Laptops with similar battery life / aesthetics as compared to MacBook Pro

My question is simple as that, really. Are there any Windows 7-native notebooks with a "clean" design (where "clean" is MBP-ish), a battery capable of seven or so hours like the MBP's is, and a weight close to the MBP's 5.5 lbs?

Seems the closest thing as of now is the Envy 15, but from what I understand, the slice battery is required to get the battery life beyond a few hours -- and using it bumps the notebook's travel weight to ~7.8 lbs.

Any other options?

TIA.

 

sony vaio? try looking for some reviews on the fw series..

 

Envy 15 is quadcore Core i7 / 16 GB / 1080p so it's a bit of a different beast. Envy 13 has the battery life but compares closer to MBP 13. Both models seem to have some design/BIOS issues that HP needs to shake out over the next few months.

 

If you want a Macbook wannabe the only option is the Envy.

If you prefer a less 'hey look at me' aspect to your design but still 'designed' (after you peel off the 10,000 stickers infesting it), then there's the Sony's - The Z, although with a smaller screen and a weaker GPU combo, offers more working screen pixels than a 15-inch Macbook Pro with hugely less weight. Build quality / quality control is well off the best of the Sony's historically speaking, but is definitely better than the Apples - although being enormously lighter it doesn't necessarily feel as solid (although it is far, far more durable in reality). The actual, non-BS runtime pretty much matches that of the MBP's in power saving modes due to the more efficient power-saving functions.

As for the rest - well, there's slim pickings in terms of outright look-at-me pretty.

I like the Dell Latutudes / Precisions in a blocky, sleeker-than-Thinkpad sort of way, and they're certainly very versatile in terms of specs and runtime options, but they're kind of too mainstream for me as an everyday machine.

The Apple clean lines come with specific penalties and really, few sane Windows makers would try to match them in that respect - as they must be fully aware that if they ape that, their machines will be as solely-for-low-level-home-use in terms of reliability and stability as the Macs, and contrary to the ads, Windows users expect their machines to 'just work' better.

 

Do you not understand how much of a pompous blowhard you come across with comments like this??

To the OP, as others have said, the Envy and Sony Z series laptops are the closest you're going to get to a MBP in respect to physical design.

I find it especially interesting how many Windows users lust after the unibody design, and then turn around and say that Apple products are crap.

 

It can look pretty, but that doesn't mean it's a good product. Not that I think that personally, just sayin.

To the OP, the Sonys are great, and I know Sony has a 13" with ~5 hours of battery life and looks sexy, for $899. Better specs than the Mac too, even the $1499.99 configuration. I can never seem to post links from Best Buys website without problems...sigh. Model: VGN-SR520G/B.

I know if I was gonna buy a 13", I'd buy this. Great reviews so far too. As for a 15"...I'll have to get back to you on that one.

 

I may fully understand that I might come across like like that to people whose one-dimensional opinions or input - on historical reading - I don't give much of a crap about. To others not so slavishly wedded to a company and the specific way they approach a product, they would most likely realise I'm just saying what I experience, regardless of whether they like my opinions or not.

I may look at a 70's Alfa Romeo and want one based on how it looks and maybe think at first 'hey, it's a regular car isn't it? how bad can it be?', but unless for some reason I've committed to an Alfa-only race, I'm going to steer clear of them for everyday use as much as possible. Think of me as a holy-crap-that-was-a-dumb-decision-in-hindsight committed 70's Alfa user who also drives current cars.

Perhaps you don't understand how much of a perfect Apple stereotype you come across with comments like the above, based on your other output? Ironically I'm not, strictly speaking, the problem here - All you need to do is to either put out your opinions in context, or ignore me.

 

There's conveying your experiences and opinions which is completely acceptable, and then there's what you do.....pepper everything with an unspeakable loathing for Apple products. You take every opportunity to bash every single aspect of them and indirectly speak poorly of those who choose to use them with the all-too-familiar Apple Fanboy argument. Seriously, it's getting old. Not everyone is as "slavishly wedded" to Apple as you'd like to believe and convince others of.

Kinda sums up how I feel about you and your comments. At first reading you come across as someone with half a clue. After getting past that wrong first impression, it's very clear that you're very bitter and jaded and have nothing good to say about Apple, yet continue to troll the forum.

Perhaps you've become so narrow minded and blinded by your disdain that you automatically group people into your own self induced "Apple stereotype" simply because they don't agree with you or your opinions.

I know the stereotype you're referring to and it's laughable that you could even consider me part of that group. Do I blindly support Apple without questioning the almighty Steve? No. Do I hate Windows simply because it's Microsoft? No. Do I use what works best for me? Yes, and that right now happens to be a 13" Unibody MacBook with Windows 7 installed in Boot Camp. There are some things that Windows does better which is why I have it installed.

Your "contributions" to this forum consist of some helpful information, colored with copious amounts of Apple hate and disgust, and I'm trying to understand the reason. Did an Apple laptop burn your genitalia and prevent you from ever having offspring? Maybe it's an inferiority complex because you recognize yourself as being a "PC" and your self-esteem gets slowly chipped away every time you see an Apple commercial. Did the Saks 7th ave Windows 7 display being flooded with "Get A Mac" tweets ruin your holiday season? You've even gone so far as to insult the moderators here! If you don't respect them, it's pretty much a given that you don't respect anyone else here.

I don't know what your issue is, but not even with several glasses of "Apple Kool-Aid" are you tolerable in your current incarnation, and that truly is sad.

 

You guys can fight it out in private messages... best to just ignore people if you can't take it...

But I will add its always easier to see certain aspects you despise in another person, while totally overlooking similar aspects in yourself.... its not a fight worth fighting, so when you see something like that, best to just giggle and move on.

 

Be nice if we could have a thread that doesn't turn into...*this*. Hopefully the OP reports back.

 

My apologies.

 

Oh, I'm here. Was hoping this thread didn't go to hell myself.

Thank you for the suggestions, all. In response to a few of 'em:

I have tried the Sony Z500 and Z600 series notebooks (as well as an SR). I very much enjoyed the design and light weight of those, but the battery life was definitely less than this MBP, and I was a little on the fence with the 1600x900 resolution on a 13.1" screen.

Thinking that 15" is generally a better fit for me.

Have only spent store time with an FW; not particularly impressed by it.

It really seems like the Envy is the only really good choice despite its lesser battery life and significantly heavier weight. I've grown kind of spoiled by this gigantic touchpad, so there's that to consider, too.

 

well on a good note if we make enough of these threads maybe a manufacturer will attempt to mimick the macbook pro... I to am in the same boat as the op. I want a macbook pro like computer but I NEED windows period. OS X may be great for some people but not for me and to me that's all that matters...

as for the argueing about compentence and what not. One of the inviduals is a Win Fan (like me)... - to you, why? why do you bother? think about it for a second... if someone buys an apple that increases competetion against Microsoft, which means a better operating system for you!! not for the apple user. see the apple user is happy as he has his mac, your happy because now windows is better so that it can compete with apple. that is why these debates are pointless...

Windows is not the solution to all computing needs, nor is OS X or Linux. It all depends on who you are and what you do.

I thing this a good time to post this, this is from someones sig from years ago, and after I read it I just counldn't forget it.

"Don't ever argue with an idiot, as he will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience".

 

Dear Gawd. Not this thread again......

Time to whip out the fire retardant suit.

My XT2 and X200T get similiar battery life. 8 cell on the X200T. 3Cell + slice on the XT2.

Of course they aren't in the same category as the MBP.

 

This may all be true, but why are you trying to contribute to a thread that obviously your mind has no concern for?

Apparently the OP has a somewhat desired taste for the Macbook and he does go by looks. That is his prerogative.

 

Well, in all fairness, I just want a notebook that doesn't look completely blah. I'll take superior hardware / battery life / weight as priority; I just happen to like the design of things like the Envy, MBP, and even the Vaio Z.

Folks, please don't get my thread locked. I'm not even an OSX devotee; given the choice, I'd much rather just use a powerful Windows 7 desktop at home, but I have to carry a notebook, and I don't want to deal with two computers.

 

I'm familiar with the posts and threads exi has started and I can comfortably say exi is a reasonable person looking for a laptop that isn't all gray, yet doesn't have to look like it is coated out of gold.

The OP isn't looking for form or function but rather both. The OP's posts clearly is directed to finding a reasonable compromise between form and function.

 

kind of makes me wish there was a "no trolling" rule...

 

So here's my question. Why post this in the Apple forum? The OP obviously doesn't want an Apple or OSX while those here do (well except for a few trolls and people on the fence). This be a better question in the "what should I buy" section so the people who actually use Windows systems can answer. Posting it here will get more negative results than actual answers.

 

I figured this is the forum with similar tastes to the OP.

Such hostility.

A wireless question was posted to OT, but rather than responses by rants and angry posts, the community responded with solutions. It happens all the time.

 

OP, I would advice you go to the "what laptop should I buy" section of these forums. You will not get any help here if you decline from purchasing a macbook, OSX or worshiping Steve Jobs.

Run to the hills my boy, they are coming with their I-pitchforks and I-knives.

 

^^ that was worth a laugh!

 

QFT.

Any topic remotely criticizing Apple, Apple products or even Steve Jobs locked around here (including this one in short time).

 

I posted a more specific on-topic answer than many of the subsequent replies originally. Where the rabid fanbois want to take it beyond that, and my replies to that, is something else. It would be good if the thread wasn't polluted thus, but it seems occasionally unavoidable given the rest of the denizens.

 

I posted here because the people who could best provide options to the MBP are the people who use or have used them and are familiar with how they perform, all things considered. I assume that there are bound to be quite a few people in this forum who are looking for the same sorts of things -- the terrific battery life of the MBP, reasonably solid components, build/design, etc. -- and might be aware of a more "PC" option of which I am not.

Heh. I'm not criticizing anyone, so hopefully, my thread won't go the way of the dinosaurs because other people start throwing down over computers...

Thank you. You've got it.

 

If you don't want a Mac you could try the Lenovo Ideapad Y550. Don't know about the battery life, but it nice clean lines and pretty good specs for the price.