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tesseract
Joined: 26 May 2006
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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: Mac vs. PC |
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| I am shopping for laptops and I will probably either go with a Dell notebook or a Mac. I've heard that Macs are much better for speed and easier to use, but I've never owned one, so I'm not sure if I would be happy with it. Also, will I have an easier time finding accessories and software for a pc versus a Mac? |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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Easier and cheaper to find anything Windows-based.
Some people say that Macs are easier to use but I've never found them so. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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If you're interested in joining a cult - Macs are for you.
kidding aside. Korea is not exactly Mac friendly. How many places sell Macintosh peripherals and/or software? |
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TTC
Joined: 16 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:28 am Post subject: |
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I bought a new notebook earlier this year, and I also considered dell and mac.
Dell because of warranty. Mac because it's not windows.
In the end I got a mac, and when the hdd died recently I almost regretted the purchase. It took almost 3 weeks to get it replaced under warranty (I could have done it myself in less than a day). But in the end, with some complaining, I got a free upgrade from a 60gb hdd to a 100gb, so that compensated somewhat.
If you end up getting a dell, fork over the extra for teh next business day, onsite, accidental damage warranty. That's the only reason to buy a Dell IMO. I've owned more than 1 dell in the past, and ALL of them had problems. Dell is cheap for a reason - they use the lowest priced suppliers. Stuff will go wrong. With the extra warranty, they send someone to you, and the fact that it also covers accidental damage just takes the cake.
That said, I dont regret my mac purchase. I've got a macbook, and I can boot to windows if I really need to (some/most Korean websites are written for IE). But I've done that all of twice.
The macbook that I've got isn't a gaming machine, and it was mildly sluggish with the default 512mb of ram. I upgraded to 2GB and it's been smooth sailing since then.
Since buying a mac, I've recommended to everyone who's purchasing a new notebook to get one. So I do the same to you.
But in the end, it all comes down to what you want the notebook for. Different people have different needs and different tools fit those needs. If you make a list of what you want it for, it should be pretty obvious what the best choice is. |
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ulsanchris
Joined: 19 Jun 2003
Location: take a wild guess
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: |
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I just got a macbook and so far it has been fine. I"ve never really used a mac before so i'm still learning. not sure if on the whole i like it better than windows. prehaps if i was as familar with a mac as a windows i would like mac. but the big draw back with mac is the cost of everything. if you are worried about money go with a pc.
for the most part a i like the software that comes with the mac. the isight camera is fun.
one drawback is msn messenger on mac doesn't have voice or video chatting. you can install skype. but that isn't as easy as just using msn. |
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hanguker
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:15 am Post subject: |
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| Have a feeling you opened a stinkin' can of worms here... |
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galen57
Joined: 25 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:51 am Post subject: Mac v PC |
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I have experience with both Macs and PCs. I prefer the Mac, but like earlier posters pointed out, it depends what you want to do with your computer and Mac periferals and software are scare and overpriced in Korea.
I have seen some good bargains on this website for Mac Minis, fully loaded with Office and Adobe CS2. That might also be an option if you don't need the portability of a laptop. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:10 am Post subject: |
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In a nutshell here's my take on the two (+ meaning good and - meaning bad):
Macs notebooks
+ design-wise it looks good
+ lightweight
+ trayless DVD drive
+ DVI output
+/- OS, you either love it or you hate it
- overheats because design-wise it was not built for reliability but for looks
- poor resolution for 15.4"
- build quality ranges from reasonable to terrible (some notebooks get warped due to overheating or discoloured)
- one button mouse (need to buy an external one)
- lack of USB ports (need to buy an external one)
- no built-in card readers (need to buy an external one)
- lack of games and software available (need to buy a gaming console or a PC)
- certain software ties you to formats not used elsewhere (quicktime, itunes etc)
PC notebooks (I'll use mine as a comparison)
+ higher resolution screen
+ 4 usb ports
+ S-video out
+ better built-in speakers (newer models have built-in subwoofers)
+ better battery life (5.5 hours)
+ way better games
+ built-in wireless - A/B/G
+ software, I don't know any other platform that offers as much software as Windows based PCs do
- my notebook is starting to flex a little due to the immense workout I gave it (took it to work everyday when I was in Japan in a backpack with books)
- a built-in camera is a novelty, for some people it is quite useful to have it already on the computer, mine doesn't have it but the newer models do (Asus/Epson)
- My 1.4Ghz Centrino is getting old despite the fact that I bought it as soon as Centrino came out and only the 1.6Ghz was faster, that was nearly 3 years ago and its still going strong!
- I'd much prefer to use a trayless DVD drive
- good to have a DVI/HDMI port, newer versions have HDMI video output
I've used both Macs (sparringly though) and PCs (wholly) and prefer the PCs through and through. They save me a lot of money, time and space with their versatility and expandability. I really really wanted to get a MacPro book and booth that thing in Windows and even Ubuntu but there were too many problems associated with them. The worst was the one button mouse, I hate having to connect a billion devices to my computer.
People looking to buy a good quality Dell should look at the XPS models instead of the basic consumer/business lines. These are equipped with good quality components and far superior graphic cards than most normal notebooks. |
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ulsanchris
Joined: 19 Jun 2003
Location: take a wild guess
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: |
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| you can back click on the new macs. all you have to do is go in preferences and have it set for two mouse buttons. |
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luvnpeas
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Location: somewhere i have never travelled
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| rocklee wrote: |
...
Macs notebooks
- overheats because design-wise it was not built for reliability but for looks
- poor resolution for 15.4"
- build quality ranges from reasonable to terrible (some notebooks get warped due to overheating or discoloured)
- one button mouse (need to buy an external one)
- lack of USB ports (need to buy an external one)
- no built-in card readers (need to buy an external one)
- certain software ties you to formats not used elsewhere (quicktime, itunes etc) |
Mac laptops consistently receive top scores for reliability:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123409-page,9/article.html
Some of last year's Macbook Pros had overheating problems, which were fixed with a firmware patch.
I assume you are talking about the Macbook Pro, since you mention the 15" screen.
Where did you hear they warp and discolor? Considering they are made of aluminum, it's hard to believe.
The resolution is 1440 x 900 pixels which is typical of a high-quality 15" notebook. What do you mean by "one-button mouse?" It's a laptop. There isn't a mouse. It has two USB ports, and an ExpressCard slot.
Quicktime and iTunes run on a PC. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:36 am Post subject: |
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Yeah its funny how they always get good ratings for reliability yet the complaints for them is so widespread to those who regularly reads on tech news.
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Some of last year's Macbook Pros had overheating problems, which were fixed with a firmware patch.
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Which is strange because the cause of the overheating problem was the lack of ventilation inside and the poor use of heat conductors which wasn't effective enough in transferring the heat away from the main part of the notebook properly. I also believe that such conductors weren't even the right ones.
The patch sounds like it speeds up the cooling fans a little bit, but that reduces the battery life and doesn't really resolve the fact that the notebook still runs hot.
This is form factor at its worst.
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I assume you are talking about the Macbook Pro, since you mention the 15" screen.
Where did you hear they warp and discolor? Considering they are made of aluminum, it's hard to believe.
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I was actually interested in the 17", the flagship which costs a bomb. The warping is quite famous. Its made of aluminum, it overheats, it flexes.
Discoloring is commonly found on the Macbooks especially the white ones.
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The resolution is 1440 x 900 pixels which is typical of a high-quality 15" notebook.
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That resolution is "TV resolution" or average. Mine is 1680x1050, good enough for 2 fullsize webpages to line up side by side. It is exactly the same as the MacPro 17". Dell's 17" notebooks are 1920x1080. I do some 3D work sometimes, the higher the resolution the better.
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What do you mean by "one-button mouse?" It's a laptop. There isn't a mouse. It has two USB ports, and an ExpressCard slot.
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I was originally referring to Macs in general and indeed the portables do have one button mouse or touchpads. 2 USB ports isn't going to get most people anywhere if one of them is taken up by the external mouse and a card reader. What is an expresscard? Is that another word for a PCMCIA port?
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| Quicktime and iTunes run on a PC. |
Both poorly converted software IMO. |
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luvnpeas
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Location: somewhere i have never travelled
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| rocklee wrote: |
| Yeah its funny how they always get good ratings for reliability yet the complaints for them is so widespread to those who regularly reads on tech news. |
Complaints are widespread about Dell, Gateway, Compaq....you name it. Is this just an impression of yours, or this there some research on reliability you can cite?
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Which is strange because the cause of the overheating problem was the lack of ventilation inside and the poor use of heat conductors ...
This is form factor at its worst. |
Not according to Apple ( even so, an error in application of heat conductors has nothing to do with the form factor).
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I was actually interested in the 17", the flagship which costs a bomb. The warping is quite famous. Its made of aluminum, it overheats, it flexes. |
Googling the topic turns up very little: a slight lid warp (not related to heat) discussed on a discussion board.
It's hardly gives an accurate picture to discuss minor and now-corrected quality-control issues with one company (like discoloration in the white models of the bottom-line laptops), and none of the issues with the others. If I google problems with Dell, instead of Apple, I find, oh, problems with overheating...
"I am a system administrator for a school district. We signed a contract to by Dell computers for our schools, it was the worst mistake we have ever made!! Out of the 100 computer we just got in 12 didn't work out of the box! Four more have gone down in the first two weeks. This is just this batch! We have had nothing but problems with our Dell computers for the last three years! Also, Dell desisnes thier computer with poor cooling so the processors will heat up and slow down in time. Every Dell we have runs 20 to 30 deg. higher than the norm. This is to ensure that you upgrade to a new Dell every two years or so!"
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<The resolution is 1440 x 900 pixels which is typical of a high-quality 15" notebook. >
That resolution is "TV resolution" or average. |
It is far beyond TV resolution, unless you are talking about digital-HDTV, in which case a comparison to a 15" screen is irrelevant.
There are many other points of comparison. All Mac laptops have built-in wireless and Firewire ports. Ultimately, the individual should test the models personally. I would avoid resolution higher than 1440x900 on a 15" screen, but some people (with sharp eyes) might like it. |
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rocklee
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| luvnpeas wrote: |
Complaints are widespread about Dell, Gateway, Compaq....you name it. Is this just an impression of yours, or this there some research on reliability you can cite?
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This is after months and months of research when I was looking for a notebook replacement. Don't know what search engine you use but do a search on these :
# Apple Ships MacBook with Typo on KeyBoard
# MacBook Destroyed in Fit of Rage
# Dead Macbook - APPLE says 1 MO. wait - HELP! PLEEZ SOMEONE!!
# been going on for over 1 year
# MBP Click Button Crispness
# Macbook Case Has cracked
# NEWS: PowerBook G4 17" LCD has Severe Problems
# MacBook Falling Apart.. 2 months old.
* iTunes Lawsuit: iPod Software is �Crippleware�
* Video: MacBook Fan Abnormalities
* Claim: Earbuds Delivering Electric Shocks
* MacBook Pro Batteries Continuing to Expand
* Petition Apple to Fix CPU Whine
* Customer�s Frustrated as iTunes Store Unable to Handle Requests
* MacBook Pro Batteries Still Bulging
* iPod Being Blamed for Repetitive Strain Injuries
Or how about this?
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"MacInTouch.com recently performed a large survey on MacBook Pro and MacBook users, encompassing 2800 laptops. The results are interesting and well worth a look if you are an owner, or prospective buyer. Among the results:
* 19% of the 2.0 GHz 15″ MacBook Pros released in March are prone to sudden, unexpected shutdown.
* Some 10-16% of 15″ MacBook Pro owners reported warped lids, but very few had this fixed.
* 39% of 15″ MacBook Pros buzz or whine when idle
* 20% of MacBooks appear to be affected by the fan moo
* 13% of all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers in this survey were repaired
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Noting that not everybody reports their problems (especially Apple!).
Or maybe pictures can tell the story better :
There's more if you want.
In fact, there were some new problems before I gave up my quest for a macpro. I don't waste my time anymore sourcing for updates on their notebooks. There are quite a number of websites out there that monitors Apple defects. The amount of complaints and problems will blow your minds. Google them.
here's one :
http://powerbook17lines.blogspot.com/
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It is far beyond TV resolution, unless you are talking about digital-HDTV, in which case a comparison to a 15" screen is irrelevant.
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Regardless, it is fairly low by computer standards. Gamers now run their games at 1680x1050 and higher sometimes. Graphic and 3D designers need as much desktop space they can get.
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| Googling the topic turns up very little |
There's a very good reason for that. Censorship. Apple is worst than China. |
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Thunndarr
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| A:Regardless, it is fairly low by computer standards. B: Gamers now run their games at 1680x1050 and higher sometimes. C: Graphic and 3D designers need as much desktop space they can get. |
A: No, it's not low at all for a 15 inch LCD screen. In fact, it appears to be the default resolution on widescreen 19 inch desktop LCD monitors, as well as being VERY commonly found in numerous notebooks. To somehow claim that this is low (as in, lower than average for the size) is just wrong.
B: If you're a gamer, you aren't buying a Mac anyway.
C: Are graphics designers likely to do their work on a 15 inch display, if, as you claim and I do not deny, they "need as much desktop space as they can get"?
I'm not going to comment on your other complaints because they may be true, but your issues with the display are pedantic at best. |
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luvnpeas
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Location: somewhere i have never travelled
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