Shin
Cucco Army
Farfetch'd
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« on: January 07, 2008, 12:19:21 am » |
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So. I need to get a Notebook for college, and I'll be attending Georgia Tech this fall, and I was wondering whether I should get a Mac or PC. Lately I've been looking at pricing, and they seem to be in about the same range for what I'm looking for. (I really like the Macbook a lot) I'm looking to spend around 1300-1400 bucks.
So, if you've got an idea of a specific notebook I should get, could I hear a shoutout? Even if nothing else, if you say PC, or Mac, at least tell me why. (And give me a company I should look into if you say PC)
Thanks guys.
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Wind_Waker4
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« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2008, 01:28:18 am » |
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I'll be going to college in the fall, too.
The Mac is great for... well... iTunes? GarageBand? It's more or less user friendly.
The thing is that it just doesn't run apps like Microsoft Word as well as the PC, and I figure I'll be using that more than ever for papers and such (and it can run iTunes, too).
I haven't really started looking, considering I haven't chosen a school, but the newer Dell XPS notebooks look kinda nice.
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LBoogie
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« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2008, 01:39:20 am » |
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Well, I'm not a huge fan of Mac ... but like any platform, it has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I just don't like the look and setup of the Mac operating system. Anyways, it kind of boils down what you want to use the laptop most for. If you're accustomed to Windows-based programs, like Microsoft Word, Excel, etc., then those won't be available on a Mac. Of course, Macs have their equivalent of such software programs, but it will take some adjustment to get used to them. Macs are great for graphic work. So if you are majoring in graphics, art, or something similar, a Mac would probably be very beneficial. I usually stick to PCs (with Linux  ) though. For laptops, I like to go with the brands HP or Toshiba. The specs and features you need are really up to you.  |
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Hen
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« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2008, 01:58:27 am » |
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I thought I heard that you can have windows based programs on the Mac with their latest programs that accommodate for those things?
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 ~:> |
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LBoogie
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« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2008, 02:14:28 am » |
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I thought I heard that you can have windows based programs on the Mac with their latest programs that accommodate for those things?
Maybe? I'm not sure. I don't really stay up-to-date on Mac things.  However, I do know that you can run a Windows emulator of sorts on a Mac machine so that you can run Windows programs. Is that what you're thinking of? If so, that does work, but I think the emulators can be quite the memory hogger. |
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Wind_Waker4
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« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2008, 02:17:02 am » |
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I thought I heard that you can have windows based programs on the Mac with their latest programs that accommodate for those things?
Yeah, but I find they never work quite as well. |
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Shin
Cucco Army
Farfetch'd
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« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2008, 02:37:42 am » |
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Well, you can use a dual booting system on your Mac, and run any Microsoft Operating system, (Like Vista or XP). It works well, but it just takes up twice as much space having two Operating systems on one storage method.
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MAGNUS-8M
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« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2008, 03:06:22 am » |
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Macs, I find, are best used for productivity and Art/Graphics based JOBS(and classes too I guess).
I had three Computer Arts classes and three years of two-hour Printing Technologies classes, and Macintosh is what I used about 97% of the time there. I never really liked using Photoshop in Windows, and even things like Adobe Pagemaker don't feel so well in Windows either.
But as far as many other things go..... I dunno, I just feel like there's a big gap between Productivity/Job machine and the 'Hi I bought an iPod and figured I buy one of these computer things and Macintosh has the same apple logo on it so I thought I'd pay even more money for it' groups. Either you have a Mac to run Photoshop/Other-Adobe-Products, or you have a Mac to put your digital pictures into a generic slideshow movie with neat-oh effects that you proudly display at the annual family reunion.
Well, it's not THAT well generalized, but that's been the experience of what I've seen. Maybe I just haven't known TOO many people who use Macs the same way I use PCs, but as far as I can tell, if I had a Mac, I'd feel really cornered and unsure of what to do exactly.
Anyway, that's just my opinion: use Macs if it's meant to be for productivity, especially arts/graphics-based. Otherwise, Windows and usually Linux can do everything just as well or better(and dan I only say usually cuz there are some games or other things that were only made for Windows and you'd have to use some kind of Windows emu to use/play them :p ).
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Yumil1988
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« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2008, 08:54:24 am » |
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When it comes to the programs you need, chances are you'll be fine regardless of which platform you choose. I use Windows and Mac OSX on a regular basis and both are quite capable of running Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and any other Adobe "artsy" programs you may need. They are also both able to run Microsoft Office applications. Both can run your favorite browser, assuming you aren't a fan of Internet Explorer 6 or 7 (those don't have fans - people just use it b/c it came with the computer). Both use iTunes.
For other needs, there are a wide variety of applications to get whatever you need done. It would be smart to figure out exactly what programs you need ahead of time. Since this is Cuccoscratch, I'm assuming you're doing artsy stuff. If that is the case, look to programs other than Adobe that you might need. For example, CorelDRAW is Windows only. Final Cut Pro is MacOSX only.
I possible, you might also sit at a store and play with them to see what you like. You obviously have a computer already, so if you grew up on Windows then Mac will probably seem really easy. If you grew up on Mac, you can expect Windows (especially Vista) to see rather complicated.
Also keep in mind that newer Macs are capable of dual booting Windows and Mac OSX using Boot Camp (Apple's program that allows you to load Windows or Mac at startup) or Parallels (third party software that allows you to run Windows in a Mac OSX window). You'd need to buy a copy of Windows for this to work though.
Lastly, if you plan to play games, you need Windows.
If I was going to go grab a notebook right now, I'd get the MacBook. However, I'm quite set on not getting Windows Vista and I already own a desktop with Windows. I enjoy using both operating systems, so I recommend hitting a store and playing with them to see what you like.
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LBoogie
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« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2008, 03:32:55 pm » |
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However, I'm quite set on not getting Windows Vista and I already own a desktop with Windows.
From what I hear, that's a good move. I haven't tried Vista yet, but a lot of my friends have it and I've heard nothing but complaints about it. The blue screen of death supposedly made a return!  I've read that a Mac actually runs Vista better than a PC, lol. I haven't done any experimenting personally or anything like to verify it though. I wonder how true it is! |
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dan
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« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2008, 03:48:03 pm » |
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vista has a habit of wanting to install updates, and not let you "reboot later". in other words, it'll install a handful of updates without telling you, then want to reboot without giving you an option to do it later. so if you're in the middle of something....tough shit really lol
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PM_NiGHTS
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« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2008, 04:32:43 pm » |
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Well as long as you get a good one a PC is really the better buy since it has more program options.
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ZGDK
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« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2008, 08:01:50 pm » |
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Hi I'm a Mac and I'm a PC.
I'm a PC: I'm full of useless shit and viruses
and I'm a Mac: I look great and I'm more user friendly.
Wish I had a Mac:(
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Ezekiel 25:17
17 I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.' "
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Shin
Cucco Army
Farfetch'd
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Posts: 532
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« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2008, 09:23:23 pm » |
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Well I'm not doing anything artsy, I just really love my multimedia on a computer, and Apple's the best for that. I intend to minor in music probably, so that's a big part too.
Anyway, I intend to use BootCamp if I get a Mac. The problem is getting a copy of XP, since I'm not a big fan of Vista yet.
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MAGNUS-8M
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« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2008, 09:25:46 pm » |
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Hi I'm a Mac and I'm a PC.
I'm a PC: I'm full of useless shit and viruses
and I'm a Mac: I look great and I'm more user friendly.
Wish I had a Mac:(
Well, you can't get Touhou on a Mac: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLiyglcRcCA |
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