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Mac book v Laptop

Thedelldays

By Thedelldays,
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Thedelldays

Thedelldays

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next week on pay day...I want to get a new laptop...now the question is...do I make the jump to a mac..???

 

I will be using the machine for internet browsing..music, films etc...playing football manager and the odd but of work (power point and word)...

 

now, do I pay the extra (which is quite alot) and get a mac or pay 2/3 of a mac a get another windows laptop..?

 

would the mac be worth paying extra for what I need the machine for.....??????

 

I saw a display macbook pro for £900....or I could get a similar spec windows machine for £500-600.....

 

thoughts..?

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Saint_Jonny

Saint_Jonny

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Personally I would only bother with a mac if I was in an industry which used mac only applications. Since im in the field of 3D/2D design, a mac is not an option because of the limited scope for 3D development applications. If however I was in the music making buisness I would definately opt for a mac, as the range of software available is better than that on a PC

 

From the sounds of it you dont need the specialised software that a mac can offer, and therefor I wouldnt waste your money. If however you want to sit in starbucks looking ultra, ultra cool, get a mac... For the sake of you not having to sit and figure out all the foibles of mac OSX, just stick with Windows. Windows 7 is brilliant as well, if you get a decent spec laptop its a dream to work with.

 

Thats my thoughts on it anyway :)

Edited by Saint_Jonny
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Weston Super Saint

Weston Super Saint

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I've had my macbook for about 2 years now, and not had a problem once - meanwhile the rest of the family have re-installed windows over and over, dealt with viruses etc etc.

 

Macbook air? I wouldn't bother. Get an old style, more robust macbook and you won't have a problem.

 

Also, in two or three years when you would have been forced to replace the windows laptop, your mac will still be going strong.

 

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?afid=p219%7CGOUK&cid=OAS-UK-KWG-UK_Sitelinks_Macbook-UK

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mdearlove

mdearlove

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Problem with the cheaper macbooks pro - the 13" screen version is that they still come with a core 2 duo processor. You can probably pick up a top end i7 processor laptop for a similar price. Macs are very good machines for specific purposes - ie graphic design, music creation. For everyday use I would stick with a non Mac. Just because you don't buy a laptop from Apple doesn't mean you need to go the windows route - although I personally think Windows 7 is a very good OS. You have the option of going down the Linux route but its probably only worth it if you like tinkering with stuff under the hood. Ubuntu has matured into a pretty good OS even for those with no Linux skills.

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/246059 Samsung R590 for £732. Core i5 with 4GB ram EX Display 15" screen

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-SAMSUNG-NP-R780-JT3BUK-Laptop/689319 Samsung R780 for £790 Core i5 4GB, 17" screen

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/laptop/range/ipro.html Novatech iPro for £870 Core i7, 4GB ram, 15" screen

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/laptop/range/i5plus.html Novatech i5 plus for £680 Core i5, 4GB ram, 15" screen

 

The last 2 are £90 cheaper if you forgo Windows 7. Linux is free.

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georgeweahscousin

georgeweahscousin

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Ooooooh something I feel really strongly about.

 

I have worked within IT/technical communications for 12 years.

 

So here goes......

 

If you are after:-

 

Something cheap. Buy a PC.

 

If you are after:-

 

Something, longer lasting, better value for money, much higher performance, much more reliable, much more logical in it's operation, something that doesn't constantly crash. Buy a Mac.

 

I have not met a single person in all those years in the IT industry that have changed from PC to Mac and been disappointed. They are simply better.

 

Get the Macbook Pro for £900, you will never look back.

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saint_stevo

saint_stevo

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Posted
Ooooooh something I feel really strongly about.

 

I have worked within IT/technical communications for 12 years.

 

So here goes......

 

If you are after:-

 

Something cheap. Buy a PC.

 

If you are after:-

 

Something, longer lasting, better value for money, much higher performance, much more reliable, much more logical in it's operation, something that doesn't constantly crash. Buy a Mac.

 

I have not met a single person in all those years in the IT industry that have changed from PC to Mac and been disappointed. They are simply better.

 

Get the Macbook Pro for £900, you will never look back.

 

I hope i don't ever come across you in the industry then..............

 

a fairly moronic overview

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Saint_Jonny

Saint_Jonny

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I think i'd buy one and dual boot it!! :)

 

or save himself up to 500 quid and get an equivalent spec laptop if hes not ganna bother with mac specific applications. If it were me i'd end up always booting to windows and wishing i'd got a laptop with a better spec. Macbooks these days are just intel laptops with apple wrapping paper anyway, ripping yourself off if you are ganna use it for Windows useage mostly.

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hypochondriac

hypochondriac

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I have had my mac for 2 years switching from a laptop with no experience of a mac. Would never go back. In my experience, a mac is better in pretty much every way. Every single thing I found irritating on a PC has been overcome on my mac with a little tweaking. Has been used every day and still going strong. If you get a mac you will not regret it.

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Saint_Jonny

Saint_Jonny

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I'd use both being a Techy that supports both so I'd benefit.... It was just another option if he wanted best of both worlds!

 

Thats fair enough :) I wont for one minute slag macs off for the sake of being macs, because im (probably) not an ignorant moron. I suspect enough has been said on this thread to help TDD make up his mind!

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Mewsta

Mewsta

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Oh and for what its worth ive got snow leopard running on a separate hard disk on my AMD X6 desktop, so im not a total mac'a'phobe. Granted, I only did it to laugh at mac owners and their massive expense, but still...

 

I've tried to get it running on my Samsubg Q320 but can't get drivers for the touchpad or graphics card! I've not given up just yet though!!!

 

TDD, just brought a laptop for a manager at work with the i5 processor... seems pretty good IMO!

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hypochondriac

hypochondriac

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If you take the price out of the equation and just judge them on their merits' date=' the Mac probably wins (just). But the price is a big factor and you have to ask yourself if the Mac is really worth double that of a good spec Windows laptop.[/quote']

 

One thing to bear in mind though is that mac's retain a lot of their value whereas a PC depreciates fast. Bought an Alienware for over a grand and sold it for 150 three years later.

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Thedelldays

Thedelldays

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I don't think about resale value in a laptop..

 

Yes can afford a mac but does it represent value for money for my uses??

 

Internet

Music

Films

The odd game - FM 2011

 

That is about it

 

I can't see the value there at the mo

 

So will spend around £500 on a windows machine me thinks

 

Unless, someone can show me a mega deal for a mac

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georgeweahscousin

georgeweahscousin

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Posted
I don't think about resale value in a laptop..

 

Yes can afford a mac but does it represent value for money for my uses??

 

Internet

Music

Films

The odd game - FM 2011

 

That is about it

 

I can't see the value there at the mo

 

So will spend around £500 on a windows machine me thinks

 

Unless, someone can show me a mega deal for a mac

 

You won't get a decent one that cheap unless you go second hand or perhaps refurbished.

 

For what you want to use it for, you are probably making the right choice budget wise. Although FM runs so much better on Mac.

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saint_stevo

saint_stevo

Posted
Posted

DELL Studio 1558

 

Studio 1558

Studio 1558 : RETAIL ONLY Intel i5-450M(2.4GHz) Mobile CPU

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)

320GB Serial ATA (7200RPM)

4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel

Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Roxio Burn software

Display : 15.6in High Definition (1366X768) WLED

LCD Back Cover Black Chainlink

 

Price: £393.28

Price excl. VAT and delivery

 

Dell Outlet

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georgeweahscousin

georgeweahscousin

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Well ordered a MacBook

 

1 year old fully refurbished and reset

2.2 core duo

4gb ram

Nvida gforce 256mb 9400 graphics card

Snow leopard 10.6 installed

 

£500

 

Hopefully they are worth the hype

 

I honestly believe you will never look back.

 

Let me know if you need any OS X tips!

 

less spec than the Dell i posted yesterday.............

 

...but will more than likely perform better in my experience.

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