Job Discussion Forums

Sherri · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:45 am Post subject:

I bought my Mac ibook in Tokyo. The beauty of a mac is that they ALL have both English and Japanese operating systems already installed so that problem is solved. There is an English support line you can call when you need help. If it breaks down, then they will come to your house and pick it up, fix it and deliver it back to your house. If it's under warranty then it is free. I don't know why anyone would bother with a PC.
Sherri

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Heh.. I sense a Mac vs. PC pi$$ing war... Smile

But I like both. Thanks for the info on the Mac guys. Same cost for an iBook as a PC notebook? Bilingual OS? Dang. What else do I need? Maybe my next purchase (as far off as it may be) will be just that...

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

I wouldn't buy an iBook - they are crap. If you are going to buy a mac, get a Powerbook.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Ahh... But that's where we start getting into some more serious coin.... Smile

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

just a few corrections here:

all Macs ship with all language packs on the install CD/DVD. No matter where you buy the machine, you get to choose the language of the operating system.

ibooks and low end PC notebooks are fairly comparable in price but you do get a better deal with the ibooks because the video card is a separate component and doesn't use part of your RAM.

Powerbooks are really great if you can afford them but the truth is that an ibook will fit the needs of most casual users. Save the price difference to get a copy of MS office and a bit of extra RAM, it will be worth it.

If you're in the U.S.A., get a mac there and bring it with you as it will be a heck of a lot cheaper (base model is $999).

I'm not trying to start a PC/Mac war as the difference is almost non existent nowdays. The only thing that matters is that you don't have to worry about spyware and viruses with a Mac. You can spend a heck of a lot more time using your machine than trying to sort out what is wrong with it.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

shmooj: Sure you can build a homemade Mac clone..... But from what I've heard, it's about as expensive and a lot more annoying than just going out and buying a real one from the store...

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject:

Anyone interested in purchasing an Apple product should know that Apple has some very significant "educational discounts" on all of its computers. Anyone who is a student or a teacher can obtain the educational discount. Check it out on the Apple corporate website.

Additionally, significant educational discounts on software (PC and Mac) can be obtained from www.academicsuperstore.com. You usually need to fax proof that you're a student or a teacher.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Sherri · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:11 pm Post subject:

I bought the Mac version of MS Office (teacher's edition) with no problems.

Shmooj, you make it sound easy to customize and maybe it is! But it was even easier to just buy the machine, plug it in and use it. All I do it send email, write some MS word docs and connect to the internet. I don't need anything fancy and I don't have the interest (to be honest) to pick and choose components. The whole process is more of a chore for me than a pleasure. Now I have to buy a new printer and I have been putting it off because of the huge choice and range of prices.

Off to teach my last day of classes for this term, HURRAY!!!
Sherri

AsiaTraveller · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:

shmooj,

In my experience, Apple is quite lenient in granting the educational discount. When I ordered my PowerBook online, they in fact did not ask for ANY proof of an educational affiliation!

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Shmooj - sure, anyone can build a desktop system, but I thought we were on laptops here Very Happy

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I've also had no problems buying MS software directly from a store and getting a teacher's discount. Didn't even show any ID either.

Yes, building a laptop, that would be impressive.

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

For those who hate Windows but can't afford a Mac, most versions of Linux I've seen allow you to install in a wide variety of languages just as the Mac OS does.