Dell PC/Apple Mac (Laptop question) Please help!?

Question

(note: i would prefer if you did but if you don't want to read all this mess skip to the last paragraph, thank you.:)

So...I have had my Dell Inspiron E1505 for 2-3 years now. I have only owned dell computers. My laptop is in very good shape I just feel it is that time to get a new one. lol. I have been thinking about MacBooks and I even went in to best buy last night to try one out. The only other time I used a mac was when I had a video production class where we used imovie ect. So, I clearly don't know too much about them. They seem rather confusing to me. Maybe that is because I am so use to windows! I want a good laptop for movies, music, website design and graphic (things like that). Maybe it would be a bad idea to go with mac because I am big on and very use to adobe. But then when I think about it, I can continue to use my current laptop for that stuff and use the mac for...what exactly is so special about macs? What do you think I would even use it for? So far the only thing I can say I like about them is the interface and style (mostly of the keyboard which is great).

Sorry for the jumbled mess up there but in short, should I continue to get dell laptops or should I try an apple? If apple, what exactly would be so special about it? If dell, should I continue with the inspiron series (again, I have the e1505 laptop and the newest one I would get is the e1525) or would it be best to go with a studio or xps?

THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH!

Answer 1

I would stick with the PC and Dell e1525 between the two.. Although, I also like Toshiba... L305 is decent, Tecra R10 if you really need tons of performance Check out: http://explore.toshiba.com/laptops



Here are reasons why I would not buy a Mac...



PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support

Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..



Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.



Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn't as secure as you think.. Look below.



WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:



Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.

1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don't have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).

2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.

4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.



Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.



LINUX ADVANTAGES:



1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)

2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more...

3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.

4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..



LINUX OS

If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.



Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)



My Recommendation would be either Ubuntu (Most popular and well supported linux), Kubuntu (KDE version of Ubuntu),

Freespire (has all windows codecs for watching videos, dvds out of the box),

PCLINUXOS (very nice Linux, easy to use and polished),

There are so many good versions of linux besides these.



PLEASE NOTE: In linux there are many forms of Windows Environments, the two main ones are KDE (K Desktop) and GNOME. Ubuntu uses GNOME, KUBUNTU is a KDE version of Ubuntu, PCLINUXOS, Freespire use KDE... The differences in the window environments (DESKTOPS) control how you configure, open close the windows, the appearances of the windows... linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting helps with printer support. ScreenCasts.ubuntu.com shows video and non-video help with learning to work with Ubuntu.



There are many good Linux distributions for different reasons, distrowatch.com, polishlinux.org, desktoplinux.com are good websites for overall understanding linux.



Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.

Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing...

UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.

All you have to do is..

A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website

B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/)

C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive

D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu

E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.



Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up...", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm



ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.



A)Price...

A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)



*****************(LAPTOP)

Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799

15" Screen

CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks



Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224

13" Screen (SMALLER)

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)

Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)

Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)

Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)

Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)



****************(DESKTOP)



PLEASE NOTE: I'm comparing Apple Mac's vs Dells best deal. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don't think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.



PS: Apple knows that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple's low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.



Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809

CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: 3GB Ram

HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer

GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup... IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.



IMac ($1400)

CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)

SCREEN: 20inch Screen

MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)

HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)

GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB



************************END OF DESKTOP



B) SECURITY:



Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.

All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.

Please Note: All OS's have vulnerabilities.



C) VIRUSES



The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses, a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".



Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses





D) WINDOWS LICENSE is discounted with PCs



You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.





D) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR...



Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.

With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.

IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.





E) PROBLEMS



Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.



http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.kubuntu.org/

http://www.freespire.org/

http://www.pclinuxos.com/

http://distrowatch.com/

http://polishlinux.org/

http://www.desktoplinux.com/

http://xwinman.org/gnome.php

http://xwinman.org/kde.php

http://www.linuxalt.com/

http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/

http://www.avast.com/

http://www.free-av.com/

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

Google/Yahoo OS X on PC

Answer 2

You can use adobe on a mac. I have a macbook pro and I used to only have and use PCs I'm never going back to windows. Mac is just so easy. You wont know how everything works right when you get the mac but you will get used to it and figure out to use everything.



I would recommend to anyone.



As far as what you want to use it for is up to you. Mac has come a long way and there are so many things you can do with it that you can do with windows. You can even run windows on the mac if you want to keep the odd windows program that you can't use on a mac. So you don't need to worry about things you wont be able to do on a mac.



I hope that is what you are looking for.

Answer 3

The primary difference between Macs and their Windows counterparts is the user interface. Granted, there are a few other differences "under the hood", but the main one you'll notice is how things look. Other than that, there's no real significant difference.



If you've been using Windows computers for years, this may take a small amount of time (a week or two) to get used to, but it's not a major issue for most people.



Macs tend to be more expensive, but the price difference between Macs and PCs is closing.



You will likely need to re-purchase all of your software in Mac-specific versions (Adobe offers their software in both Mac and Windows formats), which may increase your costs.



I've used both Macs since Mac System 6 and Windows since version 3.1. Both have come quite a long way. You'll be happy with either, but since you've had a lot of experience with Windows, it may be easier if you continue using Windows.



(I'm hardly a Windows fanboy -- I have a Mac and a Windows computer at home, as well as two computers running various flavors of Linux. At work, I have computers running Windows, Macs, Linux, BSD, and Solaris.)

Answer 4

Macbook is good but if you need anything for it you have to go to them, where as with a pc laptop hardware and software are available all over the place. I think ASUS has the best support, so if you run into trouble you have sum where's to go, to get help, and ASUS has online storage back up, you can download your whole hard drive to their storage and have back up from any internet connection. Back up is the number one priority. The smaller the laptop the longer the battery will last, as the smaller they are the less power they take from the battery. You don't really need a big hard drive as most the stuff you need can be put on 8GB flash drives. Netbooks have incredible battery life, are great for surfing the web and laptops have the power for the really big programs. Bottom line I would get a netbook and a low end laptop, both for the price of a single laptop

Answer 5

well macs are great for web browsing, music and stuff like tht. They dont slow down too much which is really good. They should also be coming out with new great stuff for the macs soon like new software, etc. apple has great warrenty too so just consider a lot do some research and also consider price if you want. Apple has the regular mac books for $999 now since the new ones came out. thats the one i have and i love it. Look at all the tech specs and compre/contrast!



Good luck!!

Answer 6

Adobe has mac versions of all of their software. I personally have a Macbook Pro and love it.