I'm thinking of buying a new laptop. Currently I'm thinking of IBM T41, which I can get at around $1850 (lower than market price.) But since this is a new cycle of purchase, I would like to let other brands a chance. Specifically, I'm quite tempted by Apple's powerbooks. In fact, I've tempted by Apple products many times before. But their high price stick and limited compatability and my unfamilarity in using them ultimately drove me off. now I know, Apple is more compatible now, and it looks n-degrees cooler than an IBM. But a comparative notebook from powerbooks is still more expensive than a PC. But I'm tempted, very tempted. So I ask my CCnet gurus, can I justify purchasing a powerbook? What main advantage I can gain, disadvantage I still need to suffer if I swith to an Apple? If you have good recommendation for a laptop, please write in. Much appreciated. PS: My main need for a laptop: Enough computing power for statistical work, Mobile connectivity, reasonably light weight. And some entertainment needs, mainly music, vedio watching and photography editing.
I have never owned a Windows-based machine. I've been Apple-only since around 1994 and the only complaint I ever had was with the (much) better choice of games on Windows computers, and that certainly wasn't enough of a complaint to make me go to a PC. Besides, the gaming disparity isn't nearly as big as it used to be. All that, and I just like Macs better. I've never run across a compatibility problem, but all I've ever really done is every-day computer stuff, i.e. internet, email, and word processing kind of stuff along with a few games and graphics stuff. I've still run back and forth between platforms with some Office document or another. Same thing with Photoshop and that kind of stuff. Anyway, a Mac will definitely handle all of your requirements listed in your "PS." Try a Mac. You might love it. I do hear you about the price issue, though. That's the only thing keeping me from buying any computer: I'm effing broke.
The guy in the commercial is none other than Trader_Jorge. No one else on the face of this Earth would use the phrase 'psychological warfare.'
Buy the Mac if: You have access to an abundant free/bootleg Mac software source You're a linux nut AND You have the money They certainly look cooler than PC's, their OS is cool, and they're powerful. But those benefits become eclipsed if you have no software to put on it. -- droxford
I'm a dedicated Mac guy and have been ever since I laid my hands on my first mac in 1985. My current home computer is a G3 laptop which I've never had a moments problem with and it still does everything I ever ask it to do (although at a slower rate than my dual processor g4 I work on at the office). The apple g4 laptops are great computers and a number of people here at the office use them in place of desktop computers. My only reservation about buying one right now would be the fact that they are a little underpowered compared to many pc laptops on the market but the future G5 laptop should solve that problem. The question is... How much longer before the G5 laptop and what will it cost when it comes out? The G4 laptop is a great computer and will server you well if you choose to get one. It is a tough choice though.
What the hell. He was probably one of those idiots that was running Norton 3 with OS 8.5.1. Mac OS X is the most stable operating system I have ever run across. Period. End of Story. When I worked for Apple I had a G4 that was installed with OS X 10.0 beta and was only restarted to install updates. It ran without having to restart the computer for a technical issue for 18 months straight. The other big thing that you will never again have to worry about with a Mac is Viruses. True there are Trojan horses out there, but I've never had one and I download and install the sketchiest software on the planet from versiontracker.com Think of it as an investment. I start law school in the Fall and I will be buying a new powerbook for it.
I love Macs, but my PC at home (built by me) absolutely destroys my work G4 iMac... at a fraction of the cost. I also love to game, so I would never consider buying a Mac, unless it was as a second computer. I will say that Panther kicks Microsoft's ass. For months now, I've been using Panther at work (while everyone else uses OS 9.2 ), and my computer has NEVER crashed once. Strangely enough, the only applications that occasionally crash on my work iMac are the ones made by Microsoft. How... predictable. BTW, I don't even think G5 laptops have even been announced yet.
Dell Inspirion 8600. Has a 7200 RPM hard Drive - Most notebooks are 5400. And an ATI 9600 128mg video card. Strong enough to run all of today's hottest games. Best deal on the web. DD
That momentary feeling of 'what the hell is this' when you crank open an apple seems to scare alot of PC folks off of Macs. For me, personally, it would be difficult to overstate the impact that Macs have made on my professional life -- there is something conceptually different about the apple, and using PC's just seems so blah by comparison. I can not imagine using one for anything other than email. Apple's web browser -- Safari -- is one of those things that seems no big deal when you first use it. But all the little tabbed browsing features-- plus the fact that it is way faster -- make it tough to use IE. That sort of sums up Apple -- some of its best features are subtle, but make all the difference in the world. I just got a 17" new powerbook. The thing is feels like lightning. That 15" powerbook is a more economical buy. The 15" feels like 20" on the screen.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...ay8oTWGVk0zESg/0.0.7.1.0.5.21.1.1.1.1.0.0.1.0 12-inch, Combo Drive, 1.33 GHz $1599 12-inch, Superdrive, 1.33 GHz $1799 15-inch Combo Drive, 1.33 GHz $1999 15-inch SuperDrive, 1.5 GHz $2499 That's list price. There is typically a bit of wiggle room from the resellers. (1) Statistical work: No problem. Plenty fast, and native MATLAB. IMHO, the command line wins for that sort of work anyway. (2) Mobile connectivity: Pop an airport (extreme) card in, and you are good to go. Best of all, no extra wires and nothing to catch on. (3) Reasonably lightweight: The 12-inch is very light (< 5lbs), and the 15 inch is about a pound more. (4) Music: iTunes (5) Video Watching: Quicktime, WM, Real. (6) Photo Editing: iPhoto free, Photoshop at the same price as Windows. It helps to be Unix-fluent, but you can get along without it. Games are still less plentiful.
I have a Dell PC and an iMac. Personally, I prefer the PC, but that might just be because I'm so used to PC's. There are things that I haven't quite figured out on the iMac, and as sad as it is, I really miss that right click button on the mouse.
Would've been better as a 20% off coupon was floating around until last night. One of those loaded could have been had for around $1600. I was tempted to buy one. I'm also thinking about getting an Athlon64-based notebook (the only 64-bit notebook until Apple comes in about a year from now and claims their's is. ). I've wanted a Powerbook just for the cool factor, but I couldn't justify it. For work, for availability of software, etc. I can't justify spending more and (for my uses) getting less.
That Mac spoof was hilarious! Anyways its possible to run OSX on Windows or any X86 system via pearpc, keep in mind its only emulating PowerPC and its pretty slow but it does give you a good idea of what OSX feels like. I always play around with macs when I goto computer stores but I can never afford one, Here is my OSX running on Windows XP:
Many devices are more compatible with MACs than with PC's now a days. Like video cameras, and digital cameras, they are plug and play straight to the iMovie. Its so much easier to use. Even other devices like iPods etc etc are just plugged into firewire and instantly they show up on the Desktop... Ive been using an ibook for 3 years(free from school) and also have a 3 ghz homemade computer. 120 gig hd, 1g ram, its pretty sweet, but still most of the time im tempted to use my ibook over the computer. And this is coming from a person who used to hate Macs until i got one.
You may want to look into whether you school lets you take exams on your notebook. Nearly all of the programs schools use for that are not mac compatable. However you may be able to get around this by using virtual pc. If can solve that i cant think of a better notebook for law school where OS stability and battery life are most important.
Yes Macs are a little more expensive, but I think its worth it. They are so easy to use. although there may not be as much software for the Mac, the software that is available works great. The OS is so much more advanced than windows. Aside from the obvious differences there are many are subtle features that make using a Mac a lot more pleasant IMO. The spoof was kinda funny but far from true. I think the guy is just an idiot. Have you noticed on this BBS that most of the posts regarding "Computer Help" are pretty much all PC problems. You hardly ever read any posts about glitchy Mac problems. Almost every week there is at least one new post about some strange PC problem that requires some sort of reinstall or upgrade or something. Lets not forget about the whole virus thing either. Viruses on a Mac is almost non-existent compared to the seemingly never ending battle with PC based viruses. Let me suggest go to the Apple store and playing around with a couple of the models and ask a sales person show you some of the features.
Just watched that Mac spoof. Ok, that was pretty creative (and hilarious). Can't say it's as bad as the guy says it is, but then that's like I see people that use Macs talk about PC's like they're the second coming of Satan and no matter what your need, budget, or anything else - you must buy a Mac. Both camps are silly. I just try to call 'em like I see 'em : they both have issues despite what people from either camp say. It's the buyer that must do the research and decide which of their shortcomings is least to you. I have a G4 and I have 5 PC's. I use my G4 just to goof around in and maybe surf the WWW every so often. I do 99% of what I do on my PC's. I burn DVD's, CD's, play games, do work, learn, study, email, etc. all on my PC. And believe it or not, it's been about 1-2 years since my OS has crashed. Gosh, imagine that - and it's XP. Another thing to talk about when you talk hardware. Most Macs and PC's share the same type of video cards, hard drives, memory, etc. The only difference is the Macs have a proprietary motherboard and CPU. The performance gap is near-non-existent for the average person. The price gap is a bit more noticeable. Anyway, good luck. They both rock and they both suck - don't let any one person says sway you - find out for yourself by researching the Internet. This battle has been going on since the mid 80's.
