any mac users here? looking for a laptop

[MantaBase]

Originally Posted by screwballl

when looking through mac information and forums and sites online, remember to keep this in mind:

DailyTech - Mac Use Leads To "Snob-Effect"

Tell me about it - you wouldn't believe the crap I've had to sift through at Mac forums to get to a real answer. I think some Mac users feel they need to defend Macs 24/7 - even on a Mac forum.

Q: How can I stealth ports on my G5?

A: I don't know why you need to - Macs don't have security issues.

Reply: Why is not important - I just want to. DO you know how?

A: There's no need to.

Eventually, I got an answer. Heaven only knows what I would have gotten if I tried to inform them that indeed Macs - like any system - still need security.

/rant

I personaly like my workstation (Mac) - but I also like our Cad station (PC)

Manta

[gamerfreak]

Originally Posted by MantaBase

Eventually, I got an answer. Heaven only knows what I would have gotten if I tried to inform them that indeed Macs - like any system - still need security.

/rant

I personally like my workstation (Mac) - but I also like our Cad station (PC)

Manta

I couldn't agree more. I have never seen such a snobby fanbase when it comes to defending what they are into. Either way, the high price point on a mac is somewhat justified with the quality you are getting, and the the amount of support you get if something does go wrong.

What CAD software are you using manta?

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by gamerfreak

I couldn't agree more. I have never seen such a snobby fanbase when it comes to defending what they are into.

I'm sure the snobbery and elite-ism doesn't stem from fanboi's feeling compelled to validate their purchase decision of a Mac over a Windows machine because they spent twice the money on a product that is both over-hyped and over priced.

[azianai]

The best gaming notebook company i can possibly offer is Sager
Absolutely amazing notebooks, and cost cheaper than any overpriced Dell XPS of same config.

And screwball, i was being sarcastic with it hence why i put it in quotes, i just saying what one of my professors who gave me 90 on a report i did between PC and Mac computers because she said i was wrong that the same parted PC costs at least 30% less than the Mac, and that Mac parts are the same -_-;;

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by azianai

The best gaming notebook company i can possibly offer is Sager

Technically, Sager notebooks are built off Compal whitebooks. But yes, I agree with you that Sager notebooks, particularly their NP2090 (or Compal IFL90 as they are commonly known by) are extremely good gaming machines. What they lack in style and looks, they make up for in sheer gaming performance.

Originally Posted by azianai

Absolutely amazing notebooks, and cost cheaper than any overpriced Dell XPS of same config.

This is semi-true, depending on how you configure the Sager/Compal notebook. Dell offers pretty nice discounts/coupon codes that make purchasing an XPS laptop machine extremely affordable. Ever since HP has taken the market share of laptops sold/purchased in the entire world (some 20 percent to Dell's 15 percent), Dell has been scrambling to gain market favor back by resorting to discounts and coupon codes.

[okron1k]

i think vista is xp trying to be like osx but failing. especially UAC. blah

i keep changing my mind on this matter.. i was pretty convinced earlier today to get a windows laptop and a new mac mini.. now i figure i don't really need both.. if i get a mactop i have no use for a mac mini. maybe i can integrate it into one of my cars?

[gamerfreak]

I was interested to see how grossly overpriced mac books really are. I did a bit of research, and found these comparisons:

Everyday I hear how OVERPRICED Macs are compared to other computers. Even I believed this myth to a certain extent, even though I'm a Mac user. So I went on the Dell and HP web sites to do a comparison between their machines and Apple's MacBook and Mac Pro, just for kicks.

First of all, let me say that I priced laptops that had almost exactly the same specs as the MacBook. The Dell laptops with 13.3 inch screen had no option for 2 Gigabytes of RAM, so I defaulted all the models in the comparison to 4 GB. I also couldn't find an HP laptop with a 13.3 screen, but I think the comparison still proves my point. I also defaulted the Dell and HP models to Vista Ultimate because as you probably know, OS X comes with ALL the features in one version. There is no Home or Professional edition of OS X. This is what I came up with:

Dell XPS M1330
13.3 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Vista Ultimate
4 GB RAM
200 GB hard drive 7200 RPM (No 250 option for Dell)
CD/DVD Burner
128 MB nVidia GeForce 8400M GS

Price: $1,824.00

MacBook
13.3 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X Leopard
4 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive 5400 RPM
Double-Layer SuperDrive
144 MB Intel GMA X3100

Price: $1,799.00

HP Pavilion dv2700t
14.1 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2
Vista Ultimate
4 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive 5400 RPM
DVD/RW Double Layer
128 MB Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS

Price: $1,884.99

In the Mac Pro comparison, I also sought out machines made by Dell and HP that had similar specs. Because it was so difficult to find a Dell with specs above Quad level, I defaulted all the processors to around 2.8 GHz Quad processors, which is the lowest processor that Apple offers for their Mac Pros. This is what I came up with:

Dell XPS 720
2.93 GHz Intel Quad Core
Vista Ultimate
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
CD/DVD Double Layer Drive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $3.529.00

Mac Pro
2.8 GHz Intel Quad Core
OS X
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
Double-Layer SuperDrive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $2,599.00

(Someone tried to argue that this price was wrong because Apple's default model is a 2.8 GHz 8-CORE model, but there is an option for a 2.8 GHz QUAD model for $500 less if you go to the configuration page on Apple's web site.)


HP Blackbird
2.93 GHz Intel Quad Core
Vista Ultimate
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
Super Multi-drive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $3,5440.00

And before I hear any criticism, I am well aware that you can build desktops for much lower than the ones shown here, but the majority of people DO NOT build their own computers. My purpose is to show that products with similar specs from competing PC manufacturers don't offer desktops that are priced significantly lower than Macs. Macs just seem more expensive because outside of the Mac Mini, Apple does not cater to the low end market. If you want to use the car analogy, Dell and HP are like GM, who makes both low end Buicks and high end Corvettes. Apple is more like BMW, which makes only high end sedans and roadsters. In other words, there are no Mini Towers in Apple's lineup, but if there WERE, they would likely be priced just as reasonably as their PC rivals.

Furthermore, in my opinion, Macs trump the PCs in this line-up because you have the added ability to run both Windows and Linux natively, which gives you access to ALL software and games on the market. So if anyone wants to understand WHY people may prefer Macs over PCs, you might want to consider this.

[azianai]

The 1st comparision is quite ridiculous if you think about it, he's comparing a macbook, not a macbook pro to dell's smallest XPS line notebook. Anyone who knows anything knows the XPS line is ridiculously overpriced. The macbook at that price has intel integrated graphics while the XPS and HP offering both have discrete graphics. And the macbook comes out to be 1899.00, not 1799.00 so its still more than Dell or HP along that line. Oh and most people wouldn't spend 300 to pay HP to put RAM into it when 4gb kits cost 80 from newegg. And why is he comparing the Mac Pro to the Blackbird?

[gamerfreak]

Originally Posted by azianai

The 1st comparision is quite ridiculous if you think about it, he's comparing a macbook, not a macbook pro to dell's smallest XPS line notebook.

This is ridiculous why? Go ahead and compare it with the Inspiron Laptops, its not much different - especially if you factor in support. Dell abandons you shoftly after your purchase unless you throw piles of cash their way. You can head to a genius bar with any apple product, and get all the support you need.

Originally Posted by azianai

Oh and most people wouldn't spend 300 to pay HP to put RAM into it when 4gb kits cost 80 from newegg.

Correction: "Most People" don't have a damn clue how to buy let alone install RAM.

Originally Posted by azianai

And why is he comparing the Mac Pro to the Blackbird?

Desktop to desktop, duh?

[azianai]

because the blackbird is not the mainstream PC that people buy when they purchase an HP? Why not compare the iMac line with a inspiron or even a Pavillion? Also that HP dv2500t can have another 300 dollars knocked off with the latest promo code, i don't even remember seeing apple's having promo codes. And the mac book pro would be the better comparison mainly because it'll be discrete graphics vs discrete graphics, and we all know the mac book pro starts at 2 grand and goes up. Thats what you're paying for discrete graphics. The question if you really want to compare it is why is the Macbook Pro 17 inch costs 2,799.00 while the HP DV9500t costs 1609.99 before their 150.00 instant rebate which prices now at 1459.99. Its really easy to find a notebook right now with no promo code from HP or Dell. Even the XPS M1730 configured with a 8700GT costs 2,734 and has a 320gb HD. And yes i configured both with Vista Ultimate. If you just did the Inspiron 17 incher with the same 8600GT and 4gbs of Ram, it costs 1,474.00 from Dell.

Apple's Mac Pro is a beast, but at 2799 starting price its quite steep. Also the Mac Pro isn't considered a consumer computer, its a workstation. And for the components in it, besides the processor, everything else seems very dated.

Apple's "support" lasts for a year really same as Dell. Maybe yes Dell's support is shotty, but HP's support is the same 1 year and they are very well. apple's genius bar basically does what HP's express support does, troubleshoot then send the notebook in for repairs. The positive is you bring your notebook to them and they'll "exam" it overnight while HP you're on the phone or online with a "technician" before he/she arranges you to mail it back to them. And yes Apple users do have a sense of superiority complex over Windows/PC users. Ask at the genius bar how to install Windows and they'll just tell you to go online and read the tutorial from apple since they don't support windows.

Apples are great don't get me wrong, but saying they not more expensive that PCs is still a myth.