MacBook Pro 13 vs lenovo thinkpad t430

[kitekrazy]

For me, the soul-sucking agony of getting stuck with tech issues is driving me toward the fruit-based computer... with some hesitation, cuz I know Windows, and I like it.

On my part, I must emphasize that I've had zero technical issues with my Windows 7 64-bit system (which I mentioned above). In this case, it hasn't been about knowing how to cope with issues, there literally aren't any issues to begin with. I just turn on the system and make music.

However, as I wrote, one needs to know what to put into their machines. Compatible, real-word tried and tested components, starting from the motherboard and ending with a quality audio interface, and the result is a (really!) problem-free DAW, no tech issues in sight. This means not installing any dodgy software either, btw.

Still, all of that requires getting to know what works and what doesn't, or getting someone trustworthy to do that for you -- so from that viewpoint it's true that one needs to be tech-savvy to a certain degree when planning/buying the system, I agree.

You are probably talking desktops. I've seen people build their "DAWS" with expensive high performing components and then use onboard sound with ASIO4ALL. They don't think the audio interface is an important component.

[Nokatus]

You are probably talking desktops. I've seen people build their "DAWS" with expensive high performing components and then use onboard sound with ASIO4ALL. They don't think the audio interface is an important component.

Yeah, desktops, and along with that -- my apologies for going off topic from laptops . The discussion kind of railroaded to that general direction. Ahem.

And yep, couldn't agree more on the audio interface thing.

[scrTchs]

I'm still in the pc side actually

If you bought the lower priced option, I guess you could take the savings and put it into something else. It's like choosing a $2K LP or $3500 LP. Both are great but after forking over $3500, I say, "Oh shit, I need a nice amp for it". After that I realize I don't have any money left for an amp.

Macs are nice but I'm a pc fan Thanks for the help.
What parts shall I put in this machine is the question???

[pencilrocket]

MBP looks classier. Thinkpad is more durable and reliable. OSX outputs garbage performance than Win. It's up to you.

[Moosebear]

I have never seen any hard data suggesting that Lenovo are more reliable than other computers. Lots of anecdotes, and durability is the Thinkpad marketing spin, but any study I've seen puts Apple ahead. Back in 2009 the Squaretrade study put Asus ahead but now most surveys and studies point to Apple, AFAIK. And please don't reply "My Uncle Billy has a dozen Thinkpads, and throws them down the stairs every day". If you know of reliable data or studies, please post them.

[H20nly]

I have never seen any hard data suggesting that Lenovo are more reliable than other computers. Lots of anecdotes, and durability is the Thinkpad marketing spin, but any study I've seen puts Apple ahead. Back in 2009 the Squaretrade study put Asus ahead but now most surveys and studies point to Apple, AFAIK. And please don't reply "My Uncle Billy has a dozen Thinkpads, and throws them down the stairs every day". If you know of reliable data or studies, please post them.

how would that even be measured?

in a case study of 1000 customer's Uncle Billys throwing their laptops down the stairs, computer X is the one that can take the most damage!


here is some accurate data... i bought my Lenovo ThinkPad T500 with Windows 7 in late 2009. it has never had a single issue, not one. my ex-girlfriend dropped it once and knocked it off a high counter top once. it (still) just works. it has no dents or visible signs of damage.
[/hard data]

[Moosebear]

how would that even be measured?

Well, the most reliable source for these kinds of studies is the one I mentioned above from Consumer Reports. They are in the business of testing, I think their cred is pretty solid.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/ ... _Reports_i_

That article is about support, I don't know if Consumer Reports has an overall laptop reliability rating by brand, I don't currently have a subscription to Consumer Reports.

I'm really glad H20 that you've had such a flawless experience with your Thinkpad. Others have flawless experiences with MacBooks. What I'm interested in is what brand has the highest likelihood of operating flawlessly, statistically speaking, based on independent studies. Cuz that's a big influence on my decisions, personally.

[H20nly]

^ yeah i get that... and i'm not disagreeing with you, but at the end of the day some units fail and some don't so it's kind of a hit a miss thing... with mostly missing being the desired outcome for any one consumer and the manufacturer too.

none of these manufacturers will be able to boast a flawless record though, at least not if they have any meaningful number of units sold in the sales column.

we are always rolling the dice to some degree when we purchase electronics.

[beats me]

I once had a MBP fall off a 4’ bar countertop into a box full of balloons, feathers, and packing peanuts. Not one scratch or dent. BUY.

[Nokatus]

That article is about support, I don't know if Consumer Reports has an overall laptop reliability rating by brand

Yep, actual statistical reliability reports are interesting. I chose (IBM) Thinkpads about ten years ago based on those, and the machines are still 100% functional. That's seriously great. The Lenovos aren't doing too bad currently, either.

To be sure, I'm talking about actually relevant reports which are calculated based on units sold / units broken, or some other objective measurement. The support article you linked to is pretty unscientific, for example. There are so many variables which it doesn't seem to cover (I could be wrong, though). Based on that study, it's literally only possible to conclude that the Apple machines have had the highest percentage of the kind of problems that the customer support has been able to help the machine owner with.

Thus, as the article doesn't cite the types of problems exhibited by the systems, if some manufacturer has had a lot of issues with some basic functionality, prompting the users to contact customer support, those kinds of issues are easily solved -- and that would in turn bring up the percentage of "successfully operating customer support", just because there were more basic problems in the first place.

So yeah, it's very good advice seeking studies that deal with product reliability. Just skip all those which are "reader surveys" or the like, and stick with the ones with actual hard data.

I do have a modern Thinkpad in addition to the old timers. Love my X201, great little machine

[scrTchs]

Alrighty, Still trying to decide. Would anyone reccomendations other pcs over lenovo, I've heard they mount their harddrives very good.

[kitekrazy]

Alrighty, Still trying to decide. Would anyone reccomendations other pcs over lenovo, I've heard they mount their harddrives very good.

Asus.

[scrTchs]

scrTchs wrote:
Alrighty, Still trying to decide. Would anyone reccomendations other pcs over lenovo, I've heard they mount their harddrives very good.


Asus.
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:45 pm

I was looking at some asus laptops. Any specific model?

[H20nly]

ASUS makes the best motherboards hands down IMO. If I didn't have a Lenovo... that would be the only other laptop I would consider besides an MBP. fwiw.

[Moosebear]

ASUS makes the best motherboards hands down IMO. If I didn't have a Lenovo... that would be the only other laptop I would consider besides an MBP. fwiw.

If you are not looking for touch-screen I bet you could get a deal on one of the Windows 7 gaming Asus machines that are still around. Those have the power to run anything, good value. Some models have low-res screens though, if that matters to you.

I've run Asus for about 5-6 years now, 2 light laptops. My current one is just the low-end Zenbook, i3. But Ableton runs fine on it, as does other music software. I've had issues but I think Asus are generally good.

However, I've personally found their customer service spectacularly unhelpful, which I've learned really matters to me, and that's what's driving me to consider a Mac. The Consumer Reports study linked above gives them a score of 62% of customers who had their issues resolved. I only wish I'd had resolution 62% of the time I called them. Then again I'm in Canada, maybe they spend more on training for their American customers or something. Dunno. So my sense is that although they're maybe good for music, Asus is no longer for me.