Re: What laptop to get to replace my 15" macbook?

>     Based on the very positive and enthusiastic comments from so many
>     people (including several of my good plug friends), I recently
>     purchased a 15" Macbook, thinking that it might be "the way to go."

>     While the Mac is a very appealing product in many ways with many
>     outstanding features, I have finally come to the conclusion that the
>     disadvantages (to me) far outweigh the positives.  So I am now
>     thinking of selling it and looking for something more sensible in the
>     real world.  Therefore, once again, I am seeking input from the
>     collective wisdom of this esteemed group.

>     The simple, but (to me) major drawbacks of the Mac (not to mention
>     their proprietary impositions that seem to be even worse than M$), are
>     as follows:

>     1. The keyboard layout that forces that screwy Mac/Apple X key on
>     users in lieu of simply using the CTRL key ... and then positioning
>     that weird mac key in such a terribly awkward place.

>     2. Putting the "FN" key where the "CTRL" key should be (and is on
>     every other computer keyboard) is really stupid.  Bottom-farthest left
>     is the *only* place (from an anatomically logical standpoint) where
>     the CTRL key should be (imho).

>     3. Failure to totally eliminate the "caps-lock" key (of course I guess
>     all keyboard mfrs still remain guilty of this ridiculous failing, at
>     this point).  However, I seem to accidentally hit it more on the mac
>     than on my other keyboards ... I guess because on the mac it seems to
>     be slightly oversized.  Why?  Duh!

>     4. The absolutely ridiculous limitation of being forced to the bottom
>     right corner of every window as the *only* way to resize windows.
>     That might be the most stupid of all Mac contrary-to-all-common-sense
>     "features."  And apparently no way that I can find to "maximize" a
>     window.

>     5. The needlessly glitzy but cumbersome "dock."

>     6. The lack of a simple text editor ... one that doesn't force the use
>     of html or rtf.

>     7. Most of the *nix command-line commands and utilities that I am used
>     to using do not seem to work on Mac OS-X

>     8. While I like the slot drive rather than a DVD drive that slides
>     open, I do (not) like having it on the front. Has that changed on
>     newer models?

>     9. And as for being "intuitive" ... I've tried for a week to get the
>     hang of using a Mac and almost everything that I am used to doing on
>     my "normal" computers, I find almost impossible to figure out on a
>     mac.  The 529-page "How to do everything Mac" doesn't ... and if mac
>     is so "intuitive" why should it need a 529-page book to explain how to
>     use it?

>     In any case, I am now looking for a new (or used) laptop to replace
>     this mac and get back to the real world.

>     One that intrigues me is a new, single-core, lower-powered Asus that
>     claims to have 8+ hours of battery life.  It is also the only one I
>     have seen so far that has lighted keys (the letters light up on the
>     keys like the mac -- one of mac's truly great features).  That seems
>     to me to be a very desirable feature.  Only problem is that that
>     feature seems to be available only in a larger format Asus unit with a
>     number keypad (that I do not want).

>     So what do y'all recommend?

>     I like the slot drive (on the right side), built-in camera, lighted
>     keys, lightest and thinnest possible, a "normal" keyboard (no 10-
>     pad), at least a 15" screen, preferrably matte not glossy, and long
>     battery life. I want to install Linux as the base OS and use whatever
>     virtual ware will allow me to install win98 (I do *not* want the
>     all-intrusive, pop-up crazy winXP).

>     PS: Anyone interested in trading for or buying a 15" macbook with
>     4-gig of ram?
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