Apple Hardware

[mike2fix]

I have been a PC guy for many years. My daughter's PC laptop died and I just bought her a MacBook Pro to replace it. Sadly, my feeling is that for her, the Mac is going to be the most reliable and trouble free option for her.

I went to the Apple store yesterday to check out their laptops and the iPhone.
I was amazed at the build quality of all their hardware. I really can't believe that someone in the PC world hasn't copied the Mac stuff, it appears to be built so well with a nice solid feel to it.

I would recommend that anyone that hasn't been to an Apple store, to go just to see how hardware should be built. I am not a Jobs fan nor an Apple fan in general but their stuff is solid.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, aluminum vs plastic. Scratch-resistant oleophobic glass vs plastic.

It's not really hard to see how solid these things are if you were to read their specs.

 

[silverpig]

Even if I had to run windows, I would rather do it via bootcamp on my 2 year old C2D MBP than on a new sandy bridge plastic windows laptop.

 

[Nothinman]

I have been a PC guy for many years. My daughter's PC laptop died and I just bought her a MacBook Pro to replace it. Sadly, my feeling is that for her, the Mac is going to be the most reliable and trouble free option for her.

I went to the Apple store yesterday to check out their laptops and the iPhone.
I was amazed at the build quality of all their hardware. I really can't believe that someone in the PC world hasn't copied the Mac stuff, it appears to be built so well with a nice solid feel to it.

I would recommend that anyone that hasn't been to an Apple store, to go just to see how hardware should be built. I am not a Jobs fan nor an Apple fan in general but their stuff is solid.

A Mac is a PC too and there are non-Apple options that are built as well, but most people aren't willing to pay the premium for them which is why Dell is essentially top of the line now. They're the best of the cheap options. They're essentially the McDonald's of the PC business...

 

[mike2fix]

I've been working on and fixing computers for more than a day or two and have worked on most major brands of laptops over the years and have never seen one even close to the quality of what I saw yesterday at the Apple store. I am far from a Mac fanboi but I just haven't seen the quality on the PC machines. If you are familiar with a PC brand of the quality of the MacBooks, I would love to hear what brand it is.

 

[Tegeril]

Even if I had to run windows, I would rather do it via bootcamp on my 2 year old C2D MBP than on a new sandy bridge plastic windows laptop.

This. The trackpad alone is enough of a difference.

 

[Aikouka]

The biggest thing about their build quality is probably the unibody aluminum construction. It definitely gives them a solid feel.

But for me, I just don't like OSX at all, and they don't really offer any laptops that provide powerful GPU solutions for a moderate price. I spec'd a Dell laptop with a decent GPU/CPU for only 1.3k. My laptop is mostly for computing while traveling, which has to include the capability to play games. My old Dell M1530 (C2D, 8600GT) is starting to show its age with how I had to turn down settings with the release of WoW: Cataclysm.

This. The trackpad alone is enough of a difference.

I always find it awkward to use the Apple trackpad since I come from a mostly Windows world. I tap on it and sit there in bewilderment, "Wait... why didn't it click... oh yeah."

You should have seen me the first time I used an iPhone. I thought the home button was the microphone and I had no idea how to exit apps .

 

[MotionMan]

Well, aluminum vs plastic. Scratch-resistant oleophobic glass vs plastic.

It's not really hard to see how solid these things are if you were to read their specs.

My MacBook is plastic, but it still feels better than the two metal PC laptops I previously owned.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

A Mac is a PC too and there are non-Apple options that are built as well, but most people aren't willing to pay the premium for them which is why Dell is essentially top of the line now. They're the best of the cheap options. They're essentially the McDonald's of the PC business...

Which ones?

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

The biggest thing about their build quality is probably the unibody aluminum construction. It definitely gives them a solid feel.

But for me, I just don't like OSX at all, and they don't really offer any laptops that provide powerful GPU solutions for a moderate price. I spec'd a Dell laptop with a decent GPU/CPU for only 1.3k. My laptop is mostly for computing while traveling, which has to include the capability to play games. My old Dell M1530 (C2D, 8600GT) is starting to show its age with how I had to turn down settings with the release of WoW: Cataclysm.



I always find it awkward to use the Apple trackpad since I come from a mostly Windows world. I tap on it and sit there in bewilderment, "Wait... why didn't it click... oh yeah."

You should have seen me the first time I used an iPhone. I thought the home button was the microphone and I had no idea how to exit apps .

Not sure why tap to click is still off by default on OS X, but it is. Once it is turned on, aside from not having a dedicated right mouse button (you can simulate it though, turn the bottom right of the trackpad in a secondary click zone) they are identical in functionality to Windows trackpads at a minimum, far exceeding them in almost every case. They are made out of glass meaning that they will never get that shiny aspect to them and will also feel as good as the day you get them. They are gigantic and support multi-touch. With Better Touch Tool installed you can assign any number of gestures to them, and the software also shows that it will actually track up at least ten points of touch. Not sure when you would ever have that many fingers on there, but there you go.

 

[Tegeril]

I have to say tap to click might be the worst thing ever in my opinion. But I love the ability to make it so the right corner is a right click and multitouch gestures. But yeah, there is nothing that compares to the Apple trackpads for me.

 

[Emulex]

sad thing is the magic trackpad/apple trackpad sucks in windows 7. its both OSX+trackpad that makes it godlike.

 

[Aikouka]

sad thing is the magic trackpad/apple trackpad sucks in windows 7. its both OSX+trackpad that makes it godlike.

Actually, I'd bet that it's actually Apple's lack of a desire to make a proper driver/application for Windows that makes it not worthwhile.

For Windows, you'd need to essentially create an application just like SetPoint (Logitech's Mouse application) that allows you to define Gesture profiles to assign a Gesture to a command. Such as two fingers on the swiped to the left would equal Alt+Left in firefox.exe.

I haven't seen Apple's implementation, but I'd bet if it's bad... then that does not exist.

EDIT:

I am apparently directionally challenged .

 

[Emulex]

you should get her a MAC dude. that way she will get all the boys/girls with her hot macbook air. just sayin'

 

[MotionMan]

A Mac is a PC too and there are non-Apple options that are built as well, but most people aren't willing to pay the premium for them which is why Dell is essentially top of the line now. They're the best of the cheap options. They're essentially the McDonald's of the PC business...

Which ones?

MotionMan

 

[gorcorps]

Actually, I'd bet that it's actually Apple's lack of a desire to make a proper driver/application for Windows that makes it not worthwhile.

For Windows, you'd need to essentially create an application just like SetPoint (Logitech's Mouse application) that allows you to define Gesture profiles to assign a Gesture to a command. Such as two fingers on the swiped to the right would equal Alt+Left in firefox.exe.

I haven't seen Apple's implementation, but I'd bet if it's bad... then that does not exist.

I'd believe it. I was shocked how well itunes runs on a mac. They just don't optimize their stuff for windows, just like MS doesn't optimize their office suite for Macs. Competition is generally good for consumers, but sometimes it's a royal PITA

 

[Eug]

I'm a Mac geek, and I don't expect any of my Macs to last longer than my PCs. At least with some of the desktop PCs though, I can swap out the parts myself.

iBook G3 --> Died due to logic board failure after about 16 months or so. I argued with them because it was a known problem but they refused to do anything about it... until the following year.
iBook G4 --> Video went dead, I believe at hinge after I believe 3 years.
TiBook --> Was fine when I sold it after a couple of years, but the charger had to be replaced in the first year.
iBook G4 --> Worked fine until I sold it in a year.
MacBook CD --> Palmrest discolouration. Top cover replaced free but I wasn't overly impressed with the work (3rd party, but authorized dealer and service centre), since they bent the drive slot area, and then that had to be fixed.
MacBook Pro C2D --> Works fine, after a couple of years.
iMac G5 --> Tons of stuck pixels at delivery. Fixed in-home. Firewire went dead in first year, fixed. But then the mobo died at about 18 months old, fixed under the extended warranty I had purchased.
iMac C2D --> Firewire port went dead in first year. Fixed, and then video went dead. Fixed too.
iMac i7 --> Some sort of motherboard failure in first year. Replaced with a new one.

P.S. Here's a hint. If your iMac dies, bring it back to the Apple Store without any accessories. If they have to completely replace it, they may replace it with a brand new order, which includes the accessories (keyboard & mouse) in the box.

P.P.S. Another hint. If you plan on keeping any high dollar Mac for a few years, consider getting AppleCare. I usually get it, but that's because I get AppleCare at a discount. It's come in handy several times as you can see from the above.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Wow, Eug. If I had that many problems with my Macs, I wouldn't still be using one...

That said, the failures you mention were particularly common for those models - which I knew about and avoided.

 

[Eug]

I just don't think these things stand up to abuse, Windows PC or Mac. It's not (usually) the case that's the issue (aside from the palmrest issue), it's the hardware inside. For the above list, I didn't list the several hard drive failures for example - something that plagues both Windows and Mac machines for obvious reasons.

Remember, these machines are all built by the same factories anyway, and while I think Apple's QA is probably OK, I don't think Apple has necessarily got the highest QA of all computer computers out there for products in the same price range. I think Apple has better screen quality than a lot of the low end stuff (my Acer's screen is poor for example), but the low end screen will likely work just as long.

 

[Tweak155]

Not sure why tap to click is still off by default on OS X, but it is. Once it is turned on, aside from not having a dedicated right mouse button (you can simulate it though, turn the bottom right of the trackpad in a secondary click zone) they are identical in functionality to Windows trackpads at a minimum, far exceeding them in almost every case. They are made out of glass meaning that they will never get that shiny aspect to them and will also feel as good as the day you get them. They are gigantic and support multi-touch. With Better Touch Tool installed you can assign any number of gestures to them, and the software also shows that it will actually track up at least ten points of touch. Not sure when you would ever have that many fingers on there, but there you go.

I just hold 2 fingers down and click. Is this not the same thing as a right click?

 

[postaled]

I know that for me the only laptops that I've used that feel pretty sturdy have been my Thinkpads and my Latitudes.

Definitely like the aluminum case that Apple is using though. Also I've tried the Apple trackpad but really I just don't enjoy using the pads on any pc and just try to buy machines with the trackpoint/touchstick.

Also, Apple lcd screens on laptops break just as easily from dropping them as basically any other laptop you'll buy.

 

[TheStu]

I just hold 2 fingers down and click. Is this not the same thing as a right click?

Yea, I apparently forgot to mention that. I do the same. I don't have the right click zone enabled on mine.

 

[Tegeril]

I know that for me the only laptops that I've used that feel pretty sturdy have been my Thinkpads and my Latitudes.

Definitely like the aluminum case that Apple is using though. Also I've tried the Apple trackpad but really I just don't enjoy using the pads on any pc and just try to buy machines with the trackpoint/touchstick.

Also, Apple lcd screens on laptops break just as easily from dropping them as basically any other laptop you'll buy.

I will never understand the fascination or like of those things, but to each his own.

 

[MotionMan]

I will never understand the fascination or like of those things, but to each his own.

I agree. I never liked using those.

(BTW, this is a perfect example of why another level of quoting should be enabled.)

MotionMan

 

[Kadarin]

Sadly, my feeling is that for her, the Mac is going to be the most reliable and trouble free option for her.

Macs are wonderful for people who don't really care about the computer itself, but instead care about what they're doing on it. My 70 year old mom gets around just fine on one.