Please help me decide which laptop to buy

X

Xiaozhu

New Member
Hello,
Can anyone tell me the main characteristics of the MacBook Pro that makes it so expensive, at least twice the price of other laptops with similar specs, besides the physical design? Please no arguments like "oh OSX is better than Windows", non-OS related characteristics only. I've always used Windows OS so I'm more familiar with that, and I don't play much games either, but I would like stylish design and lightweight (but not tiny size please, I can't stand tiny screens) since I'm a student. As long as the laptop has high quality and runs optimal with common programs like browser (I usually have many tabs open), Word, Photoshop CS2, games with non-heavy graphics, etc that would be fine. Oh and price should be around the $1000 range.
Thanks.
 
What makes the OSX better than Windows OS that gives it such a high price?
And since I've always used Windows, and that some programs aren't even compatible with OSX, is it still better? I don't want to end up having to spend another several hundred dollars to buy Windows 7 to install on the MacBook since some programs aren't compatible and/or I can't get used to OSX.

Btw does anyone know of other laptops with a similar stylish/lightweight design? I was browsing Best Buy and Future Shop and didn't find much with a good design and good price.
 
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look dude it is common sense, your paying for the name "Apple". if you like the way apple computers look but don't want to pay the price and if you wish to continue running windows then buy a Sony vaio. Plus Sony has a education site just like mac to buy there computers to get a discount.
 
Xiaozhu said:
Hello,
Please no arguments like "oh OSX is better than Windows", non-OS related characteristics only.
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Well, the only characteristic other than the OS is pretty much the name brand and the light-weight of the Macbooks. For most people, though, it's the OS that makes up their minds.
 
sLIMshadyKP said:
Well, the only characteristic other than the OS is pretty much the name brand and the light-weight of the Macbooks. For most people, though, it's the OS that makes up their minds.
Click to expand...

Lets not start a OS battle here but he is right. There are some differences in the apple vs pc build quality and what the systems come with but the thing you should look at is the OS of choice for you and your needs. Example my wife wanted a macbook but with the classes she is taking and the software she needed they didn't run on a mac (and she didn't want to have to work to get it working) so she bought a PC.

I wanted the faster hardware of a PC but the light weight and secure OS, so I bought a PC and installed ubuntu (which is extremely user friendly and has a ton of software support to my surprise).

So look at your OS options for what you want to do, then pick a computer.
 
DMGrier said:
Lets not start a OS battle here but he is right. There are some differences in the apple vs pc build quality and what the systems come with but the thing you should look at is the OS of choice for you and your needs. Example my wife wanted a macbook but with the classes she is taking and the software she needed they didn't run on a mac (and she didn't want to have to work to get it working) so she bought a PC.

I wanted the faster hardware of a PC but the light weight and secure OS, so I bought a PC and installed ubuntu (which is extremely user friendly and has a ton of software support to my surprise).

So look at your OS options for what you want to do, then pick a computer.
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Very well put.
 
DMGrier said:
Lets not start a OS battle here but he is right. There are some differences in the apple vs pc build quality and what the systems come with but the thing you should look at is the OS of choice for you and your needs. Example my wife wanted a macbook but with the classes she is taking and the software she needed they didn't run on a mac (and she didn't want to have to work to get it working) so she bought a PC.

I wanted the faster hardware of a PC but the light weight and secure OS, so I bought a PC and installed ubuntu (which is extremely user friendly and has a ton of software support to my surprise).

So look at your OS options for what you want to do, then pick a computer.
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Since I never used Mac OS before I have no idea how well it runs the programs I indicated (like browsing with many tabs, Photoshop, Overture/Sibelius/other music software, most games, utilities, etc). Are you familiar with both Windows and OSX? If you are, and you commonly used these kind of software, which laptop would you choose? The almost $1000 difference on a Mac, as well as common compatibility problems on a Mac, is really making it a hard decision.
 
With the software you have listed will run on both computers (it is known that those type of software will run better on OSX). One thing I will say that is nice about Apple though is they have really nice video/photo software Aperture and final cut express that don't come on PC.

Now you did say most games for gaming, the $1,000 macbook will not be a good computer for this, just doesn't have the graphics card. That is the only thing that is going to be a killer for you on the mac, you will have to pay more to get one with the better graphic's. But the Macbook is still a great computer and on the side of OS, OSX will multi task better then windows (not saying windows can't multi task at all) which is something you need to look into when running any type of video or photo editing.

But a pc that will do everything that you are asking with being able to run your software and run games with decent graphics.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...mboo/9975053.p?id=1218204529080&skuId=9975053

Being that I enjoy the unix based OS I would recommend the Macbook, and also as for video and photo software you will have more option and they do run better on there.
 
Dell!

You should definitely get a Dell, they are affordable, come with tons of reliable features and are good looking too!
Here's a coupon for your purchase: Save an additional $50 off systems $699 and above with coupon code: WQQ$MQ0M4JNCWD. Or save $100 off systems $999 and above with coupon code: B980P775CS2Z02. Go to Dell.com/DellU or call 866-914-6077 for details. Offer ends 6/30.
 
DMGrier said:
With the software you have listed will run on both computers (it is known that those type of software will run better on OSX). One thing I will say that is nice about Apple though is they have really nice video/photo software Aperture and final cut express that don't come on PC.

Now you did say most games for gaming, the $1,000 macbook will not be a good computer for this, just doesn't have the graphics card. That is the only thing that is going to be a killer for you on the mac, you will have to pay more to get one with the better graphic's. But the Macbook is still a great computer and on the side of OS, OSX will multi task better then windows (not saying windows can't multi task at all) which is something you need to look into when running any type of video or photo editing.

But a pc that will do everything that you are asking with being able to run your software and run games with decent graphics.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...mboo/9975053.p?id=1218204529080&skuId=9975053

Being that I enjoy the unix based OS I would recommend the Macbook, and also as for video and photo software you will have more option and they do run better on there.
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Thanks for reply.
Oh by MacBook, I meant MacBook Pro, like the ones near the $1800-2000 price range. I don't do much gaming at all (only games I play at this moment is DDR for Wii as a daily exercise and sometimes strategy games like Sangokushi XI on PC), so graphics shouldn't be huge concern, though playing epic games like Crysis once in a while would be great too, not mandatory though. For me the Intel i5 would be enough right, on any laptop? It should be better than duo core? How does it compare to the AMD Turion ones?
 
Well if you are looking at a macbook pro then you are golden on all your wants and needs. Do not quote me on this but I do believe that AMD does not have any cpu's that rival Intel's new cpu for the price. Are you set on getting the apple computer?
 
The Core i5s and i3s are a good amount faster than the Core 2 Duos. In general, I try not to buy any OEM PCs with low-end AMD processors. The lower-end AMDs are in general a bit slower than the Core 2 Duos and other Intel dual-cores, but the processor itself isn't the main problem. You see, when an OEM manufacturer puts in, say, an AMD Turion instead of a Pentium Dual-Core, they're usually trying to save money. Since they're on a budget, they also might put in an unreliable hard drive or some cheap RAM. I've seen a specific Toshibi laptop model once with both AMD and Intel variants. The AMD variant had a Fujitsu hard drive and the Intel variant had a Western Digital.
 
MacBook Pro. Not best Gaming Laptop but one of the best Multimedia Laptops. Sure no Blueray but the OS was designed with OPEN CL so if your doing Video editing and Photo editing it's the best machine possible
 
IMO, one of the main things that a Macbook pro would offer over a PC is the sleekness and other style features. You can get an equally performing PC from a reliable manufacturer like Asus or Sony for less than a Macbook pro. It depends whether you can deal with some more fans, a bit more thickness, and some other "fancy" things that a mac might offer. I'll grant Apple, they offer reliable computers, but you can find the same quality in a PC if you know who to buy from. You can also, of course, get a PC for a good few hundred dollars cheaper. You can also find some sleek PCs that are similar to Macs. There are a lot of options when it comes to PCs.
 
Thanks for replies.
I will hold off on macbooks for now. Checking suggestions given right now~
How about Thinkpad laptops? Some friends said it's a top quality brand with reasonable prices. What do you guys think? I was looking at either i3 or i5... and the fingerprint feature seems so neat for a luxury.
 
The thinkpads tend to be reliable, but apparently the dual trackpad/trackball thing can get a bit niggly... With regards to Apple, as many have said before me, you're paying for the name, the brand. It's like designer clothes; they're made of the same stuff as some cheap supermarket crap, but cost far more because of the label. A core i3 processor should be adequate for your needs :) Do check out the sony's :D
 
It is all about business model. Apple designs every aspect of the machine, they design the hardware, the design the look, they design the software. It is all about quality control and end user experiences for them.

Having owned laptops from every major manufacturer over the years (toshiba, apple, sony, acer, asus, HP, gateway, dell, etc...) and having owned several apple laptops, I can claim that my current Macbook Pro is the best laptop I have ever owned.
 
Hehe maybe it's not time for me to go after brands. I'm still a student so still have to save money for tuition. x3
Another thing I keep seeing is difference between 64 bit and 32 bit in the Windows 7 included with certain laptops. What is the difference between these two? I heard some programs are not compatible with 64 bit Windows?
 
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