Mac or PC

[koonja]

So I just graduated from college but I'm going back this fall for IS. I have to buy a new laptop, and am familiar with Macs but prefer PC's... Does anybody have any advice for buying a laptop? I'm looking to spend ~ $700. I've always rented my laptops from the University, so this will be the first laptop I've ever bought. I've checked the reviews but was hoping for some first-person advice. Thanks.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Well if you are looking to spend $700 you aren't going to be looking at Macs. The cheapest MacBook starts at $999.

I got a PC for school, mostly because I could get way more for my money and more features on it. What industry are you going into? Because there are a lot of programs that are not compatible with Macs.

 

[koonja]

I'm probably going to get a PC. I'm going back for information systems, so computers are heavily involved. I should refrase my question to: does anyone have any suggestions for a laptop given my budget ($700)? A lot of people seem to like HPs, although, Toshibas have received solid reviews recently.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

Well if you are looking to spend $700 you aren't going to be looking at Macs. The cheapest MacBook starts at $999.

yeah spend about 500 at best buy and buy two tix to nd opening day with the other $200. then when you get into the real world, buy a mac.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

My entire family has Dells and love them (Desktops and Laptops). I've had friends who had HPs and HATED them. Their laptops locked up and had to be junked after only a couple years.

 

[koonja]

I can't go to ND games anymore... I'm a curse. Went to Navy 2 years ago and Michigan last year.

 

[IrishLax]

Best bang for your buck is an Asus. If you want to get an efficient machine with an iron-clad warranty so you don't have to worry about "what ifs" get a cheap Dell + the 3 year warranty.

Anyone who buys a Mac is either a graphics guy/artist or a total idiot. You're paying hundreds to thousands of extra dollars for a company to paint your PC white, slap an apple on it and then spend millions on marketing to sell it to the sheep. Macs don't break down less, they don't have better customer service, and they don't have different "guts."

 

[ACamp1900]

If you have the money get the Mac... believe me.

 

[IrishLax]

If you have the money get the Mac... believe me.

Believe me... don't. Then again, I'm also the kind of guy who builds my own desktops because I'd rather save money and spend the time.

 

[ACamp1900]

Believe me... don't. Then again, I'm also the kind of guy who builds my own desktops because I'd rather save money and spend the time.

I know what I know... as an educator who has seen my district and others around me buy PCs and Macs by the boatload... I would say there is no real comparrison... the same Macs are still being used after four to five years of child usage whereas the PCs are bascially scrapped within a year or two...

also, just fyi, every district tech I talk to says exactly the opposite of what you said in your above post... just sayin

 

[koonja]

Believe me... don't. Then again, I'm also the kind of guy who builds my own desktops because I'd rather save money and spend the time.

I don't think I'll get a mac... Not because I've used them and they haven't been satisfactory, just that more people seem to say PC.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I have a mac book pro primarily because I am into the creative arts... editing video, graphics, music etc etc.. For that kind of stuff a mac is great. Otherwise I would suggest a PC and have never had any problems with DELL.

 

[ACamp1900]

I have had my Dell for a long time... can't even remember honestly... had to rebuild it once, but it still runs okay...

still, all things considered my next cpu will be a Mac no question...

 

[IrishLax]

I know what I know... as an educator who has seen my district and others around me buy PCs and Macs by the boatload... I would say there is no real comparrison... the same Macs are still being used after four to five years of child usage whereas the PCs are bascially scrapped within a year or two...

And I know what I know as a total geek, engineer and personal computer user. A comparable Mac to a PC costs almost twice as much... so even if its being replaced in half the time you are doing just fine.

Also, speaking of laptops, there is no a company out there that offers a better warranty/service program than Dell. And you can get a really good Asus machine for about a third or a fourth of the cost a Mac which means you can upgrade/replace it a whopping 3 or 4 times for that one Mac machine which will still stay the exact same (aka depreciating every year and also not getting faster...) over that stretch.

There is a reason that Apple has more cash on hand than basically any other corporation in the United States right now. And that reason is because they make a RIDICULOUS margin on their machines because their marketing is incredible. They get people to think that they are being "cool" or "different" or "better" or "smarter" by getting an Apple product. When really they're just being impractical and have no idea what they're paying for.

Geeks buy PCs. 18 year old girls going to college spending daddy's money buy Apples. As you said, if you have the money, buying an Apple is OK if you love their OS or like the design or think their track pad is better or whatever. Otherwise, no one should ever purchase one of their over-marketed, over-priced machines.

Fin.

 

[IrishLax]

I have a mac book pro primarily because I am into the creative arts... editing video, graphics, music etc etc.. For that kind of stuff a mac is great. Otherwise I would suggest a PC and have never had any problems with DELL.

That is a TOTALLY legit reason. Macs are the standards for all kinds of "media" people for a number of reasons that will take too long to list this late at night.

 

[IrishLax]

I know what I know... as an educator who has seen my district and others around me buy PCs and Macs by the boatload... I would say there is no real comparrison... the same Macs are still being used after four to five years of child usage whereas the PCs are bascially scrapped within a year or two...

also, just fyi, every district tech I talk to says exactly the opposite of what you said in your above post... just sayin

So many things I want to say to this, but all of them are a sweeping generalizations so I will leave them alone.

I will say that I work for a company that specializes in all kinds of IT and every single hardware guru/SME I know would back what I am saying 100%. If you're a personal user looking to buy a laptop affordably (as kuehnja stated in the OP) you are better off buying a PC 99/100 times. The 1/100 is if you have special needs/desires when it comes to media.

 

[RyCo1983]

Mac OS is awful.
Any version of Windows is superior.

There are some Macs that run Windows....and you need to get a 2 button mouse because the standard one button blows.

I'm a PC guy through and through. It's mainly the terrible operating system that gets me.

 

[koonja]

I think from hearing everyone's input, a PC will be best for what I need it for. Thanks for the opinions!

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'm on my second HP. I bought my first one during my sophomore year of undergrad. It lasted me through law school and just died in February. I bought another HP. The university I went to had Mac computers in the classroom buildings and the library, and I honestly didn't enjoy using them.

Ironically, I just bought my first apple product this past weekend - an iPhone 4. I had blackberries going back to when they first came out, but I decided to make the switch, and honestly I love this freaking phone. I have been playing with it like a toy. Its awesome.

So, I guess the moral of my story is that apple makes good, fun stuff. But PCs, especially HPs (in my experience) are very usable, reliable laptops. When you factor in the price I don't see why you'd spend twice as much for a Mac, except if you're that concerned that the other people in Starbucks think you're totally cool and hip.

 

[ACamp1900]

So many things I want to say to this, but all of them are a sweeping generalizations so I will leave them alone.

I will say that I work for a company that specializes in all kinds of IT and every single hardware guru/SME I know would back what I am saying 100%. If you're a personal user looking to buy a laptop affordably (as kuehnja stated in the OP) you are better off buying a PC 99/100 times. The 1/100 is if you have special needs/desires when it comes to media.

or if you actually want your money's worth...

 

[IrishLax]

I'm on my second HP. I bought my first one during my sophomore year of undergrad. It lasted me through law school and just died in February. I bought another HP. The university I went to had Mac computers in the classroom buildings and the library, and I honestly didn't enjoy using them.

Ironically, I just bought my first apple product this past weekend - an iPhone 4. I had blackberries going back to when they first came out, but I decided to make the switch, and honestly I love this freaking phone. I have been playing with it like a toy. Its awesome.

So, I guess the moral of my story is that apple makes good, fun stuff. But PCs, especially HPs (in my experience) are very usable, reliable laptops. When you factor in the price I don't see why you'd spend twice as much for a Mac, except if you're that concerned that the other people in Starbucks think you're totally cool and hip.

I love Apple gadgets. My dad has an iPad which is just amazing for traveling, Angry Birds, et. al. I personally have a an iPod Touch... but went for a Droid 2 because I like having an actual keyboard. Gadgets are so much about which one you personally like better because they all cost nearly the same amount for a tablet, phone, mp3 player, etc. regardless of manufacturer.

 

[TDHeysus]

PC.

heres how to identify a MAC user trying to sell you on the idea of buying a MAC yourself:

they use the amway salesman technique, they ask you a bunch of questions without telling you why they are asking you. then when you answer in the affirmative enough times, BAM! they tell you want a MAC.

so, do you like a fast computer?
would you want a computer that doesnt get viruses?
do you want your computer to 'just work'?

I guess MACs have their place in the world, but I have always believed they cater to the lowest common denominator. its so easy!!

 

[ACamp1900]

all I know is they last a hell of a lot longer and don't have as many headaches... personal experience...

my next cpu purchase will be a mac no question.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

all I know is they last a hell of a lot longer and don't have as many headaches... personal experience...

my next cpu purchase will be a mac no question.

 

[TDHeysus]

all I know is they last a hell of a lot longer and don't have as many headaches... personal experience...

my next cpu purchase will be a mac no question.

its really a personal preference choice....there is no wrong answer for the individual. whatever works best for you, is what works best for you. i'm a computer nerd, so anything that gets someone interested in using a computer is cool with me. even if its a MAC.

it just annoys me when MAC users try to sell the idea of a MAC to everyone else who will listen. PC users dont do that.....

 

[IrishInColumbus]

Best bang for your buck is an Asus. If you want to get an efficient machine with an iron-clad warranty so you don't have to worry about "what ifs" get a cheap Dell + the 3 year warranty.

Anyone who buys a Mac is either a graphics guy/artist or a total idiot. You're paying hundreds to thousands of extra dollars for a company to paint your PC white, slap an apple on it and then spend millions on marketing to sell it to the sheep. Macs don't break down less, they don't have better customer service, and they don't have different "guts."

/thread

 

[ThePiombino]

With that budget get an HP

/thread

 

[nlroma1o]

Growing up my family had an HP desktop. The thing always had problems. Graduated from highschool, wanted to buy a macbook but didnt have the money so i bought a dell. The dell ran smootly for about 1 year. after 1 year it just all went down hill. And i took care of it. Routinely cleaned it up. made sure i wasnt junking it up with spyware firmware etc. After my sophmore year it was about on its last limb. I took it in to a computer show and had them basically fine tune it fro 100 bucs. It lasted me until halfway through my senior year... So my last semester of college i just said F it and basically didnt have a computer. The second i graduated lst may I went about bought myself a macbook pro. Havent had 1 problem with it. Its my baby. I will never buy a pc again for a personal computer. Im on a PC all day at work. Go home and adore my mac.

Its all personal opinon and what you use your machine for.

 

[TerryTate]

Get a Mac. Mine is 4 years old, and it's still cranking

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Believe me... don't. Then again, I'm also the kind of guy who builds my own desktops because I'd rather save money and spend the time.

I like your style...Got to love putting together a nasty computer for cheap...through on Linux and open office and it's a steal lol.