Macbook or Laptop?

[hi-tech]

I like the dimensions of the macbook, its tiny and light, and easy to move around with, also safari browser is sorta cool i suppose, the keyboard layout is perfect which is the most important thing for me. Aside from that, I don't use any of the iLife stuff and use an iriver and not an ipod. I kind of want to give the macbook a try, but I just hate apple so much that its hard. Regular laptops are ok I suppose, I want an Asus or an HP, with a ****ing decent keyboard which seems to be impossible to find now a days and some thing with above average battery life so maybe a 12 or 16 cell battery..

Any ways, if you've made the switch from laptop to macbook please give your opinions on the macbook and any other info you can give me about its usefulness etc. thanks

[matkun]

If you like Mac software, then go for a Macbook.

If you can't stand it, then I guess you could run Windows from Bootcamp, but then you need to buy a seperate Windows license and risk running into whatever hardware compatibility problems may arise. (Don't know if any will, but it is possible).

Personally I think it's pretty stupid to buy a Macbook to just run Windows on it.

If you want a small/light Windows laptop, look at the Dell XPS M1330, or a Vaio.

[petercockroach]

Out of curiosity, why do you hate Apple so much?

[Amourek]

It's all about the extra security and software. If you don't use the software, you're throwing your money away.

[hi-tech]

Because you are paying for design and vanity with any thing apple. At two times the price of a similar spec pc laptop, I'm just really not sure I'd be willing to pay the difference for apple's phenomenal keyboard. I just wish I could find a pc laptop with a similar keyboard. I've heard Fujitsu makes a few units that have a similar layout but I've yet to find a retailer that sells Fujitsu.

[hi-tech]

It's all about the extra security and software. If you don't use the software, you're throwing your money away.

Ok this is basically going to be used at university. So the word processor, internet browser and music player need to be top notch. Does mac have at least a decent word processor?

[Spliffy]

I love OSX, I never used it before and was strictly a Windoze user until I decided to buy a MBP and would never go back. There are alot of cool innovations with OSX that are very cool and handy. I'm not sure what Vista now offers, but I know that alot of their cool features were taken from OSX (like dashboard widgets etc.).

If you want the machine for gaming or you want to run application development apps then I would probably go with a PC laptop. If you are using it for multimedia, go with the MB.

[Spliffy]

Does mac have at least a decent word processor?

They offer MS Office which is probably a must for University since it seems to be the standard format.

[hi-tech]

They offer MS Office which is probably a must for University since it seems to be the standard format.

Really? Is it included in some bundles or some thing? Or do we have to specially order it from Apple?

Does any one know if winamp works on mac os x well?

[matkun]

http://www.apple.com/macosx/applications/office/

Yes, Office 2004 is available for Mac.

However it is not the most stable or unbuggy of things.

http://www.macworld.com/2004/11/secrets/decworkingmac/index.php

And saying "Vista copied x y z from OS X" is silly, as both companies have been implementing each other features for a long while. You'd have a pretty ****** product if no one ever implemented someone elses idea.

[Jon Lai]

http://www.apple.com/macosx/applications/office/

Yes, Office 2004 is available for Mac.

However it is not the most stable or unbuggy of things.

http://www.macworld.com/2004/11/secrets/decworkingmac/index.php

And saying "Vista copied x y z from OS X" is silly, as both companies have been implementing each other features for a long while. You'd have a pretty ****** product if no one ever implemented someone elses idea.

And since when was a Microsoft product a "stable and not buggy"?

Plus, given Microsoft's position in this, of course they would deliberately make the Office for Mac more buggy than the Windows counterparts...

[phucyall]

Because you are paying for design and vanity with any thing apple. At two times the price of a similar spec pc laptop, I'm just really not sure I'd be willing to pay the difference for apple's phenomenal keyboard.

I am sorry, but do you have any figures to back this up? Apple has a reasonably high build quality, they run Mac OSX natively and the newest generation macbooks are at most 25% more expensive then simmilar cheap brands. If you look at high quality laptops like IBM or Sony, they are no cheaper then apple. Maybe even more expensive. Ever since apple switched to PC hardware they have been much more reasonably priced.

I have said this in other threads, but you can run OSX on most new laptops/desktops as well as you can run any windows on a Macbook. Granted first is definitely illegal and there's a good chance second will be two (pirated copy of windows).

In this country you always get what you pay for.

I am personally shopping around for a MacBook. I love the design. It's extremely simple, yet very effective. Hardware is fairly reliable. And I will most certainly have it dual booting between OSX and Windows, since some of the apps I use just aren't available on OSX.

[matkun]

And since when was a Microsoft product a "stable and not buggy"?

Plus, given Microsoft's position in this, of course they would deliberately make the Office for Mac more buggy than the Windows counterparts...

What's with your constant digs against Windows?

But yeah, I wouldn't want to use Office on OS X.. Just like I wouldn't want to use iTunes or Safari on Windows. (And not just because I don't own an iPod)

[IronMac]

If you want a small/light Windows laptop, look at the Dell XPS M1330

I just looked at this and speccing it out with the same features as the Macbook Pro it's just a bit more expensive. Granted it's slimmer and a lot smaller screen I think but running Vista on it is the killer.

Really, anyone who now says that Macs are more expensive have no clue what they are talking about.

[matkun]

I just looked at this and speccing it out with the same features as the Macbook Pro it's just a bit more expensive. Granted it's slimmer and a lot smaller screen I think but running Vista on it is the killer.

Really, anyone who now says that Macs are more expensive have no clue what they are talking about.

I wouldn't take a Vista Home Premium license as a negative, but that's up to the individual person.

[wifi]

They offer MS Office which is probably a must for University since it seems to be the standard format.

That's not correct. The MS Office bundled is a Trial Version and expires in 30days.

[hi-tech]

How is mac in terms of torrents? I erm...download a lot of legal software through it.

[Spliffy]

That's not correct. The MS Office bundled is a Trial Version and expires in 30days.

Sorry I meant that it is available for sale, not that it is bundled with OSX.

[baileyr]

How is mac in terms of torrents? I erm...download a lot of legal software through it.

Just go and do a few searches. There is plenty of SW available and if native OS X apps aren't enough for you - you have all of the *NIX and Windoze software to choose from as well.

Anybody that says that the current Apples are twice as much money as equivalent PC's either is talking out of their ass or isn't comparing machines of similar build quality.

I'm sure if you go to an Audi/BMW/MB website, you'll find people comparing their Hyundai/Kia/Focus vehicles because they also have four wheels and a brake pedal...