Buy used off of e-bay. That was how I got my iMac. I later upgraded the memory to 3gb. It has a nice 24" screen, a Core 2 Duo chip (2.16ghz) and 7600gt 256mb graphics. Paid around $1200 or less for it. Didn't want the new ones, especially after seeing their lackluster video cards.
Great for email and surfing. As far as Leopard/Tiger compared to XP? Yawn. Their both Operating Systems and neither is stand out. I have become familar with Force-Quit on my iMac just like i had to learn CTRL-ALT-DEL on a Windows box.
You pay for quality. I personally have a Dell Latitude D820, and at the office use a MacBook Pro (2.16Ghz C2D). The MacBook Pro (and Mac OS X) are SOOOOO much better than the Dell and Windows. The quality and engineering of the case, screen, keyboard (with backlight!), trackpad, sound, built-in DVI, power brick and connector, etc. etc. are far better than the Dell Latitude (which I understand is a big step up from the Dell consumer models).
My next personal laptop will be a Mac. I'll have to decide at that time whether I will get the MacBook or foot the extra $$ for the Pro. Likely will.
My next personal laptop will be a Mac. I'll have to decide at that time whether I will get the MacBook or foot the extra $$ for the Pro. Likely will.
I agree they are expensive (as i type this on my MacBook Pro, refurbished of course) but you really do get a great machine. I've had this thing a year and a half, and its still in pristine condition.
It really depends what you want. The MBP might as well be made out of a solid block of aluminum. I help people with their new Dells and HP machines and while they are not bad machines, they are plastic, have all sorts of stickers all over them, and have countless covers for the ram and wireless and hd. To me they are just to "busy". As far as the guts, the differences are probably mute.
I actually think some manufactures are going the wrong direction. They add all sorts of things to their laptops that normal people dont use (In other words Non-AT people). And they are thick.
Normal people dont need things like:
200 GB laptop drives
16 in 1 card readers
Finger print readers
Easy access to the freaking wireless card, HD, crap like that. Honestly who is opening these things!
It really depends what you want. The MBP might as well be made out of a solid block of aluminum. I help people with their new Dells and HP machines and while they are not bad machines, they are plastic, have all sorts of stickers all over them, and have countless covers for the ram and wireless and hd. To me they are just to "busy". As far as the guts, the differences are probably mute.
I actually think some manufactures are going the wrong direction. They add all sorts of things to their laptops that normal people dont use (In other words Non-AT people). And they are thick.
Normal people dont need things like:
200 GB laptop drives
16 in 1 card readers
Finger print readers
Easy access to the freaking wireless card, HD, crap like that. Honestly who is opening these things!
you guys realize that apple laptops are assembled right next to dell, hp, and other laptops in factories owned by quanta, right? build quality doesn't really play into how good or how bad the computer is. it's related to how much the the respective company is willing to pay for quanta to do more testing to weed out the defective computers.
Fayd
Diamond Member
I think they are referencing more physical build qualities.
I have only used the newer Dell Lattitudes... so I dunno where they compare to a Mac, or if there's anything better from Dell.. but the physically build quality is terrible IMO, especially compared to say... the old school Dells. Those were ugly, but they were tough
Holy crap, Dell isn't even in the same league. I can't stand those cheap pieces of plastic. The build quality between ANY Dell and a MacBook Pro is like night and day. If you think a MacBook Pro is too expensive for you, just get a MacBook. For $1499 you get a great laptop. Shoot, even the $1099 MacBook is better than any Dell.
Yeah, the MB Pro is quite rediculous for the price. The regular Macbook for its size and other comparable models is however a better deal.
KlokWyze
Diamond Member
I haven't used a mac in like 12+ years since in public school, but I would probably just buy one to learn a new/different OS than Windows (I use 1 linux box right now). I think if/when I get a laptop it will be a mac.
One question though....
... do they still have that 1-button mouse bullshit?
One question though....
... do they still have that 1-button mouse bullshit?
The trackpad has one button, but you can easily right click with it. You place a second finger onto the trackpad, and click the button. That is a right click.
Or you can plug in any USB mouse on the planet and it will work.
KlokWyze
Diamond Member
Yeah I have zero experience with macs, but everything I hear about them is great sans the cost. In the end though it seems worth a try & frankly, Apple music production software looks sick. Plus, I don't like the idea of being dependent on one type of OS, especially when it is engineered by a monopolistic company.
The XPS 1550 can be had with a 1680x1050 screen for an extra $100. Seems like everyone overlooked that upgrade.
You mean the 1530? The new one right? The one that up until a few weeks ago was stuck at 1280*800 (no upgrade was available)?
Quick question, does it have the LED backlighting yet? I read in the press release that accompanied its launch that it was supposed to have LED backlighting as an option.
Yes, I meant the 1530. I know don't if it has LED backlighting. I do know for a fact that the 1330 does (we've got several of them at work), so I'm assuming the 1530 does as well.
jpetermann
Diamond Member
- Feb 27, 2001
- 6,751
- 0
- 76
1530 does not have LED yet. I had one on order and then cancelled and decided to get a Macbook. Just could not handle the thought of going back to Winblows for good.
iamwiz82
Lifer
- Jan 10, 2001
- 30,772
- 13
- 81
I have had quite a few Mac laptops and quite a few Dell laptops. Dell pricing is hard to pass up, but to say that their quality touches Mac is flat-out wrong. Hell, every single Dell I know of (currently one at home and just over 50 at work) have weak screen hinges, a floppy screen when the cas is closed, and lots of flex. This spans Inspiron and Latitude lines.
If you're looking to get a machine for music production, there is absolutely no chance that you will regret the swap. Logic rules
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