Laptop: Mac vs. PC

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

An Apple iBook is worth the extra bucks over a PC laptop, right?

All’s I need to do is word process, surf, occasionally download a little, and do a whole lotta iTunes stuff.

Which I know is pretty basic, and a cheaper PC could handle it, and I could save the bucks and put 'em toward a new iMac, which I need more every day.

I’m a Mac guy, which facilitates my inability to do anything techical with computers. I don’t wanna uninstall sh*t. I don’t wanna de-virus my setup. I just wanna turn on, plug in, and go… every day for six years, until my setup starts to run too slow.

Maybe I’m not some much asking as thinking aloud…

#2

Well IF you were asking I’d say you’ve already answered your own question. :smiley: I’ve worked with both Mac (much older Macs) and PC…I say stick with what you know.

#3

I’m a PC guy, but I have to agree with Gryper.

I don’t see myself ever buying a mac. But, my brother switched from PC to mac last year and seems to have less complaints.

#4

Sounds like you got it. I’d say if you got money the sky is the limit. If the mac is your main machine then save and invest more there. If you are never (or rarely) going to need any mac only features or software the I would say it’s not worth the price. It also seems to me that we are at a point where speeds are not the big concern. The interface is what’s going to change the most. With the world of tablets, smart phones and media centers expanding so fast, 6 years is an eternity. I wouldn’t want to invest too much in one product if in a year or two my habits will change. I also don’t see virus or upkeep as a problem because it can be combated easily with a proper surfing behavior and removing unused programs. IMO :wink:

There is also the I want vs the I need factor. If you know you’ll be happier and not burn holes in your pocket then that worth it. Especially if you think you’ll be miserable otherwise. If you know you can use the cheaper PC to do the same stuff and not feel regret, that is logical. You got to ask yourself, am I Kirk or Spock. :smiley:

#5

Well, a Mac laptop isn’t a little more money. It’s a LOT more money.

My wife’s Mac desktop died, and there’s no way we could justify spending the money to get a new Mac when a PC dell laptop is 4x cheaper. Does iTunes, Word and surfing the net just fine. As a Mac person, the differences will drive you crazy, but that’s a lot of money you could spend else-wise. (Full disclosure: I’m a PC guy, though I’ve used a Mac in a previous job.)

#6

Yeah, you’ve already answered your own question.

Look at the refurb page on apple.com. You can save a hundred-odd bucks on the newer models, more on discontinued ones.

#7

Pike wins. Although, other big name dealers also have their own refurb sites and discounts.

#8

if you get getting a netbook, I gsuggest getting one with Ubuntu Light. If you are getting a laptop with more horse power, then probably regular Ubuntu, since you probably haven’t used Linux before.

Mac OSX is based on BSD, which is also a branch of linux. Same goes for iphone OS or google android. So… if you are looking for something cheap and great, you really need to check it out.

by the way… since Apple switched to intel CPUs, essentially they are PCs… it really should be Mac or Windows. Because you can put OSX on other PCs, you can also put Windows on your Mac. And you can put linux on just about anything.

#9

A rare time when ‘technically correct’ is not the best kind of correct.

The UI of iOS is so drastically different that it’s not really the same animal as even OSX, although the so-low-level-you’ll-never-come-across-them parts are derived from BSD, or more likely Mach.

(And linux is arguably not really Unix. BSD is actual got-the-birth-certificate Unix.)

#10

Pike is trying to steal my technical correctness title!

Do you have a copy of the birth certificate? ^^

#11

I say stick with Mac. A PC may be cheaper, but after a year or two of years it will get so burdened with crap that it will run extremely slow, especially if you’re that type that doesn’t want to have to futz with it. A Mac could still be going strong if your only using it for the basics…

#12

As said before go with what you know, ask around see if anyone you know is or has upgraded their mac recent. I have a friend that every time he upgrades, he sells his old and he seems to upgrade every 2 years. So if you don’t mind getting a 2 year old model, you can save a ton of money.

#13

Thanks, all!

#14

What did/will you get? Link?

#15

I wound up not making the impulse purchase so I could have worked outside – would have spent too much time moving stuff around from one work site to the other.

I’m still on the fence, leaning toward Mac. Every time I’ve ever tried to save some bucks in my life, it comes back to haunt me.

Thanks again, everyone. Hive Mind in action.

#16

I have a unique perspective on this one.

I am a PC guy, know them inside and out. Owned several desk and laptops and always been happy with them. Recently I decided to try out a Mac as my new computer given my iPhone being a gateway drug.

I love my Mac, but let’s take emotion out of it. You defined your requirements:

All’s I need to do is word process, surf, occasionally download a little, and do a whole lotta iTunes stuff.

Given your requirements there is ZERO need to spend the extra cash on a Mac. Seriously. Is a Mac superior? Yes. Is it worth $800 bucks more? Not so much for what your requirements are. If you have a good backup plan you seriously can blow away your Windows install once a year and in an hour have a lightning fast computer. Also, if you aren’t downloading pron and illegal software you aren’t exposing your computer to the stuff that slows it down.

Buy a low-cost PC. It meets your requirements. Would we all drive a Ferrari if we had the cash? Sure. But our requirement is to drive to work…we buy a utility Ford and get the job done. There is nothing wrong with that.

#17

There is the iTunes part, which works better on a Mac (or that’s what I hear.)

Personally I’m a big fan of the unibody design (I tend to ding up my laptops, but my current one looks great even after a year.) Also, the service you get from the Apple Store is (usually) first-rate. If there’s one close by, that might be reason enough.

#18

Makes sense, Solai. LIke I said, my iMac is slowing down, and if I save the bucks on the laptop, I’m at least halfway home for the replacement on my main machine.

So what’s a good over-the-counter PC laptop?

I just need surfing and burning power, no gaming, no high fire power necessary. The computer will probably just sit around the house; I don’t see me taking it anywhere or lugging it around. Won’t need to run more than a browser and iTunes at the same time.

Thanks again, everyone. I’ve got a head full of this, that, and the other thing this week. And all the help is making this much easier to process.

#19

Pike, this is a total myth. I kicked the crap out of my PC iTunes and when I went to Mac I discovered they did such a good job on the PC version it was exacTly the same as on a Mac.

I swear by Dell. They have got a bad rap recently for their Optiplex line, but then again, the Optiplex line was always craaaaaap. Go Dell. Solid, good support, great machine. (or whatever, low-cost PC laptop will be a treat)

#20

Really? There sure is a lot of bitching about it. Might be just PC fanbois who resent having Apple software.

I swear by Dell. They have got a bad rap recently for their Optiplex line, but then again, the Optiplex line was always craaaaaap. Go Dell. Solid, good support, great machine. (or whatever, low-cost PC laptop will be a treat)

I’d be super cautious about Dell, just from their reaction to the problems.

Cory Doctorow is a huge ThinkPad proponent, but then you’re back in the Mac’s price range.