Infinite Hybrid

Hi guys! I need your opinion on something. I know it's been done to death, but I'm wondering what you guys think. Should I get a Mac laptop or PC-based laptop? The laptop is mainly for going into my first year of college. I need a fairly good one since my major will be in web/graphic design and it needs to last me at least 2-3 years. What do you guys think?

BigGov

It also depends on other uses.

Music, Photo Editing, Graphics, etc. - Mac. No Question.

Gaming - Dell, Gateway, Alienware.

Compromise of all of the above - IBM T40 (legit 7 hour battery life, Centrino technology, extremely portable.)

Some problems ya might run into with a Mac are those of just getting used to the Mac OS, and dealing with lower processing power that comes with the Macs.

Also, price range is another big factor. If you have $3,000 you then have the options of the Apple Powerbooks and the higher end PC laptops such as Alienware and higher end IBM's.

Also if portability is a factor, the Alienware idea is out, some of the Macs might be, and you might want to look at the IBM X series.

You can analize this all day, if you want more specifics, decribe more about what you're going to use it for

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The_Dude

pc, it's much more compatible

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juanvaldes

Do you want/do play lots of computer games?
What kinds of applications do you need?
Will this be your only computer or a satelight?
Can you go somewhere to test drive the Mac os?

rubicon

I've been considering this question as well.

It comes down to juan's questions - what do you need to do with the system?

IMO, the Mac only has one piece of software that sets it apart from Windows, Final Cut Pro. However, if you don't edit video semi- or professionally, it's nothing to concern yourself with. I've edited video, images, and done everything on Windows - no Mac required. The Mac's "superiority" in sound and video, IMO, isn't what it used to be.

You get more for your dollar with Windows laptops if you're looking sub-$2000. For example, non of the Mac laptops have USB 2.0. Only the 17" PowerBook comes with a PC Card slot and FireWire 800.

If Apple can survive I think OSX might be real competition to Windows. It's UNIX with the (mostly) ease of a traditional Mac. No hassling with Linux and fooling around with open source apps that mimic their retail cousins. However Linux is free - Mac is not.

As for performance, you can't compare the megahertz of the PowerPC to AMD or Intel because the chip architecture is different. I don't know the speed comparisions on PPC to Intel/AMD but most Macs are fast, even with slower buses and disk throughput.

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Realizm

Mac is by far the premier graphics computer. With Rendezvous technology you'll easily be able to network with any friends on the windows side and share files and work.

Depending on what kind of gaming you might do, the Mac still might be reasonable to get. Unreal Tournament 2003, Quake, all are being ported to OS X.

Infinite Hybrid

Well, I'll be using the laptop mostly for school work and web design/graphic design so some of the programs I might need to use would be Photoshop, Dreamweaver MX, and Flash MX. I won't be playing too many games on it so that's not really a big deal. I really don't think I'll too many USB ports. Price can be from $800-$2500. Personally, I'm lending towards a Apple PowerBook.

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tinfoil

I have both. A 15" TiBook for personal use and a Dell 8100 for work.

For overall feel / usability I like the Mac, hands down. I even bring it in to work if I have to do anything on the company websites or any image manipulation. It's also much lighter.

That being said, my Dell whoops my somewhat older (667 DVI) Mac in gaming, but it's not a fair fight as the Dell has a much better video subsystem.

For what you are doing, I would say Mac most likely.

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MacGnG

it really depends on what ur gonna do as other ppl said

juanvaldes

Whatever you do remember, RAM and student discounts.

It sounds like you could make a fairly easy switch. I still recomend trying to find a Mac to test drive the OS to make sure you *do* like it.

abearaware

PC hands down! But that's my opinion. I am responsible for 300 or so PC's and 25 Macs along with 60 PC laptops and 30 ibooks. I much rather working with the PC's. OSx is hasn't impressed me as of yet. I've had lots of problems with it.

If you have worked with a Mac before and you are comfortable with it, then I guess it wouldn't be that big of a disaster, lol. But if none of the above is true, then you'd be better off with a PC.

Infinite Hybrid

I have used a Mac before, and now a good deal about how to operate one so that's not really a problem. I would really like to test out the new Mac OS though.

Also to juanvaldes:
The online Apple actually offers a school discount for my college so anything I get has a discount on it.

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cheerios

exactly, man, but remembering to USE it, that's hte challenge. I've had to remind people about it, before. As for where to check out OS X, couple options, depending on your locations.

use the apple-store finder on their site, if there's one near you, that's where I'd suggest to give a powerbook a test drive (check out the ibooks, too, easier on the pocket, and VERY nice). If not an apple store, try a comp-USA, Frys electronics, or your local mac shop. apple should have listings for shops in your area, so that's where I'd start.

rubicon

I was just reading that the 12" PowerBook has heat problems. Some, not all, can get extremely hot and there is no remedy except returning it for a different unit.

I get the impression the G3 is to the G4 as the Celeron is to the Pentium - keep that in mind re. price vs. performance.

A colleague of mine recommends the new Sharp laptops - very small in size and a value. Windows of course.

To me, OSX is more like Windows from the interface to the Terminal prompt. I've had some issues with OSX not deleting apps and I had to use sudo commands. Like any new OS, it's got things to get worked out.

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cheerios

rubicon, G3 to G4 is more like P3 to P4, in my opinion... I, too, have heard the 12" powerbooks got a bit warm, but that's all... as for X, I'm not sure how I feel about you saying that the UNIX shell is bringing it closer to the windows UI... Any properly zealotus mac user will protest that one. Unix != windows. CLI != windows. when a start menu appears, then I'll agree with you.

CY@Workshop

A picture is worth a million of my words.

madsenj37

If your not a huge gamer, then there is no reason not to pick the mac. Wait until next week to see if the prices will drop, it is a big week for Apple and the computer world.

Also heres a little secret. Since your a student ADC (Apple Developer Connection) is not costly, maybe $100. As an ADC member you can have a one time purchase discount on an Apple computer with % 20 off (if Im not mistaken). Its something to look into.

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madsenj37

As hot as they may get, no reports of burning ones genitals have come about unlike the incident in teh PC world where one man burnt his penis through his clothes, due to heat from his pentium laptop.

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Infinite Hybrid

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know i ended up going a Mac 12'' Powerbook. Thanks for all the help!!

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juanvaldes

congradulations, I hope you like it. Check out our Mac OS X software thread for software suggestions. Also sites like macnn.com, macobserver.com, maccentral.macworld.com, among dozens of others for mac specific help.

bodypainter

If you ever need serious Mac technical help, this is hands-down the best place on the internet to get it.

http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenT...2&f=8300945231

Oh, congrats on the new PB!

losfp

Nice choice! I have one myself Never owned a Mac before (PC user for 15+ years as well as working on and with PCs all day) and now it's my main machine! OS X is a brilliant OS IMHO - but there are a lot of things that you have to "unlearn" if you're switching from a windows system.

I reckon the biggest single factor in computing performance is the user The computer is just a tool. YOU don't have to be one as well! (sorry, just been caught up in too many Macs vs PCs debates lately.)

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abearaware

I just don't understand the support that Mac gets? I don't mean anything by it and to each his own, I was just seriously shocked.

losfp

I don't think that's so surprising actually. If you think about it, Apple are possibly the single biggest personal computer company - the Wintel crowd are divided up into Dell, IBM, Compaq, HP, Gateway, Sony plus a whole stack of clone manufacturers. It's just simple brand loyalty I guess.

I can understand both sides of the "Argument" - having used both platforms.... Use whichever you are most comfortable with, I think

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cheerios

abearaware: apple users are frighteningly loyal and slightly obsessive. It's just part of the mac mentality. They get insulted so much that they (we, rather) feel the need to compensate by shouting our loyalty to the heavens. Plus, who feels inspired to be loyal to Dell, who just buys bits from people and puts em together. So much more fun to see what new and exciting egg Apple's gonna pull out their ear next!

zer010gic

The reason Mac users are so loyal are because Macs are a different kind of computer. The Mac is more of an experience and user centric platform then the PC. Macs are just different once you become a Mac user you develop this loyalty. I personally first developed mine when I got my first Mac a LCII. And I did not know other Mac users nor did I really read the Magazines about the Mac and software but I still became loyal. So it’s not just a mod mentality to it. It is more of a phenomenon

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Shinryu

That's bullshit-laden propaganda. I don't know of any Mac software that doesn't have a PC-based equal, if not something better.