Mac book or PC Laptop?

[Kevin@nextmod]

Well i'm lucky enough get a chance to replace my laptop and now i'm thinking what i should get. My girlfriend uses the mac book pro (for school purposes) and loves it. The few things i want a laptop to have is light weight, small and easy to use.

I have a 15.4' screen for my asus right now but i find it too big to carry it from class to class. A few things i do with my laptop. I bring it out to chill with friends at timmes or wherever we drink BBT. Also i use this for class and i use the laptop to hook up to my LCD tv in my room.

I also want to mention, i have a lot of music i want to put in and i watch a lot of chinese series. Does the mac book support RMVB?

I'm looking to spend about $1200-$1400max.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

pics/price/place to get appreciated.

I can get student discount on apple.ca if that helps.

[b]

I have nothing to add on price etc... but I have one of each. I like my mac a lot more.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Do you have the mac book pro? or which model do you have? I know nothing about macs. I've been using PC since grade 5 when i got my first computer.

[cisco23]

Buy a Mac Book, that way you can still run a vm install of windows and get the best of both worlds.. Just make sure you max the memory when you buy as windows XP will need 1 gig just to be happy in addition to the mac os requirements.

[bluntman]

Get a Mac, you basically get two computers in one. MacBooks run between $1150 and $1550 with a student discount.

[Kevin@nextmod]

^^ thats one of the question i want to ask too. Do you guys think the lowest model mac book good? or should i go fort he middle class one?

[Unoriginalusername]

I really, really like mac's but they are identical to PC's mechanically now with a different OS... so hard to justify spending more than 2x as much for a poorer performer. you can do better price wise than this, but this hp dual core amd is $699

http://shopping.hp.ca/cStoreCA/Bases.asp?PType=58&ProductLineId=25&FamilyId=86&BEId=5&Lang=EN
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core TK-53 (1.7 GHz, 512 KB L2 Cache, 1600 MHz Front Side Bus, 64-bit)
15.4" WXGA High-Definition* BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800) Display
120GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive

you could max out the ram, and get some other toys and sw for less money in the pc space... and if you go with a go brand (hp, thinkpad, toshiba... i would avoid acer, sony and dell) you'll be good

[Kevin@nextmod]

I tend to wanna stay with intel because the AMD heats up and drains battery way too fast.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Heres the 3 i was looking at.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10093691&catid=25313&logon=&langid=EN

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10093690&catid=

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/canadastore.woa/9534005/wo/i16uPsocR0Ri2KfeABzAn4u6aHr/1.?p=0

http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5&l2=131&l3=447&l4=0&model=1667&modelmenu=1

[Hazy]

I may be bias but I love my Macbook Pro.

[royroy]

get a Mac... since they come with the new OS leopard now =)

[bluntman]

The only thing I don't like about the white MacBooks is that over time they get really dirty.

Vista (with all of the bells and whistles turned on) is pretty, but its performance on a laptop, let alone a laptop with an AMD processor is very, very sluggish. The best laptop to run Vista, according to PC World is a MacBook Pro (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136649-page,3-c,notebooks/article.html). FWIW, rumour has it that new MacBooks will be coming out by the holidays.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I really dont like vista at all. My parents bought a computer for themselves from dell and it came with vista. Nothing is compatible and its dead slow. So i down graded that to xp again and its perfect.

[garboui]

if its a price to performance quandary then get a fast laptop with a huge hdd and decent vid card along with plenty of memory with an amd turion 64 x2 for ~$1000; then just load Linux on to it.

[Kevin@nextmod]

If i do decide on a mac book.......should i get the 2.0ghz with upgrade to 2 gb ram for $152 or rather get 2.16ghz and not upgrade to 2gb ram.

[S.F.W.]

Check out this model:http://www.softchoice.com/hardware/prod_description.asp?bt9VU2z5kL9FScVSPL34dP0wHFGUu RPsCdW5ik2QxXizPNHT5Bwbc5_Y0fnUcwbbh$wL0AExyTEZ1f2 iCpiq0fajzs5E4VV80ohnqewSb4o6wq$OOrCdyk
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2159135,00.asp
Lenovo 3000 V200 07642CU

Though it lists Windows Vista Business, the unit ships with recovery discs to load Windows XP Pro on the notebook.

[bluntman]

If i do decide on a mac book.......should i get the 2.0ghz with upgrade to 2 gb ram for $152 or rather get 2.16ghz and not upgrade to 2gb ram.

If the MB uses the same RAM as the MBP, I can sell you the 2GB of MBP memory that I will be replacing (I bought a 4GB kit earlier this week and I am just awaiting delivery).

FWIW, the MB have just been updated, they now use the Santa Rosa chipset that is found in the MBP. The MBPs now have the option of a 2.6GHz C2D CPU.

[sauga_kid]

I've got a MacBook, decided on the 2.16 with the 2GB of RAM and I'm loving it. Just installed Parallels on it for the few apps that I needed windows for and like someone mentioned before, you get the best of both worlds. Also, if you are a media type of guy, which you seem to be, Macs are the way to go.

[Kevin@nextmod]

If the MB uses the same RAM as the MBP, I can sell you the 2GB of MBP memory that I will be replacing (I bought a 4GB kit earlier this week and I am just awaiting delivery).

FWIW, the MB have just been updated, they now use the Santa Rosa chipset that is found in the MBP. The MBPs now have the option of a 2.6GHz C2D CPU.
So that means i'll be able to use your 2gb ram? But another question is how many slots do they have in the MB? they use 2x512 for the MB 2.0ghz.

[b3GS]

Macbook

[WLS ZMZM]

truthfully the macbook is a really nice computer the MBP is expensive... I agree with Blunty, the while MBP gets dirty pretty easy and it scratches pretty easy too, For the money you can buy a monster PC, the operating system on Mac isn't hard but does take some time to adjust to. My gf picked up a MB and she loves it, there are a few quams with it though, the chargers are garbage and are known to break so my advice to you boss is if you are going to get a MB make sure to buy the extended warranty on it and also get the apple care package fully worth the $100 just do your research before you but your laptop!

[chinsterr]

so my advice to you boss is if you are going to get a MB make sure to buy the extended warranty on it and also get the apple care package fully worth the $100 just do your research before you but your laptop!

I couldn't agree with you more .

My brother has a macbook and that thing has seen over $1000 in repairs ... yet they still haven't given him a brand new one. From screen to keyboard to logic board .. everything is messed up. His is first gen btw. We bought the extended warranty 1 week before the factory one expired because we are expecting more repairs in the future.

I have friends who also have macbooks with lots of problems. Coincidence ? You decide.

Dude, I have the same asus laptop you do and I've never had to fix anything (m6n).

Save yourself the headache and stick with asus (get the W7s).

If your getting a macbook/macbook pro becuase its glossy and white , your doing it for all the wrong reasons. LOL and i KNOW that is why your debating getting one.... all the laptops you picked out are white !

[JonsMazda]

Macs are way overpriced imo.

Go for this:

HP AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core TL-58 Laptop (DV9612CA) - Bilingual - Future Shop Exclusive

$999 (was $1399)

[bluntman]

So that means i'll be able to use your 2gb ram? But another question is how many slots do they have in the MB? they use 2x512 for the MB 2.0ghz.

Macs have two RAM slots. I just checked a MB's RAM specifications, they are the same as the MBP.

[Xerox]

Just install Mac OS X on PC laptop! :chuckle

MAC's are cool. My next laptop will probably be a MAC.

[chinsterr]

MAC's are cool. My next laptop will probably be a MAC.


Don't fall into the trap !!!

[yearoftherat]

Ive got a Macbook and upgraded the RAM to 2 gb. I've had no problems with it since purchasing it last december. Mines white and has a speck shield on the outercase = no scratches.
Just upgraded to Leopard and luuvin it.
I'll prb never go back to a windows based machine..my next purchase would be a new iMac

[WLS ZMZM]

I hear ya chinsterr, my gf has had alot of problems, first day we had the laptop, the dvd rom jammed (2 hrs after buying it) and a cd was stuck in there.. had to take it back, the next day to get it fixed (we won't discuss the tantrum I threw in the store when i was told 1-2 weeks to get it fixed) then the screen just suddenly "died" took it back again and they said it was a loose connection, then the case cracked, they replaced the case and we got back home and the keyboard didn't work turns out when they changed the case they never bothered to plug anything else back in. The macs look really sweet... but after that theres not much to go on I know there are some real lemons, but it seems they like lemonade cuz I've got a bunch of friends in the same boat! As well, it costs and arm and a leg for one and programs aren't cheap either!

[Kevin@nextmod]

So guys..In the end i went and got myself a mac yesterday at yorkdale. And finally got all my setup done. Its running fine, and fast. Now i just need get used to everything.

[yearoftherat]

Congrats on the new comp...Once you get use to it, you'll never go back to Windows..:chuckle

[bluntman]

Excellent choice Pearly! Enjoy your purchase.

Incidently, I offered my MBP's 2GB of RAM to Hazy, but I have yet to hear from him.

[Kevin@nextmod]

please pm me if the sale falls thru....i'll gladly take it off your hands

[eguiyab]

So guys..In the end i went and got myself a mac yesterday at yorkdale. And finally got all my setup done. Its running fine, and fast. Now i just need get used to everything.

I recently switched from PC to Mac also, I will NEVER go back to PC.
Good Choice.

[Hazy]

bluntman, check your PM!

[Kevin@nextmod]

So i found out today that the MB pro charger is diff from my MB. would there be a problem if i use the MB pro charger? my gf got the MB pro and if at anytime i need to use it, would that be bad? the MB pro uses 85W and mine uses 60W

[-RJ3-]

So I have decided to buy a mac when I move in the condo.

Question for the Mac owners:

My office Employee purchase plan has given me a maximum of 4000.00 to buy.

I want a mac that is portable (doesn't have to be 17" and lots of hard drive space) yet have the screen of an Imac, and similar desktop feel to Imac.

My solution.

Macbook 13"


Configuration

* 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
* 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
* Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide (English)
* SuperDrive 8x DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW

* iWork preinstalled
* Aperture preinstalled
* Logic Express preinstalled
* Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
* Country Kit
Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel)
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll

Total 3500 roughly taxes in...

You think I can do better?

[cwp_sedan]

So I have decided to buy a mac when I move in the condo.

Question for the Mac owners:

My office Employee purchase plan has given me a maximum of 4000.00 to buy.

I want a mac that is portable (doesn't have to be 17" and lots of hard drive space) yet have the screen of an Imac, and similar desktop feel to Imac.

My solution.

Macbook 13"


Configuration

* 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
* 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
* Keyboard (English) & User’s Guide (English)
* SuperDrive 8x DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW

* iWork preinstalled
* Aperture preinstalled
* Logic Express preinstalled
* Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
* Country Kit
Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel)
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll

Total 3500 roughly taxes in...

You think I can do better?


Go Macbook Pro first off, and stay away from Apple displays. Way too over priced.

15" Macbook Pro
3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display

Any 24" LCD monitor for like more than half the cost of an Apple display.
Applecare
Case

[-RJ3-]

Thanks for your opinion / suggestion Ryan,

My mind is made up.What I decided.

Macbook pro 13"

I will still keep the screen, since I like the LED and sharpness of apple.. (built in speakers, and webcam) Besides my preference.

Saves money by not needing to upgrade ram or hd. My friend is hooking me up with software as his company purchased 2 licenses.

Here's the run down...


13-inch MacBook Pro
Part Number: Z0GK
2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB
160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide
Logic Express preinstalled
Accessory Kit


Remove $1,548.00 $1,548.00
Estimated Ship: 1-3 business days

Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel)
Part Number: MB382LL/A
Remove $999.00 $999.00
Estimated Ship: 1-3 business days

AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - Auto-enroll
Part Number: S2513Z/A
Remove $299.00 $299.00
Estimated Ship: Same business day

Cart Subtotal: $2,846.00

[S.F.W.]

The 5400 RPM drive will slow the system down a fair bit. See if you can get a 7200 RPM drive.

[cwp_sedan]

The 5400 RPM drive will slow the system down a fair bit. See if you can get a 7200 RPM drive.

You can't. With the 13" you can only get a 5400 or SSD.

[m_bisson]

I know how you can do better: get a windows laptop.

[optiklenz13]

^and after 3 months it's slow as f*ck.

[FONZ]

I have a macbook pro. using it for school purposes. it's bomb.

[laksman91]

Can't you cheap out on apple care through eBay?

[FONZ]

Ryan - I pretty much have the same one as you, however..



I upgraded to 4GB.


If anyone needs Snow Leopard installed on their mac's for free let me know.


Gotz a hook up at Apple. :chuckle

[-RJ3-]

Nice... My plan is to get it late summer.

No rush for it right now anyways..

Thanks for your input everyone!

[m_bisson]

^and after 3 months it's slow as f*ck.

this is the common misconception of people who don't understand how computers work. Mac= for dummies, windows = smart people.

[rktsci]

Can't you cheap out on apple care through eBay?

Yes you can...generally for 1/2 the price.

I just picked up a Macbook over the weekend and even with the offered educational pricing on the Applecare its still cheaper on ebay.

[cwp_sedan]

Can't you cheap out on apple care through eBay?


Yes you can...generally for 1/2 the price.

I just picked up a Macbook over the weekend and even with the offered educational pricing on the Applecare its still cheaper on ebay.

True. I got mine on eBay but as it turns out the seller has been known to burn people. I would be careful when buying it on eBay. You may end up losing money and therefore paying more for Applecare in the end.

[rktsci]

^ The buyer beware caveat holds true...you have to find a seller that is willing to send you the sealed box and not just an email code.

[optiklenz13]

this is the common misconception of people who don't understand how computers work. Mac= for dummies, windows = smart people.

So now I don't understand computers. Ok, sure.

[mazdabetty]

I use both Mac and PC on a daily basis. I consider myself to be more of a PC person (which is the worst thing for a designer to admit :chuckle) They both have advantages and disadvantages.

In my opinion, they're exactly the same, but I find a PC easier to use and more customizable. I've gotten used to designing on a Mac, but that's all I find it good for. I would never want to own one for personal use.

I would have said to save yourself $700 for some new rims/mods and get a top of the line PC laptop. meh! You'll still end up loving the Mac in the end either way :)

[optiklenz13]

Exactly, because I own both and love my mac more than the PC, the PC is collecting dust. I think it's more of a preference for some, not because I don't understand PC and I'm a dummy. Lol.

[mazdabetty]

Ash you are a dummy you know that.

:chuckle jkkkkkkkkkkkk

[optiklenz13]

apparently I am. :chuckle

so funny. I died laughing.

[m_bisson]

if your computer slows down over time you're doing something wrong :P

[cwp_sedan]

if your computer slows down over time you're doing something wrong :P

...or not doing something, like maintenance. Even macs CAN become slow over time.

[Fuman]

PC laptop. Get an intel, you can then run VMWare to emulate Mac.
Make sure it is Intel Core 2 Duo. http://menoob.com/hackintosh/hackintosh-install-a-mac-leopard-os-x-retail-dvd-on-a-pc/
is one of the guides out there.
DO NOT get a Dell Mini or something with a small ass score. It is a pain in the ass to use with MacOSX

[optiklenz13]

if your computer slows down over time you're doing something wrong :P


...or not doing something, like maintenance. Even macs CAN become slow over time.

agreed but then that would mean not installing programs like the virus scanner at startup which makes your PC ridiculously slow, PC's are MORE vulnerable to attacks.

so yeah, I'm still sticking with mac.

but yeah you have a point, i'm probably a noob when it comes to PC maintenance. LOL.

[yearoftherat]

PC laptop. Get an intel, you can then run VMWare to emulate Mac.
Make sure it is Intel Core 2 Duo. http://menoob.com/hackintosh/hackintosh-install-a-mac-leopard-os-x-retail-dvd-on-a-pc/
is one of the guides out there.
DO NOT get a Dell Mini or something with a small ass score. It is a pain in the ass to use with MacOSX

Dell..ugh...

Better yet , get a mac, then run Windows w/VM Fusion or Parallels or Boot Camp :)

[cwp_sedan]

agreed but then that would mean not installing programs like the virus scanner at startup which makes your PC ridiculously slow, PC's are MORE vulnerable to attacks.

so yeah, I'm still sticking with mac.

but yeah you have a point, i'm probably a noob when it comes to PC maintenance. LOL.

Oh I agree. I'm a Mac4life kind of guy lol.




Dell..ugh...

Better yet , get a mac, then run Windows w/VM Fusion or Parallels or Boot Camp :)

:headbang

[Uni-Body]

I lovveeee my unibody Macbook Pro. Most days I don't even need to plug it in, the battery usually lasts the entire workday running VMware Fusion (because my estimating program only runs on XP). When I'm on OSX it operates flawlessly, really loud speakers (for watching movies when I go camping), and the gesture touch pad saves so much time - it's effortless to switch between windows, go back n forth on websites or finder (windows explorer equiv.), and get what you need done.

Macbook Pro highly recommended!

[-RJ3-]

I'm looking forward to this Tuesday... They post new pricing on apples website!!!

[Nextmod]

Mac for sure. no Virus FTW