Apple MacBook Pro or Windows Laptop?

[LoneWolf121188]

So I'm gonna need a laptop for when I go off to college and I'm torn between the new MacBook Pros and a Windows machine. If I get a MacBook, I'd definetly install XP on it as well as OSX, but the price is what's getting me ($2200, even with the student discount!). Would a similarly configured XP laptop be cheaper? If I get a Core Duo machine, can I install OSX on it?

[satandole666]

Apple hardware comes at a premium. With that said, their systems (hardware and software) are some of the best engineered on the market. You could get a C2D laptop cheaper for sure.

However, the chances of running OS X on it are slim to none. Its all about luck and how much hacking you want to do. I don't think we are allowed to discuss specifics on this forum though.

I'd get the Macbook Pro personally.

[ErikD]

What will you be doing in school, and will everything you require for your studies be compatible with a MAC? That would be my big concern.

Personally though I prefer Windows.

[Vipersfate]

After working with windows for god knows how long now. I've been using Macs for a while. I started off using OSX86 on my P4 rig, then my AMD rig, and now my Macbook.

Only thing I can say, is that I could not have made a better decision. With the new Intel MacBooks, you can install windows if needed as well. For those programs that don't happen to be compatible with Mac.

As said before, they do get up there in price, but their hardware is amazing. I love my Macbook, and I haven't used windows in a long time.

[nd4spdbh2]

mac book pro FOR SURE... hands down... no question. i have used alot of laptops in my day, and even some brand new ones from dell, and all other companies with c2d's, but i get the privilage to use a macbook pro 17inch with c2d 2.33ghz at school, being a senior rocks, and MY GOD its amazing. the quality of the product is the best, back lappies have always been the best IMO. its worth the extra money as you can run xp on them without any probs, and osx!... get the mac... lappy that is!

[Velocity]

In my case I went with my HP due to the fact that my school uses alot of windows software so I didn't want to have any problems.

[Cyrix_2k]

I've been waffling between a MacBook Pro and a few windows laptops myself. I like the mac, I really do, but it's expensive, has known heat problems, and I worry about how I'm going to service it if/when it breaks. Currently, it looks like I'll be getting a Dell Latitude D620 (maybe a D630 if it's released soon) and after my student discount, I just can't justify the mac. The D620, with a 2.16ghz c2d, 2gb ram, 100gb hdd, 14.1" wxga+ ,Nvidia Quadro 110m, 9 cell + 6 cell media battey, 8x DVD-RW, 4 year warranty with accidental damage coverage, and XP Pro only comes to $1500 with my discount. The D620 has a magnesium alloy case which makes it virtually unbreakable too. A MacBook Pro with the same configuration and school discount would run me $2500 and wouldn't have the same battery life. Dell gives my school ~%50 off, but Apple barely offers a discount at all. However, if I wasn't getting the school discount, I would get the MacBook Pro.

[muddocktor]

I looked at the 17 inch MBP and it looks like a real nice laptop but is very expensive for what it offers, hardware-wise. I have been looking to play with OSX and wanted to combine that with a new work laptop, but Apple's pricing simply put them totally out of the running for me. Instead I went with a Dell E1705, configured as close as I could get it to the MBP. I had to get the T7400 instead of the T7600 because Dell doesn't offer the T7600 in the E1705, just their XPS laptops, and went with the GeForce Go 7900 GS 256 vid subsystem instead of the MBP's X1600 256. The rest of the specs were the same, with a 100 GB 7200 rpm sata drive, 2 X 1 GB DDR2 667 ram and the Dell has a better lcd panel (1920X1200 instead of 1680X1050).

The MacBook Pro would have ended up costing me around $3000, not counting the cost of an XP disk for dual booting for work purposes (the oilfield is about 98% Windows based). I got the Dell for $2320.00 delivered and including the 3 year warrantee and 3 year accidental damage, 3 year subscription to McAfee (not my favorite by far but it was in a package deal) and 3 years of LoJack anti-theft protection. The only downside is that it came with Vista Premium, which I'm not too thrilled with so far.

[LoneWolf121188]

Thanks for all the input guys...I probably won't be buying until end of June/beginning of July, so I've still got plenty of time to decide.

...but that 15" MBP is looking VERY tempting.... :)

[imposter]

I would go for the Mac book. no laptops pc laptops got me excited lately. + you can go both windows+mac.

[Skeith]

cant you install the new OSX on a windows machine now because mac switched to the intel architecture? and vice versa?

[imposter]

cant you install the new OSX on a windows machine now because mac switched to the intel architecture? and vice versa?

you can with mac, but with pc there is a huge amount of driver issues. Mac encourages you to dual boot with, boot camp, they give you the drivers and everything =).

+ putting putting OSX on a pc requires the "nono" stuff i think.

[Skeith]

you can with mac, but with pc there is a huge amount of driver issues. Mac encourages you to dual boot with, boot camp, they give you the drivers and everything =).

+ putting putting OSX on a pc requires the "nono" stuff i think.
They really need to do something about that comunications barrier, Seriosly more windows users might buy mac OS if they didnt need a completely new machine to run it on. I might even... and I cant stand mac.

[hafa]

They really need to do something about that comunications barrier, Seriosly more windows users might buy mac OS if they didnt need a completely new machine to run it on. I might even... and I cant stand mac.

Apple simply does not wish for folks to run OSX on any machine other than those they manufacture; this is clearly indicated in the current EULA, which expressly forbids doing so.

If Apple had to support drivers on OSX for every device like MS does, they'd be in way over their heads and their "legendary" stability would be right out the window (forgive the pun).

On another note, you may consider a tablet PC if you intend to take notes in class, as many professors now expressly forbid the use of traditional laptops in the classroom (500 keyboards going clickety-click can be very distracting) At this time, Apple does not make a tablet (although they've patented one), so it's PC only...

[imposter]

Apple simply does not wish for folks to run OSX on any machine other than those they manufacture; this is clearly indicated in the current EULA, which expressly forbids doing so.

If Apple had to support drivers on OSX for every device like MS does, they'd be in way over their heads and their "legendary" stability would be right out the window (forgive the pun).

On another note, you may consider a tablet PC if you intend to take notes in class, as many professors now expressly forbid the use of traditional laptops in the classroom (500 keyboards going clickety-click can be very distracting) At this time, Apple does not make a tablet (although they've patented one), so it's PC only...

LAptop keyboards are always queit, though there are some of those older loud ones...

worse case you can get one of those USB pen things forgot what they are called.

[funnyperson1]

For school I would suggest getting a 14" Dell Latitude D620 or Lenovo Thinkpad T60. A light, portable, powerful, and durable laptop (much more so than most consumer laptops) that costs a whole bunch less.

The MacbookPro is a nice laptop for sure, but imho not worth the price unless you really want OSX.

Also the 15" widescreen formfactor in itself is a bit of a stretch for a take to class machine imho, with my old laptop I had problems with it fitting properly on the desks in some classes.

I tend to prefer trading some power from a laptop to gain battery life and portability, especially when I have a desktop in the room to be the powerhouse machine. I got a D620 this year, and its been a great laptop. It isn't flashy (you aren't going to get compliments like the Macbook gets you), but its a workhorse. The NVS110M is a decent gamer, I was able to play Dreamfall and CS:S pretty decently (at low to medium settings mind you), but the X1400 in the T60 should be better (and the T60 has better battery life by far).

[LoneWolf121188]

^^ idk, I kinda like the size of the 15". If I get a windows machine, it would probably be a Lenovo X-series though. I've used both the Ts and Xs and absolutely loved the Xs.

[hafa]

LAptop keyboards are always queit, though there are some of those older loud ones...

worse case you can get one of those USB pen things forgot what they are called.

That would be a wacom (http://www.wacom.com/)tablet (or its equivalent). I think that one more thing to lug around and plug in would be counter-productive. Just get a small, light, powerful tablet like the Toshiba M400 (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=4190706) and be done with it.

Tablets are superior for note taking, IMHO. I can type 100-120wpm, but after only 2 months of using the tablet, I can write just as fast as I can type. The text recognition software these days is amazing; you can make the nastiest scrawl and it will pick it up perfectly. Add this to the voice recording and marking system in One Note, and you have a machine that will transform your scholastic experience.

For your room, get a port replicator, wireless keyboard and mouse and a 19" monitor and you have what equates to a desktop in functionality (albeit not necessarily in terms of video graphics performance)..

[LoneWolf121188]

Can you get port replicators for macs?

[hafa]

Can you get port replicators for macs?

BookEndz (http://www.bookendzdocks.com/Products-Docking_Stations.html) makes "docking stations" for Macs, which use the existing outside ports. While not a true docking station*, these will replicate available external ports.

*a "true" docking station or port replicator uses a dedicated connector, usually on the bottom of the machine, which overrides several machine functions at the bios level. This usually includes an on/off switch (making opening the notebook unnecessary), an eject switch which allows for safe removal, and specialized handling of all video settings for external monitors.

The M400 (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=4190706) uses the US$181 Toshiba Express (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/externalTracking.asp?TrackingID=pageInfo&scriteria=3927239) port replicator which works very well.

[Moto7451]

No, not since the Powerbook Duos has apple had a port replicator for a laptop.

If you want a tablet Mac there is the Mod Book. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook

Personally I'm not really into tablets, especially at school where you have a desk available to you whenever you're in class.

I don't think it's necessarily wise to spend two grand on any laptop for school unless you know it will be required (and by required, I mean required, not "an X1800 mobility, T7400, and a gig of ram would be nice to have"). For school I picked up a $400 iBook G3 800MHz with 320MB of ram and a 30GB HD. It has a Radeon Mobility, not that it matters. I was considering a MacBook but I felt I didn't need to spend $1000 on a computer I wasn't necessarily going to use all the time, but I needed 6 hours of battery life (something a $500 Dell laptop just wouldn't do while still costing $500). With the screen dimmed I do 6 hours (sometimes more) while taking notes in class. It's nice and light, the perfect school laptop.

If you want to buy a new computer I'd really recommend just getting the regular MacBook. The main reason being that you're probably not going to use it every semester. Last semester I lived and died by it. This semester I'm taking a math class and some kinesiology classes. None of my classes really make good use of the laptop (especially the math class, Math Ideas, not much real math, just a lot of diagrams). You also have a good gaming machine so bring that. If you don't want to bring it, I'd insist that you just build a cheap gaming rig using older/lower cost parts and keep the MacBook as a school machine and back it's data up regularly. Many of my friends rely only on their laptop and have had it die/had to be services and they were SOL for a week or more. Learn from them ;).

If you're worried that the small screen will be limiting, just take a look at an open word document on a MacBook. You'll find that there's enough room to comfortably take your notes. The MBP is really for people who want to game on the go or work in Photoshop or other Pro apps with a million windows going. Even on my 12" screen (the MB has a 13") I can display a word dock without issue.

Also how much speed do you really need. Taking notes can be done very comfortable on any laptop with an 800MHz or faster CPU. Also the faster GPU requires you to take a hit in the battery or weight (larger battery) area. Personally I think those two areas are more important than hypothetically playing FEAR at max settings in between classes.

College will be very different from high school so planning based on your needs and wants of right now isn't very wise. I know a couple people who did that and would trade their now-collecting-dust laptop for food, rent, and car insurance in a second ;).

[Valkillmore]

Macbook Pro. In fact, I'm using a spiffy G5 as we speak and it blows my PC away. Plus, my Calc II professor went crazy one day ranting about how "if Apple made a calculator, Texas Instruments would go under!" Can't go wrong with an exceptionally engineered machine.

[Vulcan]

Has anyone run Vista on a macbook pro yet?

[LoneWolf121188]

The MBP is really for people who want to game on the go or work in Photoshop or other Pro apps with a million windows going.
Sounds like me, although it will probably be Final Cut more so than Photoshop. :)

I suppose for a "dock connector", I could simply have a 4 post USB hub that I could attatch a keyboard, mouse, etc, so I'd just have 1 wire (plus power) to plug in when I get back to my dorm.

I've never really used a tablet, but I don't see the appeal. I prefer typing over writing anyway.

[Moto7451]

Ditto, when they get to the weight/size/ease of a pad of paper, then i might change my mind ;).

[TheCheat]

Macbook Pro. In fact, I'm using a spiffy G5 as we speak and it blows my PC away. Plus, my Calc II professor went crazy one day ranting about how "if Apple made a calculator, Texas Instruments would go under!" Can't go wrong with an exceptionally engineered machine.

Is there something about my TI-84 Plus silver edition I should know about? I think its a well built calc. And if apple ever did make a calc, it'd probably be twice the price of the TI-8x series.

[funnyperson1]

Is there something about my TI-84 Plus silver edition I should know about? I think its a well built calc. And if apple ever did make a calc, it'd probably be twice the price of the TI-8x series.

Well it would also be shiny and white along with being expensive and not adding any functionality. The TI 8X series of calculators are great designs imho, functional, durable, and affordable.

[Moto7451]

I think your teacher was just making an analogy ;). I doubt he has anything against TI calcs.

[splat]

I picked up a powerbook g4 last summer for cheap, and I love it even tho it's pretty slow, but I'd never buy one new and pay full price. I'd choose a thinkpad over a mac laptop any day of the week (and twice on sunday).
T-series http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=19C791A03AF24034A0011B825513BCED
and with linux support: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/thinkpad/t-series/workstation.html

[maddog39]

If Apple had to support drivers on OSX for every device like MS does, they'd be in way over their heads and their "legendary" stability would be right out the window (forgive the pun).
I greatly disagree with that. Knowing that Mac OSX is all unix (Mach/FreeBSD) underneath, if apple was smart and they were going to do that. They'd go to the BSD kernel and take all their drivers (and they are known to support the most hardware out of the box) and put/port them into OSX. The BSD license also permits them to do so.

But on a personal note. I'd go with the PC laptop, but only because I'd want to run linux on it and dual booting OSX and Linux is a pain in the a**. But for your circumstances, I'd definatly go with the MacBook.

[LoneWolf121188]

No Linux for me. At least not in the immediate future.

[LoneWolf121188]

Oh, while I'm asking, can anyone reccomend me any technical websites to stay on top of apple news? Like "OCF for Macs" sorta thing. OCF is very windows-focused and I can't find much news on apple hardware here.

[Xenocide]

No Linux for me. At least not in the immediate future.

don't see why not, it has come a LONG way.

i completely switched from windows earlier this year

[splat]

Oh, while I'm asking, can anyone reccomend me any technical websites to stay on top of apple news? Like "OCF for Macs" sorta thing. OCF is very windows-focused and I can't find much news on apple hardware here.

uhm, there is mac-rumors and slashdot usually does a good job of covering all that is computer and IT. i'm sure there is more out there that you can google up.

[fldrice]

Honestly, I think you're better off with a tablet. As a fellow student, trust me when I say you're not going want anything larger than 13.3". Sure, anything larger will have a nice display, but they can be cumbersome and heavy; not something you're going to want to purchase if you expect to carry your notebook in your backpack. If you want a mac just get a standard macbook, however I highly suggest the tablet route.

[Springbok]

Get yourself a Core 2 duo Windows laptop and get better performance than the Mac for a grand less. If you want a Mac you have to burn money on the pedestal of Steve Jobs (they keep one in the back of each Apple store).