Which one is better? I'm finally breaking down and changing my laptop and have narrowed it down to either the Apple iBook or the IBM Thinkpad. Some people have told me that the Macs crash too much while others have said they never crash and never get viruses. I've also heard that it can be a pain to find compatible software for the Macs, especially in foreign countries. But I have a higher respect for this BBS's knowledge of computers, so I will let you guys decide
What will you be using the computer for? What type of stuff? Work-related, email/www surfing, etc? Is money/budget an issue?
Apple is a superior computer, but Windows has far more applications available. Go with the Windows PC. DD
1) mainly checking email and visiting the Clutch BBS...maybe also some word processing and music downloads (once I figure out how to do that!) 2) both the IBM and Apple are coming out to about the same price....around $1800 ...also, the iMac was REALLY COOL....that's the one w/ the cpu built into the flat screen monitor....too bad i need a laptop though...
A little company propaganda. I will say one thing, be careful, once you switch to Apple full time, you won't want to go back to PC's... In regards to the crashing, I ran a Mac OS X machine at work for 2 YEARS straight without a crash or restart unless I had to install an update.
Mulder, The bit about people using more Macs in the creative field is just wrong....only in publishing/advertising. Windows PC's dominate most of the rest. Point 3, Is relative as someone who makes software apps, I can honestly say we don't even look at Macs because there are just not enough of them around to warrant the risk. Mac is a better computer, but it can not compete in user base or applications. DD
If you get an apple - the far far far superior computer - you can get a program called "Virtual PC" (which runs as fast / faster on an apple than a real PC) and install whatever you want. I would only recommend not getting an Apple if you are total PC Gamer. If you are doing work / creative / audio / video or just regular stuff, to me there is no contest. You will actually look forward to messing around with your new computer pretty much forever if you get an Apple. I am the only Apple guy in my office, and people bring me stuff three times a day that they can not figure out how to do on their PCs. Its not that I know how to do them, I can just figure it out on a Mac, or it is done automatically. Although I think Faos has had a tough time switching, I don't know anyone else who has. He might have gotten a lemon (rare) or he just may be stupider than hell.* But I'd be interested to hear his recommendation right now. Apple is just 'where it's at', maybe like MTV was in the early 80's -- this way cool forefront of creativity and origniality. It can't possibly dominate this forever, but for now it is not even a contest. Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac is exponentially better than it is for PC, and that is a Microsoft product. When Microsoft's own software works better on a Mac, that is a sign of something. Apple OS X takes less than five minutes to understand, maybe a half-day to get accustommed to, and is just fluid from then on out. Everything is plug and play - iPods, printers, all USB stuff, Firewire stuff, scanners, cameras, etc. 90% of the time you don't need a driver. And if you get Faosed, you could probably re-sell it, but I doubt you will want to. Go with the iBook. CBFC *
This is just not true. A real PC is much faster than Virtual PC, as useful as that is. To be perfectly honest, I've always found the "more applications" argument to be flawed, particularly these days. I've always found a more than adequate program for any purpose on the Mac. The obvious exception is games. I didn't buy my Mac for playing games, so I couldn't care less about that. For the purposes you outline, you won't suffer from going with the Mac, with the exception of buying legitimate music online. A lot of the new online stores are locked in to Windows and WMP10. Still, you could always use iTMS for that. Non-legitimate downloads? No problem (so I'm told )
Let me rephrase: My experience has been that Virtual PC on a zippy Mac is much faster than a zippy PC. It's not a scientific fact, but it has been my experience, especially in using non-processor-heavy apps like Excel or Outlook or whatever. You can configure VPC to be very, very fast.
best post ever. BPE Award #3 Will you be bringing your machine to the university or High School? Most wireless networks in campuses like in our university will only "support" PCs, not MACs. I believe you covered this, if not in its fullest, but still, if you will work alone, not sharing documents, not connecting to a network, not doing things with other people that may make you "incompatible", go with your MAC. We have a PC-compatible network here in our campus.
Dude Apple is calling your name big time, you won't be disappointed. I just bought the 12" PowerBook and added RAM to get it to 1.25 GB and 1.33 Ghz
Incorrect. 90 percent of all recording and editing studios use Macintosh. More than 60 percent of all video production facilities use Macintosh. Mac still dominates the graphic design market as well. The majority of home users still use their computer for email, surfing the net, word processing and money management. For that, all of the major commercial applications (Outlook/Entourage, Word, Quicken, Excel, etc) are available for Mac and, with OS X, allow you to move files seemlessly from Mac to PC if necessary. I've used them both extensively. As a business, we use them both extensively. They are both fine machines, but, unless you are running software that is exclusively available for the PC, you are a big time gamer who needs a fast machine for playing games (still a relatively small segment of the marketplace) or you are a Win programmer, there is no clear advantage to PC over Mac.
Hey...thanks Unfortunately my student days are long-gone...and oh how i still miss the university chicks! However, i will be taking the laptop on travel, especially internationally....so these wireless networks available in hotels and airports might still be useful for me...i wonder if most of those are only PC compatible, too....
There are no compatibility issues if your main concern is for surfing the net. You just need to make sure you have a wireless router or card to connect to their network.
I used a ibook for 3 years, and now switched to a Compaq(due to the macs costing more) I loved the Mac, it is definately an aquired taste. It crashed a lot, yet it didnt crash at all. What I mean is that unless I tried to finger with something I had no idea about it didnt crash. BUt knowing me, I had to go thru all the new stuff like the system folders etc, and that caused it to crash. Whenever i stuck to using it normailly, it would never crash. I love the way Macromedia, Photoshop, etc work with MAC, I hate that there is no right click unless you keep the button pressed. BUt that is easily cured with the control + click. The apple + w, apple + q option is good if you just want to close a window, but keep the program running. itunes is awesome, if you have an ipod, the synchronization is just amazing, sony erricson phones work excellently with the bluetooth. The Wireless internet connection is far superior to the windows versions. It picks up the best network around, and doesnt have annoying windows pop up asking you to choose a network.( I tried automating, but it never chooses the best network on windows). Firewire ports and usb are standard, and thats awesome, The way all the ports are on one side makes it soooo much easier. Upgrading may be a problem with the ibook, but for using it about 2-4 years, its excellent.... hope that helps.
hey - does it still only have one mouse button by default? b/c man, that is the most annoying thing ever for a PC user to get used to.
Two button mice work without any additional software. I'm using one right now. Networks, all Macs running OS X can connect to any PC or Unix network. The "tech guys" "don't support it" because they haven't been trained on Macs. Most of the tech guys here are clueless even the token Mac guy. (Mac guy = I used the Apple II in 6th grade to play "wagon train"...)
