Laptop heavy duty for 18 wheeler

I had a Dell that I used Velcro to attach it to my Fridge that sits in the space beside me, It lasted for many years and even my first 2 years of over the road, It died when I dropped it while walking! I purchased a HP and for the last 2 years have had it attached with Velcro to the fridge. Still working fine! I have a GPS in the dash, but I also have Microsoft Streets and Trips for trip planning on the computer. Do my logging on it also, Works well

 

Yeah that's understandable with him having to do that having a toughbook. I think most laptops would do fine with that as long as you install a SSD. Plus you get a serious load advantage using a Solid State Drive in both boot up and application launch.

 

I am going with SSD in my next laptop I will be buying soon. Have gradually moved over to Apple for desktop, iPhones, etc, so MacBook Pro in my immediate future. 2.2 i7 15" 512GB SSD with hi-res non glossy screen. Pricey, yes. But after dealing with windows since 3.1, I am parting ways with Microsoft. Even gave up on Microsoft Office years ago after I started using Open Office which is a freebie. Considered the new MacBook Air, but want internal optical drive, FireWire, and higher res non glossy screen.

 

I don't think I would ever pay Apple for their overpriced hardware. I would go with a hackintosh before paying their ridiculous prices for the same hardware. It doesn't help what Apple just did to Samsung in Europe over their tablet. They used an image that was most likely edited to make it appear more similar to the iPad then it actually was.
http://www.broadbandexpert.com/blog...tab-evidence-presented-by-apple-is-distorted/

Things like this make me lose all respect for Apple.

 

I suppose. But there is a lot of history of Apple getting the short end of the stick as well. One thing for certain, high tech is a cut throat world and has been for several decades. I guess I remember the clashes of the 80's well enough that I don't have the distain for Apple that you seem to. I don't have any distain for Microsoft, Google Android, etc either. I have been using laptops of various stripes since the very first one... the Radio Shack Model 100. I actually wrote several assembly programs for it while in college. I ditched my Samsung Epic 4G for an iPhone that has proven to be far more stable. Ditched my last desktop for an iMac a couple of years ago. Now gonna round it out with a MacBook Pro.

I really don't give a rip, most times, who makes the product. I get what works. After the days of MS-DOS, little about Windows has excited me. But it didn't take long to determine that OS X is a far more stable platform. True, Apple's hardware is pricey, so is a Corvette compared to a Ford Focus. Both will get you where you need to go, just you get more with the Vette and it does the job better.

Overpriced? Maybe. But people vote with their wallet, and many products from Apple do what the consumer wants, so they are willing to shell out the bucks for them. If the products didn't deliver, then no one would buy them at any price. After many years, Apple is beating everyone else at their own game and everyone is having a fit. Well, make better products than Apple does and problem solved.

 

People don't always use the best products it has been shown many times over. Netscape was considered a far superior product compared to Internet Explorer but people still used IE mainly. Apple is popular and hip which drives its products. They have quit trying to be the best product and now are using their wallet to stay on top as is shown with their many lawsuits.

As for their hardware being better its hard to say that an identical Intel chip is better because its running OS X instead of Windows or Linux. If I could buy a Ford Focus and do a software upgrade to get exactly the same specs as the Corvette I would buy the Focus. Life isn't always about the flashy especially when its extremely overpriced.

 

True, one can go point by point and show an Apple component is better or that another brand has a better component. No argument there. But when you look at the complete package of hardware and software, there is really no one that has the same thing going on. Programs, even non Apple branded ones, interact with each other much better under OS X. Data sharing by multiple programs works more smoothly. Even getting peripherals up and running, regardless of brand, is easier and faster. I have had a far better experience getting different devices to communicate with each other on the network with Apple than I ever had under any version of windows. And with the latest offerings from Apple, when I update a file on one device, it is automatically updated on all other devices.

It is not just who has the best individual components, it is the overall experience and productivity. I am able to do more in less time under OS X and the programs that run on it. It used to be fun spending gobs of time trying to tweak something or find an end run around an issue regarding hardware or software. I have better things to do with my time now. Trying to track down drivers for different peripherals or having to do other time consuming stuff isn't my thing anymore. Whether you like Apple or not, they have set the standard on "plug and play".

 

What are you using to run Windows-only programs? Do you have Parallels or something equivalent?

 

Meant to add this... I agree that Apple related stuff is usually pricier than another brand, that added cost is quickly recovered in increased productivity. At least in my experience. When I look back at all the time I wasted over the years trying to get one thing or another to work right on a DOS, CPM, Windows, etc platform compared to hardly ever spending much time getting the results I want on Apple's hardware and software, the added cost is barely noticeable.

Actually the same can be said of my truck. Sure it cost to have the fuel tanks painted, but they look good and I don't have to spend time polishing them. Alcoa Durabrite wheels are more expensive, but you don't have to waste time shining them.