Going from a Mac to a PC?!?! Yes I am.

[eyeopener]

Here's my deal. I have been a happy Mac user for the last 5 years. It's a cool OS, it works, and I feel oh so trendy every time I use my computer in public. I have also, however, been coexisting with PC's for the last 58902 years, and have got to see the evolution of the Windows OS. Windows XP was alright, Vista was terrible (it was at this time when I purchased my current Macbook), but having seen Windows 7, I think it is slick and fun to use (similar to the way I felt when I used OSX for the first time).

 

This brings me to my current predicament. My Macbook is getting old and I think I am ready for an upgrade. Nowadays, for me, computer usage is about the fine balance between power, portability and reliability. But why have I considered an entire OS change? The reason: Hardware. Looking at my options on the Mac side, for the notebook I want (13" Macbook/Pro - regardless of which computer I get, it will have a 13" screen), the specs inside simply cannot justify the price. With the Mac, I get a battery that I can't replace, an outdated processor (even though I'm sure it runs fine, I've heard it runs hot and affects power usage), a glossy screen that's no good in high-light conditions, and a low # of peripheral ports. On the plus side, I get an aluminum enclosure ("reliability"), Mac OSX and a cool looking machine. I've explored PC's for the last little while, and I must say, I'm impressed with the options that I have. There's the HP Probook AND Dell Vostro 3300 that both have aluminum enclosures, use the latest Intel processor (core i5 - great for power consumption and battery life maximization, as well as super fast), matte screens, the 13" form factor, great peripheral port options, and Windows 7 Professional - both of which are $300-$500 cheaper than the 13" Macbook Pro. Only knock against them is that they're just not Macs, you know?

 

I want to clarify; I'm not a fanboy of either Windows or Apple. I'm just a consumer looking to get the best available option for my dollar. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing that on the Mac side, even though switching might cause some hassles. What are your thoughts? Am I nuts? More specifically, the question I really want to know the answer to is if any of you have used the HP Probook or the Dell Vostro 3300 .

[xylem29]

Does W7 have a native PDF reader that lets you take notes on PDF files?

 

What about the battery life on the Probook and the Vostro you mentioned?

 

Agree with the MBP's glossy screen being bad for sunny environments.

[skp1187]

Here's my deal. I have been a happy Mac user for the last 5 years. It's a cool OS, it works, and I feel oh so trendy every time I use my computer in public. I have also, however, been coexisting with PC's for the last 58902 years, and have got to see the evolution of the Windows OS. Windows XP was alright, Vista was terrible (it was at this time when I purchased my current Macbook), but having seen Windows 7, I think it is slick and fun to use (similar to the way I felt when I used OSX for the first time).

 

This brings me to my current predicament. My Macbook is getting old and I think I am ready for an upgrade. Nowadays, for me, computer usage is about the fine balance between power, portability and reliability. But why have I considered an entire OS change? The reason: Hardware. Looking at my options on the Mac side, for the notebook I want (13" Macbook/Pro - regardless of which computer I get, it will have a 13" screen), the specs inside simply cannot justify the price. With the Mac, I get a battery that I can't replace, an outdated processor (even though I'm sure it runs fine, I've heard it runs hot and affects power usage), a glossy screen that's no good in high-light conditions, and a low # of peripheral ports. On the plus side, I get an aluminum enclosure ("reliability"), Mac OSX and a cool looking machine. I've explored PC's for the last little while, and I must say, I'm impressed with the options that I have. There's the HP Probook AND Dell Vostro 3300 that both have aluminum enclosures, use the latest Intel processor (core i5 - great for power consumption and battery life maximization, as well as super fast), matte screens, the 13" form factor, great peripheral port options, and Windows 7 Professional - both of which are $300-$500 cheaper than the 13" Macbook Pro. Only knock against them is that they're just not Macs, you know?

 

I want to clarify; I'm not a fanboy of either Windows or Apple. I'm just a consumer looking to get the best available option for my dollar. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing that on the Mac side, even though switching might cause some hassles. What are your thoughts? Am I nuts? More specifically, the question I really want to know the answer to is if any of you have used the HP Probook or the Dell Vostro 3300 .

 

Hi eyeopener,

 

While I can understand your reasoning for switching back to a PC, if I were in your shoes I would not. I switched from PC to mac around 2 years ago and haven't looked back! I love snow leopard, its so easy and functional to use. I've used HP's and dell's before and I believe the quality of their computers are sh**ty. Every single PC i owned, it would slow down after 1 year, get buggy, and annoy me with pop-ups. I've have my macbook pro now for 2 years and it runs so smooth, just as fast as when I first bought it. I believe that's why you pay the extra price.

 

Now onto my pros (I'm assuming your looking at the 13inch macbook pro):

 

-the macbook pro's were just updated a couple weeks ago. The new 13-inch have a 10 hour battery life!!

-if your worried about the glossy screen, you can buy an anti-glare screen protector from apple store(costs around 30 bucks)

-One big advantage is applecare. Dell is known to be atrocious when it comes to customer support. Apple has consistently been rated #1

-multi-touch. The large mousepad is awesome for all the finger swipes and it really makes working on my laptop a lot more enjoyable!

-are you sure the HP is a complete aluminum enclosure? The apple laptops are specially made using a single aluminum block. Lasers then cut out holes for the keyboard and internal components. Therefore there are no screws and therefore feels very sturdy:)

-are you constantly making presentations/or into graphic design? If so, Keynote is the best application to make presentations and I've heard there are a lot of good applications for graphic designers.

 

Have you looked into the educational discount. As a student, you would be eligible for a $100 dollar or $200 dollar discount depending on the model you bought.

Also, Apple will be starting their summer-return back to school promo in June. During this time they usually give away a free ipod touch with any laptop bought. So if you can wait till June I would. Even if you don't need the ipod, you could sell it and save another $200 bucks

 

Hope this helps, PM me if you have any further questions

[cnb88]

Well... I'm not a "computer person", so I can't really say which is better. It all depends on what you want to do with your computer really. I like the photo, video, and music cutting software of MACs, but I prefer the "office" type stuff of PCs (although I'm running on XP, I'm not sure about Windows 7). You can get Windows partitioned off on a MAC though if it's the software you want (so you could start up in "Windows mode" if you wanted). If you're just looking at price though, PCs are generally cheaper.

 

I don't know if I'd go with a Dell though. My uncle (who is a computer/IT guy) said he wouldn't use a Dell if they gave it to him for free (so many problmes with them apparently quality-wise and customer service-wise). So quality of computer might be something you want to look into when deciding between a MAC and the various PC options out there.

 

EDIT: For the record, I am currently a PC. Panasonic Toughbook. Decent quality. I've had it for 4 years now and just started acting a little slow this year (but then again, I only have the 250k of memory it came with initially. I should really get more memory at some point ). It's good too, I'm a klutz sometimes, so if I spill something on it, it doesn't fry my computer. Also, I can (apparently... never tried it) drop my computer from a height of 3 feet and it'll still work. Plus it's really light (3lb with the batter in). If I had to get a new computer now, I don't know what I'd go with though- another Toughbook or a MAC. I'd really have to research that's for sure.

[Byronnn]

Mostly unrelated to your hardware predicament, but I have to say that I love Linux, specifically Ubuntu. I have my computer dual-booted with Windows XP and Ubuntu, I use Ubuntu primarily, and Windows when I need a specific obscure program. Ubuntu will run on any hardware, is as customizable as you have time to make it, and is far less power thirsty than any other OS I've used.

 

And it can do this:

 

It may seem a bit silly, but it's as close as you can get to multiple monitors on a laptop (without actually carrying a second around), and I've definitely found it much more comfortable to use.

 

http://features.cgsociety.org/story.php?story_id=1674

FTA:

They found them [multi-monitor setups] 29 percent more effective for tasks, 24 percent more comfortable to use in tasks and found it 39 percent easier to move around sources of information.

[rburgundy]

Hi eyeopener,

 

While I can understand your reasoning for switching back to a PC, if I were in your shoes I would not. I switched from PC to mac around 2 years ago and haven't looked back! I love snow leopard, its so easy and functional to use. I've used HP's and dell's before and I believe the quality of their computers are sh**ty. Every single PC i owned, it would slow down after 1 year, get buggy, and annoy me with pop-ups. I've have my macbook pro now for 2 years and it runs so smooth, just as fast as when I first bought it. I believe that's why you pay the extra price.

 

 

You do know that Apples uses almost all the exact same components that a standard PC uses right? And the slowdown is from software, which can be solved by a) not downloading so much porn that you inevitably catch a virus or deleting some of the bloatware that is pre-installed.

 

But I guess paying twice as much for fancy packaging and the right to call yourself a mac user is worth it. Well played.

[MedIn2010]

I think macs are a total scam in terms of cost. However, for anyone who never plans to open up their laptop to replace/upgrade things and doesn't want to deal with the hassle of windows and getting viruses and crap, I guess it gives you a good, idiot proof computer with great interface in a nice shiny package.

 

I thought about getting the mac, but I just can't justify the extra cost, not only in buying it but also potential repair costs. Having a PC is great in the sense that if anything breaks I can just get a tech savvy friend to help me replace things. On my comp I have replaced the ram and fixed the hinges and I am not a computer person by any means. If you have a mac and want to fiddle with hardware my understanding is that you are out of luck.

 

I have a pc and run windows/ubuntu dual book. Free software is awesome, paying for your OS, office, etc. sucks.

[bpp]

it all depends on what your needs are, and how much you are willing to spend. if you need a computer for basic needs and media(and are willing to pay significantly more for a nice look and the brand) go with apple. if you want better value and the ability to play games, then go with PC.

[NLengr]

Macs are the computer equivalent of VW's. High priced trendy products for what is in my opinion dubious benefits over the alternatives.

 

Well they aren't as bad as VW's, but close.

[arekieh]

Hi eyeopener,

 

While I can understand your reasoning for switching back to a PC, if I were in your shoes I would not. I switched from PC to mac around 2 years ago and haven't looked back! I love snow leopard, its so easy and functional to use. I've used HP's and dell's before and I believe the quality of their computers are sh**ty. Every single PC i owned, it would slow down after 1 year, get buggy, and annoy me with pop-ups. I've have my macbook pro now for 2 years and it runs so smooth, just as fast as when I first bought it. I believe that's why you pay the extra price.

 

Now onto my pros (I'm assuming your looking at the 13inch macbook pro):

 

-the macbook pro's were just updated a couple weeks ago. The new 13-inch have a 10 hour battery life!!

-if your worried about the glossy screen, you can buy an anti-glare screen protector from apple store(costs around 30 bucks)

-One big advantage is applecare. Dell is known to be atrocious when it comes to customer support. Apple has consistently been rated #1

-multi-touch. The large mousepad is awesome for all the finger swipes and it really makes working on my laptop a lot more enjoyable!

-are you sure the HP is a complete aluminum enclosure? The apple laptops are specially made using a single aluminum block. Lasers then cut out holes for the keyboard and internal components. Therefore there are no screws and therefore feels very sturdy:)

-are you constantly making presentations/or into graphic design? If so, Keynote is the best application to make presentations and I've heard there are a lot of good applications for graphic designers.

 

Have you looked into the educational discount. As a student, you would be eligible for a $100 dollar or $200 dollar discount depending on the model you bought.

Also, Apple will be starting their summer-return back to school promo in June. During this time they usually give away a free ipod touch with any laptop bought. So if you can wait till June I would. Even if you don't need the ipod, you could sell it and save another $200 bucks

 

Hope this helps, PM me if you have any further questions

 

dont listen to this guy.

 

 

Mac's are directed to people that are too stupid or too lazy to not be idiots. Aka if your not a retard and dont install stupid bloatware and know or are willing to learn how to use msconfig your pc will destroy a mac in every single perspective.

 

Also to the person i quoted. Show me some proof of all your claims.... if youd like i can refute each one point by point.

[NLengr]

-are you constantly making presentations/or into graphic design? If so, Keynote is the best application to make presentations and I've heard there are a lot of good applications for graphic designers.

 

Keynote is great until you have to run it on a non Mac machine. The number of times I've heard "but it worked fine on my MAC" during school/work presentations is ridiculous. I've very rarely seen it run without a problem unless it's on the mac machine it was created on.

 

Powerpoint is also a steaming pile to use ever since they did the 2007 upgrade.

 

So I guess it's a draw for crappiness.

[skp1187]

Keynote is great until you have to run it on a non Mac machine. The number of times I've heard "but it worked fine on my MAC" during school/work presentations is ridiculous. I've very rarely seen it run without a problem unless it's on the mac machine it was created on.

 

Powerpoint is also a steaming pile to use ever since they did the 2007 upgrade.

 

So I guess it's a draw for crappiness.

 

that's why you get an AVI or VGA adapter, its not that difficult. It's definitely worth it. Way better than the presentations offered on powerpoint.

[muffin]

Here's my deal. I have been a happy Mac user for the last 5 years. It's a cool OS, it works, and I feel oh so trendy every time I use my computer in public. I have also, however, been coexisting with PC's for the last 58902 years, and have got to see the evolution of the Windows OS. Windows XP was alright, Vista was terrible (it was at this time when I purchased my current Macbook), but having seen Windows 7, I think it is slick and fun to use (similar to the way I felt when I used OSX for the first time).

 

This brings me to my current predicament. My Macbook is getting old and I think I am ready for an upgrade. Nowadays, for me, computer usage is about the fine balance between power, portability and reliability. But why have I considered an entire OS change? The reason: Hardware. Looking at my options on the Mac side, for the notebook I want (13" Macbook/Pro - regardless of which computer I get, it will have a 13" screen), the specs inside simply cannot justify the price. With the Mac, I get a battery that I can't replace, an outdated processor (even though I'm sure it runs fine, I've heard it runs hot and affects power usage), a glossy screen that's no good in high-light conditions, and a low # of peripheral ports. On the plus side, I get an aluminum enclosure ("reliability"), Mac OSX and a cool looking machine. I've explored PC's for the last little while, and I must say, I'm impressed with the options that I have. There's the HP Probook AND Dell Vostro 3300 that both have aluminum enclosures, use the latest Intel processor (core i5 - great for power consumption and battery life maximization, as well as super fast), matte screens, the 13" form factor, great peripheral port options, and Windows 7 Professional - both of which are $300-$500 cheaper than the 13" Macbook Pro. Only knock against them is that they're just not Macs, you know?

 

I want to clarify; I'm not a fanboy of either Windows or Apple. I'm just a consumer looking to get the best available option for my dollar. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing that on the Mac side, even though switching might cause some hassles. What are your thoughts? Am I nuts? More specifically, the question I really want to know the answer to is if any of you have used the HP Probook or the Dell Vostro 3300 .

No, you're not nuts. You said it yourself: you want more bang for your buck, and you most certainly are NOT going to get that with Mac. I like their hardware, not the software. Since you have no problem with Win7, I suggest going with a PC. Seriously, there are SO MANY options out there, and cutting edge technology (hardware, processor, etc.) is almost always present in PCs first. So, take advantage of the back to school sales this septemer. Intel and AMD will probably come out with new or updated processors by then. Load up Win7, and you're good to go! I have Win7 pro, but I think you'll be okay with Home Premium if you just use it for normal stuff and not logging into a company network.

 

PS: for laptop suggestions try Lenovo - I'm a big fan! Their thinkpad laptops cannot be broken. Seriously, I have dropped it so many times, and it works fine! *knocks on wood* But if you want something available in futureshop then Toshiba laptops are always good. HP is a gamble, and Sony is sometimes overpriced.

 

PPS: Also think about the amount of software and hardware that are exclusive to PC that you can never use on mac - especially FREE SOFTWARE!

[muffin]

that's why you get an AVI or VGA adapter, its not that difficult. It's definitely worth it. Way better than the presentations offered on powerpoint.

MS office just doesn't run the same on non-Windows OS-s. It's optimized for Win, and that in itself a big selling point for a lot of people (companies).

[skp1187]

MS office just doesn't run the same on non-Windows OS-s. It's optimized for Win, and that in itself a big selling point for a lot of people (companies).

 

Yah I'm not arguing that. What I'm saying is that if you want to make beautiful presentations, use keynote and just connect your mac to a windows machine.

 

MS office on mac has become a lot more stable over the last few updates.

[thebouque]

Man MS office on a mac is just as good as on a pc. Period.

 

Peace

[skp1187]

dont listen to this guy.

 

 

Mac's are directed to people that are too stupid or too lazy to not be idiots. Aka if your not a retard and dont install stupid bloatware and know or are willing to learn how to use msconfig your pc will destroy a mac in every single perspective.

 

Also to the person i quoted. Show me some proof of all your claims.... if youd like i can refute each one point by point.

 

hahaha I laugh at every single thing you said arekieh.

 

Are you calling 1/3 of the student population stupid and lazy??? Because that's how many have macs. Also many faculties in universities are switching to macs. I wonder why eh? maybe because of the software they provide and their reliability.

 

And to claim that I am lying about my points shows how little you know about macs:

 

13inch macbook pro with 10 hour battery life - show me any dell or pc with that!: here is the link - http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html

 

antiglare screen on macbook pro: http://www.amazon.com/RadTech-ClearCal-Anti-Glare-13-inch-Macbook/dp/B002LLBZHI

 

Apple has the best technical support out there: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/11/consumer-reports-says-apple-has-the-best-tech-support-acergatewayemachines-the-worst/

 

Apple laptops are made of a single piece of aluminum block, when then lasers etch out the different ports (show me a PC like that): look at video on right side http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/design.html

 

Keynote is better than powerpoint at making presentations (I don't too many will argue with me here but heres a link) http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1898756/apples_iwork_keynote_presentations.html

 

Every summer Apple has a back to school promo that gives students who buy a laptop a free ipod touch: http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/27/apples-back-to-school-promo-about-the-same-as-last-years/

 

With the savings from the education discount and the free ipod, your looking at around $300-400 bucks. That makes it well worth it. There's a reason why you pay a bit more for a mac. You get what you pay for.

 

And lastly, look at this article written by cnet reviews. They did tests on both windows 7 and snow leopard to see which is better:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10319612-10355804.html

 

Sorry arekieh. Next time put your money where your mouth is

[skp1187]

 

Need I say more lol

[newbie_01]

[ATTACH]235[/ATTACH]

 

Need I say more lol

 

that's definitely over-exaggerating the number of wires needed for a typical computer. You need 2 power outlet wires, a wire to connect to the monitor and then a keyboard and mouse wire. That's it :-) (a total of 5 wires)

[rburgundy]

hahaha I laugh at every single thing you said arekieh.

 

Are you calling 1/3 of the student population stupid and lazy??? Because that's how many have macs. Also many faculties in universities are switching to macs. I wonder why eh? maybe because of the software they provide and their reliability.

 

And to claim that I am lying about my points shows how little you know about macs:

 

13inch macbook pro with 10 hour battery life - show me any dell or pc with that!: here is the link - http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html

 

antiglare screen on macbook pro: http://www.amazon.com/RadTech-ClearCal-Anti-Glare-13-inch-Macbook/dp/B002LLBZHI

 

Apple has the best technical support out there: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/11/consumer-reports-says-apple-has-the-best-tech-support-acergatewayemachines-the-worst/

 

Apple laptops are made of a single piece of aluminum block, when then lasers etch out the different ports (show me a PC like that): look at video on right side http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/design.html

 

Keynote is better than powerpoint at making presentations (I don't too many will argue with me here but heres a link) http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1898756/apples_iwork_keynote_presentations.html

 

Every summer Apple has a back to school promo that gives students who buy a laptop a free ipod touch: http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/27/apples-back-to-school-promo-about-the-same-as-last-years/

 

With the savings from the education discount and the free ipod, your looking at around $300-400 bucks. That makes it well worth it. There's a reason why you pay a bit more for a mac. You get what you pay for.

 

And lastly, look at this article written by cnet reviews. They did tests on both windows 7 and snow leopard to see which is better:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10319612-10355804.html

 

Sorry arekieh. Next time put your money where your mouth is

 

Cool. Random links to random articles on the internet as to how awesome a Mac is.

 

Does Mr. Jobs anal cavity smell like roses after you pull your nose out of it? I've heard that the sweat from his taint can cure cancer.

[arekieh]

[ATTACH]235[/ATTACH]

 

Need I say more lol

 

way over exaggerated. ill take a pic of my computer for you if you really want. But my setup destroys that

[Guest morequestions]

Don't drink the Kool-Aid...

[muffin]

Man MS office on a mac is just as good as on a pc. Period.

 

Peace

No, it's not. Been there, done that.

[Dr.Dark]

Just get what you like and feel comfortable with. Your the one going to have to live with it. So as long as you can stand it it should be fine. I have to say though windows 7 is a much needed improvement and dare i say actually nice.

[naspec]

Don't mean to troll or anything, but Dell provides the repair manuals for their laptops online and for free, while Apple sets their lawyers on anybody who posts them. Not that there's anything wrong with that, after all it is legally their intellectual property. Note that I'm talking about repair manuals here, which are different from owners manuals.

 

But I just don't like the way that Apple tries to keep all their hardware such a big secret and then sells expensive warranty plans to people who already pay a premium for the brand, when anybody with two opposable thumbs and a screwdriver, with the proper instructions, is perfectly capable of servicing their own laptop.