Dell XPS M1210 or MacBook??

T

TheDude

New Member
Like several of the other threads I've seen, I'll be off to college in the fall and I'm seriously debating between getting a 2.0GHz MacBook with some added RAM and hard drive capacity versus a slightly souped up M1210. I'm not too worried about the budget side, because I've already priced them based on what I want and they're pretty close to being the same. My big question is: which is a better laptop to have? Every single MacBook review that I've read has been practically glowing--the reviewers seem to like it, especially since you can have Windows on the computer as well, something I would definitely be doing. But, I've used PCs (heck, mostly Dells) for my entire computer lifetime and well, I'm somewhat hesitant about making the big leap. I'd really appreciate some advice from those who are more savvy on this topic: which one would be better?

Thanks in advance.

By the way, I don't know what I'll be studying yet, but it wouldn't be engineering or the sciences, more on the english/history/business side of things, if that's a factor.
 
I work with some of Dell's top of the line work stations here... Their optiplex series and their Precision series, along with many laptops. I'd say at least 5 of the 10 new workstations I got to setup had some sort of problem. A couple had bad drives, and some others had drives that weren't connected. Plus they seem very cheap. Don't push too hard on the back pannel...it's very loose on all of our Optiplex systems... And don't get me started with our USB problems!

Macs...eh, their quality was very high. I will say my Mac Mini's quality is much higher than any machine I've used recently. Now, I don't know how the intel based ones are(performace, quality, or reliablilty) but I'm starting to wonder if apple is the way to go. I'll have to check out their "boot camp" some more...
 
Get the macbook. There's no reason not to. Use mac OS for safety online, and Windows with bootcamp for everything else. Dell is ok, and to be honest, not any better at running Windows at all.
 
Thanks for the advice...I haven't made my final decision, but I'm thinking the MacBook. I'll check in for the next few days though, if anyone has any additional suggestions. Once again, thanks.
 
spamdos said:
hmmm i would get the xps. compatibility would be a big factor
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what compatibility issues, all of microsofts office programs and stuff are compatible, and if you have a windows only program that is why they came out with boot camp, just remember you need your own copy of windows.
 
Watch out with the Book series from Apple. They do NOT know how to put on thermal paste (on the note of ONE EFFING TUBE PER COMPONENT). They like to be VERY hot a lot of the time, and have problems ensuing. Just a reminder.
 
bball4life said:
Ya they do get extremely hot, but that is their only issue. And that is why you have your warranty from apple.
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Heat is a slow killer, I'd reccomend getting the extended Applecare plan. (You can get it up to one year after your initial purchase, but is only valid for three years after your purchase date. Compatibility, as you mentioned, is not a factor. Temperature problems, IIRC, have been corrected anyway.
 
SC7 said:
Heat is a slow killer, I'd reccomend getting the extended Applecare plan. (You can get it up to one year after your initial purchase, but is only valid for three years after your purchase date. Compatibility, as you mentioned, is not a factor. Temperature problems, IIRC, have been corrected anyway.
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When did they fix the temp problems, mine isn't even a month old and hits 80c
 
bball4life said:
When did they fix the temp problems, mine isn't even a month old and hits 80c
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Apple makes revisions all the time. Actually, there was a plastic slit near the vents in some origials, that were never taken out at the factory. These cause some of the heat issues. There was a removal guide on the internet, but the fags at Apple legal sent them a cease and desist order to take it down. If the heat is that bad, maybe i'd reccomend going for the Dell XPS.
 
SC7 said:
Apple makes revisions all the time. Actually, there was a plastic slit near the vents in some origials, that were never taken out at the factory. These cause some of the heat issues. There was a removal guide on the internet, but the fags at Apple legal sent them a cease and desist order to take it down. If the heat is that bad, maybe i'd reccomend going for the Dell XPS.
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I may have to give apple a call, its normally around like 55C but it will hit 80C on occasion, still need to try and a get a cooling pad though.

Hopefully apple's customer service will be better then dells. *shudders at the thought of having to use dells customer service*
 
bball4life said:
I may have to give apple a call, its normally around like 55C but it will hit 80C on occasion, still need to try and a get a cooling pad though.

Hopefully apple's customer service will be better then dells. *shudders at the thought of having to use dells customer service*
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I cursed out the Apple support guy over an iPod call. I know it sounds odd, but it's a long story, and I had just cause.
 
SC7 said:
I cursed out the Apple support guy over an iPod call. I know it sounds odd, but it's a long story, and I had just cause.
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Hmm, you'll have to tell me about that sometime, sounds interesting... They would probably flip out at me too cause I am sure they have plenty of complaints about cpu temps. Either that of if they found a fix would know what to do. I just want to know if I can redo the thermal paste without voiding my warranty. Most likely no but sometimes companies will make an exception when they have major problems like that.
 
I doubt they would let you do that without voiding the warranty, and I'll tell you that story on AIM sometime.
 
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