Buying a new laptop

[Danago]

Hi. Ive decided that i want to buy a laptop

Im decent when it comes to doing things on computers (programming, graphic design etc.), but when it comes to the specs of a computer, such as the hardware used, i am absoultely hopeless.

Anyway, ive always been a windows man. Never had anything else. However, i was at the shop not long ago, and a friend showed me the apple macs (which he is recommending). I only played around with it for 5 minutes, but i loved it. So now im really undecided, as to weather i go for an apple or not.

Im still doing some research, and i will talk to people with more experience, but is anyone able to tell me something? Advantages of the apples? disadvantages? anything at all.

All input is greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Dan.

[silentsummit]

Apple's maybe in the higher price range but I would totally recommend... Expecially since now you can use Windows software on an apple..

[Danago]

Apple's maybe in the higher price range but I would totally recommend... Expecially since now you can use Windows software on an apple..

Yea ive noticed the higher prices, but money isnt too much of an issue.

[silentsummit]

Then I would Highly recommend a MAC/Apple

[Danago]

to get a decent one, what kind of price range do you recommend i look into? I dont plan on using it for gaming (except maybe the occasional game of solitaire :ninja: ). It will be more of a general use laptop for myself.

[miller2348]

Mac book pro :)

$3,000 to $3,500 for a really nice one...

[mawt]

Mac's are awesome. And i noticed my mac runs so much faster then my PC

[Danago]

Yes one thing ive found in almost every article ive read is how they are so much faster. As soon as i can im going to go to an apple store and check them out again.

Thanks for the responses everyone.

[PGZ]

I love my Toshiba that I bought like 5 months ago.....Its Great but if your doing any Graphic work ect.....I would say MAC even though I hate MAC.

[Danago]

I love my Toshiba that I bought like 5 months ago.....Its Great but if your doing any Graphic work ect.....I would say MAC even though I hate MAC.

Any particular reason you hate them? Or is it just a personal preference?

[Helios]

Why do people still think that macs are "better" for graphic stuff...it's the exact same thing.

[Selena]

I got a toshiba for $700 but it was when I was just on the spur of the moment and I wanted it, so I just walked a couple feet from my house to radioshack and bought it. Works pretty well for what I need. I mostly only use the laptop for when my dad tells me to get off my PC b/c its late. But I pay for my Verizon air card on the laptop, so he can't kick me off of that.

I don't get whats so great about MACs...other than they don't have viruses or something like that.

[Danago]

Ive only ever used a mac once very briefly, which is why im doing more research, but from what i saw, it seemed so very user friendly and smooth to use. But i cant judge it from 5 minutes, which is why im asking for others opinions.

[Kyle]

I think for running an online business, PC is the way to go. Just my personal opinion. I bought the toshiba satellite for about $1000 canadian and I am verry happy with it.

Of course I use it so much there is a black mark where my right wrist lays and the left mouse buttons is completely white while the right one is still chrome... guess that is my fault though, not the laptop's.

[fryman]

Why do people still think that macs are "better" for graphic stuff...it's the exact same thing.


Exactly. I bought a Dell a few months ago. Configured it just like I wanted it and can beat any mac anytime. I use it for design and graphic work and couldn't be happier.

[silentsummit]

I have two dells for my household computers and a mac laptop(used to have a dell) The dells run GREAT(I bought the XPS's) and the MAC runs great too. I had to get rid of my dell laptop because it ran slow for designing things.

I like MAC's and Dells actually.. I hated MAC's until I got one.

[money_train]

are the softwares expensive on mac.
or are they the same price as windows
other softwares like designing, adderbots and other things in general

[vulcanstudios]

One thing that makes me want to pick a mac up and throw it against the wall everytime I use one is plain and simple.... NO RIGHT CLICK!!!! I MEAN WTF?!?!?

As for software (especially games) macs get the shaft hardcore. I'd love to be able to have a PC Garageband or ofcourse the godly iMovie but beggars can't be choosers I'll settle with my PC anyday over a mac. Damn bastards only giving me one click type. Honestly why don't they just admit how retarded it is to have one click and just change it.

[mcfox]

Macs are great if you don't need to run a ton of different apps from different sources on them.

To be honest, I would go for a less expensive machine. I know you said money isn't a factor but what's the point in paying through the nose for a machine that will be out of date in a year or so?

My only recommendation is to go for a laptop running a dual core processor and have as much RAM installed as it will take - at least 1Gb, preferably 2Gb.

[Cyclops]

My only recommendation is to go for a laptop running a dual core processor and have as much RAM installed as it will take - at least 1Gb, preferably 2Gb.
I absolutely agree with that.

I had a small tourist newspaper type publication for a couple of years and used the Mac's for that ..... they were the industry standard for many years.

The problem was though that you couldn't use them for much more than that because the software just wasn't and still isn't there for them.

When in doubt go for what the masses use.

I was also one of the fools who bought a betamax video recorder :( .

[Danago]

Im having second thoughs about a mac now. When i first started my research, i happened to come across alot of articles written by these "anti-microsoft" people, which made macs sound great. As i read deeper, im starting to think that i should just go with what im used to, and stick with microsoft.

If i end up doing that, the next question will be...windows XP, or vista? Guess that can be my next topic of research :)

[MrWizard]

If i end up doing that, the next question will be...windows XP, or vista? Guess that can be my next topic of research :)

Look for Xp WITH Vista upgrade. Most places are offering that now.

[miller2348]

This is the laptop I have and absolute love... (http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/special-offers.workflow:ShowPromo?LandingPage=/All/US/Landing_pages/ThinkPad_notebooks/2006_12_TP_double_triple_play&ipromoID=hpa00026)

They aren't that cheap when you add all the fun stuff to it like a 6 hour battery life and 2 GB ram but well worth it to me.

[Jazzylee77]

I was part of an operating system class a few years ago. The instructor was big on linux and macs. We spent a couple days in the mac lab and he threw out the challenge. "Go ahead. Try to make them crash!" The mac lab guy must have hated us. We managed to make a few unbootable. (I think we dragged the operating system into the trash or something obvious like that) Left some opening a million windows. But it took pretty severe actions like that to cause them any problem. The software on them was fun to play with, but I would only use one as a secondary machine to play with. hmmm even at that I'm running multiple XPs right now. Got too much work to do...

sheesh! had to edit like 10 wrong words after I posted...

[chihpih]

i bought ibm thinkpad t60 last month....business class laptop :)

[miller2348]

i bought ibm thinkpad t60 last month....business class laptop :)

Yep, you pay for what you get and this I was happy to pay for...