quintessence Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I'm deciding between a new Mac or a new PC for the fall - do you guys have any advice on which would be better for the UofM online curriculum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler582 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Don't get a Mac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixFlare500 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I'd say it doesn't matter for just getting online notes and stuff. With a Mac you can get a free or cheap iPod. And if you get a PC don't get Windows Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loves750 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Check out the Lenovo thinkpad tablet...not sure of its specs but im sure being laptop/tablet would come in handy in med school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 This is a good thread because now I have to ponder what laptop to get too. I'm considering on just getting a pimped out Vaio hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith_015 Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Mac is for faddish rebel geeks! PC is more universal, and more affordable. I used a Toshiba Satellite from 2002-2006 until I fried the motherboard by spilling water on it. It worked fine up to then though. I since bought another Satellite and it works like a gem. I would also suggest getting a PC as the software for it is more universal and easier to get a hand on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olu Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 anything you can do on a pc you can do on a mac they run Windows XP faster than PCs. And you can use leopard if you desire as well They are just pricey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler582 Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Macs are overpriced, flashy and over-rated. These days the components are pretty much the same as a regular PC so the only difference is the operating system and some software. And I don't think that the U of M uses many Macs so if anything you will run into software and networking compatability problems with a Mac faster. That being said, I don't truely thing it will make a huge difference. When you buy your laptop I recommend going for an energy efficenty CPU (eg. Intel Centrino) because your battery will last a lot longer. These days too many people buy huge laptops that just take up space and make unnecessary heat and need to be plugged in. At least Mac knows that's a bad design. Get something small that will fit in your backpack and last all day so that you don't need to carry around a huge power adapter and worry about finding an outlet. Also, don't buy a laptop thinking that it will double as a good gaming machine. Even the highest end gaming laptops (which are also very expensive) will fall to a $600 desktop computer in graphical performance. If you want to get a video card in your laptop (instead of video integrated into your motherboard) it might be a good idea for media applications. But yeah, consider the application you will be using the thing for (school) and buy it to suit that. EDIT: K, I just saw this comment... they run Windows XP faster than PCs. Don't listen to this dude, if he says that he's on crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince99 Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 Mac is way way better. Much nicer, faster, and there aren't any issues with the UofM curriculum. All you need is a word and powerpoint pretty much. Credit Line....use it to pay the extra 3-400$ for the much better mac! Get a macbook, not a macbook pro.( too big) if you're carrying them around all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 I'm deciding between a sony vaio, dell xps, or ibm x61 tablet. Hmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Not a Mac fan. PC please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olu Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Macs are overpriced, flashy and over-rated. These days the components are pretty much the same as a regular PC so the only difference is the operating system and some software. And I don't think that the U of M uses many Macs so if anything you will run into software and networking compatability problems with a Mac faster. That being said, I don't truely thing it will make a huge difference. When you buy your laptop I recommend going for an energy efficenty CPU (eg. Intel Centrino) because your battery will last a lot longer. These days too many people buy huge laptops that just take up space and make unnecessary heat and need to be plugged in. At least Mac knows that's a bad design. Get something small that will fit in your backpack and last all day so that you don't need to carry around a huge power adapter and worry about finding an outlet. Also, don't buy a laptop thinking that it will double as a good gaming machine. Even the highest end gaming laptops (which are also very expensive) will fall to a $600 desktop computer in graphical performance. If you want to get a video card in your laptop (instead of video integrated into your motherboard) it might be a good idea for media applications. But yeah, consider the application you will be using the thing for (school) and buy it to suit that. EDIT: K, I just saw this comment... Don't listen to this dude, if he says that he's on crack. Admittedly i should have said vista over XP, but this crack still makes me feel pretty good http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4258725.html?page=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler582 Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 That was a bit harsh of me to make that comment about you man and I apologize. My point is that that's an outrageous claim because the speed at which you run windows depends on hardware and configuration of the operating system. And plus, once your Mac is running Windows, you can hardly even call it a Mac anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisbob Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 About half of the Med 1 and 2 classes own macs, and the other half regret not buying one. Seems to also be that if anyone is buying a new laptop they're buy a mac. Furthermore, the majority of the attendings also have macs and seem to be pretty proud of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liszt Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 My Macbook has been great for me this past year, and there are lots of them in the class. No regrets. If I had to buy a PC, I'd consider the Fujitsu Lifebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 I've decided to get an IBM Lenovo x300. I guess I'm in the minority here who still likes PC's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olu Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 No Worries I have pretty thick skin, but to take up your point: if a mac can run windows and OS/X, and by whatever rudimentary tests are conducted on it (ask Popular Mechanics for specifics), tends to run Vista better then a similarly configured PC then I ask: Why would anyone buy a PC ever? To save money I suppose - nothing wrong with that. But if you want an amazing machine by all measures, its a no brainer. Mac wins everytime The only annoying thing about macs is that you have to put up with their pompous and inexplicably dedicated clientele (i.e. ME!!, haha) We're the type who like to sit in starbucks and listen to Indy rock. Oh yes, and we refer to ourselves as "clientele" haha, but in all seriousness I think that jumping on the Apple bandwagon is a but more than trendy commercials. They are really good machines and no one will be disappointed (unless they get a lemon unfortunately which does happen now and again) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael57 Posted May 27, 2008 Report Share Posted May 27, 2008 I was going to get a lenovo T series but I decided that I wanted something lighter to carry around. I figure that a good lenovo performs pretty much as well as a desktop but it since i'm going to be carrying it around all day I decided to go with the light macbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 I was going to get a lenovo T series but I decided that I wanted something lighter to carry around. I figure that a good lenovo performs pretty much as well as a desktop but it since i'm going to be carrying it around all day I decided to go with the light macbook. Yeah my thoughts exactly. That's why I decided to go with an x300, 3 lbs is very light for a notebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 My friend has a 9 lbs mammoth. That's crazy! I saw a laptop at Best Buy with a 20 or 21'' screen. I would love to see a med student lug that beast around school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 What is the issue with Vista? I haven't really used it but a lot of people are saying to avoid getting a PC with a Vista OS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olu Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I use vista at work and have never had a problem with it. We are running powerful machines, mind you, which certainly helps. Aranndil is right, older machines can have problems with it from what I've heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roycer Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I'm going to stick with XP when I get my laptop. I'm just going to play it safe and also because I am used to XP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-man Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 All I can say is forget the Mac fanboys and get what you are comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with Macs but get one for the right reason. Nothing about the hardware or software is special, it just makes *some* people feel that way. Macs do freeze, the hardware is not any better quality than a windows equivalent, and buying one also stigmatizes you for following this ridiculous fashion trend. On a sidenote: Black Macbooks were invented for those people that wanted to pay a premium in order to stick out from the ever growing white herd of sheep. Looks like Apple knew their market because their strategy worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vip_138 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I'ld say it all depends on the type of person you are. Mac OS actually runs more efficiently than windows and I'ld say the user-friendlyness is higher with mac. Some ppl that aren't used to it and might say otherwise, but after that first week, its as smooth as butter. I think what apple wins out in are all the little things that add to their product: 1 year awesome customer support no viruses easy uninstall (just drag to a trashcan) packaged applications so that you don't see all the crap unless you want to 2-finger scrolling, and now, flipping and rotation (all with the trackpad) aesthetic hardware and software fun 'come-with' applications like garage band and comic life very high batterlife, i've yet to see a pc out perform at the same price Quicklook (which lets you see the document without opening it in the actual program, very very handy for powerpoints) Ichat, which works far more fluently than msn, and maybe even skype. simplicity of how programs work, and how they work with eachother Yes, a lot of these, you can some how get around with a pc or download something that with editing can do roughly the same thing, but macbooks come like this in a package. Just to present an even case, here are some of the cons: Basically no gaming, since most games don't bother making it mac compatitable (except starcraft) its hard to pirate stuff because not a lot of hackers hack mac stuff (i had quite a bit of trouble with this, and sometimes still frustrates me, but i put up with it because of the rest of the pros) If you have an external harddrive, you can't move it from mac to pc, you have to set it for one, and if you want to switch, you have to clear it and reset it. some programs that you're used will be worse for mac because the company doesn't care as much (ie. msn, dvix) So just to sum up, i think macbooks offer a greater service to those that like a more user-friendly, simplified system. Its tough if you're used to pirating but you get used to it (i dl torrents for movies and music but i have trouble finding good torrents for programs ie. gave up on getting photoshop CS3 and eventually settled on CS2). And if you're a gamer, there's no point to even reading this. I have had a macbook for a year, and i'ld say the only regret i have is not buying a macbook pro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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