Macbook Pro RS or Alienware M14x For Uni

[stedaley]

Deals i have seen are about the same price, 2000-2500 from the Dell/apple stores, but i need to make space by getting rid of my desktop and my M11x so was thinking a highend laptop?

Are the Macbook ProRS/M14x worth it?

Im a student and would be mainly gaming and some video editing, as well as abit of photshop and music editing. trying to get into the latter two as a hobby.

SPECS Are.
M14X
Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.6GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
Free Flight Promotion. I approve Dell passing personal data to TLC Marketing
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 650M
8192MB (2x4GB) 1600MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
256GB Dell Mobility Solid State Drive 6Gb/s
14.1" WideHD+ (1600x900) WLED with TrueLife
Blu-Ray ROM (Blu-Ray read only, DVD, CD, read and write)
Killer Wireless-N 1202 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO for Gaming & Video and Bluetooth 4.0
Primary 8-cell 63W/HR LI-ION
Anti Virus Not Included
1 yr Next Day In-Home Hardware & Premium Software Phone Support
1 year Accidental Damage Protection
Alienware M14x Cosmic Black

Cost 1986

VS

Macbook Pro with Retina Screen
2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
256GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
Built-in battery (7 hours)2
Apple USB SuperDrive
Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)
Backlit Keyboard (British) & User's Guide (English)
Apple 85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter (for MacBook Pro with Retina display)
MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter
Apple Thunderbolt cable (2.0 m)

Cost 2306

Ive read loads of reviews, I'd be dual booting both anyway if i got either But need peoples hands on opinions. Id also be paying monthly for them. 66 for each,

Ste

 

[T_Yamamoto]

This is all your preference. If I was duel booting I'd just get a think pad and pop in a ssd

 

[stedaley]

think pad?

Im off to uni and want something that'll last for those 4years without having to upgrade, and at least have warranty to cover it incase something happens.

I know the new macbooks will come out every year, and the prices will fall but id hope to recoup at least 30-50% of what i spent, at the end of uni!!!, I cant afford to buy it upfront

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Yes a thinkpad.

Macs do retain their value pretty well. The cheapest way and the nosy efficient way is to buy a macbook. Then resale every year and buy the new one. So that way you pretty much don't have to pay or pay very little to get the new Mac. Not sure if that made sense.


Tl:dr buy Mac. Sell Mac after new one comes out. Then buy another Mac. Repeat. (Or do this every 2 years)

Alienwares also retain their value but is not worth the cost. I can find something with better specs at that price

 

[stedaley]

So I would be good to get a mac on finance for 2 years? and then sell it if necessary after that? do you think i could get away with three years use?

 

[Lonyo]

Neither of them at that price.
Give them a real warranty and then compare prices.
Do you really want to spend $2000 on a laptop with a 1 year warranty?

 

[Subyman]

Way too much power for a student laptop. I mean, you are looking at the highest end laptops just to go to school. Do you really want to play BF3 on a 13-14" screen? I would get a used MacBook Air for 650 and then buy a dedicated gaming PC for around 800. You'd still be ahead on the price and the gaming experience would be much better, plus you get fantastic portability with the Air.

Not to mention students get laptops like those stolen all the time...

 

[stedaley]

I have been a student before, for the last two years, and ive had my alienware by my side, plus ill be living at home, and I cant play games on anything bigger as i dont really have a desk, for multiple monitors

remember the price of the macbook include the 27inch thunderbolt display, so i could use that for gaming if i really wanted, and this isnt a student laptop im asking for,

I dont have room for a dedicated gaming system, hence why im getting rid of my desktop, sorry i thought i made that clear, this is to replace my M11x and my desktop, simply because i dont have the space,

 

[stedaley]

Neither of them at that price.
Give them a real warranty and then compare prices.
Do you really want to spend $2000 on a laptop with a 1 year warranty?

you get three years warranty as a student for the Macbook

 

[stedaley]

Way too much power for a student laptop. I mean, you are looking at the highest end laptops just to go to school. Do you really want to play BF3 on a 13-14" screen? I would get a used MacBook Air for 650 and then buy a dedicated gaming PC for around 800. You'd still be ahead on the price and the gaming experience would be much better, plus you get fantastic portability with the Air.

Not to mention students get laptops like those stolen all the time...

Answered you but forgot to quote,

 

[krnmastersgt]

I have been a student before, for the last two years, and ive had my alienware by my side, plus ill be living at home, and I cant play games on anything bigger as i dont really have a desk, for multiple monitors

remember the price of the macbook include the 27inch thunderbolt display, so i could use that for gaming if i really wanted, and this isnt a student laptop im asking for,

I dont have room for a dedicated gaming system, hence why im getting rid of my desktop, sorry i thought i made that clear, this is to replace my M11x and my desktop, simply because i dont have the space,

So you don't have space for a desktop, which is why you're buying a Macbook that comes with a 27" display... I'm really confused here

 

[T_Yamamoto]

So you don't have space for a desktop, which is why you're buying a Macbook that comes with a 27" display... I'm really confused here

Oh snap. Lolol

 

[stedaley]

So you don't have space for a desktop, which is why you're buying a Macbook that comes with a 27" display... I'm really confused here

I only have a a top of a set of draws to use for all my tech so just a screen is a good idea, that i can just plug my laptop in to use, if that makes sense?

so the laptop acts as a desktop with the screen

 

[mfenn]

I only have a a top of a set of draws to use for all my tech so just a screen is a good idea, that i can just plug my laptop in to use, if that makes sense?

so the laptop acts as a desktop with the screen

What krn is saying is that if you have the space for a 27" monitor, mouse, and keyboard, then you have enough room for a desktop. The desktop itself doesn't have to sit on the desk itself, it can be stuffed pretty much anywhere.

 

[stedaley]

What krn is saying is that if you have the space for a 27" monitor, mouse, and keyboard, then you have enough room for a desktop. The desktop itself doesn't have to sit on the desk itself, it can be stuffed pretty much anywhere.

I know that!! I dont have the floor space for it, my rooms only 7x7 with set of draws, and atm its too big to stay on the floor, hence why Im getting rid,

 

[kevinsbane]

The rMBP comes with a Thunderbolt display, and the Alienware does not?

rMBP all the way. No contest. Anyone who tells you otherwise... well, I guess you'll save $300 upfront. That's the only reason to go with the Alienware. Otherwise, you get a higher res screen, a better quality screen, an additional 27" 1440p display/docking station, better support, better resale value, and no spyware. And a slick overall laptop, if that's your taste.

 

[terpsy]

I have owned both (but not the Retina version)

M14X Hands down....

Better support, no spyware, is all garbage from Apple is crap.

If you need to run Windows, get a Windows laptop, why pay premium to boot into Windows and run 80% FPS for games.....

 

[stedaley]

i agree, i'm probably going for the rMBP just for the fact of the resale value, ill need the cash after uni more!!!

Now where would be a good place to sell my tech i have atm! to raise some cash for this beast

Alienware M11x R1 and Phenom II X4 940 System

 

[lehtv]

Build a mini gaming PC in this and put it on a shelf or wherever. It's so small you have to be able find space for it no matter where you're living. Use this for a keyboard (awesome 3 year logitech warranty). Or this.

Then buy a portable small laptop with long battery life.

 

[stedaley]

Im not after a small desktop, i really want to move away from building pcs as they lose value so quickly, yes you get more, but id rather have one complete unit i can use for everything.

Hence a rMBP

Anyway, I need Alienware m11x R1 and Phenom II x4 940, 460GTX systems selling

 

[krnmastersgt]

I would avoid any sort of Macbook unless it's just for schoolwork/productivity software. Yes you can bootcamp to play games that OSX doesn't support/can't run but the way they bundle their hardware is usually far from ideal for a gaming system as they were never intended for that use anyways.

I like lethv's suggestion most, a small little PC for an actually good gaming machine and then just get a light laptop for school. That's what I do and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[stedaley]

I refuse to spend 1000 on kit that will be worth next to nothing in a year, at least ill get warranty and i havent experienced apple yet,

 

[krnmastersgt]

Gaming PC's can still fetch a decent amount when you re-sell them, that or you just upgrade the components that are keeping you behind. I hate gaming on laptops personally, I need the feel of my full size keyboard and mouse with a 22"+ display in front of me while gaming. You can emulate that with a laptop but I mean why bother when you can just sink that money into a much more powerful desktop and just get a cheap, light, and high battery life laptop for your travels.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I have owned both (but not the Retina version)

M14X Hands down....

Better support, no spyware, is all garbage from Apple is crap.

If you need to run Windows, get a Windows laptop, why pay premium to boot into Windows and run 80% FPS for games.....

Either you don't actually know what spyware is or you've never owned a Mac.

(Yes, Macs can get viruses. No, there's aren't very many. No, Apple's bundled software doesn't come close to meeting the definition of spyware.)

OP: If you game, buy the PC. Don't bother dual-booting. Either OS can do 99% of what the other can anyway.

Most majors, you'll only ever need to run a web browser, email client, and office. Art? Maybe Creative Suite. Science, CompSci or Math? You'll need Windows for MatLab, compilers, etc. (And you'll end up dual-booting into Linux.)

Check with the department you intend to major in to see if they have any requirements or recommendations.

 

[mfenn]

Build a mini gaming PC in this and put it on a shelf or wherever. It's so small you have to be able find space for it no matter where you're living. Use this for a keyboard (awesome 3 year logitech warranty). Or this.

Then buy a portable small laptop with long battery life.

:thumbsup: Funny how the OP's reasoning has changed from "I don't have the space" to "I'm worried about the resale value".