UPDATE – I gave in and bought a MacBook Pro (with 4 GB of RAM!). More on that later…
With my impending change in employment, I need to get a new laptop and, given that I’m thinking strongly of going the consulting route, I’m going to pick it up myself right now (versus waiting for an employer). Obviously I want a laptop that works very well for participating in the world of social media. An integrated webcam seems to be an absolute must. People involved with video tell me that Apple Macbooks have the best quality video cameras and, being relatively agnostic toward operating systems, I’m open to Macbooks. I’d love to get a laptop with a built-in camera that can rotate so that you can face it away from the user and toward the other people in a room, for instance. But it seems that the current crop of laptops no longer have that – they all seem to have fixed cameras.
Another "must-have" is the ability to work with a second monitor, but that’s usually simple with a laptop.
So I’ve got a couple of questions for those of you working out there with blogs, podcasts, flickr, etc.:
- Do you have any specific thoughts on the best laptop for "social media" participation?
- Any recommendations about specific laptops with integrated cameras? Know of any that aren’t fixed? (I’ve looked at the major vendors and they all seem to now be fixed.)
- Mac versus PC? Mac users who still have to use Windows apps, have you been happy with Parallels? (Or vmWare Fusion?)
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Dan, I don’t even have the MacBook Pro, just regular, with built-in camera. All cool, no issues.
I just picked up an HP laptop. My original intent was a Toshiba, but the trends have shown me a downturn in satisfacion with Toshiba and an upturn in saisfaction with HP. I ruled out Dell because I’ve had two major, major issues with the Dell I use here at work. I certainly considered Sony’s Vaio line, but I’m on a budget, so I had to eliminate Sony once I looked at their prices.
I don’t know if there’s a good “social media” computer, though. I’d be interested to hear if someone thinks there is.
I used a Sony before I got my Apple MacBook Pro and I am very happy with my laptop. Not only do the programs work really well together for podcasting, video and blogging but I rarely seem to have a problem other than running out of space.
The built in camera is great for Skyping but is not the best creative tool since you have to actually move the laptop around to take video or photos but the Apple has the ability to add an external camera if you want to be more flexible. Since most laptops have a built in camera, I guess this is not going to be your focal point for purchasing.
Most software should work by now. When I got my laptop Adobe was having problems with the new Intel chip and so my photoshop does not work. They upgraded the software so now the CS3 suite works with the Intel chip.
Good luck shopping. I tell everyone to get an Apple MacBook Pro and I do not work for the company or get advertising from them.. I just really like the computer.
I used a Sony before I got my Apple MacBook Pro and I am very happy with my laptop. Not only do the programs work really well together for podcasting, video and blogging but I rarely seem to have a problem other than running out of space.
The built in camera is great for Skyping but is not the best creative tool since you have to actually move the laptop around to take video or photos but the Apple has the ability to add an external camera if you want to be more flexible. Since most laptops have a built in camera, I guess this is not going to be your focal point for purchasing.
Most software should work by now. When I got my laptop Adobe was having problems with the new Intel chip and so my photoshop does not work. They upgraded the software so now the CS3 suite works with the Intel chip.
Good luck shopping. I tell everyone to get an Apple MacBook Pro and I do not work for the company or get advertising from them.. I just really like the computer.
My brother was a lifelong IBM user. A few years ago he bought a MAC to support his photography hobby. He then slowly acquired more Macs for the home, and then finally, a laptop for business. He now runs Windows Vista on his Mac laptop and he’s considering replacing all the Windows PC computers of his consulting staff, and doing the same.
It’s a no brainer.
yeah neil your right , i totally agree with you on this point.