Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => The Dressing Room => Topic started by: LazyNinja on April 30, 2007, 12:46:30 PM
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I'm finally buying a laptop that I've been saving up for. And this time I'll really buy one rather than just talk about it. After I sell my Zvex and Fender HRD I'll have about £550. Add to that about 200 quid and I'll have about £700~800 to spend on a decent laptop.
Should I go for a Macbook or a Windows laptop? I'm really interested in the macbook but then my nerdy mate tells me it's even less secure than a pc. Is that true? The media certainly makes it sound like the Macs have superior security. Then the Vista is meant to be cr@p as well. I don't know what to get really so help me out!
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Personally I woudn't say that macs are more or less secure (despite what magazines and adverts claim)
Thereas now less of a differnce since the appearence of bootcamp that allows you to run XP (or other windows ver) on the current mac range.
Look at the availability (and price) of apps and hardware that you want (or think you will want), and judge from there.
Personally I beleive that you get less value for money from apple, this is from 17 years of looking after apples (my current empoyers have over 2000 of the little buggers).
In the case of problems Windows help is always available, where as Apple assistance is a little harder to come by.
However this is a very personal opinion, and as I said look at the apps you will be wantinn (not just recording apps)
Rob...
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Macs really hold nothing above PCs nowadays, and PCs you get ALOT more bang for your buck.
Unless you have an urge for Final Cut and Garage Band - Get a pc imo.
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I don't think mac's are any better than PC's! They're just different, if you get the right PC then it should be better than a mac, depends on personal taste, but I find macs much harder to use, but they do look uber cool!
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I have just been a Mac user for 8 years and prefer them
Got into them because my brother and most of my friends had them(they are mostly designers, artists and involved in advertising etc
So if I got stuck I could turn to them
At the time most publishing houses relied on Mac/Quark Express for everything
They are not without their problems
I just find them elegant, I don't miss the software that i can't have as it is mainly games and stuff I wouldn't use.
There is some great well thought out shareware too...
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At the time most publishing houses relied on Mac/Quark Express for everything
Thats because most editorial users have difficulty with more than 1 mouse button ;)
Happily Apple have improved over the last few years (though thats not saying a lot considering some of the NDAs I had to sign to get some huge issues fixed in OS 8 & 9)
Basically take a pragmatic approach, take the solution that best suits your needs.
Initial cost
Operating system upgrade prices (apple charge a lot for a minor upgrade)
Upgrade costs (hardware & software)
Software availability
Hardware & software support (do you have a reliable support nearby)
If you go for a PC avoid Windows Vista for another 6 months, it still has real serious issues (and eats your machines processor power for no real benefit)
I know it's a boring way to but a machine but it may save hassle later.
You can imagine the arguements I have at home with the wife, after she came out with the following two statements.
1; Apples must be good becasuse you see them in TV programmes all the time
2: They are good because Gerri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) has one
Rob...
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Personally, I wouldn't have a laptop...
But having worked with PCs for years, I have to say I find my Mac a lot nicer to use. It 'just works' a lot more of the time than any of the PCs I've used.
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I've been using computers since the PET so I've used a few over the years. I switched to macs about 5 years ago because the mbox from digidesign was initially only available for macs. Anyhoo, I've been using them ever since and I prefer them over pc's, unless you're a gamer. I've found Apple support to be very good. 8)
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i don't know if this has been said, but Macs just aren't compatible with as much software/hardware as pcs.
PC>MAC
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i don't know if this has been said, but Macs just aren't compatible with as much software/hardware as pcs.
PC>MAC
Like I said, I just switched about 5 years ago and had been using pc's exclusively up until that time. I've haven't come across and pc only software that I had to have. :)
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Am I on slashdot? :P
This is perhaps the single most emotive IT topic since vi vs Emacs ...
Security-wise, the main advantage of using a Mac is that no-one bothers to write viruses for them as they are in a minority, so you are safer in that respect, not more secure but just immune to most of the bad stuff :)
The main problem with chosing is that this is such an emotive subject for many people, and both sides slander each other horrendously. Then some one says 'Linux' and you get more confused. Its very hard to get a balanced view from anyone.
My suggestion, look at a Macbook and some PC laptops:
Compare CPU speeds (remembering that the Mac has an Intel Dual Core CPU so technically has 2 CPUs)
Compare RAM
Compare Hard Disc space
Compare screens ... Dell laptops have shitee screens for example.
[/list:u]
These are the important things on a computer. If you don't want to do 'Work', compatibility with Windows is not a problem (these days its only really MS Office that you have a problem with on a Mac, so Excel and Outlook)
Having used both, the out of the box software on a Mac (iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, Garage Band, Mail &c.) Just blows a PC out of the water. But you can get a dell for 350 quid ... it won't be as good but its not bad either.
From those who I know with a Mac, if you can get over the adverts and Steve Jobs smug face and the Hippy-Audi-TT-driving image of the Apple Mac, and just get one and use it as a computer and not a lifestyle accessory, You'll never go back.
Anyway, dunno if that helps! I'd get the Mac :)
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Thanks everyone that was very helpful. I have kinda narrowed it down to two:
Sony Vaio N31M/W (£650): http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_Vaio_N31M-W_Laptop_VGN-N31M-W/version.asp
and the mac, the 2.0GHz one (£720 ebay):
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=520F94DC&node=home/macbook/macbook
um.. yeah so I havent really progressed in my choice lol. But hey at least I know what PC laptop I would get. I know the softwares are better on the mac and that it's probably faster but then I'm be sure about the mac's reliability. Horror stories described on this page :? http://macbookrandomshutdown.com/ and this http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook Can anyone relate to this?
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and this :oops:
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Hewlett_Packard_nx7300_Laptop_RU463ET-ABU/version-1.asp
right, Im gonna go to bed
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Thanks everyone that was very helpful. I have kinda narrowed it down to two:
Sony Vaio N31M/W (£650): http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_Vaio_N31M-W_Laptop_VGN-N31M-W/version.asp
and the mac, the 2.0GHz one (£720 ebay):
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=520F94DC&node=home/macbook/macbook
um.. yeah so I havent really progressed in my choice lol. But hey at least I know what PC laptop I would get. I know the softwares are better on the mac and that it's probably faster but then I'm be sure about the mac's reliability. Horror stories described on this page :? http://macbookrandomshutdown.com/ and this http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook Can anyone relate to this?
People with a lot of time on their hands that don't like apple computers :wink:
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Also worth a look:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=27430926508&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=126449
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=27430916807&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=124797
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=27430930296&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=123116
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The Sony is Core Duo not Core 2 Duo. I did have a look at that model too but decided against it.
The Toshiba looks like a good deal but the processor isn't as good. Worth considering. Thanks for that (or damn you for making my choice harder!).
The Acer usually looks good on paper but when I went to PC world yesterday I was turned off by the whole brand. Everything about it shouts out "cheap" even on more expensive ones. Gaps in plastic parts. Cheap components etc. Its also the reason why I'm favouring the Sony it just seemed very well built and the trackpad was the nicest I've ever come across. I guess you could think of Acer as LTD and Sony as ESP looks similar on paper but different thing all together. Same with Dell.
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Thanks everyone that was very helpful. I have kinda narrowed it down to two:
Sony Vaio N31M/W (£650): http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_Vaio_N31M-W_Laptop_VGN-N31M-W/version.asp
and the mac, the 2.0GHz one (£720 ebay):
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=520F94DC&node=home/macbook/macbook
There's not a lot in it between the Vaio and the Mac, both are very good laptops. Macs are easier to use IMO, given Apples strict User Interface guidelines. Both have superb screens. Acer is also worth a look as the are superb value for money.
If you want to do a load of digital photo and maybe even video stuff, the Mac makes this very easy to do for the non-expert user (or even expert users for that matter). If you're just surfing the web and downloading stuff I'd go with the cheapest windows laptop.
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Many 'prestige brand name' PCs are actually built by Acer (including a lot of HP servers)
Rob...
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Many 'prestige brand name' PCs are actually built by Acer (including a lot of HP servers)
Rob...
Ok lol I didn't know that. But that was the impression I got and my point still stands, I think.
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Am I on slashdot? :P
This is perhaps the single most emotive IT topic since vi vs Emacs ...
Emacs! :)
Seriously I didn't know there was that much argument about which text editor to use. I remember vi was a bit... awkward to use.
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Am I on slashdot? :P
This is perhaps the single most emotive IT topic since vi vs Emacs ...
Emacs! :)
Seriously I didn't know there was that much argument about which text editor to use. I remember vi was a bit... awkward to use.
Its a holy war man. There is no middle ground. One day vi will rule the world and we will all love our Esc keys.
:wq
Sad what people get het up about :P
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Eight Meg and Still Constantly Swapping, you must be joking
I remember swapping to Linux in 95 to get using my 8 meg of ram properly
Back on topic,
Acer are fine machines from past experience, but when you are paying for it you must buy what you are comfortable with.
I have to admit that if I had to pay for a machine I would be incredibly unlikely to purchase a laptop as I loathe the feeling of not being able to upgrade the hardware. After all I really do need to play C&C 3 and Quake Wars
Morgan Computers can sometimes have good special offers running (and sometimes stock Apple kit too) http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/
Rob...
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After all I really do need to play C&C 3 and Quake Wars
+1 :D
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Not really bothered about gaming I prefer my PS2.
I went to the pc world again to help me make my mind up and I noticed that the Sony (and Toshiba) laptops have smaller firewire ports than the macbooks. Not sure if thats relevant for now though because nothing I own has Firewire.
Vaio pros: looks great, nice big screen, cheaper than mac, decent spec
cons: no camera, funny firewire port, vista
macbook pros: faster, lots of connections, iLife, camera
cons: small screen, easy smudge plastic,
the mac would have been perfect only if it was 15.4".... and macbook pros are too much. :( In fact, if there was a mac spec in sony casing that would have ruled...
EDIT: ah $%&# the macbook I was eyeing on the ebay got sold...
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Not really bothered about gaming I prefer my PS2.
heh the games are just a personal issue :)
If you don't 'need' a laptop look at the mac mini, though theyre still very portable (& quite upgradeable) http://www.jigsaw24.com/cats/computers_displays/mac_mini.asp
Also look at the Dell outlet as they sometimes have discounted machines.
Usually theyre overstock, where a company orders 30 machines then decide they only really want 20 of them, or they where never delivered cos the customer neglected to pay
Not trying to be funny but even Tesco stock the Sony Vaio range, and they where cheaper than PC world a couple of weeks ago (and the average tesco checkout staff member, knows more than most of the PC World staff i have been forced to deal with).
Rob...
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I pulled the trigger!
I spotted a very good deal for a used macbook in black. C2D 2Ghz and upgraded to 2GB RAM :twisted: It came with lots of accessories too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160113434676&rd=1&rd=1
I did end up spending a bit more than I anticipated but the DVI connector and the 2GB upgrade I was gonna buy anyway. Should be here by wednesday or thursday, I can't wait!! :D
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I pulled the trigger!
I spotted a very good deal for a used macbook in black. C2D 2Ghz and upgraded to 2GB RAM :twisted: It came with lots of accessories too.
I did end up spending a bit more than I anticipated but the DVI connector and the 2GB upgrade I was gonna buy anyway. Should be here by wednesday or thursday, I can't wait!! :D
Heh,
glad you got what you wanted.
Remember if you use bootcamp (from apple) you can run windows, should you need to. I believe they have fixed most of the issues they where having.
Rob...