Thinking of a MacBook?

[Illah]

LONG time PC user here, but with their costs dropping and my needs changing, a MacBook is looking ever more tempting lately. The 13" black MacBook or a 13" VAIO SZ are pretty much the same price and specs, and since my wife already has the VAIO...

My main concern is apps. I use a lot of esoteric apps on the PC side. I know Parallels is an option but when using it at work (have a MacBook Pro here for video work) it tends to run pretty slow compared to a pure Windows machine. In fact, my worry is that I'll use it so much I might as well have a windows machine :) For example, my boss has a MacBook but essentially lives in Parallels for Outlook, Office, etc.

Other than that, what are the real benefits besides trendy cool factor? I know they're easier to use, but honestly I'm pretty much expert level with Windows so that type of thing doesn't apply to me.

Thanks,

--Illah

[benbaked]

IMO only get a Mac if you are interested in using OS X and OS X applications, as that's the preferred (legal) way of doing so. Otherwise there is no reason to buy an overpriced MacBook compared to other OEM laptops, unless you're into the sexy chassis factor. :)

[whooping_a_panda]

i run a PowerBook g4 runs great, wouldnt trade it for the world. except maybe a macbook pro. Daily use i have no problems with app inconsistancies as i can usually find a better (read open source) alternative to the windows equivilant.

but on to the matter at hand. My brother has a macbook pro. basically the same machine can really hardly tell the difference (it is regretably faster than mine though, and it wont run some legacy ppc based apps, though you can usually find the intel equivilants again). OS X is plainly put a sexy OS. it runs smooth, rock stable (my machine is currently on a 4 week up time) intuitive, nifty features (some are admittadly pointless but still cool) and did i mention it will run X11/xterm's?

you're post shows concern for running legacy windows apps. well the intel macs come equipped with boot camp which allows for a (mostly) painless windows install, admittadly the only problems ive encountered in doing the install were due to my own devices and not the softwares fault at all. and despite the post above me, is completly legal. In reality its a regular old intel machine snuggled in a sexy chassis, so dual booting comes naturally, well as natural as can be when booting an apple computer into a windows 2k/xp/vista splash screen...

finally the same guys that brought the linux community winex/cedega have created Cider, which ports windows api games to the OSX platform in the same manner. I've actually read that OSX is more windows compatible than Vista due to this (jokingly of course but it was certainly good for a laugh). On the same note, as i mentioned X11 above because OSX is built on a unix base. its easy to bring the entirety of linux apps to the platform without having to emulate things. It runs OSX apps nativly (duh?) and because theyre running on regular old pc hardware now you can even run windows apps (sometimes better than vista can!). Failing that you can always set up the system for dual booting into a native windows partition. But aside from the apps you really need to run, you wont leave the wonderfull world of OSX once you've gotten used to it.

disclaimer: ive run macs my whole life side by side wintell boxes. i still have an xp machine that gets turned on so i can run tf2 and bioshock, but nothing more.

*edit* as I've mentioned the ease of use of the OS in my post and it gets flack for being an easy to use OS all the time (thats a bad thing?) I should also mention that that is only skin deep. If you have the time to learn the system and use its tools it becomes more and more of a *nix box with a drivable front end, which is great for tweaks and whatever else you would want to do with it. i guess what im trying to say is the system is only as simple as you want to make it.

[benbaked]

and despite the post above me, is completly legal.

Where did I ever mention doing something illegal? :confused:

[whooping_a_panda]

IMO only get a Mac if you are interested in using OS X and OS X applications, as that's the preferred (legal) way of doing so.

maybe i misinterpreted your intentions but thats just how i read it: as in running windows & apps is the unpreffered (illegal) way of doing things.

[benbaked]

My post wasn't clear. :) My point is the only reason (IMO) to get a Mac is if you want to run OS X the legal way. Otherwise a person who only wants/needs Windows or Linux can get much more computing power for the same price as a Mac. I'm not knocking Macs as bad, they're one of the better OEMs out there and I have one myself but IMO the only thing that really separates them from other top OEMs is OS X. Well...that and their case designs are very attractive. :D

[whooping_a_panda]

gotcha, and i agree, if your looking for a windows box by all means thats the way to go. im just of the opinion that os x is the best thing since sliced bread. Sure its not gonna be the fastest machine on the block and your not gonna get a 100% oc out of it. But thats not why i have a laptop in the first place. (not that oc'ing cant be done just more difficult http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/).

The reason i run my Powerbook 90% of the time is because its smoother and imo a more refined OS (maybe what Vista should have been?). I do everyday tasks on it along with schoolwork (Electical Engineering, it runs matlab just fine), and it acts as the centerpiece to my home studio (i do my recordings with ableton live, none of that garage band crap for me thank you). I don't run into many compatibilty problems i cant overcome with an alternative application, but that is the reason i keep a windows box around, no need if you can dual boot to begin with. Could i do that on my XP box, sure. But I don't. Bottom line for me is that it's a much nicer computing experience and that is just my opinion. It's not going to be for everyone, but I really think everyone should give it a shot if they have the means.

[Cheator]

I got my brother to get a Macbook. Hes ok with it, but its not his favorite lappy, thats for sure. honestly, I dont' think its worth the price jump. But i'd buy it anyday over a sony. Blech...

[EchoTheDolphin]

If it's a macbook vs a sony, I'd take the macbook hands down. Sony Viao laptops generally do not hold u well at all to wear and tear IMHO.

[NettieZoom]

I briefly owned a Macbook pro and really tried to like it as our software at work actually runs better in OSX then Vista but for me the performance hit from running windows apps/games took too high of a toll on the laptops available resources for my liking.

I do have to admit the Mac laptops look sweet :)

[Illah]

I'll probably end up with a PC laptop after all. The MacBooks are cool, but I have zero reason to switch other than curiosity. Also considering the new VAIO SZ series looks just as good IMO, is over a pound lighter, has built in Sprint broadband, and has better specs (most notably a decent video card for light gaming and an added boost in video editing / motion graphics)...well, that about seals the deal :)

Admittedly I prob won't use the EV-DO at all, but it's nice to have if/when it becomes comparably cost efficient to home broadband. $60 / month so it's not too far off from the $25-35 most home connections cost.

The MB Pro adds in the beefier specs but the smallest size is a 15.4" and it's reasonably heavy...and not cheap at all!

--Illah

[eli]

Why not look at an Asus model then? I work on laptops all day, and Sony is probably the most troublesome of them all. Dell and Asus make some nice 14" models that are sexy and very well built. My 2 Cents. I have a Macbook and would never get anything save a MBP.

[ArcticPenguin]

ive been running on a MBP with bootcamped XP & Vista natively, i got back and fourth between all the OS's from time to and time and aunch the occasional VM to access certain apps. the MBP arent entirely heavy at all, the MB are alittle more thick but are pretty well done.

Its nice to have OS flexibility since it seems alot more places and applications are embracing Apple OS and having alot more options.

But yeah if there a misc features your looking at adding and running windows exclusively a competitively priced pc-notebook mightbe up your alley. esp with chip prices dropping and new releases.

[neonblingbling]

What kind of troubles do people have with Sony Laptops? I have been using a SZ650 for the last year, and I had zero major problems with it (other than ultramon doesn't like to play nicely). I did put XP, 3GB of ram, and a 7200 rpm hard drive in it, but only after spending half a year with Vista, 2GB, and 5400 rpm.

[eli]

What kind of troubles do people have with Sony Laptops? I have been using a SZ650 for the last year, and I had zero major problems with it (other than ultramon doesn't like to play nicely). I did put XP, 3GB of ram, and a 7200 rpm hard drive in it, but only after spending half a year with Vista, 2GB, and 5400 rpm.


I work at a university, and I've seen many problems with Sony. It's like after two years things just start dieing. I don't have numbers or anything, but I personally would stray from the Sony lineup. And I always felt you paid a premium for the Sony name. Overall design and features would have to go with Asus. Build quality and stability would go to IBM/Lenovo. But I write this on a Macbook Pro. I've seen an iBook G3 come in with 3 hours of battery life, still chugging away. That's what sold me onto Apple, and I've not looked back.

[neonblingbling]

Interesting. I hope I don't hit the '2 year, parts die' issue. One of the biggest things that sold me to this laptop was because it was convenient. A) I wanted a laptop within a week. B) Best Buy had it. C) Best Buy had it on sale. Plus its specs/features were nice (hybrid graphics ftw). As of now, I cant say I'm disappointed or have an issues with it (other than a loud keyboard).

[Vengance_01]

The new thinkpad line looks very very nice. I currently also use a 1330 and love the little bugger. With the 9 cell battery I can pull 5 hours of work and thats with a dedicated 8400GS based card.