Sell me a MacBook

[D Von]

So I need a laptop but I dont exactly need a cheap laptop. I want a machine that can handle a bit of abuse, has a nice screen, is very portable (13 inches,) is wicked fast, and is under $1600.

I'm basically in love with two laptops right now... one of which being the Sony Vaio Z line and other, the new Macbook aluminum.

Alls I've ever owned is pc's and I never in my life thought I'de consider an apple. So basixcally I'm pretty hesitent.

Lemme know what u think, and please don't be one sided, I know for a fact that both those machines are awesome and I hope you can appreciate my price range... But sell me a mac

[taquitos43]

I've owned both Mac and PC. The thing I really like about the Mac over the PC is that I don't have much in the way of compatibility issues with Mac. I had a PC laptop that I had to restart several times a day because it would lock up due to some compatibility that I never was able to figure out. That's frustrating. I'm sure someone more computer savvy than I am would have figured it out quickly enough, but not me. That's my little bit of experience.

[D Von]

Originally Posted by taquitos43

I've owned both Mac and PC.

this pc? with vista?

[MakiSupaStar]

If you really want windows, you could still run it on your Mac, but the more you use OS X you'll come to laugh at this idea.

[tplyons]

The beauty of the Mac system is that 99% of the hardware and software are made by the same company, so there are no compatibility issues. Most things are plug and play, and after two years with my white Macbook, I've had zero problems.

The Macbook is the #1 notebook on college campuses for a reason. They just plain work. They work well, and they work all the time.

I made the transition to Mac OS with this computer. I maintain the knowledge of Windows, but wouldn't own anything else at home. If you REALLY need Windows, you can dual boot the Macbooks into either Windows or Mac OS.

I'll be doing this on my next Macbook. Mac OS for 95% of the time, and Windows for those few applications my job will require that's not available for Mac.

[kanonfodr]

It's easy: NO F***ING WINDOWS!!!

While I use Microshaft operating systems, it doesn't mean that I like them nor am I blind to the benefits of Macintosh. Mac OS is totally stable, making windows look like my sister in her teenage years.

That being said, be prepared to look hard for toys and proggies for the mac.

Peace,
Greg

[WashburnBasser]

I'm going to be honest here, and say that I actually greatly prefer Windows XP to OS X. My family has a MacBook, and I feel like I'm constantly fighting it to do tasks that would normally be very easy. I also don't like how it really forces you to do things the Mac way (essentially forces you to use iPhote/iTunes etc). I know I'm pretty much alone on this argument, and I accept that I would probably like the mac more if I grew more accustomed to it, but I still think my point is valid.

[taquitos43]

Originally Posted by D Von

this pc? with vista?

Yep, with Vista. Home Premium Edition.

[L-A]

If you're a tinkerer, it's always good to go with Windows, because you can tinker more, and generally fix what bad things happen. If not, a Mac is often a blessing.

As far as recording and doing work (design) stuff goes, my Mac is my tool of choice. I boot Windows from time to time, basically for previewing web stuff I created on the mac side, or for a bit of gaming on the weekends.

[popinfresh]

Get a maccy, I got an aluminium one, one below pro cos i just wanted a 13 inch screen for travelling.

It'll take a day or two to get used to, but once you learn all the keyboard shortcuts and how it all works you'll never want to go back to windows.

Also, for what it's worth. Considering you're using the trackpad most of the time on a laptop, I find macs far superior and easier to use. If you don't know, one finger moves the mouse, two fingers on the pad scrolls screens and tapping two fingers at once is a right click. Then you can zoom in and out like the iPhone's by widening or closing fingers, flip pictures by turning two fingers on an axis etc.

Might not sound like much but whenever I go back to a normal laptop now I get extremely frustrated with the trackpad's.

[popinfresh]

Originally Posted by WashburnBasser

I'm going to be honest here, and say that I actually greatly prefer Windows XP to OS X. My family has a MacBook, and I feel like I'm constantly fighting it to do tasks that would normally be very easy. I also don't like how it really forces you to do things the Mac way (essentially forces you to use iPhote/iTunes etc). I know I'm pretty much alone on this argument, and I accept that I would probably like the mac more if I grew more accustomed to it, but I still think my point is valid.

Out of interest, what do you mean constantly fighting it to do tasks that would normally be easy?

I honestly can't think of what you mean. From the very second I got my mac, all I had to do is turn it on, everything was set up, all software is on there, and everything just works.

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by popinfresh

Out of interest, what do you mean constantly fighting it to do tasks that would normally be easy?

I honestly can't think of what you mean. From the very second I got my mac, all I had to do is turn it on, everything was set up, all software is on there, and everything just works.

Well, for example, today my dad asked me to upload some images to his website for him, which were on the Mac. He had them in iPhoto, and when he tried to email them to me, they arrived at a smaller dimension then when he had embedded them. The email program automatically resized them to an unusable resolution. I then took over and attempted to use iPhoto to save the photos into a zip file to send as an attachment via my online webmail. I couldn't figure out how to do it from iPhoto, so I then had to figure out where iPhoto was storing the photos, so I could zip them manually. I couldn't find a path in the program, so I wandered around the harddrive a bit until I found them. I then zipped them and sent them successfully (At least zipping them was really easy).

All this time I was also fighting that stupid trackpad, which refused to double click half the time.

OS X does a lot of things nicely, but sometimes I feel that the way it functions can be counter-productive. I also feel that it is far less intuitive to use than some people would have you believe.

[Sonic_Death]

Originally Posted by tplyons

The beauty of the Mac system is that 99% of the hardware and software are made by the same company, so there are no compatibility issues. Most things are plug and play, and after two years with my white Macbook, I've had zero problems.

The Macbook is the #1 notebook on college campuses for a reason. They just plain work. They work well, and they work all the time.

Macbooks may just work, but out of the 4 roommates I have who have Macs, 3 of them crashed so far this year. That is not working to me.

Just because they do not incur viruses does not mean that hardware/software issues do not plague them. They are also very prone to overheating to do the overly aesthetic design. They make them so small and clean that the air ports and fans are in awful spots (not to say some Windows laptops don't have these issues, but if you shop smart you can find plenty which don't).

All in all you can do what you'd like, I can see the appeal of Macs and use them occasionally, but I will always buy Windows gear. In the right hands, I think anyone can run Windows just fine. If you do not want to take the time to take care of your computer, then just get a Mac and hope it doesn't fry on you.

[popinfresh]

Originally Posted by WashburnBasser

Well, for example, today my dad asked me to upload some images to his website for him, which were on the Mac. He had them in iPhoto, and when he tried to email them to me, they arrived at a smaller dimension then when he had embedded them. The email program automatically resized them to an unusable resolution. I then took over and attempted to use iPhoto to save the photos into a zip file to send as an attachment via my online webmail. I couldn't figure out how to do it from iPhoto, so I then had to figure out where iPhoto was storing the photos, so I could zip them manually. I couldn't find a path in the program, so I wandered around the harddrive a bit until I found them. I then zipped them and sent them successfully (At least zipping them was really easy).

All this time I was also fighting that stupid trackpad, which refused to double click half the time.

OS X does a lot of things nicely, but sometimes I feel that the way it functions can be counter-productive. I also feel that it is far less intuitive to use than some people would have you believe.

I can't help with iPhoto, because I simply don't use it. But really all you needed to do is type a file name in the search and you would have gotten the path, it's a very efficient search tool, unlike on windows.

Interesting about the trackpad, my mates macpro is 3 years old, a couple other mates also have them and they're between 2-8 years old now and all still working fine. Mine is spot on. I'm sitting on my girlfriends Dell XPS right now and the scroll thing on the right of the pad hardly works, and double clicking is a pain, as it the actual keys to click/drag.

Maybe have a look at the trackpad settings?

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by tplyons

The Macbook is the #1 notebook on college campuses for a reason. They just plain work. They work well, and they work all the time.

I just want to point out that at the several college tours I've been on this year (I'm a high school junior), I've always asked the question "Which laptops do you prefer for college?" Every person so far has said that they came to school with a mac, had it break/lose data, and ended up with a business quality notebook running windows. This speaks more to the quality of hardware than the software though.

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by popinfresh

I can't help with iPhoto, because I simply don't use it. But really all you needed to do is type a file name in the search and you would have gotten the path, it's a very efficient search tool, unlike on windows.

Interesting about the trackpad, my mates macpro is 3 years old, a couple other mates also have them and they're between 2-8 years old now and all still working fine. Mine is spot on. I'm sitting on my girlfriends Dell XPS right now and the scroll thing on the right of the pad hardly works, and double clicking is a pain, as it the actual keys to click/drag.

Maybe have a look at the trackpad settings?

Yeah, the trackpad issues were probably more on my end than anything else. Even with your suggested search method, it's still a workaround to an issue that shouldn't come up. I should know where my files are going when I save them, and if I don't, it shouldn't be a pain to find out.

[popinfresh]

Originally Posted by WashburnBasser

I just want to point out that at the several college tours I've been on this year (I'm a high school junior), I've always asked the question "Which laptops do you prefer for college?" Every person so far has said that they came to school with a mac, had it break/lose data, and ended up with a business quality notebook running windows. This speaks more to the quality of hardware than the software though.

No offense, but if every person you asked said they had a mac and then went to a 'business quality' (not sure what that means, I know plenty of businessmen using macs?) laptop, I think i'd be seeing a hell of a lot less macbooks around, especially in schools

[WashburnBasser]

Originally Posted by popinfresh

No offense, but if every person you asked said they had a mac and then went to a 'business quality' (not sure what that means, I know plenty of businessmen using macs?) laptop, I think i'd be seeing a hell of a lot less macbooks around, especially in schools

Well I've only visited a few schools, but that is what the tour guides have said. I think by business quality the guide gave an example of the ibm thinkpad models perhaps? I'm not 100 percent sure. One of the guides told us that he had a macbook and halfway through his freshman year the harddrive failed and he lost all his data.

I really don't have nearly as much of a problem with macs as it probably seems right now. They're just not the tool for me, and I occasionally get frustrated with them.

[bytor4232]

Get a Dell and install Ubuntu Studio on it!

[blueskid]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

If you really want windows, you could still run it on your Mac, but the more you use OS X you'll come to laugh at this idea.

+1
(i've never actually typed that before)