you apple guys are trying to spin the whole situation positively for the MacBook Pro with the usual "It's light" and "has better BQ".

The OP is asking whether Apple will ever have a QC, Dual GPU setup like the Asus. Do you think that even if Apple did release a similar laptop, it would still be as light as the MBP? Apple may be clever but not even they can fit a mobile Quad, 2 4870Ms and two HDDs into a 1.0" thick 3KG chassis. It will definetly be a lot thicker and heavier.

Asus have notebooks to compete with the MBP. Namely the UX series. It has a backlit keyboard, backlit trackpad, slot loading BD drive, 15.6" screen, nVidia 130M GPU and is about 1.1 - 1.2" thick. For a much cheaper price too. Wonder why no-one is gloating about that?

"puts on anti-flame suit"

 

Great yet another pointless pc vs mac flame war.
Yes apple cannot and never will compete in the DTR laptop market.
Yes ASUS make good stuff, (I used to own several ASUS lappies and was the mod over there for a few years).... and yet the whole point of this thread is?
Gamers like power and windows ???
Mac users can't read spec sheets ???
Farting can be both a pleasant and unpleasent experiance depending on which side of the giving tree you fall on ???

a

 

Nothing wrong with Toughbooks. It's the only computer I use outside of the house... (They sure get heavy after a mile... especially with my mods).

I think you might be going at it the wrong way though. If I was in your position, I would get a powerful desktop for my "It needs to be powerful as hell" needs, and a cheap laptop that still does a good portion of the work you do, but while you are out. You'll get two computers for the same price or less than you are planning on paying, and you can easily transfer data over.

Just to clear things up, since there is only three models of Apple laptop, it only has a small handful of laptops that are comparable. Desktop replacements aren't on that list. However, you may want to reconsider a desktop replacement for a few reasons... Heat, battery life (If you get an hour and a half, I'd be shocked... I'd guess closer to 45-60 minutes), and cost of replacement incase of an accident/theft.

Oh, and last thing... You should stop in the Panasonic section, and see about modding that Toughbook

 

You have no idea about DTR battery life. My 18.4" 8930G with a T9400 OCd, 9700M GT averages 2:39 for battery life. The W90 can reach about 1:45. The Gateway P-7811 FX could get more than 3 hours.

 

Plasma, you might want to read the earlier posts in this thread, where the fact that Apple has a significantly smaller range of laptops available than manufacturers such as Asus has already been stated and undisputed. As a result, the thread has moved onto different, and admittedly off topic, discussions.

Your comments however, were rude and totally uncalled for. I would strongly suggest you be more careful as to what you write.

 

What kind of gaming session can you do in a 1:45 :| I would of thought with a 12 cell it would of gotten closer to 3 hours.

 

You are right, I don't. Is that life sitting idle, or actually doing stuff?

Either way, my CF-28 will last over 8 hours providing maps/GPS, and 7 hours with maps/GPS and MegaTune.

I think he was referring to my post suggesting that desktop replacements have weak battery life.

 

Honestly, I did not intend to start a flame-war. I was just wondering if Apple offered an alternative to the notebook I was looking at, nothing against macbooks.

As I stated before, this thing will spend it's life on a desk but between a few different locations. It needs to be more portable than a desktop tower and that is it. Battery life is not a concern as there is a wall next to each desk it will reside upon. The few times I do open it "out in the wild", an hour will most likely be plenty of time. In those cases, I would need it to pull up my estimating software, present designs in Illy/PS CS4 or Cinema4D and quickly make changes to those designs if need be. Or I may use it for roughly evaluating RAW shots from my camera while out and about. I do like to game in my spare time, so it doing well in that area would be fantastic.

I'm ordering the Asus today, thank you to everyone who helped to answer my questions.

 

Well, they did manage to get Intel to redesign (shrink) their Core 2 Duo processor for the Air, so that has to count for something?

 

Are you serious?

Apple sources from the same LCD screen manufacturers as everyone else. It certainly provides LED screens far more often than PC manufacturers, but I'm sure you would agree that extra cost is factored into the pricing as well.

RAM is basically equivalent, I really doubt Apple picks out lower latency RAM just for its consumers. HDDs are much the same. CPUs even more so. Ultimately, it still uses the same GPU, CPU, HDD,RAM as other brands, since the GPU/CPU/RAM are essentially equivalent. Apple notebooks don't exactly have notable speakers do they?

I'll grant you that the current line of IGPs and IGP+discrete cards is still relatively rare, but switchable GPUs are not new.

Note, however, I am not bashing Apple products. I'm just pointing out that to say that Apple sources better parts, particularly internally, doesn't seem to be particularly accurate.

In addition to that, I suspect that you might be right about the OP's purpose.

 

Look at this. An innocent question and it turns into a suspicion of someone trying to bash Mac.

Could some of you people please lighten up? For your own sake.

 

Er, actually doing stuff. Like surfing the web, some PS Elements and MSN. I'm planning to get an Intel X-25E 64GB SSD to chuck in later, so battery life can only go up from there.

 

Congrats on the Asus purchase, I looked at them a while back and thought they supplied a good amount of bang for the buck. I don't do much more than casual gaming and focus more on video and photo editing. For me the MBP was a much better choice and I've had no regrets. As long as your purchase fits your needs and you enjoy it, thats all that matters.

As for asking about Apple producing a comparable system, a simple 5 minute search of the Apple site would have given you the answer. I guess asking here was a bit more fun though.

 

I think now that the OP has clearly had his question answered and made his decision, this thread probably should be closed. Its only purpose now is to flame...

 

Sorry, but I'll take usability over power. In a year, that Asus isn't going to look so hot anymore (it will just feel hot)

OP, can you show me a PC that offers the usability experience of the OSX package?

 

Good point, closed.