It's about that time...

[AceStallion]

for me to buy a new laptop...my Dell just is not cutting it anymore. I'm a HARDCORE PC lover, i've used them all of my life and am a little scared of switching over to a Mac..However, i feel like it may be time...Are there any Mac users out there that used to be like me and only trust PCs? Do you now love Mac more? Do you regret you r switch over? I just wanna hear from people who were in my situation at some point or even from those who want to plead Macs case against PCs..Basically i want opinions and stories of why i should get a Mac and leave my comfort zone of PCs..Thanks!

And thanks for the answers to my iphone 4 questions! Very sound info!

 

[Patranus]

Well if you don't like OSX you can always just run windows full time.

 

[Kmax82]

Well, I switched from being a hardcore Windows user around 4 years ago. It was definitely a transition at first, but that mainly stemmed from having to use a PowerPC MacMini, so it wasn't the ideal situation for switching. I had to stop using Windows apps cold turkey and it was hard indeed.

However, with the newer systems a Mac seems like a shoe in for everyone to me. You get the best of both worlds.. You can boot camp into Windows if you need to use it natively, or you can virtualize with VMWare or Parallels (both excellent solutions).

Honestly, I do love Macs more, and it's to the point where I would have trouble prying my fingers away from owning one. I tried to switch back to Windows for my Media Center solution and just got frustrated and went back to OS X. I know Windows is quite good, and I have no problem conceding that, but for me, I'm just so accustomed to OS X that I really hate to not use it everywhere.

Ultimately, it's your call, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.. Plus, if you absolutely hate it.. you can always run Windows on it, and you've got a great machine out of the deal.

 

[GT1999]

I used to use Macs back in the OS 6 and OS 7 days before I got started using PCs back in the 90's. I'm currently using my fiancees old PowerBook G4. Even though it only has 512MB of RAM, it boots up a LOT faster than my Core Duo work laptop (2GB RAM) and overall seems to be very efficient with tasks. I just bring it into work to listen to music/etc while I work. I browse on it a bit, and I'm really liking it a lot. It's OS X 10.4.

If you get a new one, I would personally go for the lowest end 15" they offer, as all of the new i5/i7s they offer are only 2 cores and are really overkill to go for the higher clocked CPUs. That said, reviews have shown the i7 does offer a substantial improvement for the buck. The 13" is a great laptop, but you're not getting a newer i5/i7 so I would avoid it unless you really want an ultra portable MacBook.

The unibody is awesome, and the displays are gorgeous.

The only major downfall of a Mac is they don't have all the fancy new hardware options PC laptops get, and they're a lot more expensive. That's why I haven't splurged on a 15" MBP yet.

Base 15" MacBook Pro - $1800.
Upgrade to 500GB 7200RPM +150
Upgrade to Hi-Res Anti-Glare +150
AppleCare 3 yrs = +350

Total: ~2500 - ouch!

BTW, Parallels and BootCamp is one of THE best reasons to get a Mac. Hook up a second WS monitor, and you can literally do anything you want all on one laptop. A co-worker of mine does this and replaced his work laptop with just his Mac.

 

[DnetMHZ]

I manage a 100% Windows environment for a living and I switched to a Mac at home about 4 years ago. I'll never go back to PC/Windows.

 

[zylander]

Well if you don't like OSX you can always just run windows full time.

This. My new MBP runs windows better than my Dell XPS m1530 with similar specs did. Just buy a MB/MBP, there is no learning curve in OSX, its ridiculously easy to use.

 

[Patranus]

The only major downfall of a Mac is they don't have all the fancy new hardware options PC laptops get, and they're a lot more expensive. That's why I haven't splurged on a 15" MBP yet.

I will agree to disagree with you.
Their limited hardware choices are what gives the MPB many of its strengths like a 10 hour battery.
(It is also why OS X just works and you still have to screw around when installing Windows)