jrnewhouse
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I think it depends on what you want to use it for. If your main priority is general computing, productivity, and Internet surfing away from home with good battery life, the Mac is for you. If you want to play the latest games on your laptop, you should build a PC laptop. Of course, then you will sacrifice battery time and portability. My desktop is a 2 X 3.0 GHz Dual-Core MacPro with an NVIDIA 8800GT graphics card, and it can handle pretty much everything that I throw at it in the OS X or Bootcamp (Vista Home Premium) environments. I want to be able to play my PC games on the go, so I am going for one of the new Sager 9280 laptops.
frozenlead
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I disagree. If your main priority is general computing, productivity, and internet surfing with good battery life, choose a PC.
If you need to do something specific with OSX, choose a mac.
Otherwise, choose a PC. The PC will always be cheaper and have the same/better parts. The only reasons someone should buy a mac are: (1) they need OSX or (2) they can't live without OSX. Otherwise, there's no reason to get one (note I say reason and not advantage...there really is no advantage to buying a mac, it's just a different type of PC, really.)
If you need to do something specific with OSX, choose a mac.
Otherwise, choose a PC. The PC will always be cheaper and have the same/better parts. The only reasons someone should buy a mac are: (1) they need OSX or (2) they can't live without OSX. Otherwise, there's no reason to get one (note I say reason and not advantage...there really is no advantage to buying a mac, it's just a different type of PC, really.)
jrnewhouse
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Actually, there are advantages to buying a Mac instead of a PC on the hardware end. Some that come to mind are aesthetics, design, build quality, and consistently good customer service. Also, since Apple has control over the hardware and operating system, the two work together much better than Vista and the myriad of PC configurations available from many different manufacturers. However, the biggest advantage in buying a Mac is the ability to run OS X, which I feel is superior to Vista. My Mac Pro even runs Vista better under Bootcamp than my Thinkpad R61 does at work.
frozenlead
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See, people throw in the aesthetics and design in as a pro for the mac, but that simply is just wrong to state. Those are qualitative statements. You can't say that something looks better and expect it to hold true for the entire populous. I think that my Sager and my IBM a21m look far better than a macbook ever could. That arguement holds no weight.
As for build quality, yes, the macs are constructed differently, and in certain situations that makes them better. However, the plastic encasing most notebooks won't show wear and tear nearly as much as the aluminum chassis of the macs, which can have hideous dents. Also, damage to the chassis is rather difficult to repair, as the metal becomes bent. I've a friend whose macbook pro no longer closes for this reason. That being said, build quality can be thrown out as a factor, simply because if the user takes care of the notebook, it will serve them well. If it is misused, both notebooks will betray you.
Customer service is also a pretty shotty argument, considering apple is very well known for ignoring its customers and massive defects with it's products. The same is probably true for other PC manufacturers, but I've not heard of any. Customer service is a different experience for everyone...there's no real way to gauge who is better.
As for what OS is better...you can't really gauge that either. To me, OS X is a terrible OS. I can't use it to do the simplest of things I've done on Windows for years. To me, OS X feels watered down, bland, and slow. I feel Vista is superior to OS X. Who's to say who's right? And your mac pro (which has hefty hardware at a massive price and is a desktop) runs software better than a notebook that was likely half it's price. What a surprise.
Apple does have control over hardware and software, and that allows it to coordinate the two better. This is true. However, it comes at the price of universal compatibility. Not all hardware is mac compatible, but pretty much everything on the market is compatible with Windows.
That stuff, a few other things, and the price arguement really push me to the PC side of things. To me, it's the better choice.
Edit:This, by the way, is my beauty a21m: http
/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/ThinkPad_A21m.jpg
As for build quality, yes, the macs are constructed differently, and in certain situations that makes them better. However, the plastic encasing most notebooks won't show wear and tear nearly as much as the aluminum chassis of the macs, which can have hideous dents. Also, damage to the chassis is rather difficult to repair, as the metal becomes bent. I've a friend whose macbook pro no longer closes for this reason. That being said, build quality can be thrown out as a factor, simply because if the user takes care of the notebook, it will serve them well. If it is misused, both notebooks will betray you.
Customer service is also a pretty shotty argument, considering apple is very well known for ignoring its customers and massive defects with it's products. The same is probably true for other PC manufacturers, but I've not heard of any. Customer service is a different experience for everyone...there's no real way to gauge who is better.
As for what OS is better...you can't really gauge that either. To me, OS X is a terrible OS. I can't use it to do the simplest of things I've done on Windows for years. To me, OS X feels watered down, bland, and slow. I feel Vista is superior to OS X. Who's to say who's right? And your mac pro (which has hefty hardware at a massive price and is a desktop) runs software better than a notebook that was likely half it's price. What a surprise.
Apple does have control over hardware and software, and that allows it to coordinate the two better. This is true. However, it comes at the price of universal compatibility. Not all hardware is mac compatible, but pretty much everything on the market is compatible with Windows.
That stuff, a few other things, and the price arguement really push me to the PC side of things. To me, it's the better choice.
Edit:This, by the way, is my beauty a21m: http
/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/ThinkPad_A21m.jpgMy thought is that software wise, Macs stand out but their hardware to price is not worth it. You can configure a PC better with a lower price than a Mac.
Although I love OS X's and it's software's versatility, I finally settled on Sony's VGN-Z690, with a future Blu-ray upgrade, as it has better hardware configuration. With Window 7 is on horizon and might offer better outlook than Vista, even thought it's still vista. It all comes down to preference and sacrifices you are willing to make.
Although I love OS X's and it's software's versatility, I finally settled on Sony's VGN-Z690, with a future Blu-ray upgrade, as it has better hardware configuration. With Window 7 is on horizon and might offer better outlook than Vista, even thought it's still vista. It all comes down to preference and sacrifices you are willing to make.
CodyG WINDOWS-TEAM
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The other commenters in this thread have you on the right track . . . the decision about what kind of laptop is “best” often translates into “what is best for you.”
If you are thinking about buying a laptop, and if you’ve got a decent idea about what you want in a laptop (price, what you want to use it for, etc.), I’d recommend that you check out this new application called “Laptop Scout,” which will give you a good list of potential systems that’ll fit what you are looking for. Here’s a link: http/www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-laptop-scout/default.aspx
You just go to the site and enter what kind of things you’re looking for in a laptop and it’ll provide you with a list of potential systems that match your specifications. You can then make adjustments on a lot of the computer specs and find one that fits your needs. It’s definitely a great place to start if you’re going to be doing some comparative shopping.
It also provides links to Cnet.com reviews, so you can get even more in-depth, browse through a bunch of professional reviews, and check out what other folks say about particular computers while you shop.
I hope it’s useful, let me know if you have any other specific questions!
Thanks,
Cody
Windows Outreach Team
If you are thinking about buying a laptop, and if you’ve got a decent idea about what you want in a laptop (price, what you want to use it for, etc.), I’d recommend that you check out this new application called “Laptop Scout,” which will give you a good list of potential systems that’ll fit what you are looking for. Here’s a link: http
/www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-laptop-scout/default.aspx You just go to the site and enter what kind of things you’re looking for in a laptop and it’ll provide you with a list of potential systems that match your specifications. You can then make adjustments on a lot of the computer specs and find one that fits your needs. It’s definitely a great place to start if you’re going to be doing some comparative shopping.
It also provides links to Cnet.com reviews, so you can get even more in-depth, browse through a bunch of professional reviews, and check out what other folks say about particular computers while you shop.
I hope it’s useful, let me know if you have any other specific questions!
Thanks,
Cody
Windows Outreach Team
QuatuorMortis
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The main advantage of buying a regular laptop is price and selection.
I would never buy an Apple laptop. They are overpriced and under-spec'd.
I would never buy an Apple laptop. They are overpriced and under-spec'd.
astidcrisse
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I have been a windows user for years now and am specialised in server applications / networking. In the last two weeks I have fallen onto the Mac bandwagon for job purposes and I must say that this was the most unexpected surprise I have ever had. This system is virtually a UNIX station with a very user friendly interface and you can still use those well known UNIX/LINUX command line options if it's someting you're used with.
Software management and installation is a breeze, much faster than anything windows installer could ever come up with. Stability and speed is amazing.
Actually, in just 2 weeks with macs, I am now totally sold.
No more microsoft for me.
Of course, like any opinions here, it is only an opinion. But I stand by mine a 100% 😉
Software management and installation is a breeze, much faster than anything windows installer could ever come up with. Stability and speed is amazing.
Actually, in just 2 weeks with macs, I am now totally sold.
No more microsoft for me.
Of course, like any opinions here, it is only an opinion. But I stand by mine a 100% 😉
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