Posted on by Eugene Cho

pc vs mac: what laptop should i get?

Last year, I indicated that I was in the market for a new laptop and asked folks which way I should go:  PC or Mac?  The discussion was pretty spirited.  I also got some additional hate mail for my post entitled Why the Iphone Sucks which pretty much demonstrates my envy of iPhone users.  I never got a new laptop then but now I actually need to get a new or used laptop.  Our family is selling some stuff to help us get through some financial situations but thankfully, the church is supplying a laptop I can use.  Another big reason why I need to get a new laptop is the Dell m1210 [12.1 in screen] I was using [which I really like] was causing some painful traces of carpel tunnel  because of the cramped keyboard and that’s not good.

While I’d love to hear what your honest recommendations are. I’m not going to get a Mac simply because the budget I have from the church is $800 and well, we all know that Macs cost a pretty penny.

  • What laptop & model would you suggest for that budget?
  • What do you personally use?  I’m curious to see the numbers between PC vs Macs.  If you use a PC, what brand?
  • How many of you have made the move to a Netbook?

I have four reasons why I won’t get a Mac – even though I’m a fan of Steve Jobs:

  1. I live in Seattle and just feel a sense of loyalty to Microsoft.  I support Microsoft because I like to support local small businessess. 🙂  And the fact that we have at least a dozen or so folks at the church I pastor that work at Microsoft factors in that loyalty. If I were pastoring in Silicon Valley, I’m sure I’d be using Macs – especially if they got me a massive discount.  Plus, I don’t know if I could face Tim Sneath in my board meetings [his former title at Microsoft used to be “Microsoft Evangelist”…bizarre].
  2. Macs are expensive.  Way way way more expensive.  I still wonder if they are worth the extra money?
  3. They still seem really trendy to me.  I know that my friend JP “Mac Hero” truly enjoys the company because he was using it in 1992 when I first met him but as for others, you are blinded by ‘the cool factor.’  He was the only person that I knew that was using it back then.   Anyone else?   Every time I bust out my PC, I can’t tell you how many folks have said, “Wow, I thought you would have been a Mac user.”  I guess I’m just not “that cool.”
  4. The majority of my 13 person staff use Macs and even my Children’s Director, Katey, has switched over.  Katey, Katey, Katey…how could you? I met with the entire worship crew yesterday and I was surrounded by Macs everywhere.  I feel like I am the Last of the PC.Mohicans.

Now, of course, if someone wants to get me a Mac…that changes everything.  🙂

86 Replies to “pc vs mac: what laptop should i get?”

  3. I’m a Quester on occasion, and a Computer Science major at SPU. I’m a PC man myself, although I run Linux, which isn’t Microsoft, so I apologize for any hard feelings.

    As for models, I have a Dell, and I like it a lot. If you’re looking for something sturdy and solid, a Lenovo Thinkpad is also a good option – they have a good reputation, and they have some good deals too.

    From my experience, especially laptops, I dislike HP/Compaq and Acer, and am rather ambivalent about Toshiba and Sony.

    Bottom line? Go for a Dell or a Thinkpad would be my vote. Either one is nice – a Thinkpad is a little more solid, I think, but Dell will sometimes have some really awesome deals, and are a pretty solid brand as well, but both have good options around the $800 price point.

    http://www.dell.com
    http://www.lenovo.com

  6. If you buy mac, you can install vista, and linux. If you buy PC, you can install linux too. I like to run linux because it’s beautiful 🙂 (like Gospel, it’s also free! talk about beauty and depravity!! :)) And I am used to PC’s keyboard and mouse.

    S

  7. There are 5 Dells in my house right now. Brand loyalty, maybe? I’ve used Dells since college, and they’re great. I agree with Joel to stay away from HP. They just seem chinsy to me.

    I think the most important thing is to be sure and reformat your computer as soon as you get it. If you get a new computer, it comes with all this crap on it. (Computer people actually refer to this as ‘crapware.’) That crap slows down your computer by running all these unnecessary processes (think: trial versions of AOL, Norton AntiVirus, etc.). If you wipe your computer clean right after you get it and re-install only what you want (the OS, Office, etc.), your computer will perform wayyy better.

  8. just became a mac user 8 months ago…and i’ll never go back. an expensive dell costs more than a mac book, so they aren’t THAT expensive for something basic (still better than an expensive dell). the reasons for why to get a mac are endless.

    1. only catch is that on an expensive dell you generally get a 3 year warranty… also you pay extra for newer parts that won’t come out on a macbook for several months

  9. Stop wasting your time and money. Get a mac brother. I’ve had one six months and have had no problems. Get the microsoft apps for ease your conscience. They are better on mac.

    Yes, it’s a little more money, but you only live once. Say goodbye to the many, and go with the few.

  11. Megan’s advice for PCs is sound, but you definitely need to have good virus/malware protection at all times (I speak from the experience of having had to help many, many people over the years recover from infections).

    I’m interested in the rapidly developing netbook segment, because it really does seem to hit the sweet spot of “good enough, fast enough, and cheap enough” for lots of people. I don’t actually expect Apple to compete directly with PC netbooks (as in create a tinier MacBook), but wouldn’t be surprised if they introduce a new product in between the $300 iPhone and the $1000 MacBook. If I had to choose one, though, I’d go with the Samsung NC10 for its 10″ screen, nearly full-sized keyboard, and battery life.

    You CAN get a refurb MacBook Air (13″ screen, full-size keyboard) for $999 from the Store. For the same price, I think the current entry level MacBook is a far better value. And, as others have pointed out, you can have your (Mac) cake and eat (your PC), too, through great virtualization options.

    p.s. it’s true: if you cut me, I will bleed six colors.

  12. i recently went to a mac because of video editing and i’ll never go back. we decided we needed to step some things up at church in presentation and video capabilities, so we started with a Dell. bad idea jeans. i almost threw it throug a window on numerous occasions. now the dell has a virus. the mac rules. i drank the kool-aid. you can too!

  14. budget it the big one, Apple tends to produce higher spec’s machines. If money were not an issue I would say MacBookPro without a doubt, but if you want a 14.1 screen on the laptop for under $800 then I guess you gotta find the best performing mongrel in park.

  15. PE, you need to quit HATIN’! i switched to mac because i had THREE PC’s die on me in less than 4 years. so if we’re talking about value, my mac was a much better investment. trend shmend! if it works well and gets the job done, that’s all that matters to me.

    i challenge any PC user to a bulletin-insert off! i will DOMINATE.
    😀

  16. I think Jeff Lam nailed it. The low-end macbook is a fantastic machine for the price. High-end models make you pay through the nose but I’d be surprised if Apple made more than a small profit off the low-end macs.

    And I don’t just use them for the cool factor 🙂 I switched from Linux to Mac because it’s so incredibly reliable and all my developer friends use them as workhorses. No viruses, a machine that will last several years even under heavy use, and you’ll instantly be compatible with everybody at the church.

    The thing about macs is that they took a super-durable server-grade kernel (the nerdiest part of the operating system) and added the world’s best interface to it. It’s gorgeous and I haven’t had to reboot my computer in months.

    But I won’t hate if you go with something else 😉

  17. Darwin just brought home an eeePC and the thing is cute as a button and light as a feather. Don’t know how fast it is and the screen was pretty small but that thing would be rad for school especially since I’m planning on commuting on my bike instead of driving.

    But.

    But I’m a Mac and once you go Mac…

    Oh, and I was a Mac user back when it was still running OS9.

    Good luck with finding your new computer – I know what a hassle that can be…unless you’re going with an Apple where the choices are much clearer and easier to make (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

  18. After a few PC users amongst the early commenters, I was wondering when the Mac evangelists would come out.

    @randall: i’m assuming eeePC is a netbook. i have yet to see anyone use one with the exception of one person i traveled to africa with.

  19. Eugene, I don’t know how you are holding out. I respect that. The worship team looks at me like I am crazy every time I say I am not sure if I can throw done the cash for a mac. I think I am going to cave and go mac when it comes time to replace my 5.5 year old Dell in the next few months.

  22. I’m a Mac guy, got converted last spring quarter, but I do still like PC’s. So I’m not a crazy fan boy. And I completely understand what you mean by not being sure about the prices for a Macbook, but I think it’s worth it (I have one). But anyway! On to the important thing, a new notebook for you that’s not to expensive.

    Here’s what I’ve been noticing recently (there’ve been some decent notebook sales recently at newegg.com):

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114611

    a decent 2.16 Ghz Intel dual core
    2GB of DDR2 RAM (a good amount of good quality RAM)
    160GB Hard Drive at 5400 RPM (average speed, decent size; if you really want more space I highly suggest that you save your cash and get an external hard drive at:http://3btech.net/harddrives-ex.html)
    and a DVD-Player
    it’s a Toshiba, not a bad brand, not a wonderful brand, get the warranty.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114613

    basically the same thing as above, but a newer model and with a larger hard drive. it also got better ratings but customers. but a lot more expensive.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834117868

    2.16 Ghz Intel dual core processor
    3GB DDR2 RAM (%150 of the other laptops, but you probably won’t need it)
    250 GB Hard Drive 5400rpm
    DVD-Player
    Sony Vaio

    This one is a bit pricier than the other two, but it’s a Sony (a good company), and the vaio is one of their much better laptops. However, you will be paying for the brand name.

    That’s what I’ve found, I’d lean towards the Vaio if I were you, but I also really like Sony. Hope that helps!

  23. The new XPS studio looks very nice. Both the 13s and 16s but they cost a pretty penny as well. Clearly, the netbooks won’t work for you since you mentioned you’ll be doing some video editing.

    I really don’t think you can go wrong with Dells and Vaios IMO.

    Macs are nice. But I still don’t think they are worth the money. I know plenty of people that have Macs and have had them break in the first year. The nice thing about Macs is that you’ve got the Apple store nearby.

  24. Speaking of deals, I found this at Costco. It’s a dang good deal.

    http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11378178

    This 1.4″-thick, 6.1-lb. laptop features an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1GHz dual-core processor, 15.4″ 1280×800 widescreen LCD, 4GB RAM, 300GB hard drive, Blu-ray reader / DVD burner, HDMI output, media card reader, NVIDIA 8400M 256MB graphics, 802.11n wireless, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

  25. How many times has this post been rehashed? 🙂 I’ll toss in my two cents as usual. Over the years, I’ve built, owned, worked on, or repaired close to a hundred laptops for work or personal use- Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Mac, Sony, HP, Toshiba, Gateway, Alienware, Compaq, Acer, and everything in between.

    Each brand has its own pros, cons, and quality fluctuations, but given your price point and likely usage, I’d agree with an earlier poster who recommended either Lenovo or Dell. You’ll save a little with Dell as you just can’t beat their price/feature value, but a Thinkpad is also a good way to go if you need “business grade” reliability and construction.

    Macs may look sexier, but I think value is sexy. Speaking of value, netbooks are the future, and it’s win/win for all notebooks as they are driving all the prices of mainstream laptops down.

  26. It’s easy to want to drool over Mac products but a budget is a budget. I bought a Toshiba laptop for about $500 on sale plus a rebate. I have been so happy with it. It does everything I need it to do. Why do I need a Mac?

  27. I’ve been a mac user since 1993. 🙂 I’ve used very up-to-date Macs at work, and older macs at home. Only one of all those computers ever died on me, and that was a powerpc way back about 1999. Last fall I bought a Macbook Pro laptop — lovely machine and it’s worked very well. I work at a university so I got a good deal on an previous generation model (just after Apple introduced the newest models), but you can find good deals through sites such as lowendmac.com (they track the lowest prices from Apple and other authorized retailers)

    For work we use Macs because we prepare publications for printing, so we use high-end creative software. (We have Mac Pro desktops at work) But I can use the same software on my laptop and see no downgrade in quality. Except for the size of screen, I could probably use my laptop for work.

    Yes a Mac will cost a little more, but they are very reliable and give good value. (We upgraded at work because of improvements in the software we use, not because our older Macs were dying. They were still working very well.)

    Still, you should go with what you’re comfortable with. My Mac is shiny and cool, but I use it because it works well and a Mac is what I’m most comfortable with. But I know other people who use PCs that say the same thing about their computers. Get the best computer you can afford and you’ll probably be happy with it. (But I don’t think you would be disappointed in a Mac — not because it looks good, but because it works and doesn’t require a lot of fussing with.)

  28. #4 sounds more like a reason TO get a mac, haha.

    For me, i just switched last year to a macbook pro.

    reasons?

    1. Mac has always been a more stable, more native format for Graphic/Web design.
    2. These days, the software availability is much, much higher than five years ago when i bought the last laptop i had (Toshiba). Also programs like Crossover let you run PC programs natively INSIDE Mac Os X, no awkward turtle dualbooting necessary.
    3. I had a $900 budget myself, and sent an email similar to this post to several tech savvy people and about three or four of them told me to order a macbook pro and they would all cover the different. 😀 I love Community.

    So you can put me down for $50 toward a Mac if you change your mind. 🙂

  31. Yep, I agree about getting the special deal in August. We were blown away by it. I have had Dell laptops and we have a Dell desktop now, but when my husband got his Mac for seminary, it blew both of us away. It is faster, cleaner, virus free (and viruses are a HUGE deal on PCs). As someone that has both, i definitely recommend a Mac. It will last longer.

  32. @drewplaysdrums: dude, very generous of you. but that’s cool. but i will send you a support letter for the poverty org we’re starting and you’re more than welcome to donate that $50 towards that.

  33. Hi Eugene,

    I was a pc person but work bought me a macbook pro. My kids use a regular macbook at school. I’m not one of the Apple cultists, but I would encourage you to get one for some of the reasons mentioned above:
    1. You are doing video work – mac is much better
    2. When you start adding the cost of anti-virus software and their updates each year for the pc, their cost will be equal or greater than the mac.
    3. I understand your loyalty to the Microsoft people in your congregation. When I was a pastor, I tried to shop at the small local grocery store rather than the cheaper Super Wal-Mart as a way of supporting the church member who owned the smaller store. The truth is that Microsoft uses Macs to do a lot of their design work (I know this from person who did design work with MS).

    If you still need to do PC, then go with the Dell or Lenovo.

  34. I would recommend and use a little netbook PC called the MSI Wind U100. It sells on Amazon for about $500. I was able to get my payments on it deferred for a year.

    If all you need the laptop for is browsing the web and doing word or excel documents then this netbook should do the trick. I have seen video’s of people playing games like WoW on it though.

    This netbook offers quite a lot compared to other netbooks of around the same price. It has a 10″ screen instead of a 8.5″ screen and fits nicely into my small backpack. It has a near full size keyboard that is easy to use. It has a up to a 160GB Harddrive. And has a 6 cell battery that lasts up to 5 and a half hours. If you keep the netbook shut when you are not using it the battery can last all day. More Specs: http://tinyurl.com/5y3jol

    Bang for the buck I can’t recommend a better system. It came highly rated online which is what drew me to it. I had never bought an MSI before.

    The only annoying thing about the system is that the trackpad treats a tap like a left mouse click. It is really easy to accidentally tap the trackpad and have the cursor fly off somewhere. There are drivers out now that allow you to disable the tap for click. I just disable the trackpad when typing documents (Function Key + F3).

    Hope this helps.

    -Jason Ernsdorff

  35. It is funny how the anti-conformity ethos of Macs has morphed into mainstream consumer culture. I personally like Macs because they do not crash like PCs, no drivers, no virus, and my work related software runs Macs. For the green perspective, check out this article and consider the XO.

    http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/19/is-it-green-the-new-macbooks/#more-19543

    I was planning on using an old MacMini (old meaning 3 years-old in the ‘replace every 2 generation’) as a dedicated music server, but if you can use it for your poverty organization, it is yours. It comes with a Sony 17 LCD monitor, Photoshop, Illustrator…

  37. I have an HP laptop about 1.5 years old now. Solid. No problems. All these people saying Windows Vista has issues… not sure what they’re doing with their machines. I’ve never had virus issues on any of my PCs.

    I have flirted with the MacBook… had the 15″ one and then the 17″, but felt limited. Not sure why. Probably because more apps are made for Windows than OS X, plus I am a business user. If I was purely consumer, I’d probably lean toward the Mac. Example, Outlook web interface absolutely horrible on Safari. It’s best on Explorer. Of course it is.

    For fun, I’ve been tempted to buy the aluminum unibody 13″ MacBook. Nice unit, but does it do more for me at close to $2K out the door? Not sure. Don’t care. You can do everything you want on either platform. The fact of the matter is, Apple’s computer market share is still a sliver and has grown at a snail’s pace even in midst of this whole iPhone/iPod craze.

    As for the iPhone, it’s not an efficient unit. The touch keyboard slows you down, period.

  38. btw, my macbook, is not all that stable, imo. I have to reboot it as often as my vista machine. usability is nice, but still, a bit quirky.

    And does ANYBODY else have a problem with apple RAISING prices on their computers when the economy plumets, and everyone else is discounting? not cool imo.

  39. I don’t use my laptop for video work and therefore I prefer PC. I got a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ14OE about a year ago. Big screen, nice keyboard, lots of power, sleek look. I’ve used Dell Inspiron laptops before and my son has one; they’re solid but I like this machine a lot. Out of your immediate price range but with a little searching around and somebody willing to get your budget up 4 or 5 hundred more you’re in play.

  43. Regarding being “trendy”: David is right; cheap is the new chic.

    OTOH, while macs are cool, people who are so cool they don’t need to buy cool stuff might opt for a p.c. Because a really cool person wouldn’t run the risk of buying the cool thing because people might think think that he needs the really cool thing to show that he’s cool, whereas a really cool person does not need anything to show that he’s cool. But you are cooler than those people, who buy something uncool just to show how cool they are. So a really, truly cool person could buy the product that uncool people buy in order to be cool, and be the coolest of all.

    Or you could just duct tape your glasses to completely offset any impact of the computer on your image.

    ; )

  46. on the 8th day God created Mac’s….

    Really though, I have been using mac since they came out…not because of the cool factor, but because of the better platform factor…they don’t crash…nothing compares for graphic or music apps…it just seems to not be a “computer” that does tasks, but more integrated part of life 🙂

    I have my church staff on Macs and would never go back to PC’s again (even though I have many micro-softers in my church) also remember, Bill Gates has huge share in Apple 🙂

    So eject the “cool factor” and buy a mac simply becaus eit is a far better investment!

    MC

  47. I LOVE MY MAC! But I understand! If you can do it, I would say go for it, they run smoother, they are smoother, and dang-it…. they just look cool! 🙂 I just recently switched over (after using one at work for a year) and I LOVE IT! However, my boss also just bought a PC to replace his crashed lap-top… so… from someone in the photo/graphic biz, you find both. If you are just word processing, etc, buy a PC – if you gotta! 😉

  48. I would say it depends on you and what you need a computer for. It seems to me that people who are more into working with code and creating programs for others tend to prefer PCs. However, if you are more of an artistic person who wants to use a computer for video, photo, music, graphic design or other more artistic endeavors then Mac is the way to go hands down. I used to use a dell laptop and our family has a very powerful dell desktop but neither compare to my MacBook Pro. I have been using Mac for about a year and a half and until PCs match the quality of programing that Mac has I won’t switch back.

    Cheers,
    Matt

  49. Re: Your Four Reasons

    #1: do you also use Hotmail??
    #2: absolutely worth the extra money. BMW’s aren’t just pretty, there’s a lot happening underneath the hood
    #3: you are way cool (and trendy) and you know it! (ie., WordPress blog, Facebook account, cool YouTube vids, magazine covers, N.P.O., cafe, a church that meets in a cafe, beret, child recorded clip of you playing basketball, etc) =P
    #4: a better reference would be ‘last of the PC-dinosaurs’.

    nobody mentions all the cool software for creativity and productivity. facial recognition in iPhoto, editing HD movies in iMovie, productivity tools like Yojimbo and DevonThink. PC smashing utilities like Quicksilver and LaunchBar.

    i’m willing to make up the difference in budget if your serious about the switch…!

  50. I’m a Mac convert, all the way. The thing I love about it is its user friendliness… I am not a technology guy, and Mac is just way more intuitive for me. It just… makes sense.

    I know a guy who got a MacBook Pro for $300 because he’s a freakishly good deal hunter. I could get you in touch with him.

    Or maybe… you could buy the PC and STILL have a Mac: http://i.gizmodo.com/5156903/how-to-hackintosh-a-dell-mini-9-into-the-ultimate-os-x-netbook

    🙂

  51. I switched to a MacBook a little over a year ago after 25 years of PCs… it’s great, but I’m not a diehard, I could see myself going back if (far future) versions of Windows make it worthwhile.

    Otherwise, I agree with everyone else, Lenovo Thinkpads are awesome, dell is a close second choice.

    I just got a Netbook (HP Mini 1000) this weekend – so far its nice as a second, more portable computer….. but I can’t see it making my Macbook sit on the shelf collecting dust.

  52. @d: you are too generous brother. but it’s ok. i’d rather you eventually invest in our vision to fight global poverty when we launch.

    to your questions:
    #1: kind of as a secondary email.
    #2: i agree. i guess if money wasn’t a problem, i may consider mac.
    #3: hmm. maybe that’s why i’m still holding out to keep some semblance of un-trendiness.

  53. fyi. video editing on the cheapest regular macbook – don’t even try. it’s too underpowered. if you really want to do vid editing, etc., you have to pony up the 1500+ for the pro. boo!

  55. another question to consider is how long do you want to use the laptop before having to buy another? Try not to aim too low least you spend more on fixing and maintenance and ultimately another low spec’d machine in the near future – as apposed to another high spec’s machine in the far future.

  56. I have to say that I too was in the market for a new computer after my desktop crashed and my laptop starting going south on me. I also heard the ‘get a mac’ from numerous friends. I wanted a Macbook pro… too much money for what was in the budget. So the dilemma was on. What to get? Well, I looked and I looked and then I looked some more. I researched and researched and then researched some more. My wife and I discussed and… well, you get the picture. After all this, I finally did it, no, I did not get the Macbook pro, but instead bought what I could afford and the happen to be the iMac, 20 inch desktop.

    I have now had the desktop for 5 days and can honestly say that what I have discovered to do with it, I love. I have a lot more to discover and am amazed each time I find something new.

    My two cents to the conversation.

    Robert

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  59. Pastor Eugene,

    Sorry to chime in from afar. But I have to help a Lowellite.

    You have to base your decision on your needs over the next 3 years, but I would have to say that any $ you save going with PC today will be quickly lost to time on IT support. I make my living on a windows product; I have used windows since version 2.x and even played with NeXT. Today, I use Vista at work and it’s quite disappointing. The smartest investment I made was switching to Mac for personal/church use.

    Unless you can get a deep discount from your MSFT friends, you should be moving to Mac because it is more secure, easier to maintain, and because there is very little chance that Windows 7 will surpass Snow Leopard for that which applies to you. MSFT makes it’s money in the corporate PC market for which you are not the primary audience.

    While I do understand your desire to be loyal to Redmond over Cupertino, you are doing your MSFT friends a favor by choosing the competitively better product. MSFT needs to wake up to the reality that they are the monopolist who fails to innovate. Unless you need to do programming for a Windows corporate environment, there is no reason for you to go PC.

  61. I forgot to add a potential deciding factor for you. Dual-language use is far superior on Mac OS X than Windows. (based on first hand experience having both Korean and Japanese direct family members). For example, on windows you have to buy foreign language CD burner software just to archive on Windows to foreign language filenames.

  62. I found iPhoto somewhat disappointing because I don’t have much control over the audio soundtrack accompanying the slideshow. I had more audio editing options in MS Photo Story and Movie Maker though these were unwieldy programs to work with.

    iPhoto is very easy to use and a slideshow with an audio soundtrack can be created in less than a minute thanks to all the automatic features.

    But… if I want more control over certain elements of the slideshow, iPhoto seems limited.

    I also want to include short video clips as part of the slideshow which means transitioning from stills to animation/video and back to more groups of stills (photos). I don’t know if iPhoto can do this – I’ll go try it ‘n’ add a short video clip to a slideshow.

    It was a very simple process burning the slideshow onto a DVD that would play in most stand alone DVD players. I had to use Nero for this sort of thing when using Windows XP – but maybe I just wasn’t the most adept Windows user. Still, after using MacOS for a matter of days, I was able to create and burn a slideshow almost immediately.

    Microsoft’s Photo Story and Movie Maker were a real bitch to use. It took me so long to make an hour long slideshow because I had to make little groups of slides – called “clips” I think – and import them into Windows Movie Maker along side the little video clips I wanted to use. I could then add audio clips at certain points in the “show” which I something I can’t do in iPhoto.

    So, where am I going with this? Well, I’m still a new Mac user so am not aware of all this machine’s capabilities and “ease of use-iveness”. 🙂

    I want to get into photo and video and sound editing and slideshows and fear neither Microsoft, nor Apple offer a robust solution for people who want more control over elements and objects in their in-house applications like iPhoto or Photo Story.

    I think ulimately I’d dump iPhoto and use Adobe’s Lightroom as the photo database and other Adobe editing products. I mean, iPhoto has some nice features like face recognition or whatever, but Lightroom seems to offer more (maybe not face recognition though.) 🙂

    I’m rambling a bit but the main point I suppose I am driving at is this:

    If one intends to use – for example – Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and Premiere and so on, why spend big on relatively underpowered/underspec’d Mac hardware?

    Wouldn’t I just need a robust, stable platform on which to run the third party applications and can’t a Dell, for example, provide this?

    Some participants in this forum have written that Macs are better for graphic or creative work. I think this was the case when desktop publishing was pretty-much a Mac-only domain in the days when Adobe PageMaker was only running on MacOS but this is back in the 1980s and ’90s. Why is this the case if Adobe software is available for Windows too?

    If we don’t fill a Windows PC with heaps of junk software as an happen if we get too carried away with Bittorrent or whatever, is there any reason we can’t have a solid Windows platform to run all the software we need to be creative and productive?

    I gotta say though, that things seem to just work better on this little old G4 I’m using right now. If I stick in a DVD it plays straight away in a simply and slick environment. If I tried this on the WinXP desktop I was recently using – inserting a DVD movie, that is – nothing would happen. I think I was using an old version of Media Player though.

    I dunno, I like the look of the Dell Studio Laptops. They can be spec’d up to have real big hard drives in ’em and it is tempting to give Windows one last try… but… I’ve always been disappointed in the past and have never really given MacOS a good try. It’s just that iPhoto has been a little bit disappointing and I reckon I’ll go with Lightroom and other third party creative/graphic/design/audio software making the MacOS and environment somewhat redundant.

    Just my two cents I suppose. Or probably more like three Aussie cents. 🙂

    I think if the OP can maintain a stable PC running Vista or “7” and install fully featured intuitive applications that meet his needs, I can’t see why there would be a need for a machine which costs a lot more money. I’d be inclined to divert any savings to beefing up the PC hardware maybe. For example, I’d like a 1TB drive on a laptop if possible and maybe a better graphics card.

    But I am very open to being enlightened on this because I am using a PowerBook right now and want to give MacOS a fair go. 🙂

    Thanks. 🙂

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  64. HI THERE YOU WANT TOO KNOW WHAT TOO GET PC OR MAC YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE NEWS EXPENSIVE YOU SHOULD GO FOR THE 13 INCH MACBOOK WITH A 2.4 GHZ DUO CORE 4 GB OF RAM AND A WHOPPING 256 GB SSD SOLID STATE FLASH DRIVE SHOULD RUN YOU AROUND $2,550 I KNOW THAT I WILL DO JUST THAT GO SSD COMPUTERS OR A DELL XPS 13 STUDIO WITH 8 GB OF RAM AND A 256 GB SSD TOO IF YOU WANTED A PC WITH A SSD DRIVE IN IT

  65. HI THERE YOU WANT TOO KNOW WHAT TOO GET PC OR MAC YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE NEWS EXPENSIVE YOU SHOULD GO FOR THE 13 INCH MACBOOK WITH A 2.4 GHZ DUO CORE 4 GB OF RAM AND A WHOPPING 256 GB SSD SOLID STATE FLASH DRIVE SHOULD RUN YOU AROUND $2,550 I KNOW THAT I WILL DO JUST THAT GO SSD COMPUTERS OR A DELL XPS 13 STUDIO WITH 8 GB OF RAM AND A 256 GB SSD TOO IF YOU WANTED A PC WITH A SSD DRIVE IN IT

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  67. Hey Eugene–I’ve stayed out of this for a long time, but I’ve got to say if you consider the half-life of a computer, and if you don’t feel like reformatting your hard drive every year in order to maintain performance, the Mac is the best use of funds, hands down. I tend to get a new computer about every 3-5 years, but I pass along still functioning Macs to kids, grandkids, and friends when I upgrade. I’ve been using personal computers since 1984, thru DOS, the first Macs, Windows, and OS 10, and the Macs just work. They also are supported better than my experience with Dell or HP.

    If you’re going to work with graphics files, video, or like me you are a person who leaves five apps open and running at the same time, go Mac my brother. My 3 year old MacBook black case still runs everything, even though the maximum RAM is 2 Gig. I’ve installed a 320 Gig HD in it, and run Parallels with XP Pro for the network stuff that I have to do. But it is light years better than the Hp 17″ laptop with Vista Ultimate that wouldn’t pair with a video projector without coaxing, ate the contents of my inbox for no reason, and would choose to stop running my Logos software from time to time. Join the movement!

  68. Mac all the way, go for it! In this case you get what you pay for. I’ve owned one for a year and have never had a virus, You can run eight different things at the same time in spaces, tech support is the best ever, and if that’s not enough it’s easier to use with out all of those annoying pop ups. Anyone who has used a mac could never go back to that start button. It costs a little more but remember this is a investment that yo”ll own for years. Check out I photo! Or time machine, no need to worry about your computer crashing anymore.

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  72. For me, after twenty years using various Windows machines – from the 386 to the Pentium IV – I just got sick ‘n’ tired of ’em.

    For me, the seeds of my journey down the Apple Rabbit Hole were sewn after using an iPod with iTunes on my PC.

    The seamless integration of the iPod with iTunes – and the use of the iTunes software in general – really grew on me.

    This level of hardware/software integration just didn’t feel the same on my PC, which felt kind of clunky in comparison. My PC did still get me from “A to Be” so to speak, but it felt like I was getting there the hard way.

    I started drooling over the latest iMacs thinking I wanted increase my investment in the “Apple Experience” when the time was right.

    Just compare the simplicity of the iPod or iPhone design – the hardware and the software (which includes iTunes)- with that offered by Windows and others.

    If you are pleased with this integration, just imagine what the experience might be like with a “PC” built by Apple and running an Apple operating system like OS X.

    I just seem like… I dunno… “Intelligent Design”. 🙂

  73. Hi Eugene!

    This is late, but just wanted to chime in… I got a refurbished Gateway laptop running Vista from CompUSA.com about 10 months ago and it’s been great so far. I have been using a Mac G5 at school for design work (Adobe, Final Cut Studio) and it shuts down on me when I run the more memory intensive programs. It seems that for what you want to do a PC will work just fine, at half the cost.

    p.s. I’ve been keeping up with your RSS feed, congrats on meeting the ODW goal 🙂

  75. I lov the macs. I’ve been a mac user since tiger because that’s when I switched from pc. Pcs and macs are both good. It depends on what you are using the computer for. My old 2005 MacBook is still working very well and has survived all this time. If you are into creating media, go with mac. Gaming and programs are more universal with pc. I still use mac. My parents bought the MacBook pro and enjoy it. It is extremely fast, but very expensive. Bestbuy.com is the best place to search. They have both types of computers.

  76. I switched to Mac after Vista came out. I don’t do a lot of media/creative work, but just spend a lot of time working on my comp thru web browsing, email, word processing, and a few other activities.

    I used to have to reboot my PC a couple times a day, because it would lock up or start bogging down on me.

    It got to the point where it began to seriously affect my productivity. So, I decided to make the switch and have had no regrets since. I think that Apple laptops (especially if you get a 13 inch) are comparable in price and definitely out-perform any PC, hands down. It’s not the spex that matter, but operating system.

    I’ve quickly been won to the other side. Using a Mac is simpler, easier, and more efficient.

  77. I just finished taking Statistics 213 at Hunter College and want to add a statistical note: Since Mac people are more excitable about their brand and since the poll is non-scientific (i.e. voluntary) the number of votes in favor of Macs should be multiplied by some fraction of 1.

  78. Getting a mac is just retarded. on mac you dont have any freedome at all. The OS Sucks, they are too expencive when you think about what you are getting for the same money you can buy a awesome PC that perform Even better than any mac. Also mac have a compitability problem when it comes to games and programs. On top of that you are stuck with a Retarded interface. annoying as hell jumping Icons in the dock and just to close a application you have to click so many times.. Now try to upgrade a mac with a nice pice of hardware first you will need a bazooka to crack it open just to realize that mac dont support the hardware you just installed!!! then try to do the same thing on a PC all you need is a screwdriver. and after that you install the driver WOhoo it work’s !! to put it like this MAC IS FOR RETARDED PEOPLE !!! I DO JUDGE ALL OF YOU. !!!! AND I ALMOST HATE YOU TOO!!!!

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