Macbook Pro RS or Alienware M14x For Uni

[stedaley]

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.

Ive had 2 gaming PCs and they have struggled to get anything for them, including the one i have now!!! I simply dont have the space for a gaming desktop, hence selling my desktop and my portable laptop with 5hours battery life,

I never game on anything bigger than 19inch apart from my xbox360, I simply dont have the money to keep upgrading everytime a new GPU comes out, and you can still use a Keyboard with the set up ive stated, 27inch cinema, + rMBP

 

[stedaley]

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.

I have never owned a Mac, but everyone ive ever known with one has never got a virus, I know there out there, but must be very uncommon to get them, and fyi I work in a PC repair shop and id be doing chemistry at uni, and id dual boot, for the fact i just can and if i need either i can use either. Plus even you have owed a mac, so you had the urge to change over to test it too.

 

[stedaley]

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

Main problem Now- I dont have the Space for a desktop

3 years down the line... - Resale price...

Not changed the problem.
they are both problems thanks.

 

[yhelothar]

I don't know anyone who bought a gaming laptop and didn't regret it over a desktop. The lack of upgradeability and the price premium is a killer.

Plus I'd get a convertible tablet laptop like an X220 tablet for school. Very few people actually take notes with their laptop. But a tablet makes taking notes so much easier. No more printing out lecture handouts and filing them in thick binders.

That and remote desktop is AWESOME for a lightweight laptop/desktop combo.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

id dual boot, for the fact i just can and if i need either i can use either. Plus even you have owed a mac, so you had the urge to change over to test it too.

You know you have to go to... lengths... to install OS X on most non-Apple laptops, right? And that running software update can brick your install?

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=256895

I changed over to "test" by buying a Macbook.

 

[krnmastersgt]

You know you have to go to... lengths... to install OS X on most non-Apple laptops, right? And that running software update can brick your install?

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=256895

I changed over to "test" by buying a Macbook.

I think he meant installing Windows onto a Macbook so that he has the option of using both OS's, not installing OSX onto a non-Apple system.

That aside there are fewer viruses for Apple products but they do exist, there are also a lot of security holes in OSX as some recent reports have come to shown.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I think he meant installing Windows onto a Macbook so that he has the option of using both OS's, not installing OSX onto a non-Apple system.

Apple's Windows drivers are terrible. It's one thing to play around with, but I'd much rather run Windows on a machine from a company that didn't have a vested interest in making the experience suck. (and I do.)

That aside there are fewer viruses for Apple products but they do exist, there are also a lot of security holes in OSX as some recent reports have come to shown.

Like Windows, most boil down to tricking the user into entering their admin password or unknowingly installing malware on their own computer.

I fucking hate people.

 

[TheStu]

Main problem Now- I dont have the Space for a desktop

3 years down the line... - Resale price...

Not changed the problem.
they are both problems thanks.

OP, how the heck does the $2306 price you quoted include the rMBP ($2199), the 27" Thunderbolt display ($999), the Thunderbolt cable ($50)*, and the MagSafe>MagSafe2 adapter ($9.99)?

As others have pointed out, getting a thin/light laptop and a little gaming desktop is most likely the best way to go. As light and portable as the rMBP is, something akin to the MacBook Air (if you insist on a Mac) or an x220 is lighter and more portable. I understand that you don't have a lot of room, but the 27" Thunderbolt display isn't exactly... small. And neither is the rMBP when you get right down to it. But whatever. If you can get that combo for $2300 instead of the $3360 that it actually costs, then go for it.

*Completely unnecessary by the way, the 27" Thunderbolt display has a built in Thunderbolt and MagSafe cable (also includes the MagSafe>MagSafe2 adapter)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'd go MBA + Gaming PC. Maybe a Mini-ITX rig. Should be able to do both for under $2k. Keep your thumb in both pies, such as they are. (I have my cross platform merit badge, do you?)

The most important tool you have when your computer breaks is another computer you can use to search for error codes, download drivers, etc.

Also, don't forget to budget for a laser printer. Your inkjet WILL run out of ink at 4AM when your paper is due at 8AM.

 

[krnmastersgt]

I'd go MBA + Gaming PC. Maybe a Mini-ITX rig. Should be able to do both for under $2k. Keep your thumb in both pies, such as they are. (I have my cross platform merit badge, do you?)

The most important tool you have when your computer breaks is another computer you can use to search for error codes, download drivers, etc.

Also, don't forget to budget for a laser printer. Your inkjet WILL run out of ink at 4AM when your paper is due at 8AM.

Agreed on having multiple systems to cross-check problems. Helps even more when you have compatible parts but that's moot for a laptop + desktop I suppose (at least you can access the hard drives).

And that comment on the inkjet holds true Luckily I have 2 printers at home with a few spare toner cartridges to boot. Or you can find out what time your school's computer lab/print shop opens up

 

[stedaley]

OP, how the heck does the $2306 price you quoted include the rMBP ($2199), the 27" Thunderbolt display ($999), the Thunderbolt cable ($50)*, and the MagSafe>MagSafe2 adapter ($9.99)?

As others have pointed out, getting a thin/light laptop and a little gaming desktop is most likely the best way to go. As light and portable as the rMBP is, something akin to the MacBook Air (if you insist on a Mac) or an x220 is lighter and more portable. I understand that you don't have a lot of room, but the 27" Thunderbolt display isn't exactly... small. And neither is the rMBP when you get right down to it. But whatever. If you can get that combo for $2300 instead of the $3360 that it actually costs, then go for it.

*Completely unnecessary by the way, the 27" Thunderbolt display has a built in Thunderbolt and MagSafe cable (also includes the MagSafe>MagSafe2 adapter)

Im from the UK, so thats 2306 in pounds, and i get a student discount, yer ive spoken to the apple store and removing that would be 2296.

Portability-wise,would waiting for the 13inch model of the rmbp? be worth it?
Im not to fussed carrying round a 15inch laptop. my 11inch M11x was quite a heavy laptop for the size.

And concerning the Macbook Air, what model??

 

[TheStu]

Im from the UK, so thats 2306 in pounds, and i get a student discount, yer ive spoken to the apple store and removing that would be 2296.

Portability-wise,would waiting for the 13inch model of the rmbp? be worth it?
Im not to fussed carrying round a 15inch laptop. my 11inch M11x was quite a heavy laptop for the size.

And concerning the Macbook Air, what model??

I have the 11", which is adorable, but if I was a student again, i would get the 13". I went through school on a 13" MacBook that I hooked up to a larger screen on occasion. The higher res of the 13" Air in addition to the longer battery life makes it worth it.

 

[stedaley]

I have the 11", which is adorable, but if I was a student again, i would get the 13". I went through school on a 13" MacBook that I hooked up to a larger screen on occasion. The higher res of the 13" Air in addition to the longer battery life makes it worth it.

I may wait til the 13inch rMBP comes out, other wise im really tempted by the 15inch, for the simple fact it will be enough for me for the next three years, with the spec they have,

Also if i was to upgrade yearly, sell and then rebuy, is there a network system i could use to back up all my data??

 

[TheStu]

I may wait til the 13inch rMBP comes out, other wise im really tempted by the 15inch, for the simple fact it will be enough for me for the next three years, with the spec they have,

Also if i was to upgrade yearly, sell and then rebuy, is there a network system i could use to back up all my data??

Get an external drive, use TimeMachine, restore from backup. Also, get DropBox to back up your more critical files. You are a student, you can't afford to have downtime, make sure that your documents are backed up in at least 2 locations.

A trick that my sister when she was in law school was to email all her documents to herself. She could edit them online, and they were all maintained in her gmail account.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Get an external drive, use TimeMachine, restore from backup. Also, get DropBox to back up your more critical files. You are a student, you can't afford to have downtime, make sure that your documents are backed up in at least 2 locations.

A trick that my sister when she was in law school was to email all her documents to herself. She could edit them online, and they were all maintained in her gmail account.

You can use Google Docs for that now. It's improved a lot.

 

[TheStu]

You can use Google Docs for that now. It's improved a lot.

Yea, that works too, same difference really. Might be slightly easier to email it, but only if he uses Mail.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I may wait til the 13inch rMBP comes out, other wise im really tempted by the 15inch, for the simple fact it will be enough for me for the next three years, with the spec they have,

Also if i was to upgrade yearly, sell and then rebuy, is there a network system i could use to back up all my data??

Not worth doing. A four-year-old pre-unibody macbook like mine still costs about half what it did new. ($500 depreciation in 4 years.) Since you as a private seller have to undercut the Apple Refurb store (since they sell lots of ~1-year-old hardware at a discount, NIB w/ Warranty) you'll be selling any given machine for at least 15% less than you paid for it. Probably more. (Or less.) Unless you outright cheat/and/or lie to people to sell the machine. (Which... you could do.)

Besides which, the upgrades are virtually unnoticeable. I have a 4-year-old Macbook. It's got a 2.13GHz C2D CPU, a 13" 1280x800 (matte, TN) screen, 4GBs of DDR2-800 RAM, and a 500GB 7200rpm HD. My roommate has a 1-year-old Macbook Pro. It's got a 2.4GHz C2D CPU, a 13" 1280x800 (glossy, TN) screen, 4GBs of DDR3-1066 RAM, and a 250GB 7200rpm HD.

But "trading up" from mine to theirs a year ago would have cost me about $400. For, you know, VAST performance gains. (*rolleyes@apple*)

Just buy a machine, use it hard for four years, and set it on fire when you graduate. Or have it cast in bronze. (Depends on your user experience.) Spend more time fucking and drinking, and less time fiddling with user account migration.

That said, Apple does have that Migration Utility. Hook both computers up to the network, launch the utility on the old one, tell the new one to look for it, grab a beer.

 

[stedaley]

Not worth doing. A four-year-old pre-unibody macbook like mine still costs about half what it did new. ($500 depreciation in 4 years.) Since you as a private seller have to undercut the Apple Refurb store (since they sell lots of ~1-year-old hardware at a discount, NIB w/ Warranty) you'll be selling any given machine for at least 15% less than you paid for it. Probably more. (Or less.) Unless you outright cheat/and/or lie to people to sell the machine. (Which... you could do.)

Besides which, the upgrades are virtually unnoticeable. I have a 4-year-old Macbook. It's got a 2.13GHz C2D CPU, a 13" 1280x800 (matte, TN) screen, 4GBs of DDR2-800 RAM, and a 500GB 7200rpm HD. My roommate has a 1-year-old Macbook Pro. It's got a 2.4GHz C2D CPU, a 13" 1280x800 (glossy, TN) screen, 4GBs of DDR3-1066 RAM, and a 250GB 7200rpm HD.

But "trading up" from mine to theirs a year ago would have cost me about $400. For, you know, VAST performance gains. (*rolleyes@apple*)

Just buy a machine, use it hard for four years, and set it on fire when you graduate. Or have it cast in bronze. (Depends on your user experience.) Spend more time fucking and drinking, and less time fiddling with user account migration.

That said, Apple does have that Migration Utility. Hook both computers up to the network, launch the utility on the old one, tell the new one to look for it, grab a beer.

So you'd advise just buying a new one and keeping it throughout uni, and then selling at the end? if i want a new one?

I already use Dropbox, Skydrive, but if i want to back everything up as well as having a back up of the back up? Ill also need to have a drive to hold all my data as the rMBP is only 256SSD so a external HD? or NAS?, I already have 1tb and 750GB HD available, would apples own time capsule be better than buying a NAS?

 

[TheStu]

So you'd advise just buying a new one and keeping it throughout uni, and then selling at the end? if i want a new one?

I already use Dropbox, Skydrive, but if i want to back everything up as well as having a back up of the back up? Ill also need to have a drive to hold all my data as the rMBP is only 256SSD so a external HD? or NAS?, I already have 1tb and 750GB HD available, would apples own time capsule be better than buying a NAS?

Strictly from the perspective of it working out of the box, sure, the Time Capsule is a better choice. But honestly, just plugging one of those drives into an external enclosure would be the best way to go.

 

[stedaley]

Strictly from the perspective of it working out of the box, sure, the Time Capsule is a better choice. But honestly, just plugging one of those drives into an external enclosure would be the best way to go.

Ive never used a time capsule, is that solely for backups? or can you save data on it too?

Id want to use my macbook and have everything that is saved on my laptop to be backed up to a separate unit, and also id want a unit to save all my large data with a back up of that too,, what would you recommend??

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So you'd advise just buying a new one and keeping it throughout uni, and then selling at the end? if i want a new one?

I wouldn't sell it unless I needed a new computer, end of degree or not. After four years, I've been peering at 15" MBPs pretty lasciviously, but it's not a worthwhile upgrade, since my current machine is still completely adequate for what I do with it. (And anything that's too CPU intensive for it to chew through, I can usually do on my gaming rig at home.)

If you want a new one and can afford it, well, fine. Hell, get a new one every year if you want. You just aren't going to save any noticeable amount of money if you do so, and will probably come out behind, not ahead.

I already use Dropbox, Skydrive, but if i want to back everything up as well as having a back up of the back up? Ill also need to have a drive to hold all my data as the rMBP is only 256SSD so a external HD? or NAS?, I already have 1tb and 750GB HD available, would apples own time capsule be better than buying a NAS?

A Time Capule is a NAS, and can be used as such, with both Macs and Windows PCs. It's the only NAS that Apple's "Time Machine" backup software supports. (technically. I use a USB external attached to an Airport Base Station and Time Machine has no complaints.)

But if it's your data you're concerned about, better to set up any old NAS drive for cheap and use rsync. I'm not a huge fan of the Time Capsule because I think it's ovepriced, and it has twice as many features as any one person is likely to use. (It should just be a 2.5" HD with an ethernet port and a small ARM CPU that plugs into any router, grabs an IP, and starts running FreeNAS, broadcasting w/ mDNS, and it should cost half as much.)

I'd probably use the 750GB as my day-to-day auxiliary drive (keep it in the backpack, etc), and back up both the 750GB and the internal SSD to the 1TB drive over your network. (attach 1TB drive to one of those USB/Ethernet NAS controller/adapter things, or put the mechanism in a thusly equipped enclosure.)

Then sync your important (school) documents (not your porn library) to the Dropbox. You probably won't ever have more than 2GB of that, but if you do, you can upgrade from the free version. (Amazon S3 could work too.)

So you have a backup of everything, and a backup of the backup of the important things. (You can always download more warez, ripz, and pr0n.)

 

[stedaley]

I wouldn't sell it unless I needed a new computer, end of degree or not. After four years, I've been peering at 15" MBPs pretty lasciviously, but it's not a worthwhile upgrade, since my current machine is still completely adequate for what I do with it. (And anything that's too CPU intensive for it to chew through, I can usually do on my gaming rig at home.)

If you want a new one and can afford it, well, fine. Hell, get a new one every year if you want. You just aren't going to save any noticeable amount of money if you do so, and will probably come out behind, not ahead.

A Time Capule is a NAS, and can be used as such, with both Macs and Windows PCs. It's the only NAS that Apple's "Time Machine" backup software supports. (technically. I use a USB external attached to an Airport Base Station and Time Machine has no complaints.)

But if it's your data you're concerned about, better to set up any old NAS drive for cheap and use rsync. I'm not a huge fan of the Time Capsule because I think it's ovepriced, and it has twice as many features as any one person is likely to use. (It should just be a 2.5" HD with an ethernet port and a small ARM CPU that plugs into any router, grabs an IP, and starts running FreeNAS, broadcasting w/ mDNS, and it should cost half as much.)

I'd probably use the 750GB as my day-to-day auxiliary drive (keep it in the backpack, etc), and back up both the 750GB and the internal SSD to the 1TB drive over your network. (attach 1TB drive to one of those USB/Ethernet NAS controller/adapter things, or put the mechanism in a thusly equipped enclosure.)

Then sync your important (school) documents (not your porn library) to the Dropbox. You probably won't ever have more than 2GB of that, but if you do, you can upgrade from the free version. (Amazon S3 could work too.)

So you have a backup of everything, and a backup of the backup of the important things. (You can always download more warez, ripz, and pr0n.)

Thanks alot, Ive never used this setup before so ill give it a go when i get all the kit, I already use dropbox for important stuff anyways, so the time capsule will be good enough to back up my mac, but if i wanted i could use the setup your using, Airport base station + external Drive, that would give me more comfort when i want to expand my nas?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks alot, Ive never used this setup before so ill give it a go when i get all the kit, I already use dropbox for important stuff anyways, so the time capsule will be good enough to back up my mac, but if i wanted i could use the setup your using, Airport base station + external Drive, that would give me more comfort when i want to expand my nas?

Yeah, you can always add a hub and additional drives to an Airport Base Station.

Or get something like this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822165451

Add in any old router/WAP and you'll be fine. No need to pay the Apple tax on the NAS drive unless you absolutely HAVE to use the Time Machine software. (Which you don't, and which a gaming PC wouldn't be able to use anyway.)

 

[mfenn]

I'm still trying to figure out how the OP has room for a 15" laptop, mouse, keyboard, 27" Thunderbolt display, NAS, and router but doesn't have room for a mini-ITX desktop.

 

[stedaley]

I'm still trying to figure out how the OP has room for a 15" laptop, mouse, keyboard, 27" Thunderbolt display, NAS, and router but doesn't have room for a mini-ITX desktop.

Im living in my parents new house, so the nas and router arent in my room, the display is going on top of a set of draws and so i can connect it to my laptop when i want to do work in bed or in my chair, otherwise the laptop will go on the set of drawers too, thus getting the most use of my space instead of having a mini atx