Garry Conn: Apple Mac Book Vs Dell XPS - Help Me Decide!
Todd
· 1 year ago
Gary, I just bought a MacBook and for me it was WELL worth the money. Everything is so much easier on this thing I love it. I saved some money and upgraded the RAM on my own, which I recommend you do too if you get the MacBook. Also, I ordered via Amazon and got it cheaper than direct from Apple. (go figure) I posted about it here. Go Mac!
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Hey Todd,
Thanks for commenting so quick! I am so torn between the two. Same thing happened to me last year when I bought my Inspiron E1505. This notebook really has been good to me. But dude.. Windows Vista sucks. I am sorry to say that, but seriously. This notebook has enough system resources to power the space shuttle but its slower than a 486 after I upgraded to Vista and now I can't resort back to XP... but for other reasons to, I wouldn't want to.
In my opinion, M$ really screwed the pooch when then rolled out Vista. It reminds me of the ME disaster back 8 years ago...
The only thing that is causing me to be on the fence is the huge price difference. Apple iMacs are clearly expensive. I am going to blockquote from your post and paste it here, as I have some questions for you, if you don't mind. Also, everyone else is free to chip in their thoughts as the more the better.
you said...
Years of habit on a PC can be hard to break for some people (understandably so) but for me it has been a breeze thus far.
What habits can be hard to break, can you give some examples?
Next question:
My current Dell has 2 gigs of RAM, but because it is on Vista it is very slow...
My question is, could I save a minimum of $1100 dollars and just wipe out everything on my Dell and use a Linux distro instead of buying an Apple? If so, then does anyone have any suggestions as far as a certain Linux distro to use?
As you guys know... I am a full time blogger. I am not into video games and things like that anymore...
Todd... unlike you, I need to have a big wide screen and I know I would be disappointed with the 13 inch screen and using an external monitor is not an option. I hate desktops and external devices.
What I need is very low maintenance.
Fast and secure OS... tabbed browsing... Open Office... soon to be GIMP to replace Adobe Photoshop and BlogDesk or something similar. I need an old school HTML editor like FrontPage... and that's about it.
I want an Apple because they have intrigued me for many years... I don't really NEED one... and quite honestly, if I could pull off converting my current DELL into a linux DELL, I might be fine with that.
What are your thoughts (anyone) lol!!!
Max Conservative
· 1 year ago
Gary, I'm going to suggest the Apple. First, I've recently bought a mini mac for testing, and it's exceeded my hopes. With only two exceptions, I've found programs that meet or exceed what I was doing on a PC. It's faster in operation, and much easier. The Time Machine function is absolutely flawless. Am I raving, you bet. I have a Mac, and am not going back.
Those two exceptions I mentioned, are programs we use online a bit. My wife won't give them up, and she just bought a quad core gateway to run vista. I spent the better part of a week getting the Vista up and running to meet her needs. I spent about an hour getting the mac fully configured. It ran perfectly out of the box, no trial nonsense to deal with except for the iWork program which I bought.
The apples cost more, but they work better in my opinion. I hope this helps you decide.
I bought the mini mac to test more than anything, to satisfy my own curiosity, and I haven't fired up my laptop, a gateway, in over a month.
Todd
· 1 year ago
Hi Gary, some people have a hard time with no right button on their mouse...but....I'm using a two button mouse just fine! And, the new Apple mighty mouse allows you to right click, but I don't like that mouse. There are lots of shortcuts you can use on a Mac that make the right click less important too. (i right click less already)
For me, switching from a PC to a Mac is sort of like going from an old crappy car to a new car...a lot things are just different but once you learn how to use them most of the stuff is better. :)
If you need a larger screen and don't want an external monitor, your only option (i think) is the 17" MacBook Pro, which is totally overpriced in my opinion. Personally, I love plugging my MacBook into my monitor and using my wireless keyboard/mouse.
I have 4GB of Ram and my MacBook is super fast. Honestly 2GB would have been enough but 4GB was only 50 bucks (aftermarket)
With the LCD I would be happy with 15 inch... but even jumping up to that, there is a pretty big jump in price. I don't mind spending the money, but I kinda need to feel good about the decision. 17 Inch, that is totally out of the question... I don't need that. However, I am wondering if I would be happy with a 13 inch screen. I am too mobile for using an external LCD or CRT monitor. I use my laptop of the sofa, bed, outside, in the car while my kids are at sports. My laptop pretty much goes where I go...
I love the idea of owning one... I think I am nervous about adapting to one. Not having a right click option almost is scary! I'll tell you what... Apple.com did a really nice job with their website. There are tons of videos available and I have watched about half of them.
Do Apple computers really last longer than PC? Meaning, it seems like the minute you buy a PC and walk out of the store, its already outdated. Do Apple computers have a longer shelf life?
Secondly and dreadfully... with a PC, it is almost a regular routine for me now, I have to invest a weekend towards backing up all my data and reformatting the hard drive and getting a fresh install of the Windows OS as it seems to deteriorate through time. Does Mac OS X last longer, does it get fragmented like XP and Vista commonly do?
Linux kinda freaks me out too... my perception of Linux is that you pretty much have to be a programmer/ hacker to actually get things the way you like it.
I want something that will last me a long time, something that is fast and secure and allows me to be fast and efficient as an online publisher and Internet marketer and graphic designer / web designer for my own blogs and sites. My poor Dell is on its last leg because of Vista... the computer (meaning hardware and components inside) are awesome.. but this poor laptop is dying a slow death because of the operating system. I need to yet again... reinstall the OS and start over from scratch. This sucks because as the years go by, I have to back up more and more data.
Thanks again for the comments... so far it seems that Apple would be in my favor... I am still tossing around the idea of finding a very user friendly and well supported version of Linux... does the animal exist? :)
I think at this point... Vista is totally out of the question... and buying a new Dell is also out of the question.
deepak sharma
· 1 year ago
those comments goes a long way for macs. i am a pc user. main use for me is ms word excel those two are backbone for my profession, i even like playing games on my pc does mac support games. what was ur experience using back pc sometimes when there is no mac?
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Of course, Mac runs all Windows software, deepak. Even games if you get OS X Leopard and Boot Camp. All you have to do is install a Windows distro, and you can play any Windows PC game out there. As for Microsoft Excel, same thing. You can run any Windows application on a Mac. Macs have Intel processors now, so I've running Ubuntu Linux, OS X and Windows XP as we speak. I use Parallels. However, if you want to run high end Windows games, you need OS X Leopard, Boot Camp and a Windows installation hardcore. No reason to have a PC these days. Just doesn't make since. So, deepak, you should be fine with a Macintosh computer. :)
Todd
· 1 year ago
If I was you, I would sit at an Apple store for several hours with a MacBook in my lap and try it out! (they will let you do that!) See if you like it and see if the 13" screen is large enough for you. I think the MacBook Pro's are overkill for most people, and a big premium to pay for a slightly larger screen. I've been surprised how big the 13" screen feels, but I'm on my monitor 90%+ of the time.
Tim Christie
· 1 year ago
Hey Garry,
I would definitely go the Mac without looking back. I have been a PC man for over 10 years now and am in the exact same position as you. The PC's may be cheap but damn they cost you more in the long run. I have upgraded my PC's every 18mths to 2 yrs ever since I started using them. I have been really bugging a Mac mate and he has a desktop system that is about 4yrs old running current software with no hassles at all. This is the original system he bought when he changed from PC. He has only just bumped up his memory recently because his image files are now so much bigger.
Mac's cost less in the longrun too in terms of lost data with the stable operating environment(not saying they dont crash but they do it waaaay less than PC's) as well as in terms of time saved due to the more logical operation of them. They may take a little while to get your head around but once youve had mac you'll never go back.
I have been using a mates mac book that is about 3 yrs old on and off, which he leaves running for weeks without having to be rebooted. The graphics engine is so much smooother, it utilises its resources way better than PC and the whole system integration works together so much better.
My biggest problem now is getting annoyed at my PC while I wait to buy my Mac. I am looking at buying the Mac Book Pro, as I need the extra power and screen real estate for my photography work.
In terms of security there are way less attacks on mac's as well. Hackers dont seem to target them as mostly only graphic designers really used them in the past. PC's are more the home gullible market so they target them. In terms of system reinstallation, you can pretty well say goodbye to having to do that on a regular basis. That is the big one for me, like you I hate the solid days work of removing the old data, reinstalling the OS and loading programs and data again.
I think you will be more than happy with the Mac. Its just a matter now of deciding on screen size. Of yeah, they do have a right click funtion too. The mouse that I used was pressure sensitive and you just touched where a right button would be. Bizzarre but you get the hang of it pretty quick.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Tim,
Wow! Thanks for the amazing comment. I have been glued to Apple.com today, I haven't really gotten much done... I did the same thing the same time last year! You are right... I am really leaning towards a Mac for sure.
Quick question for you or anyone reading here. How does the Safari web browser compare to Firefox or even Internet Explorer. I justed downloaded the PC version a few hours ago and right away I noticed that I can't install my Google Toolbar on it.
Do Mac users simply discard the Safari browser just like PC users discard the IE browser and head straight to FireFox for the download?
deepak.sharma.at
· 1 year ago
i use pc and planning to switch over to mac. the ony problem is i use excel most of the times are the controls simioler to ms office excel or different. does it have all the audit tools,simple copy paste fn , functioins strings which is available in ms excel. what about the ratio funtions vlookup,hlookup,if,sumif etc functions and their control. is neo office good for my work.what is the format that excel sheet is saved."
Hank
· 1 year ago
Unlike IE, safari is lightening fast. However Firefox is better as it has more features while safari is the most basic you can get. If you are a power user, I would recommend Opera!
DayJobNuker
· 1 year ago
What about using Microsoft Office with a Mac. I need Access and Excel for my work. Anybody use those with a Mac?
Hank
· 1 year ago
yes, you can get msoffice 2008 for a mac and it come for around $80.
Todd
· 1 year ago
One way a Mac will save you money is that you'll spend less time trying to make stuff work. It's hard to explain until you own a Mac, but stuff just works! I plugged in my Brother laser printer expecting that I would have to search around looking for drivers and other nonsense, but not on my Mac. I plugged in my printer and it printed right away. There was NO set-up. And that is just one example. :)
Tim Christie
· 1 year ago
I am not sure Garry about the browser stuff. I was mainly trialling for photo work.
I will send my mate Matt on over who is a Mac nut and theres not much he doesnt know about them.
Todd
· 1 year ago
Safari is a solid and fast browser as far as I can tell, but I still prefer Firefox because it has more bells and whistles and doodads to add-on.
Matt Packer
· 1 year ago
Get a mac, they just work and work and work. I've had macs for the last 4 years and never had an issue hardware or os related...
Browser wise, mate it doesn't matter.. Firefox, Safari and Camino are all equally fast, unless you have a something that will measure nano seconds I doubt you will notice any difference.. I pretty well rock Safari all the time, though I have been playing with Firefox 3 the last couple of days and it's pretty nice..
Thomas
· 1 year ago
Hey Garry,
I made the switch a few weeks ago and I am so happy with my MacBook!.
Stephen Cronin
· 1 year ago
Wow, so many Mac lovers, but I'm afraid I'm a PC man... I have no plans to go to Vista, more than happy with XP. There's still a lot of software that only runs on Windows, although it's getting better.
But if you want away from Windows, you should check out the Linux options as well. I haven't personally used it, but I've heard lots of very good things about Ubuntu.
Anyway good luck with the decision... By the way, this is a great title if you want more people to leave comments!
David Cooley
· 1 year ago
The Mac reviews here are awesome. I want a new Laptop too, but I have already decided against M$ and Apple.
I want a Linux Laptop.
Brad
· 1 year ago
The mac is the way to go. I switched a little over a year ago. When vista came out I loaded it on my mac also... via bootcamp just to see. Mac OS Rocks. Don't get caught up in price. The OS alone is worth the price of the Macbook Pro. I would choose the mac and never look back.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
Since Macs now use Intel Core 2 Duo processors, you can run Windows XP on them just fine, either in BootCamp, which is built into MacOS X but requires dual-booting, or in third-party virtualisation managers such as Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion, which let you simultaneously use Windows-only applications (e.g. MS Access, MS Visual Studio, MS Expression) alongside MacOS X applications and copy and paste between the two environments; if you upgrade your Mac to 4GB of RAM using inexpensive third-party modules, you can even simultaneously run a Linux distro alongside MacOS X and Windows XP, assigning 1GB RAM to each hosted virtual machine and still leaving 2GB for MacOS X. In other words, the Mac gives you access to the widest software library on the planet. PC World Magazine late last year even declared that the MacBook Pro was the fastest notebook they had tested running Windows Vista. It's like getting three machines in one: an (officially) certified UNIX workstation, a fast Windows PC, and a beefy Linux platform.
Dave
· 1 year ago
Ok.. first off.. just let go of the the "no right mouse / click button" all desktop macs ship with a mighty mouse, a four button, scroll ball mouse with a right click. All laptop models work with a "two fingers on the trackpad for a right click" So the two button mouse / trackpad, is just an old myth hanging on.
Secondly.. all intel macs can run all OSes, including Vista / XP natively, and apparently make the fastest Vista portable box available.
Enough of the old news and wives tales already!
Jon Austin
· 1 year ago
Garry
Great artice. I am a lifelong Mac User and PC user.
1. You said that the main issue you have with Apple is price. Well contrary to popular belief Apples are priced very competitively. If you match up a Apple to a PC laptop from a higher end vendor such as Sony or Dell you will come to about the same. Apple includes things as standard not as optional that others don't. Some examples is 802.11n card, Firewire, Analog/Optical in and out jacks.
Theres of course other things that add to the price that PC Vendors don't have to deal with such as a Slot Loader vice a tray Optical Drive. The power adapter which is tiny compared to PC systems has a magnetic plug that breaks away if its tripped over. All those add to the cost but offer a all around much better system experience. Kinda like I own a Acura which sure I don't need but overall its a much better car then a 10k no frills car.
2. Vista after all the hype added nothing really new. Mac OS 10.5 is like using something outta the future. Its fun, fresh and does some amazing things that are normal for Mac users that PC users can't even begin to think about. Like being able to open and preview a multide of file formats like Word, Excel, Mp3s, jpegs without ever opening up the associated application. You click on the document and hit space bar and it comes up instantly. Thats not boring, its like amazing.
3. Mac OS 10.5 is rock solid. Sure there are flaws but its considerably more secure then a PC system. Since Mac OS X has come out I have owned about 6 different Macs, and never once have reformatted a hard drive. Never once experienced a system melt down. I never have had on a Mac any sort of Virus protection software, nor any crazy programs to maintain my system.
As to what to buy thats a personal choice, but I would give a Mac a try. You can use Apples Boot Camp to install a Windows on it. PC World said in December that something is terribly wrong with the universe when the fastest Vista machine they ever benchmarked outside of gaming machines is a Macintosh running Windows.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@DayJobNuker: if you really need to use MS Access on a Mac, you can use one of the Windows approaches I cited in my previous msg. Otherwise, you can port your database over to FileMaker 9 or MySQL. Out in a couple of weeks is the new MS Office 2008 for Macintosh, which in some ways leapfrogs over Office 2007, but there's no Access for the Mac, or Outlook (MS Entourage is not fully equivalent to Outlook).
Andy
· 1 year ago
One of the biggest arguments against the 'Macs cost more' perception is (apart from the fact comparably specced PCs actually cost the same or more) the fact that Macs actually retain a lot of value when you sell them second hand. You should factor this into your calculations, and I think you'll find a Mac is actually quite a lot cheaper than a comparable Dell.
I usually eBay my old machine after 2 years, and normally get back about 50% of what I paid for it. I don't think you could do that with a PC, no matter what brand it was. Just go and check out the prices on eBay for proof.
As for Office (someone asked above), yes Office runs fine and is fully compatible with the PC version. A new version of Office is due very soon - but you could be better off saving some money and checking out Apple's iWork first, as it covers most bases for most people, and is also able to read & export Office file formats.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@StephenCronin: the Mac IS a PC, it uses PC hardware, but comes with an officially certified UNIX as standard. As I've pointed out however, there's nothing preventing you or anyone from running Windows XP (or even Vista) and Linux on it. In fact, some people (not many) buy Mac hardware for its industrial design with the intention of primarily running Windows on it, only to discover that MacOS X is even better for their needs than Windows OR Linux. Just read reviews on blogs such as Chris Pirillo's. Better yet, consider the fact that these people all run Macs for their personal use:
Paul Otellini, CEO, Intel Les Vadasz, co-founder and Employee#3, Intel Pat Gelsinger, VP and GM of Enterprise Systems, Intel
Paul Greatbatch
· 1 year ago
I would also advise getting a Mac, and not just because of your Vista issues. After all, you can run XP or Vista on the Mac via Boot Camp, Parallels, or VM. In essence, your Mac could run any OS you wished.
I can't really recommend blowing money on MS Office when iWork and NeoOffice are available. I can't recommend Windows Media Player, etc., over Apple's iLife applications. And you will save money on anti-virus/spyware products too.
I would make two suggestions: never buy additional RAM from Apple and go for the extended AppleCare plan. I have done this for years and have saved some serious cash.
It may sound like a marketing catch-phrase, but it's true. Macs just work. The OS stays out of your way. It looks better than Vista. It provides a lot of useful stuff and a minimum of crapware.
The touch of the keyboard is better. (Type on a PC laptop after a Mac and it makes you think you're clunking away on an old Selectric.) The fit and finish of Macs is leaps and bounds above PCs.
If you have an Apple Store nearby, visit it and play. The machines on the floor are loaded with just about any app you could think of to play with. If you have a friend with a Mac, ask to sit down with it for a while unattended and see what you think.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@Tim Christie: Go to www.robgalbraith.com and read their review of the MacBook Pro, which in their testing has the best laptop screen for working with photographs (hint: it's LED backlit and looks gorgeous especially when compared with Sony VAIO's running Vista). Oh, and there may be a showstopper in Vista for photographers and colour graphics folks: I have read that when you switch out of a colour-managed application such as Photoshop, Vista unloads the colour lookup table for the screen, which basically negates your monitor calibration. By comparison, onscreen colour management is a system-level service in MacOS X, so the entire workspace is fully colour-managed at all times, not just specific applications. I don't have firsthand confirmation of this, since I work primarily in MacOS X (by preference) and Windows XP (because that's what my employer uses).
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@David Cooley: You can run the Linux distro of your choice on a MacBook or MacBook Pro using Parallels or Fusion. Be warned, however — the "it just works" wireless performance of MacOS X compared to everything else can be addictive especially if you travel to multiple locations and switch among multiple WiFi networks.
Don
· 1 year ago
I switched to Mac a few years ago and would never go back, as many folks have noted,things just work. My job also requires that I use some Windows program-no problem-I just fire up XP in a Parallels VM and voilà , I run them at native speed. As for M$ Office, also not a problem, the MacBU has done a fine job on the Mac version of Office, I prefer it to the Windows version and the files are compatible. Lastly, having a full Unix underbelly in Mac OS X allows me to download, compile and install Unix program when the need arises. It is the best of all worlds.
Dan Derrico
· 1 year ago
I use Apple computers. I have paid "too much" each time I have bought an Apple computer. I have been aware that there were less expensive options available. Yet I have always been enormously satisfied with my purchases.
The biggest plus is the operating system. It is hard to quantify this. You have to use it. I have far less problems with the basic day-to-day operation of the machine than my Windows buddies. And Macs are fun to use!
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
Some context for my comments: I've worked for IBM, Compaq, and Fujitsu, but nowadays at home I run MacOS X 10.4 (I have yet to upgrade to OS X 10.5, but will soon) on multiple Macs, and Windows 2003 Server Enterprise Edition on a Dell PowerEDGE server. While Macs are by no means perfect, in general they do "just work" and are a pleasure to use compared with most Windows PCs, and I've used PCs longer than I've used Macs.
Yebot
· 1 year ago
Yo, First time reader, first time commenter ...
To the gentleman who uses Microsoft Access. The Mac version of Msoft Office does not come with Access nor does it come with an Access equivalent.
A Mac is at least two computers in one, rebooting into Windows or virtualizing a Windows environment on a Mac can be accomplished in a number of easy ways.
Also, MacWorld is less than two weeks away which means the Apple Computer product lineup is about to change. Avoid buying a new Mac until after MacWorld.
Dan Derrico
· 1 year ago
Don't forget: don't buy a Mac before the January 15th MacWorld show. New products and upgrades to existing lines are often (but not always) announced!
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@Gary: Right-click is easy on a Mac portable. Go to MacOS X System Preferences, enable two-finger trackpad tap, and presto, you have right-click (and scrolling, if you also enable it) whenever you use two fingers to tap on the trackpad.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@Gary: "Do Apple computers really last longer than PC? Meaning, it seems like the minute you buy a PC and walk out of the store, its already outdated. Do Apple computers have a longer shelf life?"
Yes, if you subscribe to the idea that you buy a computer for more than what you currently need, and then grow into its capabilities over time, using it until you run into its limitations. I'm typing this on a base-level Apple iBook G4 that's more than 4 years old, and even with its puny 32MB VRAM and 800MHz processor it can do UI effects such as minimizing a video to the Dock while it's playing; to do this in Vista Aero, you need a killer graphics card.
"with a PC, it is almost a regular routine for me now, I have to invest a weekend towards backing up all my data and reformatting the hard drive and getting a fresh install of the Windows OS as it seems to deteriorate through time. Does Mac OS X last longer, does it get fragmented like XP and Vista commonly do?"
Mac OS X auto-defrags on the fly. There's no Registry to get clogged up with junk. I have an 8 year old PowerMac G4 that's had its OS reinstalled only once, and that's only because I didn't follow best practices when upgrading it. The latest version of MacOS X has a built-in Time Machine backup feature that's basically set-it and forget it until you need to recover a file.
Pilot
· 1 year ago
Get a Mac. Heck, if you don't like OSX, you can turn it completely into a PC and run Vista better than the fastest PC laptops out there. You really can't go wrong with a Mac.
I have MBP and loving it. I run Windows on it to play Call of Duty 4 and it rocks.
Using a Mac really means more productivity, fun, intuitive... go see why MS tried so hard to copy OSX into Vista.
Dan
· 1 year ago
i have recently been looking around for a laptop and was considering either the dell XPS 1330 or the mac book. i want something good for school and still be able to play some games such as call of duty 4 like you had said. as well as any other intense games. i was wondering if the mac book graphics card is good enough for all of these games. i know more about the grapgics cards on the dell but i do know that many games need a certain graphics card to run the game.
powershaker
· 1 year ago
Dan, although I have seen a Macbook run some high end games, I would not suggest buying a regular Macbook for Call of Duty 4. It's just not a gaming type of video card. Sure, it will run some games, because not all graphics require a fancy Direct X 10 compatible graphics card. However, if you're going to play games in the high-end, you need the Macbook Pro and not the Macbook. Those graphics sure do add to the price though, but I have a Macbook Pro, and I play really nice high-end games with no lag. I was running Tombraider: Anniversary at 1680x1050 with anti-aliasing off, and I never got a single freeze framer or problem. You could see the water dripping off of Lara when she got out of the pool. It was the bomb! I also played Neverwinter Nights 2 at that high resolution, and it worked fine. Not saying the ordinary Macbook won't run games, but it's a matter of how well they run them without the Macbook Pro's jamming video card. Hope that helps.
Chris Wightman
· 1 year ago
This is a no brainer, go with the Mac, according to PC world's tests the fastest notebook computer running Vista is the MacBook Pro. Sure, you can buy a 500 buck Dell which will be a piece of junk. In terms of cost compare the Macs spec to spec with other laptops and they are almost identical price wise, plus you have the advantage of running every OS there is on the market along with all the applications. What is there to think about!!
Mark
· 1 year ago
Hi Garry, I think you'll be happy with a Mac. Regarding the MacBook vs the MacBook Pro, it does cost more, but there are a lot of nice differences. Besides being bigger, the screen is also better, with LED backlighting, and you end up with the same battery life, and only ounces heavier. The auto-dimming screen and backlit keyboard are great in dim/dark rooms. The graphics card is MUCH better. I also use the FireWire 800 port for an external hard drive from time to time and for Time Machine backups.
For both laptops, the trackpad can do both "right-click" and "scroll-wheel" functions. And my wife is still quite happy with her 3-year-old PowerBook G4. For browsers, I use Safari and OmniWeb mainly, firing up Camino or FireFox if necessary. (All but FireFox as Mac-specific, and integrate better with some cool features Mac users expect.)
I've rambled long enough. Good luck with whatever path you choose!
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
Garry - You are asking the correct questions, facing the same dilemma many Microsoft WIndows users face; deal with more complex issues as M$ adds more bloat to it's software, or look for an alternative. Mac OSX and Linux are the popular alternatives, and there are some PC's that come sans WIndows with Linux installed (Asus eeEPc laptop).
Just to qualify, I am a working Apple Consultant, part of the Apple Consultants Network. For years I had a hard time recommending Macs, unless the client had a specific use such as Graphics, photography or video. That was way before Apple started using Intel microprocessors. The other issue; "Macs cost so much more than PC's..." is now moot when you compare like feature for feature. The upper level Sony's, Dells and Fujitsu laptops are within the range of Macbook Pros and Macbooks.
The answer to your question about browsers is: Firefox is the same for Windows as it is for MacOSX. If you are used to Firefox, you should enjoy a better experience on the Mac. Heck, if you really NEED to run some Windows software, you can install XP (forget Vista for now) under the "free" Bootcamp included with Leopard (OSX 10.5), as long as you have a full copy of Windows XP. Or you can install virtual emulation software like Parallels or VMware, and have both the Mac and Windows running simultaneously.
There are a couple different web tools far better than "Front Page", which you know is strictly for development for WIndows hosted websites. I use Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 as a professional web developer for managing multiple websites. Apple includes iWeb with the iWork "Suite" which incidentally can open, modify and save in Microsoft Office documents (an only costs $79.00 - you'll get a free trial with any new Mac purchase. There is a powerful Open Source image editor called GIMP that rivals Photoshop on many levels. I find iWeb a bit too simplistic, and really works best if you have a .Mac account and host your website there.
Your blogging through Wordpress would be the same. and if you've investigated, Wordpress is a really robust blogging host software where you can literally build a website around or within (we even support it through our own web servers).
The Dell XPS series are nice machines. I work on couple of the 19" models for a client of mine. With some regularity, I have to go over and repair or reinstall Windows, and the models he has are still NOT compatible with Vista (even says so on the Dell web site). They are pretty nice machines, but it seems any time my client wants to add some software or other, Windows gets hosed.
Your final question: "because there is so much freaking data on my hard drive, getting all the prep work done before doing the reformat and install is a big pain in the butt. Am I wrong to assume that if I purchased an Apple Mac Book that I wouldn’t have to deal with these issues?"... you can just copy your data through your lan or wireless lan to your NEW MAC, once you get it. Don't bother rebuilding the Dell "again".
Just plan on maxing on the RAM on either the Macbook or Macbook Pro (you should go to the pro if you are planning on managing photo images - although iPhoto comes free with both machines), OSX needs RAM, and it's cheap and easy enough to add yourself (Macsales.com is the cheapest and best place to order ram online). Also check out the Apple Store online and look at the prices for "refurbished" machines. I almost always buy refurbs as I save hundreds of dollars and the machines are fully loaded and backed with full warranty.
Both Macbook and Macbook Pro support external DVI monitors, mice and keyboards. So you can get as large a monitor that you like (except Apple's 30" monster display!) right out of the box.
L. Hernandez
· 1 year ago
The latest version of Microsoft Office for Mac will be officially introduced at MacWorld Expo in about 2 weeks, but you can find some reviews already at the Mac magazines. It will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage (similar to Outlook). Microsoft doesn't make a Mac version of Access. If your work on Excel includes a lot of VBA, you should grab the older version, as the 2008 edition will not include VBA. If you are connecting to an Exchange server, Microsoft has not designed Entourage to connect seamlessly. Like Office 2007, the new version on the Mac side has had a major interface redesign -- many experienced Office users on the Windows side are having issues with Microsoft's decision to revamp the interface, this may carry over to the Mac side. This is a Microsoft concern, not exclusively an Apple issue, however it has been suggested that the ribbon/toolbars are poorly designed for the smaller screens of Macbooks/iBooks.
The resale value of Apple hardware tends to be higher than the resale value of Wintel equipment. Should you purchase a Macbook, and find it not to your liking, you will likely still be able to purchase a substantial portion of your Windows machine by reselling your Apple equipment.
Keep in mind that the Macbook will be able to run typical Windows applications providing you pick up a copy of Parallels or other emulator and a copy of Windows. This means that even if you don't fall in love with OSX, you aren't completely out out of luck. The major caveat is that games may not work well with emulators, as they make specific demands on video hardware that can't be easily emulated. Graphic design, website development, office productiviity and internet content browsers can all typically run on Windows on the Mac, should you not have their Mac counterparts for some crazy reason.
The Macbook will also be able to run many Linux distros, but I can't speak to specifics, other than to say that a particularly geek trick some time ago was to have a Linux distro running inside of Windows inside OSX.
In short, come on in, the water's fine. Try out that Mac without fear. There are life jackets and wading pools available and despite the hype, shark attacks are very, very rare.
Victor Panlilio
· 1 year ago
@Don Derrico: "The biggest plus is the operating system. It is hard to quantify this."
Windows squishes fonts to hammer them into a pixel grid. MacOS X respects the integrity of the glyphs, and thus gives a much better onscreen approximation of what the typefaces will look like in print. If you design for print, this is huge. Most people prefer the onscreen font rendering of Windows because it looks sharper, but this is at the expense of typographic accuracy. As we move to ever higher screen resolutions and resolution-independence in the user interface, the Apple font rendering will become visibly superior. For more info, see
I wrestle with the quirks of the Windows approach every single day. The Mac approach works much better for print designers, if you care about typographic integrity vs. onscreen legibility.
homemom3
· 1 year ago
Garry, I must say I'd go with the Apple Mac myself. Honestly I don't like DELL I mean look at how many times I had issues with mine. I finally gave up on the DELL and kept just the monitor. Not sure if you remember but my DELL tower actually blew up on me. (the whole back in popped and smoke and a flame came out) so as for me I'll never go DELL. I didn't have much luck with their customer service either, they either wouldn't come up or they wanted me to wait two weeks and when you work online that isn't what you want to hear. I say go Apple, they are more reliable. Do make sure that the Apple has the programs you'll need though first, as I hear they don't always work with programs you are use to using. Good Luck Garry, have fun hunting.
Bluejade
· 1 year ago
don't forget about BOOT CAMP!
nobody seems to mention the Mac's ability to run Windows natively via Boot Camp, running better than on most PCs! Or if needed using Parallels or VM Ware gives you the option to run any system inside Mac OS X
Bluejade
· 1 year ago
Sorry for the redundant comment, got the time of posts mixed up : )
Ken Sherman
· 1 year ago
You'll only spend the money once. Even if the Mac costs a little more (not a given) you'll be happy you spent the extra cash. Neooffice is a free Mac version of Openoffice (a MS Office equiv. for most people). Neooffice does include a database. Anyone used it that knows Access? Will this be a reasonable solution for Access users?
Good luck with your new Mac. I know you've already decided ;-)
The Monetizer
· 1 year ago
After working in a MAC environment for 2-3 years, I'd definitely recommend the Apple too. In terms of dependability and efficiency as well as no problems with viruses or spyware, that's the best option. Guess you get what you pay for with the quality of the product.
Kirk
· 1 year ago
Garry, I'm a web developer for the last ten years and have much experience with both OS's. The best analogy (and an often overused one) is comparing a Lexus to a Chevrolet. Yes, they will both get your there, but it is so much nicer in the Lexus. And yes, the Lexus does cost more, but once you've owned one you really don't want to think about going back to that Chevy. And while it may be more upfront, the Lexus will probably last much longer as well. So, go ahead, treat yourself to the finest OS and get that Mac. You only live once, it would be a shame to die with that old chevy.
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
Garry - You are asking the correct questions, facing the same dilemma many Microsoft WIndows users face; deal with more complex issues as M$ adds more bloat to it's software, or look for an alternative. Mac OSX and Linux are the popular alternatives, and there are some PC's that come sans WIndows with Linux installed (Asus eeEPc laptop).
Just to qualify, I am a working Apple Consultant, part of the Apple Consultants Network. For years I had a hard time recommending Macs, unless the client had a specific use such as Graphics, photography or video. That was way before Apple started using Intel microprocessors. The other issue; "Macs cost so much more than PC's..." is now moot when you compare like feature for feature. The upper level Sony's, Dells and Fujitsu laptops are within the range of Macbook Pros and Macbooks.
The answer to your question about browsers is: Firefox is the same for Windows as it is for MacOSX. If you are used to Firefox, you should enjoy a better experience on the Mac. Heck, if you really NEED to run some Windows software, you can install XP (forget Vista for now) under the "free" Bootcamp included with Leopard (OSX 10.5), as long as you have a full copy of Windows XP. Or you can install virtual emulation software like Parallels or VMware, and have both the Mac and Windows running simultaneously.
There are a couple different web tools far better than "Front Page", which you know is strictly for development for WIndows hosted websites. I use Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 as a professional web developer for managing multiple websites. Apple includes iWeb with the iWork "Suite" which incidentally can open, modify and save in Microsoft Office documents (an only costs $79.00 - you'll get a free trial with any new Mac purchase. There is a powerful Open Source image editor called GIMP that rivals Photoshop on many levels. I find iWeb a bit too simplistic, and really works best if you have a .Mac account and host your website there.
Your blogging through Wordpress would be the same. and if you've investigated, Wordpress is a really robust blogging host software where you can literally build a website around or within (we even support it through our own web servers).
The Dell XPS series are nice machines. I work on couple of the 19" models for a client of mine. With some regularity, I have to go over and repair or reinstall Windows, and the models he has are still NOT compatible with Vista (even says so on the Dell web site). They are pretty nice machines, but it seems any time my client wants to add some software or other, Windows gets hosed.
Your final question: "because there is so much freaking data on my hard drive, getting all the prep work done before doing the reformat and install is a big pain in the butt. Am I wrong to assume that if I purchased an Apple Mac Book that I wouldn’t have to deal with these issues?"... you can just copy your data through your lan or wireless lan to your NEW MAC, once you get it. Don't bother rebuilding the Dell "again".
Just plan on maxing on the RAM on either the Macbook or Macbook Pro (4gigs max you should go to the pro if you are planning on managing photo images - although iPhoto comes free with both machines), OSX needs RAM, and it's cheap and easy enough to add yourself (Macsales.com is the cheapest and best place to order ram online). Also check out the Apple Store online and look at the prices for "refurbished" machines. I almost always buy refurbs as I save hundreds of dollars and the machines are fully loaded and backed with full warranty.
Both Macbook and Macbook Pro support external DVI monitors, mice and keyboards. So you can get as large a monitor that you like (except Apple's 30" monster display!) right out of the box.
ardaz
· 1 year ago
Garry, sniff the breeze, it overwhelmingly smells of Mac - not one endorsement for a Dell. In our company, we had an Apple Specialist Provider come in to install an XServe/XSan for our burgeoning media and in-house publication requirements. I was given a Powerbook for system admin work. Since that day two and a half years ago, I have regretted every minute I ever spent and unfortunately still do, with Windows. My team looks after 3200 XP/2000 boxes on 3 sites and nearly 200 Macs. At our last IT review, we identified over 600 desks which could be converted to Macs and management signed off the expenditure with a smile based on feedback from a 3 department Mac pilot scheme. The positive response was frankly unsurprising given that our report showed dramatically reduced support costs whilst network traffic for those departments(and thus work throughput) had increased by nearly 100%. I am pretty sure we will be 50% Mac within 2 years. Like I said ...sniff the breeze. Run don't walk.
Don
· 1 year ago
By all means get a MacBook, but wait until at least January 15th. to see what Apple has in store. Rumors are rife that Apple will unveil a 'ultra thin, flash based model MacBook with an iMac dock! Wow... you use it on the road as a laptop, or at home as a desktop with a fabulous 24 inch screen!
The little extra that you pay up front is more than worth it because Macs have such a high resale value; are easier and more fun to use; work better and have an incredible high resolution screen. The Mac is the BMW of personal computers and like a BMW you may pay a little more, but you get a lot more, a whole lot more for you buck than you would with a little old Chevy. The satisfaction and less hassle that goes with a Mac over Vista, or for that matter Linux, is easily worth every penny you pay.
If its for blogging, well you can't get any better than the best, and the best is a Mac.
Doug
· 1 year ago
The macbook is fine but there are some great deals on refurb macbook pro's too. The big benefit is larger screen and higher resolution as well as faster processor for that photo shop work (if you do a lot of it). One thing I will recommend. Don't buy from Apple direct. MacConnection and Amazon have almost constant deals on apple hardware. This includes rebates of up to $150 on the macbook pro as well as avoiding sales tax in most states. Also, RAM is easy and cheap to upgrade after market to keep the cost down.
Good luck
P.S. Apple Care on portables is not a bad idea but here again don't purchase from Apple. Provantage has often been the cheapest for this but Amazon, MacConnection and small dog all discount as well.
Brennan Kingsland
· 1 year ago
Dear Garry,
As you well know, I am your most untechnical reader, but at least I know a few people. Of the multi-multi-internet millionaires I have contact with, the majority prefer the MAC. Perhaps you have to be a millionaire to afford it, but the stuff they've shown me is Way Cool.
From my own personal experience I can say that Vista SUCKS Big Time! I loved XP, but you have to pay a premium to find it on a new system.
Probably most important from my point of view: The iMAC is one of the most beautiful machines on the planet (right along with the Sony Vaio Desk top, which puts you right back in Vista's playground.
If you can get away from Vista, good for you!
Brennan
Todd
· 1 year ago
If you're attached to a PC program not available on a Mac, don't forget; you can run Windows on a Mac. But you can't run Mac on Windows.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Holy Cow!!
Did this article get plugged somewhere??
Almost feel like I am in an army recruiters office. LOL!!!
I have to say thank you for all the comments... I am in the process of reading them all right now. Quite a few of you guys and gals included links to your own personal blogs and sites and I'll be sure to check those out too.
Also, I am trying to figure out if this post got Stumbed, DUGG, etc... somewhere there is a huge traffic hole created and I can't seem to find the source just yet. Who ever helped create that, I want to thank you for it. I have gotten more traffic from this one post alone in the last six hours than I have had to the entire site all week.
I must have a ton Mac readers! :) Thanks again everyone! Buying a Mac is looking pretty favorable. I already got the approval from the wife/authoritative figure. So, I have a huge "GREEN" light on the purchase... its just a matter of choosing the options I want. :)
Get the Mac. As many have said, it runs Windows and Mac OS. Get an OEM copy of XP and run it under Boot camp or Parallels/VMWare (in fact you can run a single XP copy both ways).
I am not positive, but I believe there are importer tools that will let you move your existing PC windows installation onto a Mac running Parallels or VMWare.
PC Magazine recently rated the Macbook Pro as the fastest Windows laptop. LOL.
get the mac, you won't regret it....
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Chuck,
Thanks for the comment, the added support and letting me know the source to the flood of traffic. Wow!!! I have to say, that I have found a new site that I will read on a regular basis. Here is s screen shot of the plug that I received today:
For everyone that is curious, be sure to check out www.MacSurfer.com. This is obviously a huge community and has tons of incoming / outgoing traffic. The site has a Google PageRank of PR7 and from what I can see so far... it is a very large and extensive community driven source of information all related to Apple. Special thanks goes out to the community member or author who added me today. :)
Don
· 1 year ago
Dear Gary, Iif your wondering where all of your increased traffic is coming from, it might be from http://www.macsurfer.com a major Macintosh site with millions of daily readers?
I have friends who received huge amounts of hits after being posted on their site.
Great blog, by the way.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Thanks Don... Chuck just told me about it and I went over there for the first time.. quite impressed with the site. I took a screen shot of my plug and posted it just above your comment. Thanks for letting me know and thanks for the comment.
There is no doubt that MacSurfer has a lot of traffic. Just one little link on their home page totally flooded my site today. That was awesome. :)
Laura
· 1 year ago
I got my MacBook last summer. I had a long period of adjustment but now I wouldn't go back to a PC. It's fast and it doesn't get bogged down and slow over time like PC's do. You don't need anti virus protection or spyware protection. I have never gotten a virus with it.
A macbook would be perfect for you. Everything that you do can be done on a mac. Your comments about vista=cancer, make me think you need to switch as soon as possible. You may pay more, but you'll also enjoy your machine more. Ask yourself how much is your sanity worth to you? I have used and sort of supported (they didn't need much support) Macs. My next purchase will be a MacBook. By the way, I found your blog via http://blogsearch.google.com by typing "Apple". It was on the second page of results.
Cary Darling
· 1 year ago
LOL here's a good way to increase comments on your blog...start a post comparing Apple to PC ;)
Tedious
· 1 year ago
If you like to tinkerer or are a gamer at all and are considering a Mac: Don't do it!!
Tinkerers are rarely satisfied with a Mac. They feel that Apple is "restricting" them from "using their hardware like they want".
Gamers are rarely satisfied with Macs, because they can't replace the video card four times a year, as each new big release comes out. ...and the Mac only gets the Top 10 games, anyway.
I switched to Mac and love it. Your milage may vary.
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
Garry - I concur about MACSURFER.COM - I imagine most of your new found "Mac Friends" found your blog through there.
I have been published on Macsurfer and I am also a subscriber. Maybe my writing isn't as interesting or as eloquent as other folks, but I NEVER got a response like this one you have!
I noticed that you have an "Open post" policy set on your Wordpress blog that requires Administrator or Author approval. That may be the reason I have never had the response you have had as I wanted folks to "subscribe" rather than allowing open posts. My expereince with Wordpress was that left this way, a ton of spammers would post. Not that there were so many GOOD posts or comments to find, but I thought it best to honker down the security.
Alright, there are almost too many comments to read. I read on some of your comments that MS Access is not available for MAC. I need Access for my work but I am not a techie and new things scare me. Will I, as a novice, be able to use the Bootcamp thingamajig to use Access through Windows on a new Mac if I were to buy one. If I were to buy a new Mac and not be able to use Access and Excel I might as well throw it in the garbage. But I'd like to try one cause I don' like Dell either.
Ken Sherman
· 1 year ago
One other note I haven't seen mentioned. Check the Apple Store's link at the bottom left that connects you to Apple's refurbished products. You get the same warranty, sometimes an older software package but usually not, for hundreds off. And don't spend money with Apple for memory. ;-) I've bought many refurbs over the years and it's been well worth the savings. The pages change often and Apple sells older versions of hardware here too. In fact, if you start to see a lot of a product being sold for cheap on the refurb. site it's usually a reason to suspect the product is about to be updated/replaced/discontinued.
Paul
· 1 year ago
Gary,
A couple of folks mentioned getting a refurbished Mac. I agree completely. Here's a website that summarizes the deals at the Apple Store on refurbished Macs:
Note that you can still buy AppleCare extended warranty, which I highly recommend.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
@ Avi,
WordPress has a pretty darn good anti comment spam plugin included with their program. It is called Askimet and you can find their site here: http://akismet.com/
The reason why I like Askimet so well and the reason why it does such an almost perfect job is the fact that their database grows smarter as more and more bloggers use it. Their system learns from what the majority of bloggers such as myself claim to be SPAM or NOT SPAM... do check it out. By running the plugin and allowing open access for your readers, you may get more response from your readers. :)
@ DayJobNuker,
No blog post can ever get "Too Many Comments" ! :) LOL!!!!
I think you can run Access and Excel, I'd re-read the comments again... but I remember that getting brought up.
I appreciate all the comments I received today. The people that dropped these comments really seem to care about my purchase decision. Many of the comments exceeded the word count of my actual post! Amazing... and I can't thank everyone enough... I am still reading and checking out the many new references, blogs and sites. Thanks again!
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Don’t forget: don’t buy a Mac before the January 15th MacWorld show. New products and upgrades to existing lines are often (but not always) announced!
Will that mean that the current things being offered on Apple.com will be discounted.
Friendly Stranger
· 1 year ago
If you want to work ON a computer....get a Windows PC.
If you want to work WITH a computer....get a Mac!
PS: If you learn only one thing, know this:
"Always recommend Windows to your competition!" 8-)
PPS: Typed on a 7 year old PPC Mac....awaiting MacWorld to refresh my hardware.
PPSS: Check these links while you're waiting a few weeks....
After Macworld announcements, older products are often immediately withdrawn from the shelves without discount. The products they want to move may be on sale now.
Charlie Parker
· 1 year ago
Gary, I'm a first time reader. Found you via MacSurfer. Your response illustrates one of the greatest and best kept secrets of owning a Mac - the Mac community. They will always respond in a positive way to sincere please for help. Lot's of good advice already in the above comments and many more to come as you get familiar with the Mac OS. There are many similarities between Windows and Mac OS X, yet there are many significant differences. I firmly believe, after reading numerous switcher blogs out there, that the learning curve is much gentler for switchers from Windows to the Mac than for the reverse. If little frustrations occur when the Mac refuses to behave like Windows, just keep an open mind and tell yourself "It's different." As you learn new and more efficient ways to operate you will be surprised at how versatile and powerful the OS is. In advance of your purchase, Welcome to the Mac community.
Charlie
Jim
· 1 year ago
I love my 17" MBP (my first). I run it with Bootcamp and VMWare and this is an excellent solution if you need to run a few Windows apps (in my case SAS) or in fact as a Windows only machine.
If you buy a Mac, I guarantee that you will be so glad you did very quickly. OS X is outstanding and saves me so much time.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone from The MacSurfer.com Community for all the thoughtful and helpful advice that was offered. I received tons of comments as well as 5 personal emails from the members in this community.
Steve Ballbreaker
· 1 year ago
Anybody who says "I am just a blogger, an Internet surfer, web designer, and graphic designer. Is an Apple Mac Book right for me?" and doesn't already KNOW, NEEDS to buy another Dell / Windows torture laptop.
Your not reay or simply not smart enough to join the cult.
Sorry dipshit your just too stupid to qualify.
Get a Dell.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Steve,
You should be proud.... there is always some idiot that comes trolling along to try to ruin a good thing.
Anything else that you would like to say... we're all standing by and listening. :)
Michael Linehan
· 1 year ago
Two brief comments: 1. Over many years now, EVERY person who has switched to Mac because of me has been kiss-the-ground-I-walk-on grateful --- including some previously very hard-core Windows people. After only a few days, one client remarked (while still in the learning process), "I feel like I just got out of prison." 2. My hunch is if you do switch, you will be sickened and outraged at the years of clumsiness, inefficiency, down time, etc. Numerous previous Windows users have written about this - from regular folks to high-end tech writers. I have never seen a single article pulled out by any Windows fan written by someone going the opposite direction. Yes, a Mac is right for you. I think if you try one for a couple of weeks, you wouldn't even have to ask this question.
Mark
· 1 year ago
Wow! I hadn't even considered an Apple until now. I started on that platform years ago until my employer switched over to PC and have been with that ever since. Guess I've got some reading to do this weekend!
Thanks to everyone's input!
Dave
· 1 year ago
Price: Consider a refurb Macbook. They have the same warranty, but are much less expensive: You can check them out here.
Don
· 1 year ago
Dear Garry please consider this: when Windows expert, Scott Finnie was asked to review OS X for Computerworld, guess what happened? Yes - he switched! Read his thoughts here: http://www.lockergnome.com/blade/2007/06/11/swi...
For me? MacBook is better than Dell XPS. why? it's about great Mac OSX Leopard. Amazing and perfect for now!
Corey
· 1 year ago
You're a graphic designer and have never had a mac?!
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
I always hear the hype about Macs being good with rendering graphics. I look forward to it.
Mike B
· 1 year ago
Ok, I'm in the same boat...sort of. I went ahead and bought a MacBook and it is most certainly cool. The frustrations such as right clicking and joining my windows workgroup for file sharing have been solved by spending some time and learning the tricks. The two finger right click and two finger scroll are things of beauty IMHO,
You would think I'd be happy....but....I miss all of my little software tools. Seems trivial, but I got use to my password manager data file being on a shared drive and available from any of my home computers...except the Mac. I miss all of my handy shortcut methods I've come up with doing things over the past twenty years of my dos/win love/hate affair. I have until the 16th to take it back even though it will cost me 120 bucks. I look at that slick little XPS with the LED screen on Dell's website and wonder if I can put up with Vista on one more machine until sp1 or "please God" sp2 makes its way out.
Dan Derrico
· 1 year ago
And by the way, Garry, please take note of the great Mac community that is out here -- which should be self-evident by the responses to your blog. We should be able to get you through many of your transition hiccups (if any) that you encounter
adam Johnston
· 1 year ago
i was in a very similar situation about 6 months ago my windows xp computer needed changing but i dint want a screen cause i had 1 already. Then the mac mini caught my eye. i have had no problems have run xp on it (got bored of it), and will never go back to windows again ! As apple say "youll love a mac" also in terms of sales apple macs will start to catch upp on windows market share here is proff of that
oh and btw really enjoyed reading your blog! thanks a lot
Don
· 1 year ago
For anyone thinking of switching from a PC to a Mac ..... rejoice! At CES, a new program called 'iTornado' will now make it extremely simple to transfer all of your PC information automatically to the Mac. This removes what is a big headache for new people coming to the Mac.
Move to Mac is a program that already exists that helps transfer files from Windows to Mac. And apparently if you set up an appointment at an Apple Store, they will transfer the files for you -- and I think they do it for free.
Zath
· 1 year ago
Interesting to read some of these comments, it's certainly got me thinking having never thought of owning a Mac before - it's taken quite a few upgrades for me to get Vista running well on my desktop. I'm looking around for a new laptop at the moment, so shall consider a Mac, sounds great given you could run Vista on that too if you wanted to for compatibility purposes.
Jacob Beaton
· 1 year ago
Wow. I actually found this page when I googled "can I use a dell hard drive in my mac?" LoL. I was hoping that I'd find a quick answer, but instead I found this crazy thread!
I am a mac user and love it - the cost difference is really a myth more than anything. Walt Mossberg reviewed the Dell competitor to the iMac and found that it typically cost $300 MORE than the iMac. Linky:
Anyways, I love my Mac - it is 4 years old, upgraded with 4 Gigs of ram and a new Gfx card and HDs - and it never has any problems. Running 10.5 and loving it.
My laptop HD crashed though (macbook pro) and hence the looking for a cheap new drive.... dell has one that fits the specs but I'm not sure if they make their HDs like their printers, where they only work with PCs...
jb
Marion Adams
· 1 year ago
I made that same decision, friend. I was going to buy the popular desktop replacement Dell XPS 17" screen and super graphics. But, I ran into the Macbook Pro 17" deal, too. I had the money, and I was trying to decide. Well, I am going to tell you right now, I bought a Macbook Pro, and I have never regretted it since. That's not the whole story though. After having my Macbook Pro for around four months, I went to the mall in Atlanta near my home, and I walked up to the second floor escalator with my mother. We were just looking around. A DELL computer stand with DELL computer people were there to sell laptops right in the middle of the mall, and lo and behold... I got to walk up to the EXACT machine - make and model - turned down for the Macbook Pro. Now, by this time, I was making movies, playing games, everything... right on my Macbook Pro. I saw iTunes and fell in love.
Anyway, just put it this way. My mother and I walked up to that machine, and I saw those Windows stickers and the materials that they use to make those machines. I got to play around with it, and I looked at my Mom and she looked at me... and we said, "Man! I am so glad we bought a Apple instead of this piece of junk!" I'm going to tell you right now. I run Windows XP, and I hardly ever run it. I'm always using OS X. Windows software - even the iTunes version - is so much less crystal than the OS X version of iTunes. The remote that comes with the Macbook Pro is awesome. It's useful, and you can change music without even getting out of bed. You remote control movies. You have no virus worries. No adware worries. No malware worries. And, if you want to? You can install Vista using Boot Camp - go hardcore - and then play any Windows game on the market. There is absolutely no reason to buy a Dell computer. I beg of you - because I care - if you want a good solid laptop, buy a Macbook Pro with 17" monitor at 1920 resolution and the Geforce 8600M processor with 256 megs... and 160 gigabytes hard drive with a 5400RPM speed. You don't need 7200RPM unless you're editing film and audio all the time. It's not worth the extra $100. Save yourself the money. Later, I just went to Wal-mart and bought a 320 gigabyte Seagate 7200RPM external drive and plugging it into my Mac. Good for keeping everything backed up on a single partition from your internal drive also.
If you have any questions concerning this choice? Please! Please e-mail me. I have been in computers since I was 9 years old. I've ran Atari, Commodore, Windows platforms, Linux platforms, OS X platforms to date, and I have never in my life... never in all my experience with computers have loved a computer like this Apple Macbook Pro. There is absolutely nothing I cannot create, no game I cannot play... and you just can't beat the Airport Extreme Wireless N Broadband. I pulled up beside the road near a hotel and wasn't even staying there... just logged right on and got great bandwidth. If you need any advice on software, I'm here, too.
Last, I want to tell you that it's very difficult to make someone understand what it's like to be on the narrow path of technology. Apple computers are 5% of the market. Use to I would tell you if you're going to play games, don't buy an Apple. Buy a PC. But, today, this is just not the case. You get to be a part of a family if you buy an Apple computer. If you buy a PC, you're just another bum in the park with a Windows native platform and susceptible to 100s of thousands of viruses, adware, spyware... and you get the picture I think? So, I hope to see you in our family soon, and I hope that you don't make the awful choice of buying that Dell with bloatware and lame materials. Just do this one thing. Put a Macbook Pro 17 incher beside that Dell laptop, and let's see who is better and let's see whose machines are designed better, run better and look better... all the way around? Just some advice, because I made the same choice, and it's been seven months. I don't regret it at all, and I will never go back to a native Windows platform PC. Trust me. Give it a chance, and you won't either.
Marion Adams Cumming, GA
p.s. If you decide to buy an Apple, please tell them powershaker@mac.com or Marion Adams sent you. I'm just a customer. I just want people to have the computing enjoyment that I have every single day. Apple forever! Cheers!
Marion Adams
· 1 year ago
Oh, and remember! The force is with you always. :)
Dan Derrico
· 1 year ago
Great post, Marion.
Meanwhile, back to budgeting for your purchase:
As others have mentioned, refurbs may be the way to go.
However, for a new machine you might also consider the online resellers. Even if their prices for Macs are the same, they often throw in free or discounted printers, RAM and other nice things.
I would take the Apple. It looks more stylish and I have read, that the pro-version is the fastest Vista-Notebook
PhilCo
· 1 year ago
Thanks for all your postings. I am also researching what to buy for almost year. I have 4 year old Dell Laptop. Last year I bought and tried Compaq, HP, Sony and Macbook. I can say I really liked Macbook. Just watching your DVD on this machine is amazing! I had to return Macbook back to Macmall because of optical drive noise. Now I am deciding between Macbook and Macbook Air. Any one out there please help me with this choice: Macbook vs. Macbook Air? Is that true that Apple is going to make Macbook in aliminium case.
Dan D'Erruco
· 1 year ago
The primary advantages to the MacBook Air (as far as I can make out) are that it's small, light and REALLY cool. However, It does not work with CDs or DVDs, has no firewire, has a smaller hard drive than a MacBook, it is slower than a MacBook and it costs more. It also is the first version of a new product so sometimes these first versions come with problems. If you don't mind the extra weight, get the MacBook and you will have a fully functional computer on your hands for less money. But the Air is cool, I gotta admit!
I have not heard anything about aluminum casing.
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
PhilCo - Here's my two cents. As an Apple Consultant I would not recommend the "Mackbook Air" to you as a first time Mac user. Yes it will come in an aluminum case, but that is where any similarity to the Macbook Pro models ends. Consider what you do or want to with it. For the extra money over the Macbook, all I can see that you gain (or lose) with the "AIr" is weight and compactness. You give up processor speed with the Macbook Air as well.. Also I NEVER recommend buying ANY first generation Apple product. There are die hard fanboys who will fork out the dough right away, just don't let Apple ßeta test hardware out on you. If you HAVE to have the AIR, wait until the 2nd generation model is released. By then they will have flushed out all of the problems and complaints will have been registered for them to correct. It's not unlike Apple to charge more for less in a new model. I also expect to see (very soon) another "thin" model to be used in the new iMac like docking station that has been reported in the works. This would be an iMac look alike with a large slot for a small laptop to slide into and dock.
Personally I think they have made a more expensive, less capable machine here. It doesn't appeal to me. It might to thos users who travel extensively and only need word processing and the like. Heck, there isn't a Firewire port to plug a video camera into. Apple owns the IEE1394 patent so they needn't pay any royalty for using it in their hardware. They don't own the rights to USB 2.0 - go figure. Read my trackback in a few days. http://www.alearner.com/blog/?p=82
I've had both a Black Macbook and a Macbook Pro (second gens) and both have been excellent and problem free. I always buy refurbs from the Apple store. I save hundreds of $$ and get the same "as new" warranty. Out of hundreds of purchases for client and myself, I have only had ONE refurb (in a batch of 60 purchased all at the same time) laptop with a problem. Apple made good on it overnight in advance exchange (they almost never so this).
Dan Derrico
· 1 year ago
So Garry -- did you buy the new laptop yet or what ??
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Hi Dan!
No I am waiting on Dell to ship me out my replacement notebook (under warranty) from there I am going to sell it and then make my MacBook purchase. Thanks again so much for all the advice and help! :)
I'll be sure to blast out an article on GCDC letting everyone know what I purchased. I can't wait and look very forward to it!
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Garry, remember to get the 2.6GHZ Macbook Pro. Mine's 2.4GHZ. You can get hte 2.6GHZ now. It rocks! Well worth it, too! Super fast! Oh, get 4 gigs of ram if you can. I didn't think there was much of a difference from 2 to 4, but my iMovies and other rendering have never been faster! It's well worth the extra 1 bill. Oh, and get a 5400RPM drive. There's just not enough difference between the 7200RPM and 5400RPM. You won't even notice it. I even saw the benchmarks. No reason to pay that extra $100 for the 7200. It's not even worth it for the average home user.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
Thanks bud,
I'll consider that. :)
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Oh, one more thing! Don't forget to buy an iSkin and an applepeelz! It covers the whole Macbook Pro! No scratches! No smudges from dirty hands over time. It will protect the whole thing. It's not expensive, and it's probably the most important thing to buy for your Macbook Pro. Here's the link for the applepeelz and iSkin, too:
That way no dust or debris will get in the keyboard, and you can drink around your computer in confidence. I do mine all the time.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Remember! A Macbook Pro without an iSkin is like a human body with no epidermis! Like one step away from infections. It's dangerous!
Gandy4
· 1 year ago
I have a Windows PC and a Windows laptop - but having bought a Mac Mini there is no competition - the Mac wins everytime I am a total convert. The price difference is the main worry everyone seems to hit on that but for a better "experience" all round it has to be a Mac and the extra cash is definately worth the investment. Plus I seem to have gained some of my life back not constantly "fixing" the PC for one reason or another.
Katie
· 1 year ago
Hi, I have two Macs.. the notebook and the G5, I got the G5 the first year it came out.. and have not had one single complaint or problem with it and it was my first mac.. So I think I am on my 3 year with the G5 and well I have no need for a new one yet it still works like new... Now my husband I got him the notebook little over a year ago and same thing no need to get a new one.. I always felt with a PC you needed to upgrade at least once a year due to viruses and software updates that you don't know about and they just start running poorly.. My mac updates everything on a regular basis and well its been 3 years and still no viruses... So if you think of it this way you are saving money buying the mac because the product will last much longer with less problems .. Honestly I will never go back to PC! Trust me buy the mac it's been 3 years and I am still learning about all the cool things a mac can do! So not bored over here it's beyond great!
TheYoungGuy
· 1 year ago
Here is what I believe... I think before you make a true decision on either you need to wait until Vista SP1 is out and fully running. Microsoft has stated that we will see improvements in the operation of Vista after SP1 is released. However, Mac Books are great. There are a very limited amount of Viruses/Spyware for Macs compared to Windows. So in the long run you won't have to deal with some of the same problems you will with ANY windows based PC. And Macs are also very user friendly. All of the programs are very user friendly. I believe in the long run, you will be happier with a Mac, but I would see how SP1 will help you. -TheYoungGuy-
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Vista SP1? What do you mean TheYoungGuy? I mean, Macs can run Vista better than a PC. PC WORLD said so, and it's a wonder why Microsoft used a Macintosh (having to remove the Apple logo from the machine) to test Vista. Now, that's the real story. Enjoy your Macbook, Gary Conn. Run Vista better on a Mac.
TheYoungGuy
· 1 year ago
Don't mistake my point GrandGizmo, I agree with you completely, however if Garry is using a PC with Vista and hates it... His issues may be taken care of with SP1.. I don't know everything that he is going through. Personally, with any PC, I would stick with XP Pro... And yes Macs are great... but one of his concerns was the price of the Macs, so if his problems are solved with SP1, then he may not need to drop the $$$ on a new notebook.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Everyone always talks about the prices of the Macs, but I don't see their point. Okay, I was going to buy a DELL or a Mac. I had tio make the decision. The DELL equivalent of the Macbook Pro was going to cost me $3,900. The Macbook Pro was going to cost me $3,000. What? "What did you say?" YES! You heard right. $3,900 for a Dell XPS when I purchased my Macbook Pro. I don't believe that thing about price. $3,000 is $3,000. If you don't want the high end graphics or play games anyway, just get the ordinary Macbook at $1,000. I laugh when people talk about the unusually HIGH Macintosh prices. It's just not true. In some areas, you might pay a few extra hundred, but look at what they get, you know? I don't see it. I'd rather pay an extra $300 and get a Macbook than a Dell any day. Totally. But, guess what? That Dell was going to cost me $900 more than the Macbook Pro!
the little big man
· 1 year ago
i would go with a mac personally because there are many more apps on it and the system cant get viruses. i'm reasearching that macs are better and you'll get a lot of more years on them. so good luck on the decision.
Valda Redfern
· 1 year ago
I had just the same question as Gary. I need to replace my old Dell (Pentium III), preferably before I take a sledgehammer to it, and was wondering whether to go for a Mac. When I looked at the spec for the Mac Book I was tempted, though the price made me hesitate. I thought I'd better see some reviews before committing. (I found this blog by doing a Google search for Apple Mac Book.) I've read all the comments, and I'm now persuaded that giving in to temptation is the right thing to do. So thanks, Gary, and all you other guys - you helped me decide too. Thanks also for all the tips and links.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Valda, yeah, you can't go wrong with Mac. I've had my Macbook Pro for going on a year. Never a single virus. Run PC and OS X software. I even had Ubuntu Linux installed on it. You can use any OS, and you can enjoy your computer and not worry about all the crap Windows users do. OS X is just more stable, more fun to use and a lot of eye candy. You would think with all the eye candy in OS X that it would have issues like Windows, but it's solid and stable. Basically, UNIX based is the reason. It's a wonderful choice.
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
The best place to get a Mac? Go to the store.apple.com scroll down and look at the SAVE icon on the lower left. THis will take you to the "Refurbished" page. I saw a Macbook for $849.00. These are treated as NEW by Apple in that you get everything that came with the machine as new, warranty for a year, Applecare Eligibility and cost you $400 less. Prices change as well as models on a daily basis so check regualrly.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Avi Learner, yeah, you're right. They have some very good prices in the refurbished department. Very true, Avi. :) I bought my Macbook pro brand new, but I'm going to probably end up buying my son a refurbished. I mean, all refurbishes is? Sent back maybe? A drive replaced? I mean, they're really brand new. Apple's made them new again. It's just they fall in the refurbished department, you know? I think it's a good deal if you just want to buy your kid a Mac. :)
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
I generally only buy refurbished for my own use. I also recommend to most of my consulting clients to do the same. On a Macbook Pro, I saved $500 and I have seen savings for as much as $700 on different machines such as Mac Pros and 17" Macbook Pro. I usually cycle my portables every one and half years or so. Macbook Pros maintain their value better than any other laptop sold, and I have always gotten a fair price on eBay or to someone else. This way I get a new (refurbished) model every so often. I take pretty good care of my machines, so they stay in near pristine condition. And I usually max out the RAM and put in a bigger hard drive. So whoever gets it feels like they are getting a pretty good value and 1.5 years left on Applecare. So they feel comfortable that if anything should fail within the warranty period, it will be repaired by Apple or replaced if not repairable. I never fell much for the "Best Buy Extended Warranty" but I highly recommend Applecare for Apple laptops. It's saved my bacon on more than a few occasions. It also adds value when you go to resell it then and gives the buyer more confidence they are protected as well.
Avi Learner
· 1 year ago
I just realized that I had linked this web address with the wrong folder to my website, and apologize for anyone trying to reach it and couldn't. My latest article is on the latest 3.0ghz iMac and what I'd like to see in a 30" iMac! http://www.alearner.com/blog
eugene
· 1 year ago
Here is an article i recently read comparing the macbook pro to the xps m1530. it pretty much goes onto say that the dell is better than the mac.
Eugene, you have to realize that many of those reviews side with Microsoft driven PCs, because it's a PC world, mate. They will never tell you that Dell can't run OS X, but Apple can run all operating systems just fine. They won't tell you that Mac has a more stable operating system, and that Apple has handpicked hardware which will always get he job done. Have you ever tried to ask Dell to install Ubuntu Linux on a PC laptop? They send you the disk and the bare hardware, and they leave the rest up to you. Why is that? Well, it pretty much pissed off Microsoft when you go the OPEN SOURCE route and leave Windows in the dust. Windows? If I want to play games - even the junk games - I'll buy a PC. Oh, I forgot, Mac runs Windows Vista better than a PC using Bootcamp and OS X Leopard. Oh well, I guess there's no competition.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Well, of COURSE you're going to find a review that rates the Dell better than a Mac. I mean, let's face it! Microsoft owns the computer media outlets. They can pay them to say that. Look. It's like this. You're either part of the New World Order, or you're go with true freedom and walk the narrow path to enlightenment. Don't listen to everything you read. I thought people were smarter than that.
Don't buy a Mac... it's a fancy shit for Kerry Bradshow and other fancy clientela :) Install Linux if you don't like Vista. Linux Mint is the great distro. It's lot easier than Windows to handle, it's free and installing is extremly easy, just a few clicks and 25 minutes of getting into your notebook.
Joe Kingry
· 1 year ago
I am going through this same issue. MacBook vs DELL M1330 or D630. The Dell has an LED screen (M1330) and 7200 RPM harddrive for the same price as the MacBook. I'd have to go to the MacBook Pro and +600.00 to get these. Yes I know I get more with the MacBook Pro.
The main selling point I see repeated over and over is mainly OS X over Vista. I have yet to use OS X, so maybe I'll get a Mac one day and become yet-another zealot. Until then though it's not clear to me on why it's better.
I write software for a living. This may (likely?) put me out of the normal use case. BUt still. I have been using Vista for over a year now on three different machines and had no blue screens. I have have very few crashes. I do not see the stability issues. Perhaps I am lucky.
Yes, it seems Vista requires (much) more RAM to operate well. 1 GB is not enough, 4GB seems great though and I've had zero performance issues.
Switching to OS X though would require me to eventually re-buy all my software for Mac. Yes I could always run Parallels etc, but that would seem like something you'd want to only temporarily. If you're using Photoshop and MS Office on a daily basis you'd want them to work with you're primary operating system. So there's a 1500+ cost (for a pro version of MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite) That's a significant cost.
The laptop I'm actually looking to get is for my mom, who is retiring. She's used windows since it first came out. She's had a Dell laptop for the past 5 years, latest being a D620. She is primarily interested in continuing to do page layout (indesign) and photoshop tinkering. Yes, she uses Windows for these and always has. She started on PageMaker 3.0 (or earlier?).
I for one am yet to be convinced that she would be so greatly benefited in having to learn a whole new operating system, keyboard (there are some niggling key differences) and have to incur the costs of new licenses. My only reason for looking at a Mac in the first place was the impression that perhaps the hardware itself was somehow more reliable, as I'd be running Windows on it anyhow.
Right now, I'm still siding on the Dell/Windows way. Maybe if I already had used a Mac I'd think differently.
L. C.
· 1 year ago
I don't know if you're aware of this, but it is possible to run OS X on a regular PC (ie your Dell). I've done this with my Dell XPS M1530 and a few quirks aside, it is a fairly stable installation. In my opinion, it's not worth paying a 50% premium for a Mac just to run OS X when you can do it for $120 (the cost of purchasing a Leopard license). And yes, I am aware that this violates Apple's EULA - and I couldn't care less. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSDJ8htCBXo to see it in action.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
HAHAHA Man, installing OS X on a PC is lame. First of all, you're wrong. All drivers are not supported by Apple. OS X only runs best on Apple systems, and as you say it is a "fairly" stable installation, I beg to differ. This clone thing has been done before. It's not even worth it. It's not like a PC Clone runs OS X as well as a Mac runs Windows Vista or XP. Also, I think Psystar learned a pretty hard lesson about installing OS X on a clone. You might want to see the hardships of installing OS X on a PC Clone by perusing the YouTube videos which show it being done. Second, Macs are not twice as expensive as PCs. In fact, if you compare what you get and the exact same hardware specs as a Mac Pro to any PC, you will come very close to the same price. I think you need to do some research. Even down to the iSight camera that comes with a Mac.
Dan D'Erruco
· 1 year ago
If you are happy with your present situation, there is probably no need to change. I don't want to be responsible for breaking up a beautiful relationship!
Regarding the differences in operating systems and the price of the computer....
It is like going to a bookstore to buy a book. Let's say that you are interested in two books. Most reviews say that book #1 is poorly written. Most reviews say that book #2 is great. Both books are the same size, they have the same number of pages and they have the same number of words. But book #1 costs $8.00 and book #2 costs $11.00.
The choice is yours!
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
It's Macintosh do or die! Garry Conn, welcome to the world of taste, culture and beauty that should define all computers. Apple! 1-800-MY-APPLE! Macbook Pro bro! Grab a copy of Tombraider: Anniversary Edition while you're at it. My son loves it.
Short story: I have a desktop PC with a jamming video gaming card and my Mac in the same room. My son comes to visit me, and he likes the games on my Mac better. Makes you wonder. He's 9 so I guess a little child shall lead us all.
Peace!
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
Dudes, it's like this. You either give into the broad way, or you walk the narrow path to enlightenment. Macbook Pro or be ruled by the New World Order. Dell and Microsoft. Booty buddies.
bj_photogirl
· 1 year ago
Hi, i bought a Macbook Pro in october. I will NEVER buy another pc if my life depends on it. It isn't a huge switch, even pc people sit down and use my mac with no problems or complaints. as for the right click- if you are really desperate for it plug in a mouse, if not you just have to get used to holding down the alt/option key- no big deal.
My dad runs windows on his mac, which is pretty awesome- so he doesn't have to use the dell that work gave him. Vista is a wreck, and i don't miss any of it! good luck with your decision =]
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
You got that right! Once you go Mac, you never go back. :)
dellsrule
· 1 year ago
ok u mac lovers, i feel so bad for u. mislead by apples flashy website and pretty packaging and "funny" commercials. what really matter is whats on the inside. go dell! the xps and inspiron are FANTASTIC computers. currently i own a xps m1530 ad i could never use a non xps. the xps is a buetiful machine. its got complete TOUchpad left and right click..ahem.. with scroll up and down and side to side thingys, remote that slides into laptop, optical drive(yes mac does have that..ok), amazing and useul light-up control buttons, a ton of ports incuding html, 2megapixel camer...dell media direct..soooo cool...must i go on. well i must. fingerprint sensor,barreled hinges(gives it a very sleek design). comes free with lojack, dell kit including earphones, mousepad etc....free camcorder and plant a tree in the rainforst(lol). and dell support chat. completley disproves the theory of dells horrible customer support. the warranty cover evrything. i asked for a slimmer battery chager, the sent me free a dell travel kit with an ultra slim charger that u can charge in car plane and a bunch of other stuff. nothings compatible with mac. try transferring files from pc to mac..omg its painful!u have to buy all new software and games for mac. easy way for them to make money. if u wanna go with inspiron, its great. its a ton cheaper, and yes the tech specs are abit worse, but u can upgrade the computer on the website and still comes out cheaper withs ame tech specs!! please dont go mac. ABOVE THE MAC INFLUENCE!
andrew m
· 1 year ago
well gary, im going to be honest, xp is great, i know, i run it in boot camp every great while lol. linux is another great one, especially fadora 9, another great boot camp that never gets used. as for leopard, always. i wish i could say all they great stuff about it but it will be to long and you wont read cause its so long.
if right click bugs you about macs, just set up the gestures. i did it and its just like righty but you dont have that accidental right clcik every now and then. or you could just use a mouse.
i was a hard core windows user and hated macs, now im the other way. the only reason im running xp and fadora is just to show off that i can triple boot lol.
to get a good deal on a mac, try craigslist. just research what type of mac you need before you take the leap. the big thing right now is intel based processors and at least 867mhz processors so that you can run leopard.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
i am a new Mac user and i am in love with my macbook. so well worth the money paid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
powershaker
· 1 year ago
I'm glad you're happy with your new Macbook, Kevin. Nothing like a Mac. An Apple a day keeps the doctor away. :)
willy
· 1 year ago
Get a xps dell becuase it looks awsome. Consider a awsome os called ubuntu linux which dell offers preinstalled. You by defualt have firefox, gimp a advanced photo editor and creator, open office which is like microsoft office without the MICROSOFT part. Mac os is a unix based os and so is linux. No Linux skills no worries. It is easy to use and simple. Get a dell with linux. Offer goes with the inspiron to.
GrandGizmo
· 1 year ago
You know, listen is nice if you want to run a server and check out those almost finished, cool programs. However, let's be honest. Linux is not for the every day home user, and it certainly isn't for creative production like a Macintosh. If the movie industry, fashion designers, sound editors, radio hosts and others though a Linux Desktop would be more useful than a Macbook Pro with OS X, they'd be using one right now. That's not saying anything bad about the Open Source community or the Linux community as a whole. But, sometimes, people just want a machine to work. They want that machine to be extremely user friendly, too. I'm sorry. But, only Macintosh does all that. Only Macintosh has the stability of Linux with the user friendliness of Linux. Why buy a Linux PC when you can have a Macintosh running Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux and OS X Leopard or Tiger? Why buy a PC with Windows when you can run all the Windows software through Boot Camp in OS X Leopard?
I've used all the platforms. PC Windblows, Atari, Commodore, Macintosh... all of them. Over twenty years I've been doing this, and if I had known even ten years ago that a Macintosh could run Windows, OS X, Ubuntu and all the best stuff by itself, I would have said that Apple has surely won. I would be telling you that Apple will take the market. Let's face it? Who wants Windows Vista? Seriously!? Also, who solely wants a Linux PC box when they could own a Mac? There is one reason why Linux is not working as well as it could: "A computer should be like a bicycle. It should work with you - not against you" - Steve Jobs.
Linux works against the average Joe. Mac works with you. Windblows? Just another weakening market share holder in the desert, and I can hear the last dying remnants of Microsoft's operating systems. Can you say European Union, too? Microsoft won't last long. I give it ten years or less, and the company will be chopped up into smaller companies. Mark my words. Apple Macintosh - as of 2008 - is the best platform to own on the market. There is no other. APPLE!
p.s. Sometimes, Linux even forces certified computer techs to research or figure out a problem in the Ubuntu Linux OS. I'm certified, and sometimes, things just don't work in Linux. It will never be a home based operating system for Grandma, Mama and little johnny... those who never went to school for a computer degree. Once again, computers should work with you. Not against you. People just want them to work. Got to think outside the box, dude. Sorry.
willy
· 1 year ago
I have installed multiple systems for average joes that cant install windows and they are up and running fine. Pop in the disk with 8.04, wait, install, configure quikly, and youre up and running. Installing drivers like 3d and add ons is simply clicking the drivers selection and checking a box if you want the driver. No more primitive disks and drives to install drivers and extra software can just come from the repository downloader. Esy fast, secure, simple, and highly compatible. You must of used ubuntu 7.0.4 becuase i admit that version sucked. Ubuntu and its community has made some real brakethroughs. I have seen average joes amased with the power of linux. I gave a disk to a guy and called him up. in a minute he new what to do. He cant install windows. You are talking to a kid who found linux and exceeded the average joe becuase he learned from the community.
Poeple get ripped off to pay for software that runs like a hokes. And mac although easy and simple forgot to work hard on sycurity. They have better sycurity then windblows from M$, but that still isnt good enough. Im not a open bsd advocate or anything, but sycurity is important. It has been shown to be user friendly. And getting good software that competes with the pros is a snap. Poeple get torn by all the linux distros and that is the problem. Thats why you should go with ubuntu, suse, or even mandriva is more sycure.
willy
· 1 year ago
I am a current Ubuntu linux xps m1530 user
willy
· 1 year ago
I have seen licensis on the mac osx and the reason they have not sued the groups doing these things is that they have stollen software from the open source community and so the os isnt completely theres to claim. They know this and they dont want to admit it.
willy
· 1 year ago
the groups are the mac for pc groups. Sorry for forgetting that important piece
Brian
· 1 year ago
I would recommend a macbook. I have a blackbook and it is amazing! I edit photo's on this, the battery life is phenominal! It lasts 3 to 4 hours! I upgraded my RAM to 2GB from crucial.com.
Getting a macbook will be worth it. It does everything and now with Leopard does even more!
Vista is not slow, you are stu
· 1 year ago
Vista optimizes your drive and after initial boot, it FLIES.
Learn how Vista works!!!! I own both a MacBook and Vista-notebook, and use both for their own purposes.
Vista is not slow; it's a different paradigm.
matr1xyaj
· 1 year ago
macbook...it is almost the same price as an xps..and it comes ready to go out of the box..believe me, it will pay for itself on the long run...
Brian
· 1 year ago
Macbooks are the best. Hands down. If it's for anything. I mean, go on the internet, lightning fast, blog lightning fast, even games lightning fast, the whole operating system! Lightning fast. All applications open in a second. Literally, ONE SECOND! Macs are just so much...better. They offer more things out of the box, if you DO like windows, which I doubt you ever will after you get a mac, you can install it on a mac. Just think of this, you can install windows on a mac, but you can't install mac on a pc. Now I'm not saying you will get sick of Mac. Because you will NOT. The whole operating system is slick and works smooth.
Out of the box you can video chat, go on the internet, no setting up accounts needed to do administrative things. No stupid trial software that slows you're computer. No defragmenting the hard drive for the first time to prepare it for optimal speed. You can screw around in Garage Band. I can't tell you how much fun I have in rock band. Making songs. Blogging is soooo fast on this thing. My macbook is amazingly fast. I got 2gb of RAM in it from crucial.com and it FLIES! It NEVER requires a restart. NEVER slows down NEVER gives up. NEVER struggles. NO antivirus software, upgrading is in the background and when it is done it tells you to restart and most of the time you don't even half to do that.
Get a mac you will NOT regret it!!!!!!!!!
willy
· 1 year ago
mac can be installed on a pc. It is not legal, but takes little effort. This is becuase a mac has an intel cpu in it. INTEL!!! Macs are pcs like the dell and are not special.
Brian
· 1 year ago
We are trying to help this guy decide. If he hasn't already. Let us not start an argument like most pc and mac guys do. Agreed? Let's help this guy.
Garry Conn
· 1 year ago
I haven't decided yet. I am headed to Chicago for Christmas and then when I get home, I'll more likely be purchasing either the Newly designed MacBook or MacBook Pro. I don't want to older white MacBook, that is for sure.
My concern is in choosing the 13inch or the 15inch.
One thing is for sure... I am not going to be doing Linux, nor am I going to be doing any tweaking by trying to install Mac OS on a PC. I am a full time blogger and publisher, I need something that I can depend on. I need something where I can just open the lid, press a button and start writing.
Right now, I am using a Dell XPS M1530 running Windows Vista Home Premium. I got 90 days on the OS prior to the last re-install and its starting to slow down terribly. Frankly, I am completely fed up of Windows. My Dell XPS performs slower than my old PII 450 MHz system running Windows 98 with 96 Megs of RAM. Windows Vista is a piece of crap. Seriously.
I wrote this post last year I believe, and I haven't purchased a Mac yet... I was going to make a purchase but just about a week after posting, my wife discovered that we were having our 4th child. He is born now, healthy and I am making really good money, so I am totally going to get a Mac once I get back from vacation. ;)
A Special special special thanks to all you Apple supporters. You guys have made this post extremely valuable. It ranks extremely well in Google and it gets hit with a ton of traffic daily. Those reading the comments I am sure are motived to make the switch, you all have done very well. ;)
Brian
· 1 year ago
Well what's your budget? The macbook pro and macbook are great machines. what kind of work are you doing? Blogging, internet. If you don't REALLY need a crap load of power get the macbook. I mean it's still powerful and REALLY fast but the macbook pro is faster. Especially the new one. If you were to get a new one and you're budget is really high, get the 15 inch macbook pro
GrandGizmo
· 9 months ago
Macs are better. The best. Period.
Hades
· 10 months ago
If you have the money, no dude, go for MacBook. If you don´t, don´t be afraid, go for: DELL XPS. You are going to get a free update to Win7 wich is hundred times better than Vista.
willy
· 9 months ago
here is the best idea. If u are just a basic user with basic needs such as blogging than go for the dell with Linux. Even more secure than Mac. That I mean is linux. You are wasting money to get something designed to do more than just simple blogging and basic multimedia. Don't get me wrong though, Linux is just as adaptable and powerful if not more than mac no prob with more advanced features. Linux will however by defualt simply give you:
Email Web Browsing Multimedia (DVD support if bought the dell pre-installed with Linux) Casual Gaming Word Processing Multimedia Creation
And more all in a simple interface. Ohh and one more thing I just realised I sound like a walking commercial!!!!! OMG!!!!!
PS: IF from dell the ubuntu linux distro is just as simple to use as a mac for all of a users basic needs!!
Sara
· 9 months ago
Buy the Dell. I bought a macbook pro early 2008 & it is the worst computer I have ever used. APPLE Knowing & Deceptively sold these pros when then knew all the 8600 card were defective & most of the logic boards were defective. Thus the Mac Book Pro over heats every day - it burns to touch it, this of course causes cracks in the system, constant system crashes, kernal panics, consant panic reports. etc... They have put in 6 new ligic boards, 2 new 8600 cards, 2 new fans, & rebuilt the system 5 times. It still does not work all the same old problems always reappear & Mac Will not Replace. Under Federal Magnusom-Moss Act (Federal Lemon Law) & Texas Deceptive Trade Practices after 3 repair/ replcesments they have to replace without complaining. The can beld liable for attorney fees, pre & post interest, court fees, punative damages, any other damages as the Judge deems necessary.
GrandGizmo
· 9 months ago
Ummm, duhhh... Sarah? That's not true. I've had my Macbook Pro for two years now, and it has been working just fine. As for the logic boards, sometimes this can happen and sometimes it doesn't. Only about ten percent of laptops have logic board failures. However, Apple will automatically fix this for free and without any cost to you. As for the fans, mine are still running just fine after two years. As for the 8600M GT and nVidia GPUs, this, too, is not every 8600M GT. My GPU hasn't gone at all. Not everyone has your problems. What is man made has the possibility of malfunction. Still, with my three Apple Care Warranty, I've only had one problem the entire time: logic board failure.
After all of that, the Macbook Pro has been the best computer I've owned in my over twenty years of computing. Apple has always taken care of their customers, and your Macbook Pro might be one of the ones which came out in 2007 or before. Who knows? It sounds like it is. The Macbook Pro is outstanding computer. I have absolutely no complaints.
Nicky
· 8 months ago
Hello. I absolutely love Macs. Have you gotten one yet?
Kevin
· 7 months ago
LOL I really suggest you dont get the applemacbook at all the price is really high just get the dell and yes you may think why but look do this after purchasing the dell laptop you can download linux and linux is for free plus linux beat mac osx and even windows xp so i preferr dell and install linux on it like ubuntu or xubuntu or whatever. Trust me I tried linux and it is way better then mac osx or windows xp first i was like man linux is crap its fuckin hard to use but then later on it only took me a day to master it and yes now im on it everyday. Plus you get no virus or spyware and all those things. You install wahetever you want on your computer it does things that windows xp can do and mac osx
Dan D'Erruco
· 7 months ago
Just get a new computer -- please! I can't take it. I have been contributing to this thread since the beginning and the suspense is starting to die.
I think if you had finally decided to get a Mac, you would have announced it here. And it would have given you plenty to write about in your blog.
So I can only assume that you STILL don't have a new computer .... or you got a PC but you can't admit it because the Mac issue brings you so many readers.
Listen... I can understand not getting a new computer. I need a new Mac right now but the economy is killing me. I am not afraid of losing my job because I am self-employed. Rather, I am earning 25% of my past salary. So I can understand this issue.
But let me say that I still using my 5+ years old PowerBook G4 to do all of my work. It is still running well and it has been updated from Panther to Tiger to Leopard ( the latest version of the Mac OS). I want more speed but other than that, the computer is running as smoothly as the day it was born.
That is a testament in itself to the product. It is a great investment.
mark keeler
· 7 months ago
I have the Dell XPS laptop and I hate it! I have issues with the mouse pad not working properly and Dell has been unable to get it working for over a year. I have Vista intstalled and cannot get Firefox to work correctly either. Firefox quits responding at least once every half hour even after reinstalling.
Sharninder
· 6 months ago
So, did you finally get a mac or a dell ? Or you're still deciding ? Apple released new macbooks yesterday and they're quite good value for money. For a web designer you really should get a mac.
Megha
· 6 months ago
Hey confused between Dell XPS and Mac...
Gone through the post still have questions...
cost differene is high..
Never used mac...
the s/w compatibility...
battery life...
word excel...
and many more...
guys need some input...
Thanks in advance...
GrandGizmo
· 6 months ago
Simply put, Mac just makes one's life easier. It also just works. If I buy a piece of Apple hardware and plug it in, it only takes seconds to get it running. Apple always makes good products, and Mac is the way to go. I was going to buy a Dell XPS, but I decided on my Macbook Pro. Then I walked into a mall in Atlanta, GA, and saw the Dell XPS I turned down for the Macbook Pro. I walked right up to it, and I could tell immediately it was not made as well as my Macbook Pro. Apple just makes good stuff, and even if you're a gamer, you can always install Windows on a Mac and play Windows games at native speeds. You can't go wrong buying a Mac. I had to make that exact choice (i.e. Dell XPS versus Macbook Pro), and I am so glad I bought the Macbook Pro. It's been running great for over two years, and I've needed to perform little or no maintenance. Run Onyx (i.e. a free application), and my Mac keeps running like a gem. I will never go back to PC if I can help it. Mac is the way to go for me.
I have the same problem ...... I need to decide between the new Macbook pro 13 or Dell XPS, not a money problem but a connectivity issue.
Mac is great is no doubt is so nice !! ( that’s why I want to buy it ) however I want to hear about the problems, real one's from people who has it. Every computer has a downside, Mac or PC. I've read many reviews and all of them talk about the new Macbook pro 13 having overheat problems, glossy screen and palm rest with sharp edges, all true and the people at Mac store know this. But this is part of the downside I can live with, ( glossy screen can be fix with the mask, over heating also with the iskin, sharp edges is a matter of positioning the hand better ) but no one talk about the connectivity issue and this is what really kills the idea of buying it.
Dell has the issues on battery life, also overheats, not as nice, the SOFTWARE ( Win Vista of course ), service, and weight, but the connectivity rocks. PC always connects faster and gets more bars than the Airport in Mac. I do not really understand why if Mac is so superior in everything else !! It really bugs me because I want one !!!
I travel a lot and get to places with very limited connection and slow wireless signals ( like Africa, Central America etc. ) So maybe for U.S. people this is not an issue due to the beautiful wireless setups in every corner and nice speed so many of you can even notice this is a serious issue, also Service is an issue if you travel a lot to small communities they always have everything for pc but not for mac : (((( !!! ( thanks God is starting to change ) But again I also can risk the service part but NOT the connectivity. We all know that Vista is terrible but at least with a good conection you can fix the stupid software, because when it comes to have a 128k wireless in your hotel room then you will notice that something is not to good with your Mac and here is where the PC take the advantage also in range.
I have a coworker that switch to Mac less than a month ago, and she's very happy with it, and really encourage me to change, and I was just about to buy it that same day but then she told me about this issue and she call some of her Mac friends and they told her the same, that sometimes they can’t connect in some places so then I start reviewing this carefully, and found TONS of blogs talking about the same issue, and really make me got me upset and turn off again, people say is due to the aluminum body, the truth : no one know for sure.
Here a couple of links to them ( there are several with tons of recipes to fix it but I'm not sure if I want to play with a +2k $ brand new Mac ) :
So honestly can you tell be if this is real or ever happen to you ? I love Mac and getting into photography so of course is the best choice, but for me connectivity is a must due to my work, so maybe I'll wait for this issue to be really solve, until then I think I’ll buy a Dell XPS and then next year go for the Mac ......... not really happy with the decision but if is not Mac then is Dell : ((( like no way out ……….. Mac please do something !!!!!!!!! : (((( Mac is the future, no doubt about that.
GrandGizmo
· 3 months ago
ExtremeTraveler, honestly, I own a Mac and the only downside I see is that there just aren't that many games for the Mac. Of course, to compensate for this problem, Mac runs Windows in native via Boot Camp and allows you to play all the Windows games. As for any other downsides, I really don't see any. I've owned my Mac for over two years, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I worked as tech support for an ISP. I've networked computers, and I went to school for them. Honestly, Macs are just the best computing platform. They are more stable, productive and better designed. Not only that, but they run a far better operating system. You just can't go wrong buying a Mac. You really do get what you pay for. I always put it like this: if you want a great computer, you buy a Mac; if you only want a great gaming console, you buy a PC or an Xbox 360 Elite. You will absolutely love the Mac. Everything just works, and if you need command line, you can always go to Terminal with Free BSD. Mac only makes it as complicated as you want. As for overheating issues, in the past, there have been a few instances of this, but my Mac is two years old, and it doesn't overheat. That's only happening to a few models, and it's a rather rare occurrence from what I understand. Anyway, buy a Mac. You'll love it!
All Comments
Thanks for commenting so quick! I am so torn between the two. Same thing happened to me last year when I bought my Inspiron E1505. This notebook really has been good to me. But dude.. Windows Vista sucks. I am sorry to say that, but seriously. This notebook has enough system resources to power the space shuttle but its slower than a 486 after I upgraded to Vista and now I can't resort back to XP... but for other reasons to, I wouldn't want to.
In my opinion, M$ really screwed the pooch when then rolled out Vista. It reminds me of the ME disaster back 8 years ago...
The only thing that is causing me to be on the fence is the huge price difference. Apple iMacs are clearly expensive. I am going to blockquote from your post and paste it here, as I have some questions for you, if you don't mind. Also, everyone else is free to chip in their thoughts as the more the better.
you said...
What habits can be hard to break, can you give some examples?
Next question:
My current Dell has 2 gigs of RAM, but because it is on Vista it is very slow...
My question is, could I save a minimum of $1100 dollars and just wipe out everything on my Dell and use a Linux distro instead of buying an Apple? If so, then does anyone have any suggestions as far as a certain Linux distro to use?
As you guys know... I am a full time blogger. I am not into video games and things like that anymore...
Todd... unlike you, I need to have a big wide screen and I know I would be disappointed with the 13 inch screen and using an external monitor is not an option. I hate desktops and external devices.
What I need is very low maintenance.
Fast and secure OS... tabbed browsing... Open Office... soon to be GIMP to replace Adobe Photoshop and BlogDesk or something similar. I need an old school HTML editor like FrontPage... and that's about it.
I want an Apple because they have intrigued me for many years... I don't really NEED one... and quite honestly, if I could pull off converting my current DELL into a linux DELL, I might be fine with that.
What are your thoughts (anyone) lol!!!
Those two exceptions I mentioned, are programs we use online a bit. My wife won't give them up, and she just bought a quad core gateway to run vista. I spent the better part of a week getting the Vista up and running to meet her needs. I spent about an hour getting the mac fully configured. It ran perfectly out of the box, no trial nonsense to deal with except for the iWork program which I bought.
The apples cost more, but they work better in my opinion. I hope this helps you decide.
I bought the mini mac to test more than anything, to satisfy my own curiosity, and I haven't fired up my laptop, a gateway, in over a month.
For me, switching from a PC to a Mac is sort of like going from an old crappy car to a new car...a lot things are just different but once you learn how to use them most of the stuff is better. :)
If you need a larger screen and don't want an external monitor, your only option (i think) is the 17" MacBook Pro, which is totally overpriced in my opinion. Personally, I love plugging my MacBook into my monitor and using my wireless keyboard/mouse.
I have 4GB of Ram and my MacBook is super fast. Honestly 2GB would have been enough but 4GB was only 50 bucks (aftermarket)
You might try Ubuntu as an alternative to Vista? http://www.ubuntu.com
With the LCD I would be happy with 15 inch... but even jumping up to that, there is a pretty big jump in price. I don't mind spending the money, but I kinda need to feel good about the decision. 17 Inch, that is totally out of the question... I don't need that. However, I am wondering if I would be happy with a 13 inch screen. I am too mobile for using an external LCD or CRT monitor. I use my laptop of the sofa, bed, outside, in the car while my kids are at sports. My laptop pretty much goes where I go...
I love the idea of owning one... I think I am nervous about adapting to one. Not having a right click option almost is scary! I'll tell you what... Apple.com did a really nice job with their website. There are tons of videos available and I have watched about half of them.
Do Apple computers really last longer than PC? Meaning, it seems like the minute you buy a PC and walk out of the store, its already outdated. Do Apple computers have a longer shelf life?
Secondly and dreadfully... with a PC, it is almost a regular routine for me now, I have to invest a weekend towards backing up all my data and reformatting the hard drive and getting a fresh install of the Windows OS as it seems to deteriorate through time. Does Mac OS X last longer, does it get fragmented like XP and Vista commonly do?
Linux kinda freaks me out too... my perception of Linux is that you pretty much have to be a programmer/ hacker to actually get things the way you like it.
I want something that will last me a long time, something that is fast and secure and allows me to be fast and efficient as an online publisher and Internet marketer and graphic designer / web designer for my own blogs and sites. My poor Dell is on its last leg because of Vista... the computer (meaning hardware and components inside) are awesome.. but this poor laptop is dying a slow death because of the operating system. I need to yet again... reinstall the OS and start over from scratch. This sucks because as the years go by, I have to back up more and more data.
Thanks again for the comments... so far it seems that Apple would be in my favor... I am still tossing around the idea of finding a very user friendly and well supported version of Linux... does the animal exist? :)
I think at this point... Vista is totally out of the question... and buying a new Dell is also out of the question.
i am a pc user. main use for me is ms word excel those two are backbone for my profession, i even like playing games on my pc does mac support games. what was ur experience using back pc sometimes when there is no mac?
I would definitely go the Mac without looking back. I have been a PC man for over 10 years now and am in the exact same position as you. The PC's may be cheap but damn they cost you more in the long run. I have upgraded my PC's every 18mths to 2 yrs ever since I started using them. I have been really bugging a Mac mate and he has a desktop system that is about 4yrs old running current software with no hassles at all. This is the original system he bought when he changed from PC. He has only just bumped up his memory recently because his image files are now so much bigger.
Mac's cost less in the longrun too in terms of lost data with the stable operating environment(not saying they dont crash but they do it waaaay less than PC's) as well as in terms of time saved due to the more logical operation of them. They may take a little while to get your head around but once youve had mac you'll never go back.
I have been using a mates mac book that is about 3 yrs old on and off, which he leaves running for weeks without having to be rebooted. The graphics engine is so much smooother, it utilises its resources way better than PC and the whole system integration works together so much better.
My biggest problem now is getting annoyed at my PC while I wait to buy my Mac. I am looking at buying the Mac Book Pro, as I need the extra power and screen real estate for my photography work.
In terms of security there are way less attacks on mac's as well. Hackers dont seem to target them as mostly only graphic designers really used them in the past. PC's are more the home gullible market so they target them. In terms of system reinstallation, you can pretty well say goodbye to having to do that on a regular basis. That is the big one for me, like you I hate the solid days work of removing the old data, reinstalling the OS and loading programs and data again.
I think you will be more than happy with the Mac. Its just a matter now of deciding on screen size. Of yeah, they do have a right click funtion too. The mouse that I used was pressure sensitive and you just touched where a right button would be. Bizzarre but you get the hang of it pretty quick.
Wow! Thanks for the amazing comment. I have been glued to Apple.com today, I haven't really gotten much done... I did the same thing the same time last year! You are right... I am really leaning towards a Mac for sure.
Quick question for you or anyone reading here. How does the Safari web browser compare to Firefox or even Internet Explorer. I justed downloaded the PC version a few hours ago and right away I noticed that I can't install my Google Toolbar on it.
Do Mac users simply discard the Safari browser just like PC users discard the IE browser and head straight to FireFox for the download?
is neo office good for my work.what is the format that excel sheet is saved."
I will send my mate Matt on over who is a Mac nut and theres not much he doesnt know about them.
Browser wise, mate it doesn't matter.. Firefox, Safari and Camino are all equally fast, unless you have a something that will measure nano seconds I doubt you will notice any difference.. I pretty well rock Safari all the time, though I have been playing with Firefox 3 the last couple of days and it's pretty nice..
I made the switch a few weeks ago and I am so happy with my MacBook!.
But if you want away from Windows, you should check out the Linux options as well. I haven't personally used it, but I've heard lots of very good things about Ubuntu.
Anyway good luck with the decision... By the way, this is a great title if you want more people to leave comments!
I want a Linux Laptop.
Secondly.. all intel macs can run all OSes, including Vista / XP natively, and apparently make the fastest Vista portable box available.
Enough of the old news and wives tales already!
Great artice. I am a lifelong Mac User and PC user.
1. You said that the main issue you have with Apple is price. Well contrary to popular belief Apples are priced very competitively. If you match up a Apple to a PC laptop from a higher end vendor such as Sony or Dell you will come to about the same. Apple includes things as standard not as optional that others don't. Some examples is 802.11n card, Firewire, Analog/Optical in and out jacks.
Theres of course other things that add to the price that PC Vendors don't have to deal with such as a Slot Loader vice a tray Optical Drive. The power adapter which is tiny compared to PC systems has a magnetic plug that breaks away if its tripped over. All those add to the cost but offer a all around much better system experience. Kinda like I own a Acura which sure I don't need but overall its a much better car then a 10k no frills car.
2. Vista after all the hype added nothing really new. Mac OS 10.5 is like using something outta the future. Its fun, fresh and does some amazing things that are normal for Mac users that PC users can't even begin to think about. Like being able to open and preview a multide of file formats like Word, Excel, Mp3s, jpegs without ever opening up the associated application. You click on the document and hit space bar and it comes up instantly. Thats not boring, its like amazing.
3. Mac OS 10.5 is rock solid. Sure there are flaws but its considerably more secure then a PC system. Since Mac OS X has come out I have owned about 6 different Macs, and never once have reformatted a hard drive. Never once experienced a system melt down. I never have had on a Mac any sort of Virus protection software, nor any crazy programs to maintain my system.
As to what to buy thats a personal choice, but I would give a Mac a try. You can use Apples Boot Camp to install a Windows on it. PC World said in December that something is terribly wrong with the universe when the fastest Vista machine they ever benchmarked outside of gaming machines is a Macintosh running Windows.
I usually eBay my old machine after 2 years, and normally get back about 50% of what I paid for it. I don't think you could do that with a PC, no matter what brand it was. Just go and check out the prices on eBay for proof.
As for Office (someone asked above), yes Office runs fine and is fully compatible with the PC version. A new version of Office is due very soon - but you could be better off saving some money and checking out Apple's iWork first, as it covers most bases for most people, and is also able to read & export Office file formats.
Paul Otellini, CEO, Intel
Les Vadasz, co-founder and Employee#3, Intel
Pat Gelsinger, VP and GM of Enterprise Systems, Intel
I can't really recommend blowing money on MS Office when iWork and NeoOffice are available. I can't recommend Windows Media Player, etc., over Apple's iLife applications. And you will save money on anti-virus/spyware products too.
I would make two suggestions: never buy additional RAM from Apple and go for the extended AppleCare plan. I have done this for years and have saved some serious cash.
It may sound like a marketing catch-phrase, but it's true. Macs just work. The OS stays out of your way. It looks better than Vista. It provides a lot of useful stuff and a minimum of crapware.
The touch of the keyboard is better. (Type on a PC laptop after a Mac and it makes you think you're clunking away on an old Selectric.) The fit and finish of Macs is leaps and bounds above PCs.
If you have an Apple Store nearby, visit it and play. The machines on the floor are loaded with just about any app you could think of to play with. If you have a friend with a Mac, ask to sit down with it for a while unattended and see what you think.
The biggest plus is the operating system. It is hard to quantify this. You have to use it. I have far less problems with the basic day-to-day operation of the machine than my Windows buddies. And Macs are fun to use!
To the gentleman who uses Microsoft Access. The Mac version of Msoft Office does not come with Access nor does it come with an Access equivalent.
A Mac is at least two computers in one, rebooting into Windows or virtualizing a Windows environment on a Mac can be accomplished in a number of easy ways.
Also, MacWorld is less than two weeks away which means the Apple Computer product lineup is about to change. Avoid buying a new Mac until after MacWorld.
Yes, if you subscribe to the idea that you buy a computer for more than what you currently need, and then grow into its capabilities over time, using it until you run into its limitations. I'm typing this on a base-level Apple iBook G4 that's more than 4 years old, and even with its puny 32MB VRAM and 800MHz processor it can do UI effects such as minimizing a video to the Dock while it's playing; to do this in Vista Aero, you need a killer graphics card.
"with a PC, it is almost a regular routine for me now, I have to invest a weekend towards backing up all my data and reformatting the hard drive and getting a fresh install of the Windows OS as it seems to deteriorate through time. Does Mac OS X last longer, does it get fragmented like XP and Vista commonly do?"
Mac OS X auto-defrags on the fly. There's no Registry to get clogged up with junk. I have an 8 year old PowerMac G4 that's had its OS reinstalled only once, and that's only because I didn't follow best practices when upgrading it. The latest version of MacOS X has a built-in Time Machine backup feature that's basically set-it and forget it until you need to recover a file.
Heck, if you don't like OSX, you can turn it completely into a PC and run Vista better than the fastest PC laptops out there. You really can't go wrong with a Mac.
I have MBP and loving it. I run Windows on it to play Call of Duty 4 and it rocks.
Using a Mac really means more productivity, fun, intuitive... go see why MS tried so hard to copy OSX into Vista.
For both laptops, the trackpad can do both "right-click" and "scroll-wheel" functions. And my wife is still quite happy with her 3-year-old PowerBook G4. For browsers, I use Safari and OmniWeb mainly, firing up Camino or FireFox if necessary. (All but FireFox as Mac-specific, and integrate better with some cool features Mac users expect.)
I've rambled long enough. Good luck with whatever path you choose!
Just to qualify, I am a working Apple Consultant, part of the Apple Consultants Network. For years I had a hard time recommending Macs, unless the client had a specific use such as Graphics, photography or video. That was way before Apple started using Intel microprocessors. The other issue; "Macs cost so much more than PC's..." is now moot when you compare like feature for feature. The upper level Sony's, Dells and Fujitsu laptops are within the range of Macbook Pros and Macbooks.
The answer to your question about browsers is: Firefox is the same for Windows as it is for MacOSX. If you are used to Firefox, you should enjoy a better experience on the Mac. Heck, if you really NEED to run some Windows software, you can install XP (forget Vista for now) under the "free" Bootcamp included with Leopard (OSX 10.5), as long as you have a full copy of Windows XP. Or you can install virtual emulation software like Parallels or VMware, and have both the Mac and Windows running simultaneously.
There are a couple different web tools far better than "Front Page", which you know is strictly for development for WIndows hosted websites. I use Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 as a professional web developer for managing multiple websites. Apple includes iWeb with the iWork "Suite" which incidentally can open, modify and save in Microsoft Office documents (an only costs $79.00 - you'll get a free trial with any new Mac purchase. There is a powerful Open Source image editor called GIMP that rivals Photoshop on many levels. I find iWeb a bit too simplistic, and really works best if you have a .Mac account and host your website there.
Your blogging through Wordpress would be the same. and if you've investigated, Wordpress is a really robust blogging host software where you can literally build a website around or within (we even support it through our own web servers).
The Dell XPS series are nice machines. I work on couple of the 19" models for a client of mine. With some regularity, I have to go over and repair or reinstall Windows, and the models he has are still NOT compatible with Vista (even says so on the Dell web site). They are pretty nice machines, but it seems any time my client wants to add some software or other, Windows gets hosed.
Your final question: "because there is so much freaking data on my hard drive, getting all the prep work done before doing the reformat and install is a big pain in the butt. Am I wrong to assume that if I purchased an Apple Mac Book that I wouldn’t have to deal with these issues?"... you can just copy your data through your lan or wireless lan to your NEW MAC, once you get it. Don't bother rebuilding the Dell "again".
Just plan on maxing on the RAM on either the Macbook or Macbook Pro (you should go to the pro if you are planning on managing photo images - although iPhoto comes free with both machines), OSX needs RAM, and it's cheap and easy enough to add yourself (Macsales.com is the cheapest and best place to order ram online). Also check out the Apple Store online and look at the prices for "refurbished" machines. I almost always buy refurbs as I save hundreds of dollars and the machines are fully loaded and backed with full warranty.
Both Macbook and Macbook Pro support external DVI monitors, mice and keyboards. So you can get as large a monitor that you like (except Apple's 30" monster display!) right out of the box.
The resale value of Apple hardware tends to be higher than the resale value of Wintel equipment. Should you purchase a Macbook, and find it not to your liking, you will likely still be able to purchase a substantial portion of your Windows machine by reselling your Apple equipment.
Keep in mind that the Macbook will be able to run typical Windows applications providing you pick up a copy of Parallels or other emulator and a copy of Windows. This means that even if you don't fall in love with OSX, you aren't completely out out of luck. The major caveat is that games may not work well with emulators, as they make specific demands on video hardware that can't be easily emulated. Graphic design, website development, office productiviity and internet content browsers can all typically run on Windows on the Mac, should you not have their Mac counterparts for some crazy reason.
The Macbook will also be able to run many Linux distros, but I can't speak to specifics, other than to say that a particularly geek trick some time ago was to have a Linux distro running inside of Windows inside OSX.
In short, come on in, the water's fine. Try out that Mac without fear. There are life jackets and wading pools available and despite the hype, shark attacks are very, very rare.
Windows squishes fonts to hammer them into a pixel grid. MacOS X respects the integrity of the glyphs, and thus gives a much better onscreen approximation of what the typefaces will look like in print. If you design for print, this is huge. Most people prefer the onscreen font rendering of Windows because it looks sharper, but this is at the expense of typographic accuracy. As we move to ever higher screen resolutions and resolution-independence in the user interface, the Apple font rendering will become visibly superior. For more info, see
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/06/12....
I wrestle with the quirks of the Windows approach every single day. The Mac approach works much better for print designers, if you care about typographic integrity vs. onscreen legibility.
nobody seems to mention the Mac's ability to run Windows natively via Boot Camp, running better than on most PCs! Or if needed using Parallels or VM Ware gives you the option to run any system inside Mac OS X
Neooffice is a free Mac version of Openoffice (a MS Office equiv. for most people).
Neooffice does include a database. Anyone used it that knows Access?
Will this be a reasonable solution for Access users?
Good luck with your new Mac. I know you've already decided ;-)
Just to qualify, I am a working Apple Consultant, part of the Apple Consultants Network. For years I had a hard time recommending Macs, unless the client had a specific use such as Graphics, photography or video. That was way before Apple started using Intel microprocessors. The other issue; "Macs cost so much more than PC's..." is now moot when you compare like feature for feature. The upper level Sony's, Dells and Fujitsu laptops are within the range of Macbook Pros and Macbooks.
The answer to your question about browsers is: Firefox is the same for Windows as it is for MacOSX. If you are used to Firefox, you should enjoy a better experience on the Mac. Heck, if you really NEED to run some Windows software, you can install XP (forget Vista for now) under the "free" Bootcamp included with Leopard (OSX 10.5), as long as you have a full copy of Windows XP. Or you can install virtual emulation software like Parallels or VMware, and have both the Mac and Windows running simultaneously.
There are a couple different web tools far better than "Front Page", which you know is strictly for development for WIndows hosted websites. I use Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 as a professional web developer for managing multiple websites. Apple includes iWeb with the iWork "Suite" which incidentally can open, modify and save in Microsoft Office documents (an only costs $79.00 - you'll get a free trial with any new Mac purchase. There is a powerful Open Source image editor called GIMP that rivals Photoshop on many levels. I find iWeb a bit too simplistic, and really works best if you have a .Mac account and host your website there.
Your blogging through Wordpress would be the same. and if you've investigated, Wordpress is a really robust blogging host software where you can literally build a website around or within (we even support it through our own web servers).
The Dell XPS series are nice machines. I work on couple of the 19" models for a client of mine. With some regularity, I have to go over and repair or reinstall Windows, and the models he has are still NOT compatible with Vista (even says so on the Dell web site). They are pretty nice machines, but it seems any time my client wants to add some software or other, Windows gets hosed.
Your final question: "because there is so much freaking data on my hard drive, getting all the prep work done before doing the reformat and install is a big pain in the butt. Am I wrong to assume that if I purchased an Apple Mac Book that I wouldn’t have to deal with these issues?"... you can just copy your data through your lan or wireless lan to your NEW MAC, once you get it. Don't bother rebuilding the Dell "again".
Just plan on maxing on the RAM on either the Macbook or Macbook Pro (4gigs max you should go to the pro if you are planning on managing photo images - although iPhoto comes free with both machines), OSX needs RAM, and it's cheap and easy enough to add yourself (Macsales.com is the cheapest and best place to order ram online). Also check out the Apple Store online and look at the prices for "refurbished" machines. I almost always buy refurbs as I save hundreds of dollars and the machines are fully loaded and backed with full warranty.
Both Macbook and Macbook Pro support external DVI monitors, mice and keyboards. So you can get as large a monitor that you like (except Apple's 30" monster display!) right out of the box.
In our company, we had an Apple Specialist Provider come in to install an XServe/XSan for our burgeoning media and in-house publication requirements. I was given a Powerbook for system admin work. Since that day two and a half years ago, I have regretted every minute I ever spent and unfortunately still do, with Windows. My team looks after 3200 XP/2000 boxes on 3 sites and nearly 200 Macs. At our last IT review, we identified over 600 desks which could be converted to Macs and management signed off the expenditure with a smile based on feedback from a 3 department Mac pilot scheme. The positive response was frankly unsurprising given that our report showed dramatically reduced support costs whilst network traffic for those departments(and thus work throughput) had increased by nearly 100%. I am pretty sure we will be 50% Mac within 2 years.
Like I said ...sniff the breeze. Run don't walk.
The little extra that you pay up front is more than worth it because Macs have such a high resale value; are easier and more fun to use; work better and have an incredible high resolution screen. The Mac is the BMW of personal computers and like a BMW you may pay a little more, but you get a lot more, a whole lot more for you buck than you would with a little old Chevy. The satisfaction and less hassle that goes with a Mac over Vista, or for that matter Linux, is easily worth every penny you pay.
If its for blogging, well you can't get any better than the best, and the best is a Mac.
Good luck
P.S. Apple Care on portables is not a bad idea but here again don't purchase from Apple. Provantage has often been the cheapest for this but Amazon, MacConnection and small dog all discount as well.
As you well know, I am your most untechnical reader, but at least I know a few people. Of the multi-multi-internet millionaires I have contact with, the majority prefer the MAC. Perhaps you have to be a millionaire to afford it, but the stuff they've shown me is Way Cool.
From my own personal experience I can say that Vista SUCKS Big Time! I loved XP, but you have to pay a premium to find it on a new system.
Probably most important from my point of view: The iMAC is one of the most beautiful machines on the planet (right along with the Sony Vaio Desk top, which puts you right back in Vista's playground.
If you can get away from Vista, good for you!
Brennan
Did this article get plugged somewhere??
Almost feel like I am in an army recruiters office. LOL!!!
I have to say thank you for all the comments... I am in the process of reading them all right now. Quite a few of you guys and gals included links to your own personal blogs and sites and I'll be sure to check those out too.
Also, I am trying to figure out if this post got Stumbed, DUGG, etc... somewhere there is a huge traffic hole created and I can't seem to find the source just yet. Who ever helped create that, I want to thank you for it. I have gotten more traffic from this one post alone in the last six hours than I have had to the entire site all week.
I must have a ton Mac readers! :) Thanks again everyone! Buying a Mac is looking pretty favorable. I already got the approval from the wife/authoritative figure. So, I have a huge "GREEN" light on the purchase... its just a matter of choosing the options I want. :)
PC = UNSTABLE
-Mike
p.s. I never used a MAC before :)
Get the Mac. As many have said, it runs Windows and Mac OS. Get an OEM copy of XP and run it under Boot camp or Parallels/VMWare (in fact you can run a single XP copy both ways).
I am not positive, but I believe there are importer tools that will let you move your existing PC windows installation onto a Mac running Parallels or VMWare.
PC Magazine recently rated the Macbook Pro as the fastest Windows laptop. LOL.
get the mac, you won't regret it....
Thanks for the comment, the added support and letting me know the source to the flood of traffic. Wow!!! I have to say, that I have found a new site that I will read on a regular basis. Here is s screen shot of the plug that I received today:
[click image to view full size]
<img src="http://clarksvillewebs.com/sandbox/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mac-surfer-small.png" alt="mac-surfer" height="272" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="450" />
For everyone that is curious, be sure to check out www.MacSurfer.com. This is obviously a huge community and has tons of incoming / outgoing traffic. The site has a Google PageRank of PR7 and from what I can see so far... it is a very large and extensive community driven source of information all related to Apple. Special thanks goes out to the community member or author who added me today. :)
I have friends who received huge amounts of hits after being posted on their site.
Great blog, by the way.
There is no doubt that MacSurfer has a lot of traffic. Just one little link on their home page totally flooded my site today. That was awesome. :)
Here's the best link a mac owner could ever have: http://www.opensourcemac.org/
Tinkerers are rarely satisfied with a Mac. They feel that Apple is "restricting" them from "using their hardware like they want".
Gamers are rarely satisfied with Macs, because they can't replace the video card four times a year, as each new big release comes out. ...and the Mac only gets the Top 10 games, anyway.
I switched to Mac and love it. Your milage may vary.
I have been published on Macsurfer and I am also a subscriber. Maybe my writing isn't as interesting or as eloquent as other folks, but I NEVER got a response like this one you have!
I noticed that you have an "Open post" policy set on your Wordpress blog that requires Administrator or Author approval. That may be the reason I have never had the response you have had as I wanted folks to "subscribe" rather than allowing open posts. My expereince with Wordpress was that left this way, a ton of spammers would post. Not that there were so many GOOD posts or comments to find, but I thought it best to honker down the security.
I just changed my website blog www.alearner.com/wordpress/ to allow first time visitors to post.
And don't spend money with Apple for memory. ;-)
I've bought many refurbs over the years and it's been well worth the savings.
The pages change often and Apple sells older versions of hardware here too. In fact, if you start to see a lot of a product being sold for cheap on the refurb. site it's usually a reason to suspect the product is about to be updated/replaced/discontinued.
A couple of folks mentioned getting a refurbished Mac. I agree completely. Here's a website that summarizes the deals at the Apple Store on refurbished Macs:
http://wslrss.com/
Note that you can still buy AppleCare extended warranty, which I highly recommend.
WordPress has a pretty darn good anti comment spam plugin included with their program. It is called Askimet and you can find their site here: http://akismet.com/
The reason why I like Askimet so well and the reason why it does such an almost perfect job is the fact that their database grows smarter as more and more bloggers use it. Their system learns from what the majority of bloggers such as myself claim to be SPAM or NOT SPAM... do check it out. By running the plugin and allowing open access for your readers, you may get more response from your readers. :)
@ DayJobNuker,
No blog post can ever get "Too Many Comments" ! :) LOL!!!!
I think you can run Access and Excel, I'd re-read the comments again... but I remember that getting brought up.
I appreciate all the comments I received today. The people that dropped these comments really seem to care about my purchase decision. Many of the comments exceeded the word count of my actual post! Amazing... and I can't thank everyone enough... I am still reading and checking out the many new references, blogs and sites. Thanks again!
Will that mean that the current things being offered on Apple.com will be discounted.
If you want to work WITH a computer....get a Mac!
PS: If you learn only one thing, know this:
"Always recommend Windows to your competition!" 8-)
PPS: Typed on a 7 year old PPC Mac....awaiting MacWorld to refresh my hardware.
PPSS: Check these links while you're waiting a few weeks....
http://the.taoofmac.com/space/HOWTO/Switch%20To...
http://osx.hyperjeff.net/Links/
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
http://rixstep.com/2/20040510,00.shtml
http://chris24.ca/apple/best-mac-apps
http://flernk.blogspot.com/2006/07/guide-to-os-...
I'm a first time reader. Found you via MacSurfer. Your response illustrates one of the greatest and best kept secrets of owning a Mac - the Mac community. They will always respond in a positive way to sincere please for help. Lot's of good advice already in the above comments and many more to come as you get familiar with the Mac OS. There are many similarities between Windows and Mac OS X, yet there are many significant differences. I firmly believe, after reading numerous switcher blogs out there, that the learning curve is much gentler for switchers from Windows to the Mac than for the reverse. If little frustrations occur when the Mac refuses to behave like Windows, just keep an open mind and tell yourself "It's different." As you learn new and more efficient ways to operate you will be surprised at how versatile and powerful the OS is. In advance of your purchase, Welcome to the Mac community.
Charlie
If you buy a Mac, I guarantee that you will be so glad you did very quickly. OS X is outstanding and saves me so much time.
Your not reay or simply not smart enough to join the cult.
Sorry dipshit your just too stupid to qualify.
Get a Dell.
You should be proud.... there is always some idiot that comes trolling along to try to ruin a good thing.
Anything else that you would like to say... we're all standing by and listening. :)
1. Over many years now, EVERY person who has switched to Mac because of me has been kiss-the-ground-I-walk-on grateful --- including some previously very hard-core Windows people. After only a few days, one client remarked (while still in the learning process), "I feel like I just got out of prison."
2. My hunch is if you do switch, you will be sickened and outraged at the years of clumsiness, inefficiency, down time, etc. Numerous previous Windows users have written about this - from regular folks to high-end tech writers. I have never seen a single article pulled out by any Windows fan written by someone going the opposite direction.
Yes, a Mac is right for you. I think if you try one for a couple of weeks, you wouldn't even have to ask this question.
Thanks to everyone's input!
Also, Windows expert, Chris Pirillo, among others, have joined him. See here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iyd1FUjcmOE or view this video I put on my blog: http://my2cents4theday.blogspot.com/2007/11/whi...
Also: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iyd1FUjcmOE
Also, please consider Quicksilver which is only for the Mac: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EBvFUhTqKK4&feat...
Any, welcome to the world of OS X. Hope you wait for January 15th. if you buy one. Good luck.
You would think I'd be happy....but....I miss all of my little software tools. Seems trivial, but I got use to my password manager data file being on a shared drive and available from any of my home computers...except the Mac. I miss all of my handy shortcut methods I've come up with doing things over the past twenty years of my dos/win love/hate affair. I have until the 16th to take it back even though it will cost me 120 bucks. I look at that slick little XPS with the LED screen on Dell's website and wonder if I can put up with Vista on one more machine until sp1 or "please God" sp2 makes its way out.
http://www.macworld.com/article/131399/2008/01/...
oh and btw really enjoyed reading your blog! thanks a lot
http://www.macworld.com/article/131399/2008/01/...
I am a mac user and love it - the cost difference is really a myth more than anything. Walt Mossberg reviewed the Dell competitor to the iMac and found that it typically cost $300 MORE than the iMac. Linky:
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20071227/dells-all-...
Anyways, I love my Mac - it is 4 years old, upgraded with 4 Gigs of ram and a new Gfx card and HDs - and it never has any problems. Running 10.5 and loving it.
My laptop HD crashed though (macbook pro) and hence the looking for a cheap new drive.... dell has one that fits the specs but I'm not sure if they make their HDs like their printers, where they only work with PCs...
jb
Anyway, just put it this way. My mother and I walked up to that machine, and I saw those Windows stickers and the materials that they use to make those machines. I got to play around with it, and I looked at my Mom and she looked at me... and we said, "Man! I am so glad we bought a Apple instead of this piece of junk!" I'm going to tell you right now. I run Windows XP, and I hardly ever run it. I'm always using OS X. Windows software - even the iTunes version - is so much less crystal than the OS X version of iTunes. The remote that comes with the Macbook Pro is awesome. It's useful, and you can change music without even getting out of bed. You remote control movies. You have no virus worries. No adware worries. No malware worries. And, if you want to? You can install Vista using Boot Camp - go hardcore - and then play any Windows game on the market. There is absolutely no reason to buy a Dell computer. I beg of you - because I care - if you want a good solid laptop, buy a Macbook Pro with 17" monitor at 1920 resolution and the Geforce 8600M processor with 256 megs... and 160 gigabytes hard drive with a 5400RPM speed. You don't need 7200RPM unless you're editing film and audio all the time. It's not worth the extra $100. Save yourself the money. Later, I just went to Wal-mart and bought a 320 gigabyte Seagate 7200RPM external drive and plugging it into my Mac. Good for keeping everything backed up on a single partition from your internal drive also.
If you have any questions concerning this choice? Please! Please e-mail me. I have been in computers since I was 9 years old. I've ran Atari, Commodore, Windows platforms, Linux platforms, OS X platforms to date, and I have never in my life... never in all my experience with computers have loved a computer like this Apple Macbook Pro. There is absolutely nothing I cannot create, no game I cannot play... and you just can't beat the Airport Extreme Wireless N Broadband. I pulled up beside the road near a hotel and wasn't even staying there... just logged right on and got great bandwidth. If you need any advice on software, I'm here, too.
Last, I want to tell you that it's very difficult to make someone understand what it's like to be on the narrow path of technology. Apple computers are 5% of the market. Use to I would tell you if you're going to play games, don't buy an Apple. Buy a PC. But, today, this is just not the case. You get to be a part of a family if you buy an Apple computer. If you buy a PC, you're just another bum in the park with a Windows native platform and susceptible to 100s of thousands of viruses, adware, spyware... and you get the picture I think? So, I hope to see you in our family soon, and I hope that you don't make the awful choice of buying that Dell with bloatware and lame materials. Just do this one thing. Put a Macbook Pro 17 incher beside that Dell laptop, and let's see who is better and let's see whose machines are designed better, run better and look better... all the way around? Just some advice, because I made the same choice, and it's been seven months. I don't regret it at all, and I will never go back to a native Windows platform PC. Trust me. Give it a chance, and you won't either.
Marion Adams
Cumming, GA
p.s. If you decide to buy an Apple, please tell them powershaker@mac.com or Marion Adams sent you. I'm just a customer. I just want people to have the computing enjoyment that I have every single day. Apple forever! Cheers!
Meanwhile, back to budgeting for your purchase:
As others have mentioned, refurbs may be the way to go.
However, for a new machine you might also consider the online resellers. Even if their prices for Macs are the same, they often throw in free or discounted printers, RAM and other nice things.
You can look up prices for Macs at MacReviewzone or Deal Mac:
http://macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/guides/ha...
I have not heard anything about aluminum casing.
Personally I think they have made a more expensive, less capable machine here. It doesn't appeal to me. It might to thos users who travel extensively and only need word processing and the like. Heck, there isn't a Firewire port to plug a video camera into. Apple owns the IEE1394 patent so they needn't pay any royalty for using it in their hardware. They don't own the rights to USB 2.0 - go figure. Read my trackback in a few days. http://www.alearner.com/blog/?p=82
I've had both a Black Macbook and a Macbook Pro (second gens) and both have been excellent and problem free. I always buy refurbs from the Apple store. I save hundreds of $$ and get the same "as new" warranty. Out of hundreds of purchases for client and myself, I have only had ONE refurb (in a batch of 60 purchased all at the same time) laptop with a problem. Apple made good on it overnight in advance exchange (they almost never so this).
No I am waiting on Dell to ship me out my replacement notebook (under warranty) from there I am going to sell it and then make my MacBook purchase. Thanks again so much for all the advice and help! :)
I'll be sure to blast out an article on GCDC letting everyone know what I purchased. I can't wait and look very forward to it!
I'll consider that. :)
Applepeelz: http://www.applepeelz.com/
iSkin clear, blue, pink or glow in the dark: http://www.iskin.com/products_mac.tpl
That way no dust or debris will get in the keyboard, and you can drink around your computer in confidence. I do mine all the time.
-TheYoungGuy-
http://skattertech.com/2008/03/dell-xps-m1530-v...
http://lowendmac.com/ed/fox/08ff/mac-pro-vs-del...
The main selling point I see repeated over and over is mainly OS X over Vista. I have yet to use OS X, so maybe I'll get a Mac one day and become yet-another zealot. Until then though it's not clear to me on why it's better.
I write software for a living. This may (likely?) put me out of the normal use case. BUt still. I have been using Vista for over a year now on three different machines and had no blue screens. I have have very few crashes. I do not see the stability issues. Perhaps I am lucky.
Yes, it seems Vista requires (much) more RAM to operate well. 1 GB is not enough, 4GB seems great though and I've had zero performance issues.
Switching to OS X though would require me to eventually re-buy all my software for Mac. Yes I could always run Parallels etc, but that would seem like something you'd want to only temporarily. If you're using Photoshop and MS Office on a daily basis you'd want them to work with you're primary operating system. So there's a 1500+ cost (for a pro version of MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite) That's a significant cost.
The laptop I'm actually looking to get is for my mom, who is retiring. She's used windows since it first came out. She's had a Dell laptop for the past 5 years, latest being a D620. She is primarily interested in continuing to do page layout (indesign) and photoshop tinkering. Yes, she uses Windows for these and always has. She started on PageMaker 3.0 (or earlier?).
I for one am yet to be convinced that she would be so greatly benefited in having to learn a whole new operating system, keyboard (there are some niggling key differences) and have to incur the costs of new licenses. My only reason for looking at a Mac in the first place was the impression that perhaps the hardware itself was somehow more reliable, as I'd be running Windows on it anyhow.
Right now, I'm still siding on the Dell/Windows way. Maybe if I already had used a Mac I'd think differently.
Regarding the differences in operating systems and the price of the computer....
It is like going to a bookstore to buy a book. Let's say that you are interested in two books. Most reviews say that book #1 is poorly written. Most reviews say that book #2 is great. Both books are the same size, they have the same number of pages and they have the same number of words. But book #1 costs $8.00 and book #2 costs $11.00.
The choice is yours!
Short story: I have a desktop PC with a jamming video gaming card and my Mac in the same room. My son comes to visit me, and he likes the games on my Mac better. Makes you wonder. He's 9 so I guess a little child shall lead us all.
Peace!
My dad runs windows on his mac, which is pretty awesome- so he doesn't have to use the dell that work gave him. Vista is a wreck, and i don't miss any of it! good luck with your decision =]
if right click bugs you about macs, just set up the gestures. i did it and its just like righty but you dont have that accidental right clcik every now and then. or you could just use a mouse.
i was a hard core windows user and hated macs, now im the other way. the only reason im running xp and fadora is just to show off that i can triple boot lol.
to get a good deal on a mac, try craigslist. just research what type of mac you need before you take the leap. the big thing right now is intel based processors and at least 867mhz processors so that you can run leopard.
I've used all the platforms. PC Windblows, Atari, Commodore, Macintosh... all of them. Over twenty years I've been doing this, and if I had known even ten years ago that a Macintosh could run Windows, OS X, Ubuntu and all the best stuff by itself, I would have said that Apple has surely won. I would be telling you that Apple will take the market. Let's face it? Who wants Windows Vista? Seriously!? Also, who solely wants a Linux PC box when they could own a Mac? There is one reason why Linux is not working as well as it could: "A computer should be like a bicycle. It should work with you - not against you" - Steve Jobs.
Linux works against the average Joe. Mac works with you. Windblows? Just another weakening market share holder in the desert, and I can hear the last dying remnants of Microsoft's operating systems. Can you say European Union, too? Microsoft won't last long. I give it ten years or less, and the company will be chopped up into smaller companies. Mark my words. Apple Macintosh - as of 2008 - is the best platform to own on the market. There is no other. APPLE!
p.s. Sometimes, Linux even forces certified computer techs to research or figure out a problem in the Ubuntu Linux OS. I'm certified, and sometimes, things just don't work in Linux. It will never be a home based operating system for Grandma, Mama and little johnny... those who never went to school for a computer degree. Once again, computers should work with you. Not against you. People just want them to work. Got to think outside the box, dude. Sorry.
Poeple get ripped off to pay for software that runs like a hokes. And mac although easy and simple forgot to work hard on sycurity. They have better sycurity then windblows from M$, but that still isnt good enough. Im not a open bsd advocate or anything, but sycurity is important. It has been shown to be user friendly. And getting good software that competes with the pros is a snap. Poeple get torn by all the linux distros and that is the problem. Thats why you should go with ubuntu, suse, or even mandriva is more sycure.
Getting a macbook will be worth it. It does everything and now with Leopard does even more!
Learn how Vista works!!!! I own both a MacBook and Vista-notebook, and use both for their own purposes.
Vista is not slow; it's a different paradigm.
Out of the box you can video chat, go on the internet, no setting up accounts needed to do administrative things. No stupid trial software that slows you're computer. No defragmenting the hard drive for the first time to prepare it for optimal speed. You can screw around in Garage Band. I can't tell you how much fun I have in rock band. Making songs. Blogging is soooo fast on this thing. My macbook is amazingly fast. I got 2gb of RAM in it from crucial.com and it FLIES! It NEVER requires a restart. NEVER slows down NEVER gives up. NEVER struggles. NO antivirus software, upgrading is in the background and when it is done it tells you to restart and most of the time you don't even half to do that.
Get a mac you will NOT regret it!!!!!!!!!
My concern is in choosing the 13inch or the 15inch.
One thing is for sure... I am not going to be doing Linux, nor am I going to be doing any tweaking by trying to install Mac OS on a PC. I am a full time blogger and publisher, I need something that I can depend on. I need something where I can just open the lid, press a button and start writing.
Right now, I am using a Dell XPS M1530 running Windows Vista Home Premium. I got 90 days on the OS prior to the last re-install and its starting to slow down terribly. Frankly, I am completely fed up of Windows. My Dell XPS performs slower than my old PII 450 MHz system running Windows 98 with 96 Megs of RAM. Windows Vista is a piece of crap. Seriously.
I wrote this post last year I believe, and I haven't purchased a Mac yet... I was going to make a purchase but just about a week after posting, my wife discovered that we were having our 4th child. He is born now, healthy and I am making really good money, so I am totally going to get a Mac once I get back from vacation. ;)
A Special special special thanks to all you Apple supporters. You guys have made this post extremely valuable. It ranks extremely well in Google and it gets hit with a ton of traffic daily. Those reading the comments I am sure are motived to make the switch, you all have done very well. ;)
If you don´t, don´t be afraid, go for:
DELL XPS. You are going to get a free update to Win7 wich is hundred times better than Vista.
Email
Web Browsing
Multimedia (DVD support if bought the dell pre-installed with Linux)
Casual Gaming
Word Processing
Multimedia Creation
And more all in a simple interface. Ohh and one more thing I just realised I sound like a walking commercial!!!!! OMG!!!!!
PS: IF from dell the ubuntu linux distro is just as simple to use as a mac for all of a users basic needs!!
I bought a macbook pro early 2008 & it is the worst computer I have ever used. APPLE Knowing & Deceptively sold these pros when then knew all the 8600 card were defective & most of the logic boards were defective. Thus the Mac Book Pro over heats every day - it burns to touch it, this of course causes cracks in the system, constant system crashes, kernal panics, consant panic reports. etc... They have put in 6 new ligic boards, 2 new 8600 cards, 2 new fans, & rebuilt the system 5 times. It still does not work all the same old problems always reappear & Mac Will not Replace. Under Federal Magnusom-Moss Act (Federal Lemon Law) & Texas Deceptive Trade Practices after 3 repair/ replcesments they have to replace without complaining. The can beld liable for attorney fees, pre & post interest, court fees, punative damages, any other damages as the Judge deems necessary.
After all of that, the Macbook Pro has been the best computer I've owned in my over twenty years of computing. Apple has always taken care of their customers, and your Macbook Pro might be one of the ones which came out in 2007 or before. Who knows? It sounds like it is. The Macbook Pro is outstanding computer. I have absolutely no complaints.
I think if you had finally decided to get a Mac, you would have announced it here. And it would have given you plenty to write about in your blog.
So I can only assume that you STILL don't have a new computer .... or you got a PC but you can't admit it because the Mac issue brings you so many readers.
Listen... I can understand not getting a new computer. I need a new Mac right now but the economy is killing me. I am not afraid of losing my job because I am self-employed. Rather, I am earning 25% of my past salary. So I can understand this issue.
But let me say that I still using my 5+ years old PowerBook G4 to do all of my work. It is still running well and it has been updated from Panther to Tiger to Leopard ( the latest version of the Mac OS). I want more speed but other than that, the computer is running as smoothly as the day it was born.
That is a testament in itself to the product. It is a great investment.
Gone through the post still have questions...
cost differene is high..
Never used mac...
the s/w compatibility...
battery life...
word excel...
and many more...
guys need some input...
Thanks in advance...
http://seekingalpha.com/article/143199-big-in-j...
Mac is great is no doubt is so nice !! ( that’s why I want to buy it ) however I want to hear about the problems, real one's from people who has it. Every computer has a downside, Mac or PC. I've read many reviews and all of them talk about the new Macbook pro 13 having overheat problems, glossy screen and palm rest with sharp edges, all true and the people at Mac store know this. But this is part of the downside I can live with, ( glossy screen can be fix with the mask, over heating also with the iskin, sharp edges is a matter of positioning the hand better ) but no one talk about the connectivity issue and this is what really kills the idea of buying it.
Dell has the issues on battery life, also overheats, not as nice, the SOFTWARE ( Win Vista of course ), service, and weight, but the connectivity rocks. PC always connects faster and gets more bars than the Airport in Mac. I do not really understand why if Mac is so superior in everything else !! It really bugs me because I want one !!!
I travel a lot and get to places with very limited connection and slow wireless signals ( like Africa, Central America etc. ) So maybe for U.S. people this is not an issue due to the beautiful wireless setups in every corner and nice speed so many of you can even notice this is a serious issue, also Service is an issue if you travel a lot to small communities they always have everything for pc but not for mac : (((( !!! ( thanks God is starting to change ) But again I also can risk the service part but NOT the connectivity. We all know that Vista is terrible but at least with a good conection you can fix the stupid software, because when it comes to have a 128k wireless in your hotel room then you will notice that something is not to good with your Mac and here is where the PC take the advantage also in range.
I have a coworker that switch to Mac less than a month ago, and she's very happy with it, and really encourage me to change, and I was just about to buy it that same day but then she told me about this issue and she call some of her Mac friends and they told her the same, that sometimes they can’t connect in some places so then I start reviewing this carefully, and found TONS of blogs talking about the same issue, and really make me got me upset and turn off again, people say is due to the aluminum body, the truth : no one know for sure.
Here a couple of links to them ( there are several with tons of recipes to fix it but I'm not sure if I want to play with a +2k $ brand new Mac ) :
http://michaelhyatt.com/2007/01/fix-for-wireles...
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r18878945-DIR65...
http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php...
So honestly can you tell be if this is real or ever happen to you ? I love Mac and getting into photography so of course is the best choice, but for me connectivity is a must due to my work, so maybe I'll wait for this issue to be really solve, until then I think I’ll buy a Dell XPS and then next year go for the Mac ......... not really happy with the decision but if is not Mac then is Dell : ((( like no way out ……….. Mac please do something !!!!!!!!! : (((( Mac is the future, no doubt about that.