IPAD vs. Macbook or Apple air laptop. Forum

[Giantsfan13]

Noob, if we don't compare price, is the Apple better? Just curious, you seem pretty pro windows. Wondering if that changes if we throw out price. Thanks.

If we don't compare price then what are we comparing? The operating systems? I mean, as I said before, there is a lot more software support for Windows than there is for the Mac and a lot of software being used on Mac is ported from Windows making Windows its native environment. As far as hardware is concerned, you have a lot more choice when it comes to customizing your machine with Windows-based machines because Apple has predefined specs. I just went thru the Macbook Air "customizing" page on Apple.com and it lets me upgrade memory and the "superdrive" and that's it (for the guts at least). But, honestly, if money wasn't a big deal, I would buy a Macbook Pro and then some hardcore specc'ed out machine to do my actual computing on while I use my Macbook for public venues. But, I live in a world where money is an issue and if someone places enough value on aesthetic then I can't argue with that and I would probably recommend a Macbook because Apple knows how to make pretty products (unlike a lot of other companies...ugh, Dell is so fugly...seriously........).

[EDIT]
Just re-read what I wrote and I must say I sound quite hostile, lol. I just wanted to say that I did not mean for it come off hostile at all haha. If money is no issue I still think Windows machines are a better buy. I believe that in the end you will ultimately find yourself dual-booting to Windows and then that basically makes the Macbook a Windows machine (that looks nice) but without the lifespan (as far as tech is concerned) of its competitors. If you are absolutely enamored with Apple and its operating system and don't see yourself using Windows on a regular basis, and if price is not an issue then I would recommend the cheapest Macbook Pro. It offers an i5 (honestly, for all intents and purposes of a law student it still overkill), a substantial harddrive, a crappy integrated video card (but will at least survive for quite a few years, as long as you don't do anything intensive with it like run games, etc.), and enough memory to do whatever you need. But, as I've said before, for that amount of money, you can get something that will allow you to play games or run intensive things if for some reason you feel so inclined and will last you longer as far as the tech-curve is concerned.

What do you think about Leenovo's , my dad works for IBM so if i do not get an apple product I will most likely get a leenovo product.

[PARTY]

anybody else hear the rumors of the new sandy bridge processors coming out and apple changing the product line-up somewhere around april/may?

If you're going to get a pro for next year, wait until the refresh or the last possible day before classes, whichever comes first. The new pros are going to be worth waiting for.

i know, this is what i'm doing.

it sucks just waiting and waiting, though.

Yeah, I've been coveting the 13' Airs forever, but I'm holding off to see what the new 13' MPB is.

well, through the grapevine i've heard that all MBPs are going to be ended except for the largest one (for designers and such, i guess), and that all other MBs will be airs.

[BVest]

13" MBP. Stay away from the Air... you'll end up with floppy lid syndrome and the geniuses will claim there's nothing wrong with it until they can ignore it no more, at which point they'll claim you dropped it.

That reminds me... get a skin to avoid any scratches that the geniuses might point to as irregular wear and tear.

[Nelson]

well, through the grapevine i've heard that all MBPs are going to be ended except for the largest one (for designers and such, i guess), and that all other MBs will be airs.

I belive the recent rumor is they're keeping the MBP line, but they'll be more Air-like, no optical drives and slimmer, but with better CPU/GPU.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/16/sli ... roduction/

[Tiago Splitter]

Any truth to the idea that Macs are better for avoiding viruses? I suck at computers and am helpless when I end up with something that takes over my machine.

[PARTY]

Any truth to the idea that Macs are better for avoiding viruses? I suck at computers and am helpless when I end up with something that takes over my machine.

all i'll say is that download all the programs and torrents and whatever and you should have no problems.

can't say that for PCs.

[TLS_noobie]

Noob, if we don't compare price, is the Apple better? Just curious, you seem pretty pro windows. Wondering if that changes if we throw out price. Thanks.

If we don't compare price then what are we comparing? The operating systems? I mean, as I said before, there is a lot more software support for Windows than there is for the Mac and a lot of software being used on Mac is ported from Windows making Windows its native environment. As far as hardware is concerned, you have a lot more choice when it comes to customizing your machine with Windows-based machines because Apple has predefined specs. I just went thru the Macbook Air "customizing" page on Apple.com and it lets me upgrade memory and the "superdrive" and that's it (for the guts at least). But, honestly, if money wasn't a big deal, I would buy a Macbook Pro and then some hardcore specc'ed out machine to do my actual computing on while I use my Macbook for public venues. But, I live in a world where money is an issue and if someone places enough value on aesthetic then I can't argue with that and I would probably recommend a Macbook because Apple knows how to make pretty products (unlike a lot of other companies...ugh, Dell is so fugly...seriously........).

[EDIT]
Just re-read what I wrote and I must say I sound quite hostile, lol. I just wanted to say that I did not mean for it come off hostile at all haha. If money is no issue I still think Windows machines are a better buy. I believe that in the end you will ultimately find yourself dual-booting to Windows and then that basically makes the Macbook a Windows machine (that looks nice) but without the lifespan (as far as tech is concerned) of its competitors. If you are absolutely enamored with Apple and its operating system and don't see yourself using Windows on a regular basis, and if price is not an issue then I would recommend the cheapest Macbook Pro. It offers an i5 (honestly, for all intents and purposes of a law student it still overkill), a substantial harddrive, a crappy integrated video card (but will at least survive for quite a few years, as long as you don't do anything intensive with it like run games, etc.), and enough memory to do whatever you need. But, as I've said before, for that amount of money, you can get something that will allow you to play games or run intensive things if for some reason you feel so inclined and will last you longer as far as the tech-curve is concerned.

What do you think about Leenovo's , my dad works for IBM so if i do not get an apple product I will most likely get a leenovo product.

Lenovo is a very solid brand. The thinkpad is the laptop for business. The ideapad is better for multi-media though. Lenovo is a bit more expensive than HP or Asus, but still not prohibitively bad. I know people who are extremely dedicated loyalists to Lenovo.

[annet]

Any truth to the idea that Macs are better for avoiding viruses? I suck at computers and am helpless when I end up with something that takes over my machine.

Overall this is true. As macs become more popular there are more viruses but I think the count stands at 3 viruses, only one of which is damaging (the first two were proof of concept). The current "flashback" virus is the biggest. But, more macs = more viruses so I wouldn't expect this to be true forever.

I've been on a mac since 1986 or so and keep buying them because I know how to fix them, even over the phone should my dad's computer have a problem when I'm out of town. For me, that's worth the price premium. They're also quite pretty. I just got a new, top-of-the-line 13" Mac Book Pro and am quite happy with it, especially the ergonomics of the new multi-touch trackpad. I went with the better specs because I like to try and squeeze 5+ years out of a computer.

I've recommended coworkers on tight budgets get a PC as you get far more bang for your buck. Also, if(when? please let it be when) I go to law school I'll probably run Parallels/Windows 7/Office 2010 for school because Office for Mac is one of the cruelest jokes Microsoft has ever played.

[MichelFoucault]

Asus + Ipad for the same price as a macbook pro.

Yeah, this is the better call.

Aside from some cosmetic differences in the GUI, there's no real difference that your average person will notice.

Agreed. I am a techy, both professionally and at a personal level, and I have much disdain for Apple computers (primarily because of how closed off they are to the development community and how they have ironically become Big Brother...the very entity they literally claimed they were trying to defeat back in the 80s). I love the iPhone and the iPad, I think they are awesome gadgets, but when it comes down to laptops and desktops, Apple disgusts me. They charge exorbitant amounts of money for hardware that is worth between 1/2 to maybe 3/4 the actual value on the market based on competitors. Apple makes really pretty products though. The operating system is alright, but I feel Windows 7 has reclaimed MS's place in the OS hierarchy and Windows 8 looks like it could be even cooler (not to mention, 90% of software is compatible on Windows, whereas this is not true --at least at the capacity that Windows offers-- for Macs). Sure, many people say: "well, I am not going to be playing hardcore video games or making my computer do strenuous calculations, so I just want something that works well and looks good", but, you can get this from Windows machines as well but for half the price. My HP laptop blows the highest end macbook out of the water and was 1/2 the price (I paid 1,190 for it whereas, at the time, the macbook pro with comparable specs was 2,200 bucks).

And as for Apple computers "just working, out of the box"? well, if you can't get a windows machine to work out of the box, then I am not sure you've been around for the past 30 or 40 years...

People complain about tech support, but that is company dependent. I have heard horror stories about Dell, and I probably wouldn't buy a Dell (although I've dealt with Dell tech support before and was actually pretty pleased with the outcome). But, Lenovo and HP and Asus seem to be doing pretty well and the specs they offer at the prices they have are amazing...especially around xmas or back to school times.

This post is a flame on Apple, but I mean no disrespect to anyone who has purchased Apple products. I, myself, have an iPhone and am really happy with it. But, all I'm saying is that Apple is very expensive and I don't see the added benefit from an Apple versus its competitors. On the other hand, if you have tons of money and you care about what you look like in public to the degree that you need to make a fashion statement, then by all means, macbook pro is the way to go --it's a status symbol, for sure. But for someone like me, who is not rich (or at least doesn't have 2k sitting around), I would go with a Windows machine because you get much bigger bang for your buck.

My two cents...FWIW

Windows just does not equate to the latest versions of Mac OSX. The large trackpad and numerous swiping gestures and other features just make it so much more convenient and productive to use. Using a windows PC feels like using an old keyboard blackberry after having used an iPhone for some time.

These subtle but powerful differences are hard to appreciate if you have never owned and used the products daily before.

And for the record, I am talking about the latest versions of Mac OSX. I agree that earlier versions were similar enough with Windows.

[TLS_noobie]

Asus + Ipad for the same price as a macbook pro.

Yeah, this is the better call.

Aside from some cosmetic differences in the GUI, there's no real difference that your average person will notice.

Agreed. I am a techy, both professionally and at a personal level, and I have much disdain for Apple computers (primarily because of how closed off they are to the development community and how they have ironically become Big Brother...the very entity they literally claimed they were trying to defeat back in the 80s). I love the iPhone and the iPad, I think they are awesome gadgets, but when it comes down to laptops and desktops, Apple disgusts me. They charge exorbitant amounts of money for hardware that is worth between 1/2 to maybe 3/4 the actual value on the market based on competitors. Apple makes really pretty products though. The operating system is alright, but I feel Windows 7 has reclaimed MS's place in the OS hierarchy and Windows 8 looks like it could be even cooler (not to mention, 90% of software is compatible on Windows, whereas this is not true --at least at the capacity that Windows offers-- for Macs). Sure, many people say: "well, I am not going to be playing hardcore video games or making my computer do strenuous calculations, so I just want something that works well and looks good", but, you can get this from Windows machines as well but for half the price. My HP laptop blows the highest end macbook out of the water and was 1/2 the price (I paid 1,190 for it whereas, at the time, the macbook pro with comparable specs was 2,200 bucks).

And as for Apple computers "just working, out of the box"? well, if you can't get a windows machine to work out of the box, then I am not sure you've been around for the past 30 or 40 years...

People complain about tech support, but that is company dependent. I have heard horror stories about Dell, and I probably wouldn't buy a Dell (although I've dealt with Dell tech support before and was actually pretty pleased with the outcome). But, Lenovo and HP and Asus seem to be doing pretty well and the specs they offer at the prices they have are amazing...especially around xmas or back to school times.

This post is a flame on Apple, but I mean no disrespect to anyone who has purchased Apple products. I, myself, have an iPhone and am really happy with it. But, all I'm saying is that Apple is very expensive and I don't see the added benefit from an Apple versus its competitors. On the other hand, if you have tons of money and you care about what you look like in public to the degree that you need to make a fashion statement, then by all means, macbook pro is the way to go --it's a status symbol, for sure. But for someone like me, who is not rich (or at least doesn't have 2k sitting around), I would go with a Windows machine because you get much bigger bang for your buck.

My two cents...FWIW

Windows just does not equate to the latest versions of Mac OSX. The large trackpad and numerous swiping gestures and other features just make it so much more convenient and productive to use. Using a windows PC feels like using an old keyboard blackberry after having used an iPhone for some time.

These subtle but powerful differences are hard to appreciate if you have never owned and used the products daily before.

And for the record, I am talking about the latest versions of Mac OSX. I agree that earlier versions were similar enough with Windows.

I can't refute this because I am not entirely certain I have used the newest version of Mac OSX. I used a giant specc'ed out Mac desktop for work once and I didn't like it in comparison to the awesomeness that is Windows 7, but that was a few years back. Either way, a majority of my friends (who are engineers, so certainly not necessarily a relevant crowd for some of the folks on here) that own macs typically boot Windows on their machines (linux in most cases as well, but that is a side note).

In the end it comes down to a simple idea. You can get the same hardware on any other machine. So, the only difference that a Mac has is the OS and the aesthetic. Is the Mac OS really worth $1,000 more to a person? (for macbook pro. for other models it is literally double the price, i.e., the macbook air comparison I make in a previous post). I can't think of any operating system that, short of wiping my ass for me, would be worth paying 1k extra for. As far as the aesthetic is concerned, idk, HP has some nifty looking chassis and lenovo has a certain appeal to their look, and let's not forget sony (but sony is quite overpriced as well, so not sure I'd recommend sony).

[laxbrah420]

i love how you think if the components are the same, the computers are the same.

[MichelFoucault]

I can't refute this because I am not entirely certain I have used the newest version of Mac OSX. I used a giant specc'ed out Mac desktop for work once and I didn't like it in comparison to the awesomeness that is Windows 7, but that was a few years back. Either way, a majority of my friends (who are engineers, so certainly not necessarily a relevant crowd for some of the folks on here) that own macs typically boot Windows on their machines (linux in most cases as well, but that is a side note).

In the end it comes down to a simple idea. You can get the same hardware on any other machine. So, the only difference that a Mac has is the OS and the aesthetic. Is the Mac OS really worth $1,000 more to a person? (for macbook pro. for other models it is literally double the price, i.e., the macbook air comparison I make in a previous post). I can't think of any operating system that, short of wiping my ass for me, would be worth paying 1k extra for. As far as the aesthetic is concerned, idk, HP has some nifty looking chassis and lenovo has a certain appeal to their look, and let's not forget sony (but sony is quite overpriced as well, so not sure I'd recommend sony).

Its really the large trackpad and new swiping gestures that create a much more efficient way to interact with your workspace. Check out the video demonstrations in this link --LinkRemoved--

They might appear gimmicky, but I am telling you from experience that they become second nature and after getting used to it, going back to windows feels like going back to a blackberry after having gotten accustomed to an IPhone.

Also the gestures are much more fluid than they appear in the video. They are very natural and when taken together vastly alter the experience. That was the "magic" of steve jobs, he had an appreciation for how subtle changes and details in summation can incredibly enhance user experience. During the birth of the PC, the technology was so new and novel, that attention detail wasn't necessary or as perceptible given the newness of it all, there simply wasn't any previous experience to compare it to.

Anyways thats my rant. I have windows on my mac, but only use it when I NEED to use a program and it is only available on windows. There is absolutely nothing advantageous about windows relative to Mac OSX unless there are obscure nerd things you need to do or perhaps gaming.

[TLS_noobie]

i love how you think if the components are the same, the computers are the same.

Can you tell me a discernible difference in the way the components are put together? Well, I can give you some differences to enlighten you in case you can't. The architecture of the Macbook is pretty wicked, and if you do some research it's advantages primarily come from how it is optimized for heat flow. That, honestly, is the biggest difference in effects that the two architectures really bring to the table.

just for your reference if you are a geek and want to actually see the innards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf84whQwbKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olrk1AJUclw

I can't refute this because I am not entirely certain I have used the newest version of Mac OSX. I used a giant specc'ed out Mac desktop for work once and I didn't like it in comparison to the awesomeness that is Windows 7, but that was a few years back. Either way, a majority of my friends (who are engineers, so certainly not necessarily a relevant crowd for some of the folks on here) that own macs typically boot Windows on their machines (linux in most cases as well, but that is a side note).

In the end it comes down to a simple idea. You can get the same hardware on any other machine. So, the only difference that a Mac has is the OS and the aesthetic. Is the Mac OS really worth $1,000 more to a person? (for macbook pro. for other models it is literally double the price, i.e., the macbook air comparison I make in a previous post). I can't think of any operating system that, short of wiping my ass for me, would be worth paying 1k extra for. As far as the aesthetic is concerned, idk, HP has some nifty looking chassis and lenovo has a certain appeal to their look, and let's not forget sony (but sony is quite overpriced as well, so not sure I'd recommend sony).

Its really the large trackpad and new swiping gestures that create a much more efficient way to interact with your workspace. Check out the video demonstrations in this link --LinkRemoved--

They might appear gimmicky, but I am telling you from experience that they become second nature and after getting used to it, going back to windows feels like going back to a blackberry after having gotten accustomed to an IPhone.

Also the gestures are much more fluid than they appear in the video. They are very natural and when taken together vastly alter the experience. That was the "magic" of steve jobs, he had an appreciation for how subtle changes and details in summation can incredibly enhance user experience. During the birth of the PC, the technology was so new and novel, that attention to these details weren't necessary or as perceptible given the newness of it all, there simply wasn't any previous experience to compare it to.

Anyways thats my rant. I have windows on my mac, but only use it when I NEED to use a program and it is only available on windows. There is absolutely nothing advantageous about windows relative to Mac OSX unless there are obscure nerd things you need to do or perhaps gaming.

That trackpad does look pretty awesome. I have used the external trackpad once and it was pretty neat to use. On the other hand, I still don't quite see the extra thousand bucks worth of perks. You are absolutely right in that the reason Apple has made a come back is because it focused on the subtle design of the machine and is well regarded in the design community for that. But, to be the devil's advocate again, for that extra thousand bucks I could get all the bells and whistles on a Windows machine and probably even have some money left over to buy an iPad (which I actually desperately want).

[MichelFoucault]

i love how you think if the components are the same, the computers are the same.

Can you tell me a discernible difference in the way the components are put together? Well, I can give you some differences to enlighten you in case you can't. The architecture of the Macbook is pretty wicked, and if you do some research it's advantages primarily come from how it is optimized for heat flow. That, honestly, is the biggest difference in effects that the two architectures really bring to the table.

just for your reference if you are a geek and want to actually see the innards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf84whQwbKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olrk1AJUclw

I can't refute this because I am not entirely certain I have used the newest version of Mac OSX. I used a giant specc'ed out Mac desktop for work once and I didn't like it in comparison to the awesomeness that is Windows 7, but that was a few years back. Either way, a majority of my friends (who are engineers, so certainly not necessarily a relevant crowd for some of the folks on here) that own macs typically boot Windows on their machines (linux in most cases as well, but that is a side note).

In the end it comes down to a simple idea. You can get the same hardware on any other machine. So, the only difference that a Mac has is the OS and the aesthetic. Is the Mac OS really worth $1,000 more to a person? (for macbook pro. for other models it is literally double the price, i.e., the macbook air comparison I make in a previous post). I can't think of any operating system that, short of wiping my ass for me, would be worth paying 1k extra for. As far as the aesthetic is concerned, idk, HP has some nifty looking chassis and lenovo has a certain appeal to their look, and let's not forget sony (but sony is quite overpriced as well, so not sure I'd recommend sony).

Its really the large trackpad and new swiping gestures that create a much more efficient way to interact with your workspace. Check out the video demonstrations in this link --LinkRemoved--

They might appear gimmicky, but I am telling you from experience that they become second nature and after getting used to it, going back to windows feels like going back to a blackberry after having gotten accustomed to an IPhone.

Also the gestures are much more fluid than they appear in the video. They are very natural and when taken together vastly alter the experience. That was the "magic" of steve jobs, he had an appreciation for how subtle changes and details in summation can incredibly enhance user experience. During the birth of the PC, the technology was so new and novel, that attention to these details weren't necessary or as perceptible given the newness of it all, there simply wasn't any previous experience to compare it to.

Anyways thats my rant. I have windows on my mac, but only use it when I NEED to use a program and it is only available on windows. There is absolutely nothing advantageous about windows relative to Mac OSX unless there are obscure nerd things you need to do or perhaps gaming.

That trackpad does look pretty awesome. I have used the external trackpad once and it was pretty neat to use. On the other hand, I still don't quite see the extra thousand bucks worth of perks. You are absolutely right in that the reason Apple has made a come back is because it focused on the subtle design of the machine and is well regarded in the design community for that. But, to be the devil's advocate again, for that extra thousand bucks I could get all the bells and whistles on a Windows machine and probably even have some money left over to buy an iPad (which I actually desperately want).

That's not a bad move I guess. Get a pc and an ipad

[Bronck]

viruses.

even though naysayers say viruses for macs are on the rise, it must be hard as shit to get them.

Viruses are fucking hard to get on a windows machine too. I honestly don't know how people do. Just install one of the various free antivirus programs (e.g., avast) and don't go to shady porn sites.

[laxbrah420]

viruses.

even though naysayers say viruses for macs are on the rise, it must be hard as shit to get them.

Viruses are fucking hard to get on a windows machine too. I honestly don't know how people do. Just install one of the various free antivirus programs (e.g., avast) and don't go to shady porn sites.

As a brah who needs to fix computers n shit, and hasnt gotten any jank on my on PC, I too have no idea what the hell people do to pick up jank. But they pick up jank all the time. The mac users don't pick up the same jank.


Improved heat flow + improved case = more durability, speed, and less weight. Nicer screen, nicer keyboard, much better track pad, and yes nicer aesthetic. Components are actually reasonably placed for working on the shit (although you'll void your warranty...). Even if you match the specs, you're getting a nicer/better overall product. You'll notice that there are indeed more expensive PCs with similar specs, because the manufacturers use better materials that last longer and with more attention to design. Improved design has more benefits than looking cool...

The OS is very comparable --I think I prefer ctrl on the far left than command next to my spacebar, but whatever...it just tends to not shit the bed as often. Any problems with OS X is usually user initiated whereas windows is often MS pumping out shitty updates. In terms of software support, I prefer having access to homebrew to install packages vs finding windows binaries. Folders make more sense too --what genius at MS decided to make Program Files, AppData and Application Data? If you need to work on any remote server that's problem *nix based, it's also really nice being able to go straight from the terminal and work natively --feels super weird to be requesting 'ls' through putty on a windows machine.

[2807]

Huh? Yes the Macbook Air has USB. But not the iPad..

The macbook air is awesome. It can run windows all day long if you find that you need it. You can have the best of both worlds with a mac. If you want more horse power.. get a Macbook Pro. Although I highly doubt you will ever need the horsepower you think you will. Most of us do not. Those who do, truly know why. If you don't, then.. well, you don't need it.

Nothing new here... Same old arguments. but you cannot deny the reliability and support of Apple, and you can run Windows with ease if you so desire. I have been doing it for years.

Benchmark tests out there all over the place showing the mac hardware can run windows as good or better. No Fear.

If money is not a problem, then this is the answer. All else is commentary and priority adjustments.

I was concerned about what computer to get too. Now, I am still using my 4 year old original Macbook Air and have no problems at all. I never needed to change a thing...

[laxbrah420]

Huh? Yes the Macbook Air has USB. But not the iPad..

Oh yea forgot to correct that. In terms of DVD playing, you can get an external drive for pretty cheap or wirelessly connect to any dvd drive on your network (once they enable disc drive sharing).
That is, if you're super determined to watch a dvd on an 11/13" screen.

[2807]

Huh? Yes the Macbook Air has USB. But not the iPad..

Oh yea forgot to correct that. In terms of DVD playing, you can get an external drive for pretty cheap or wirelessly connect to any dvd drive on your network (once they enable disc drive sharing).
That is, if you're super determined to watch a dvd on an 11/13" screen.

It is true...
If you are a frequent CD/DVD user the Air may be a hassle. Otherwise, it is nice. I have the CD drive, but I never use it. May be why the Air is good for me...

You can get a Macbook Air very cheap nowadays on Craigslist... I am embarrassed to say what I paid 4 years ago.. for one that has a fraction of the bells and whistles and power..

But, I cannot justify a new one, this one is so fast and normal for me I really do not miss anything. I wish they would make one that would make me impulse buy.... but so far they are just more of the same to me...

[TLS_noobie]

Improved heat flow + improved case = more durability, speed, and less weight. Nicer screen, nicer keyboard, much better track pad, and yes nicer aesthetic. Components are actually reasonably placed for working on the shit (although you'll void your warranty...). Even if you match the specs, you're getting a nicer/better overall product. You'll notice that there are indeed more expensive PCs with similar specs, because the manufacturers use better materials that last longer and with more attention to design. Improved design has more benefits than looking cool...

I have no quarrels with saying that the product itself is a much better design and overall craftsmanship than a lot of PCs on the market (although, the new Lenovo lines look pretty neat), but for me, the added value from the better craftsmanship is not equal to double the price of its competitors. Especially, when the craftsmanship really has little discernible affect (battery life and heat flow, though important in their own right, make little difference when compared to that of their competitors which are relatively close in comparison) on me as an end user (since warranties do exist in case of any legitimate problems). As for my track record with PCs, I have an Asus that is going on 6 years now and still running strong (it can't run any new games obviously, but it certainly holds its own when it comes to basic computing needs like word processing or surfing the web). I just bought an HP a year and a half ago and it is still top of the line as far as benchmarks are concerned (although, to be fair, a year and a half isn't quite that long).

If you need to work on any remote server that's problem *nix based, it's also really nice being able to go straight from the terminal and work natively --feels super weird to be requesting 'ls' through putty on a windows machine.

This is absolute truth!! Part of the reason I had to use a Mac desktop at my old job was because I needed to interface with an apache server and I loved the fact that MacOS was built on Darwin, it was awesome. I hate the command prompt in Windows....ugh.....

[laxbrah420]

You wrote about the mac being merely a fashion statement and that Apple disgusts you.
Can you please retract that

[TLS_noobie]

You wrote about the mac being merely a fashion statement and that Apple disgusts you.
Can you please retract that

RC fail....

This post is a flame on Apple, but I mean no disrespect to anyone who has purchased Apple products. I, myself, have an iPhone and am really happy with it. But, all I'm saying is that Apple is very expensive and I don't see the added benefit from an Apple versus its competitors. On the other hand, if you have tons of money and you care about what you look like in public to the degree that you need to make a fashion statement, then by all means, macbook pro is the way to go --it's a status symbol, for sure. But for someone like me, who is not rich (or at least doesn't have 2k sitting around), I would go with a Windows machine because you get much bigger bang for your buck.

My two cents...FWIW

"If you want/need to make a fashion statement then buy a Mac" =/= "Mac's are only for fashion statements".....

There is little argument around the globe about whether Macs are status symbols or not. To say that something is a status symbol is not to say it is "merely a fashion statement" though because it may have utility outside of its aesthetic (which we have discussed rather thoroughly in this thread by mentioning the improved design and architecture of the machine as well as the nifty trackpad). But, just because it is designed in an awesome manner and looks extremely pretty doesn't mean it is "merely a fashion statement" and I never said. Apple disgusts me a few reasons, first being that I, personally, do not place a 2X price tag on the improvements on machine quality that Macs provide considering I can get better performance out of another company's machine for my intents and purposes. Secondly, the concept of Apple is where the most disdain comes from for me. The 80s and 90s Apple were a breath of fresh air by being our savior from Big Brother and allowing us the freedom that we so desired. Now, it is the exact opposite. If I want to develop an application on the iPhone, I need a Mac (not so with Android)... can I customize my Mac? not beyond the simplest of aesthetic changes... Can I interface my other devices with Apple products? iPods, iPads, video outlets, and other doodads are Apple in-house exclusive interfaces... Hell, even the simplest of things like allowing me to play Flash on an iPod has been dinged by Apple (I understand their rationale for this decision, but they made the decision, not me...). It is the principle that eats away at me. There are companies that you would expect this sort of thing from (Microsoft, Google, Intel, and the other big boys) but Apple? The company that declared war on these giants not so long ago? The ironic thing is that Microsoft has been opening up to be the free-er choice. I can customize my Windows machines, and the funny thing is, when Kinect came out and hacking of the device became common-use, Microsoft actually held a hacking competition for the Kinect soon after...something that the Microsoft 10 years ago would have never done (and definitely not Sony...).

[PARTY]

Hey tlsnoobie, are you involved with the occupy movement?

[TLS_noobie]

Hey tlsnoobie, are you involved with the occupy movement?

Nope. If I was my avatar would certainly be ironic though haha. But, the answer is no, not at all.

[HellOnHeels]

I currently have a mac book, about five years old. It works great except for the fact it will no longer (happily) run two programs at once (safari + excel or itunes = slower than a snail).

Should I just buy more memory for it (that would help it, right?), or get a new mac book, and use this one as a back-up?