May 19, 2009 4:04 PM PDT
Is Apple behind the laptop curve?
Laptop Hunter Sheila finds fault with the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
(Credit: Microsoft)As we all know, Microsoft has been running its Laptop Hunters series of ads knocking Apple for the high price of its laptops and the features you get for the money. Our laptop editor, Dan Ackerman, regularly gives high marks to Apple's wares, and the company's 13-inch MacBook sits at the top of our Best 5 laptops list. In short, we're pretty happy with what Apple has to offer. But as good as its laptops are, Windows-based PCs do have a few leading-edge features not found in MacBooks.
Here's the list we came up with:
- Blu-ray: Whether you think it's a worthwhile feature or not, no Macs currently offer a Blu-ray drive. Last year, Steve Jobs referred to Blu-ray and its licensing process as a "bag of hurt," but recent rumors suggest that Apple may make a Blu-ray announcement at its World Wide Developers Conference next month. We'll have to wait and see whether it applies to notebooks.
- Memory card slots: In our book, being able to toss a memory card from your digital camera or camcorder into your notebook is a big convenience. We're seeing this on more Windows machines and it should be a standard feature across all laptops.
- HDMI out: Apple has gone with a Mini DisplayPort, which doesn't carry sound, instead of standard HDMI. (A Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter is available for about $20, but that's just another thing you have to carry around). Premium notebooks should feature an HDMI port so you can easily connect to an HDTV sans adapter.
- Biometric security: This is better known as fingerprint recognition. The ThinkPad I'm typing this on has built-in biometric security. No Macs offer this feature.
- WWAN mobile broadband support: A handful but growing number of Windows machines offer built-in connectivity to cellular data networks (naturally, there's a fee involved for service). AT&T and Verizon are offering discounted Netbooks with built-in high-speed data connectivity as those companies try to apply the cell phone model to laptops.
- More USB ports: This one is definitely at the bottom of the list, but it's worth mentioning that many Windows notebooks now come with three USB ports. The MacBook and MacBook Pro only have two, and the Macbook Air only has one. This can become an issue if you opt to use one of the USB ports for a cellular data accessory (no new Macs have a PC card slot, though MacBook Pros do offer the newer and arguably superior ExpressCard slot).
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
Thus once again showing, Apple is NOT for professionals.
Apple hype is dead
Now its not just time to think different, think for yourself, and think smarter.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4258725.html
Did you just seriously quote this article? Comparing an $1800 Gateway to a $1400 Mac... So to invalidate Mchichael's comment you quote this POS comparison? Great job
UMMM the macs have a paster processor than PCs in that comparison ...so thats an invalid comparison Furthermore you can get much better comparison from HP, Lenova, etc that give more powerful PC's for less Price ... that was a joke of a comparison!
= ) it rolls both ways ... this time its the same specs @ least!
Imagine what kind of market share Apple could get if it married its beautiful hardware to an equally ambitious effort to create a customized, streamlined Windows implementation. Stop wasting all that effort on OSX - and build the beauty into Windows--which is what everyone except the fanboys want.
HAHA
Having XP being able to be insalled on an Apple is a testiment to XP being to able and nothing to do with Apple.
In fact you can natively install XP on a Mac wih no bootcamp.
Why is is that mac idiots always mention bootcamp like this is an Apple innovation, it onlt shows that OSX is the one thats weighted down to a mac.
you would rather use the command line? Or a separate boot loader, AND a partitioner, AND a separate driver utility? With Boot Camp you get a boot loader, a partitioning utility, and a driver utility. Why bother using something else?
Now if Apple was really smart, they would just build the Windows drivers right in to the EFI. But since a Mac is built to run OS X, why bother when you can just have a utility like Boot Camp make a driver disc?
Also, please don't call me an idiot. I have used Windows, Linux and Mac for 15 years. I have Microsoft, CompTIA, and Apple certifications. I can also construct a coherent sentence.
Why would palm sell a windows mobile device?
I would rather have an Apple-customized version of a Windows OS as the OEM default. No Boot Camp. No hacks. No screwing around. No paying for OSX AND a retail version of Windows. No Office for Mac.
Just Windows pre-installed. Period.
I don't like OSX. It annoys me immensely. It also wastes a great deal of Apple's time and effort. Two versions of iTunes. Two versions of Safari. Two versions of Quicktime. Cut the waste. Kill OSX.
Oh, I know. OSX blah, blah, blah, blah. I heard all the blather. I heard similar blather about how PowerPC was SOOOOOOO much better than 'sniff' Intel. Look at what we all run now. Kill OSX--and put that effort into creating a beautiful, smooth-as-silk Windows distro.
That is what Apple is lacking. Windows. Native. Period.
:) that was kind of Renegade Knight's point. ptsube asked:
"Why would Apple make Windows the default OS on an Apple computer?"
Renegade Knight's replied with an ironic question
"Why would palm sell a windows mobile device?"
Palm does that--because no one wanted PalmOS. No one wanted to develop for it. And it was limiting Palm's sales.
All the reasons that OSX must die.
That is your opinion, I disagree wholeheartedly. Although, I am not out in the streets holding a pitch fork, calling for the death of Windows like you with OS X.
The funny thing is, I don't have anything against Windows, but when the crazies come out calling for the death of OS X, which I prefer to Windows, then it only drives me further towards OS X.
Palm has Windows to sell its hardware. Apple has OS X to do likewise.
Now Palm has webOS to sell its hardware. Ironically, webOS is amazingly similar to another phone OS.
And then the other thing that they are missing is a compelling value option. Again, take Mac OS and Windows OS variants out of the question, and ask what you are paying for the hardware. Quality has a price, to be sure. Is it triple? Not to me. I can easily afford a mac. However, I'll happily pay the $400.00 for a little netbook, and toss the thing out when it breaks in 3 years. Otherwise where am I with my $2000-$2500 mac in three years? Its obsolete hardware wise, but still works great. Forget it. I don't want to use some lethargic hardware just because its better quality. Who cares once its obsolete?
To each their own I guess.
Also, I had a 2006 Macbook Pro that I paid $2000 for in 2006. I sold it about six months ago for $900. Could you ever sell a two year old PC for 45% of the original cost? No, you couldn't. It isn't just about the hardware. It's about the resale value, the quality, the OS(personal preference), and the service if something goes wrong
I don't like everything about Apple or its policies, but it beats a PC in my opinion.
I find that the second button on the trackpad is a royal pain in the you-know-what as I keep hitting the wrong button or hitting both buttons by mistake. I thought Apple's continued reliance on the single button mouse kind of silly until I realized how much better it works on a trackpad.
Two-finger right/control/command click is the bee's knees. But when it's not an option, I prefer two mouse buttons.
That would be so you can right click. New macs most of the trackpad is a button Old macs had one oversized button instead of two. Ironic in that Macs support the concept of right click.
For hardware, it really depends what you're doing with it. You can't do quality audio and video editing on a $400 notebook like you can on a macbook pro (the only one of their laptops that's in the price range you quoted). If you're doing really basic stuff you'd be fine with a $400 laptop. But you'd also be fine with a 5 year old computer of any type. It really depends on what you're looking for. You can't compare anything on the Dell line because you can't even get a video card of similar quality. I just built one on the HP website with similar specs to a 15" Macbook Pro. It's about $2050 for the HP with a $200 rebate so $1850. I'll pick the higher end 15" to compare it with so the price for that is $2500. It's not a direct comparision, the mac has DDR3 RAM, HP has DDR2, the HP has a blue-ray and I think a 500GB HDD while the Mac has a 320GB, the Mac has the multitouch trackpad (amazing how good a feature this is when you get used to it), and two built-in graphics cards - one for performance and the other for better batter life, HP has HDMI-out. So there are some differences. But there's no way you can compare a $400 laptop to a $2000 (2.4GHz macbook pro) or $2500 (2.66 GHZ macbook pro) laptop. If you need to do very basic things a cheap computer is fine. If you need more than that you're going to be around $2000 for a PC laptop as well.
I have more things to say, but this thread has gone off the edge with the usual types of comments. It boils down to this, though. Windows is used a lot because it is a Yugo. It is a troublesome, bloated OS that can't even get it right every other Update (ME, Vista). But it's even simpler than that. Office: Get Windows. Home: Get a Mac (your spouse and kids will thank you).
The only reason they have a high resail value is that there are just as many idiots out there willing to overpay for a used computer as there are idiots who want to overpay for a new one (a Mac). You would have to be pretty stupid to by a three year old computer for $900 and you would have to be pretty stupid to pay $300-$1000 extra for a computer that offers not advantage over a PC.
You've probably hid under a rock for the past year. In case you didn't know, the aluminum MacBooks released last year have a glass trackpad. With two buttons. With multi-touch support. Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about at all.
To counter your price argument, you're totally crazy. Buy a PC laptop in 2006 for over 2000, it's less than 400 now. Buy a `1700 PowerBook 12" in 2006, you can sell it now for 600 easily. Prices on Macs drop, but way less than a PC. Go figure, kid.
* Memory card slots... pass. Cameras should deliver content wirelessly via Bluetooth or Wifi via Bonjour.
* Biometric security... this is not serious security in a consumer notebook. It's a gimmick.
* More USB ports... devices need to lose the cable.
* WWAN mobile broadband support... this is the only area I agree with you. But which standard? WiMax, 3G, some other flavor of the year. The technology is barely standardized, and the cellular companies have much to prove with regard to pricing and reliability of mobile broadband.
So why put in hardware that will run up the cost, add complexity to the form factor, and be dead in a few years anyway?
its funny you said we dont need these things on a mac because it will run up the price of the mac, but doing what you said will run up the price of everything else?
In my opinion, the true cost on a laptop is real estate on the form factor. Look at the netbooks. It's pretty tight. Adding unnecessary IO means larger logic boards, internal cables/daughterboard extenders, etc. Yuk. Apple even killed its own Firewire 400 to claim the space. More USB ports may be necessary if you find that you cannot get rid of the cable, sure, but when you are on the road, you really only need two. If you need more, take a hub.
With regard to memory stick readers, I personally haven't plugged in a camera memory card into ANY computer in years. Also, how many times has camera memory changed in the last several year (SD, Micro SD, Olympus cards, Compact Flash, Memory Sticks)? More than a few. It's really quite silly.
Sure, devices will be more expensive as a result of adding wireless features, however, in several years that cost will be lowered due to widespread acceptance (ala USB 1.0 in the late 90's). USB mice were very expensive, but look at them now. Let's not forget that the bondi blue iMac ushered in the age of USB.
Also, let's not forget that on pro laptops (since there is a bit more space), they included an ExpressCard 34 slot, which can accommodate a Mobile Boardband card-- any variety. That's a meaningful IO addition which is flexible to all standards today.
And FW800 blows away USB2 and FW400. No processor overhead, realtime speeds of over 70MB/sec with a single drive.
Well done, I see you have a well constructed argument. Yes, firewire 800 is way better. I have a 1.5TB hard drive with both USB and Firewire 800. When I transfer over USB, it's slow as a snail, but firewire is quick and efficient. Firewire transfers 1gb in about 10 seconds, which is astounding.
Guess what is even faster than Firewire? eSATA. Which no current Mac has and most PCs do.
* Memory card slots... Yes, a no brainer
* Biometric security...take it or leave it
* More USB ports... yes, definitely
* WWAN mobile broadband support... take it or leave it
FWIW, I'm on my 5th Mac, but face it, improvements are improvements. Not all of us are cutting-edge tech heads. A lot of us just like the Mac because it is solid, simple, powerful, and doesn't bring the drama (10 minute start-ups, sweating over viruses, worried if card 'A' will work on motherboard 'B' and with software'C', etc) . Give us the blu-ray, the usb and the slots. We want them!
Memory cards? I don't really use them, there are too many standards, it wouldn't hurt if they put them -for some people- on but so much "hole" at some side of the laptop would look awful! I'd prefer a thumb drive, or a external USB/Firewire drive.
For those talking about USB 2.0 vs FW400: USB in theory has more bandwidth than FW400 but the latter one actually is faster. Yet FW800 beats them both, hence the switch.
About the zero button trackpad: it works better than a three way mouse since it supports four-finger gestures in al directions. Try an Apple computer before you speak -- I'm not referring in anyway to Windows computers since this is about Macs.
Biometric scanners on a consumer computer? Maybe on a data server. I'm sure it would be more comfortable than typing an -I'm guessing- a 6-to-8 character password, but again, it ruins the aesthetics of the Mac.
More USB ports? I not really agree with this, they should (all companies) implement Bluetooth 3.0 or Wi-Fi networking instead of putting more cable into the devices. If you need more than two or three (17" models) ports you obviously carry around more devices and cables, if you do that, it doesn't hurt carrying a USB hub the size of a marker! You just complain too much. Focus on your work, not on that.
About the WWAN: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. On the road I connect to CDMA in my MacBook Pro with an ExpressCard, I could also order a USB card from my service provider, but since the kinda stick out large, an ExpressCard -I think- is more secure for the laptop in case I bend it unintentionally. I don't mind using the ExpressCard but the battery drains more quickly when I'm using it. I don't know if that's the case for integrated WWAN.
In short, I don't really care about the cost of a Mac as well as they're well designed and powerful as Macs today are. (OS X also make them a REALLY attractive choice, I'm not saying it's perfect, it's just better than average -- I'm a Windows power user, I know about 64-bit technologies, networking and all that stuff and have no problems with Windows whatsoever, yet, it simply does not beat OS X, IMO)
"An Apple laptop is simple hardware capable of running multiple operating systems. "
Um its programs like linux and XP that allow computers to use them and as multiple bootups. Apple has little or no part in making these things possible.
And there IS nothing Windows cant do compared to OSX, you cant say that unless your loading XP onto a mac, which is kinda of defeating the purpose of having a mac, other than you are conflicted on reality,
Computers should be tools for users, not the other way around.
1. Typcially, Macs don't last only 2 to 3 years before being obsolete or in need of replacement. Our current replacement track for the Mac laptops in our 3 medical offices is every 6 years. We see 30,000 patients a year and all our medical records are electronic. Our Return on Investment is therefore about 3 times that if we were replacing PC laptops every 2 years.
2. Windows PCs and laptops are plagued by a major flaw... the Windows OS. Don't think so? Look at the adoption rates of Vista which IT departments shunned like the plague. Now its replacement , Windows 7 will be even more expensive and Dell is warning even now that this will hurt their PC business. Even if you didn't buy Vista, you'll pay for it in Windows 7.
3. Blu-Ray... get a life here. You think you want to pay $40 for what you can get on DVD for $14? This is NOT a make or break feature.
4. Memory card slots? Why when bluetooth and even WiFI is going to be standard in the near future for all digital cameras?
5. HDMI would be a desirable feature, but the vast majority of folks will NEVER hook a laptop to their HDMI TV. They'll be WATCHING their HD TV with an AppleTV while they play or work on their laptop.
6. Biometric security. This feature is more one that is looking for a place to live rather than essential or desirable. I've read the horror stories on how this can fail and then prevent legitimate use. Its kind of like trying to dictate into our medical records... how cool that woul be, but how utterly inefficient and impractical that would be.
7. WWAN built in. Like you really want to have to buy a new computer when 4G replaces 3G in the near future? These are best as USB or PCMCIA add in cards so that your computer remains relevant for years into the future.
8. USB ports. Be realistic. Only occasionally do I attach my USB scanner to my laptop. Internal drive sizes that are now available negate the need to haul around an extra USB hard drive. Time Capsule is a MUCH more efficient and reliable back up method. I NEVER have to think about when the last time I backed up my Mac!
So...flame away. I'm wearing fire retardant protective gear! ;-)
HDMI also cannot drive a 30" display. Mini Display Port is now a royalty free open standard pioneered by Apple. It has a tiny form factor, and can drive the 30" big boy. Good choice by Apple and a nice gift to the industry.
2- It took at least 3 to 4 years for companies to move from win98 to XP. think businesses jumpt to new OSes right off the bat? They dont.
3-Blue ray = ability versus non ability. Kinda like new macs not having firewire, which I think is hysterically ironic.
4- think that transfering 16gb of data via firewire or wireless is even 1/5 as fast as simply swapping and copying a memory card? ... its more like 1/10 the speed at best.
5-Why buy Apple TV that is a failure compared to every other PC entertainment center which ... has HDMI. OMG you dont own any of things do you?!!
6-Read what horrors, actually its kinda easy to bypass but a nightmare for IT admins, but not local users.
7- only thing I might agree with you on. But this shows PCs choice. Not to menton less additions, less things to lose.
8-Haul around a USB for use as a floppy not an exta HD !! DERRR. And time capsule is a frilly, badly limited version of shadow copy.
Youre not wearing fire retardent.. quite frankly, the world sees Apple and Apple fans quite clearly, and the emperor has no clothes !!
[CNET editors' note: Personal attacks deleted.]
It isn't an "Apple tax" it's a "Steve screwing" Apple has complete disregard for its users.
1. Our current replacement track for the Mac laptops in our 3 medical offices is every 6 years.
Nice. If you went PC you can go with 6 year PC's as well. No need to help crap sell.
2. Windows PCs and laptops are plagued by a major flaw... the Windows OS.
And OS X is Apple's main flaw. Ironicly each has advantrages as well. I use both.
3. Blu-Ray... get a life here. You think you want to pay $40 for what you can get on DVD for $14? This is NOT a make or break feature.
Agree.
4. Memory card slots? Why when bluetooth and even WiFI is going to be standard in the near future for all digital cameras?
A future standard is great. We live in the world now. Now we need meory card slots. Even in the future other devices wont' have blue tooth. In my world for some reason Bluetooth is a PITA. It should be simple. It's not.
5. HDMI would be a desirable feature, but the vast majority of folks will NEVER hook a laptop to their HDMI TV....
HDMI is a desirable feature for people who don't wnat extra crap like Media Extenders, Box TV's (Read Apple) and more clutter. They arleady have a laptop and TV. Wny not plug them together. Besides Apple TV could be installed on your Mac without too much trouble on Apples part.
6. Biometric security.True enough. It's not what it needs to be yet.
7. WWAN built in. Like you really want to have to buy a new computer when 4G replaces 3G in the near future? These are best as USB or PCMCIA add in cards so that your computer remains relevant for years into the future.
Fair point.
8. USB ports. Use them all the time. Apple MacBooks are the worst I've seen. The ports are too close together.
I have it on thinkpad and works like a charm .... it's not expensive add-on. The point is that MACs do not offer it at all, so some of us who like it simple cannot get it.
8a flash drive, mouse, iPod, there's three right there, most Mac users also might want to plug those into their laptop
8b Time Capsule is a joke
As for plugging in a mouse to your laptop. You are kidding, right? First, the trackpad is far superior to a mouse. You get so used to using it, mice seem lame when you use them. Second, you want a mouse, get a bluetooth one. All macs have BT built in. Much better than a wired device.
As for iPods, you don't leave them plugged in 24/7. Only to sync, or I suppose to charge, but on laptop battery power, charging the ipod isn't the best idea. But to each his own.
My $550 Gateway laptop came with an HDMI output that not only transmits video and audio, but plays on my 40" Samsung LCD TV.
so you are saying that Apple should put a multi touch touchpad into their keyboard then remove support for an external mouse?
its an opinion, and yes I have used the multi touch touchpad
netbook touchpad<normal touchpad<multi touch Apple touchpad<trackpoint<real mouse
Think about it... buying a Mac is like buying a toster...it's a closed system... of course that's going to be less problematic. There are BILLIONS of PC configurations...were your blue screens Windows problems or drivers?? With freedom comes completity.
And yes, you are paying more for the WHOLE PACKAGE. That means better support, a better OS, etc.
My Dad's mini just had a problem. He went to the Apple store. They treated him with respect, patience, and fixed it. He was happy. Despite having a hardware failure, he was happy, because he was treated well.
He called HP for printer support and this guy in India basically just tried to sell him a new printer at LIST PRICE, trying to take advantage of him because he's old. Yeah, that's worth the initial discount.
-Twice the price is not a lie.
-HP, Dell, and Windows are known for their bad tech support. There are plenty of PC shops that offer the same treatment as an Apple Store. Or people could just learn to fix their own problems.
-Grow up. Apple is not God Like. its a computer, a company, and a choice. Congrats you like it. No, we don't care.
if a PC breaks down, you should take it to your local PC builder or computer repair guy, actually, if your Mac breaks down, you should take it to your local builder
I bet I can provide better support than any Apple store can
Don't get a Mac if you:
1.) want the best performance/technology
(most update technology are almost always released on PC's first)
2.) prefer, purely on specs and performance, the bang for the buck
(otherwise how can apple charge people a premium for their design so they can look fashionable? ...u might have to be more careful with dell's cheap plastic)
3.) Newest software...or actually, ALOT of software (and hardware) aren't supported by Mac's
(in a way, Mac's OS is more reliable since what people can do are limited to the number of applications available...lol....BUT MAC's OS may be easier learn for computer illiterates?)
1. best performance / technology and newest tech on pcs? - Bull hocky! Who had wireless access technology a YEAR before it was avaliable on PCs? Who produced the THINNEST notebook a YEAR before any serious PC competitors? Who has always had the latest core duo chips on board sometimes debuting Intel chips that were not yet available to other manufactuers? The claim is simply unsupportable here.
2. best performance on a PC over a Mac? - simply a stupid statement since BOTH platforms use the SAME intel chips.
3. newest software and alot of it only on a PC? - simply the statement of one with little understanding. I can run ALL the PC software in Parallels, VMware, or Bootcamp, in ADDITION to everything that I already do on my Mac! In addition I'm a FileMaker Pro developer, CommuniGate Pro mail server operator, and web and PHP programmer and EVERYTHING that I develop for Macs is immediately usable on a PC.
Please state the facts to support your statements. Don't do the Biden shoe leather trick.
And why would I want to spend thousands of dollars on something just to emulate windows when i can do everything you mentioned on my win laptop just as well? Further, your staement about creatiing apps on the mac that work on widnows is laughable - you are creating web-based applications that **by there very nature** will run on windows by virtue of a web browser << the only requirment to run tyour web apps. Your statmenet is like saying that you sell canned air which every living thing on the planet can breath so aren't you the clever one - those of us just breathing the stuff from the ether are dumb, we should go buy canned air...? whatever...
1. there were thinner laptops in the past
2a Phenom II X3 in my mid tower vs. Core 2 Duo in your iMac, my mid tower easily beats the iMac in CPU oriented tests and has a good graphics card [Radeon HD 4870] to boot, all for $750
2b Core i7 920 in another mid tower vs Core 2 Duo in iMac, i'm placing my cash on the i7, you should too, I can buy a system with one for about 1 grand, overclock like mad
2c now for graphics, Radeon HD 4870 in mid tower vs Radeon HD 4850 Mobile in the top end iMac, I pick the 4870
2d Radeon HD 4870 mid tower vs Radeon HD 4870 Mac Pro, I think a cnet article proved that the ATi drivers for Mac still suck and prolly will keep sucking until Apple stops saying nVidia this and nVidia that
Apple usually updates their laptops twice a year, once with new features, the other usually just a processor bump.
They will have the newer quad core processors sometime between now and January.
One thing to consider with Apple though is that BATTERY LIFE is part of the equation. They will not put hardware inside that cuts battery life to 2 hours like bleeding edge PC makers will do. That's a policy they have, and it's welcomed by people who travel or don't want to carry their power cord with them all the time. I write a lot at a coffee shop, and the PC people come in, and have to search for power plugs, and barter with other customers to relocate. Mac users just open up, work for 4 hours, go home.
Another consideration is heat. Macs get hot, but never so hot you can't use the machine on your lap (unless something is wrong with the fan). PC makers don't seem to care about this. And the Macs are quiet, with the fans rarely turning on, and if they do, it's not overly loud. PC laptop makers don't seem to be concerned about this, either.
That level of design costs more, but to people who don't like to hear their computers and want to be truly mobile, it's a worth it.
Macs had the issue with their charges setting on FIRE. Seems pretty hot to me...
"Apple usually updates their laptops twice a year, once with new features, the other usually just a processor bump.
They will have the newer quad core processors sometime between now and January."
I can do it anytime I want with my Computer, cool huh? BTW quad-Cores have been out for like two years now.. Little behind huh?
"One thing to consider with Apple though is that BATTERY LIFE is part of the equation. They will not put hardware inside that cuts battery life to 2 hours like bleeding edge PC makers will do. That's a policy they have, and it's welcomed by people who travel or don't want to carry their power cord with them all the time. I write a lot at a coffee shop, and the PC people come in, and have to search for power plugs, and barter with other customers to relocate. Mac users just open up, work for 4 hours, go home."
Your Ignorance is shown with your own comment here.
"That level of design costs more, but to people who don't like to hear their computers and want to be truly mobile, it's a worth it."
Not everyone Thinks Mac is Sexy, personally its just shinny silver. Like Spinners on a regular SUV. Big deal. And i haven't "Heard" a computer in years because the fans and drives are so much better now. This goes for Mac's and PC's.
even though their high end still lags with video, they are doing a pretty nice job in some price brakets by using the 9400M
At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal choice. Rather than cribbing about one OS, try both for few weeks/months. See which one you like and then use it forever. Now, don't go crying about the price tag of Macs. If you can't afford it, stick with Windows. But don't demonize Macs coz they are expensive. Coz they aren't! It's just that you don't have enough moolah! ;)
From,
A happy, content and (possibly rich) Mac user (who had a bad time using Windows for 7 years) ;)
Peace.
I used a Dell until December before switching to a Macbook Pro. I use Windows at work..
Buy whatever you want, for whatever reason you want to.
As a Mac Owner, I personally would like to see a card reader as I use my MacBook for digital photography (or change what size the express card slot is so I can buy one for a CF card). More USB ports would be nice as well.
Biometrics that are currently used on computers shouldn't be (they are easily bypassed) and offer little real security. I don't care about Blu Ray but it would probably be an option if Apple hadn't focused so much on digital media delivery. HDMI would be nice as was stated above; I had to buy an adapter. I personally think WWAN should be left to netbooks: battery life is my main concern here.
meaning of life is 42
:)
Its worth the extra bucks, no crashes, anti virus etc,
Best choice I ever made in purchasing a new computer.WOULD NEVER BUY A PC AGAIN.
Read about 25 reviews PC owners who purchased a MAC all positive comments.
post your ip and maybe your email
then say that again, even Apple recommends AV [ no one listens though ]
You keep saying this but its not true. Stop watching commercials. Two similarly equipped PC and Apple laptops are withing hundreds of each other, in some cases the PC's are more expensive.
Just because you will probably whine here is an example.
There was an article recently that compared Business Class Dells and others to the Macbook Pro. the article people complained why didnt you just use a Dell XPS. So here is a quick comparison.
MacBook Pro 15.4"-$1999
Dell XPS 1330 15"-$1707-$228 instant rebate equals $1479
Difference-$520 hardly double, now lets look at the specs
MBP-2.4ghz Core 2 Duo 1066mhz Front side bus
Dell-2.4ghz Core 2 Duo 800mhz front side bus
MBP- 2gb ram 1066mhz DDR3
Dell- 4gb Ram 667mhz DDR2 (Come with Vista Home so it cant see anything about 3gb anyway)
MBP-NVIDIA 9400M with 256 shared mem and NVIDIA 9600GT with 512 of DDR3 mem
Dell-NVIDIA 8400GS with 128 mem
Dell-500gb Harddrive
MBP-250gb Harddrive
So basically for $500 more you are getting more machine. Not including the better resolution display.
Its actually hard to spec out a Dell laptop that can match the MBP because for all the new technology that others say PC's get first, there are barely any with DDR3 or front side bus of 1066. Infact most of the Dell laptops are specd with painfully slow DDR2 667 memory which is super cheap.
And of course most PC users dont understand that unless you are in a 64 bit version of Vista you cannot see more then 3 gig or ram anyway.
Did you actually read what I wrote. You are the typical person that MS is trying to fool in these laptop hunter commercials.
I will take 2gb of DDR3 at 1066 ANY DAY of the week over 4 gb of DDR2 at 667. If you dont understand the difference look it up. DDR2 is old, and 667 is almost the slowest version of DDR2.
As for the harddrive I did give the Dell the edge. but the hard drive is very cheap to upgrade, you cant upgrade DDR2 to DDR3 though. and the Video card is worlds better on the MBP.
Lastly the laptop I picked came with Vista home 32 bit, so even though it has 4gb it can only see 3 of them. You have to go to a higher end VIsta to see 4gb or more (which MS themselves admitted that they see less then 10% of all machines checking in on MS Update to be 64bit) so 4gb is useless in that machine. Its a min of $100 more to upgrade the OS putting the difference at $420.
And unlike other posts I wont include the free iLife suite and other things standard in a Mac.
For less than $1900, I got a Dell Latitude 6500 (15.4" screen) with a P9600 Dual Core, 4 GB of 800 MHZ DDR2 memory and a 1066 mhz FSB, Intel Wi-Fi, bluetooth, discrete graphics w/256 MB of DDR3, backlit keyboard, LED display, 64-Bit Vista Business (by the way, you can get Vista Home 64 bit from MS for virtually no cost, but Dell does offer it on most of their newer laptops, though you chose a somewhat older one). I also got a 128 GB SSD instead of a hard disk, and the thing blazes (I could have paid about $200 less and gotten a 250 GB hard disk). And they threw in a Mini 9 Netbook with a 32 GB SSD and Win XP for only about $100 extra. I'll take these two machines and a couple of nice dinners out with my wife over the Mac any day.
The Dell 1330 is a 13.3" laptop. Good job there
Good choice in the MacBook. I think this is Apples most competativly priced laptop relative to features.
i love the feel of osx an the machine is great.
osx isnt perfect, if that were the case , we would never need a new os upgrade.
Everytime they have a hacker contest the Mac is the 1st to go down.
It's like saying robbers break into rich peoples houses more than they do poor peoples houses because poor people's houses are more secure... they aren't robbers just like to steal from people who have more stuff.
Macs are not more secure than Windows. Macs are only safer than Windows. And that can be because of the small market share. Low computers, low virus spread!
@rocketx2
Get your facts straight! The guy who hacked the Mac couldn't do it on day one. On the other day, when the rules were relaxed did he manage to hack the Mac (the contest organizers were directed by the hackers to click on specific links or open specific emails)
MACs are actually less secure that Windows Vista/7 (Vista really changed the kernel a lot)
guess what is the worse browser plug-in with most issues? yep, it's Apple QuickTime
No system was hacked on day one. But yes, i agree, on day two, Mac was the first to be hacked. (But then again, it was hacked after the hacker directed the organizers to click certain links/open specific emails). So, at the end of the day, the user is the one who ruins his system (Mac or Windows).
And yes, i agree. Macs are not very secure, but they are safer than Windows (much to do with the low market share..less attraction for hackers).
Everyone here needs to go back to college and take a dark arts class to learn about malware. Jeeezzz. You guys sound like Palmer with his declining stock portfolio and temper.
to all the people who say it doesn't matter that macs don't have extra usb ports or card-readers because technology will make them obsolete in a few years, one suggestion... LIVE IN THE NOW! justifying the shortfalls of a mac by referring to future technology is a pretty terrible way to sell your case.
six months ago i bought a beautifully designed hp dv5 with specs that easily match a macbook pro, but for one third the price.
no one can tell me apple can justify a 300% mark-up. it just doesn't add up.
If a mac book had a hdmi port they would hold it up as another example of the wonderfulness of Apple. I guess whatever "Steve" says you need is OK. Your freedom to choose be damned... oh and could you charge me double... I'd love that too.
LMAO
[CNET editors' note: Prohibited content deleted.]
the mac renders fonts better, it is sharper on the projector, transitions run more smoothly, and colors don't shift like they do on the pc.
the people who use the PCs all the time decide to use my equipment and we never wind up using their laptops when they are confronted with a real world comparison.
while it might be nice to have bluray i could care less about the other stuff. i have never needed more ports than i have on my laptop. it's supposed to be portable. how much extra stuff do you guys plug in that you would need more than 3 or 4 ports? seriously, i'm asking.
Please PLEASE list your specs. I would love to see a PC for one third the price specd the same as a Macbook Pro.
Not possible, and I am talking about REAL specs, not hey I have a 2.4ghz processor and 4gb of Ram and the Macbook Pro has 2.4ghz processor and 4gb of ram, its specd the same.
Believe me its not.
2.4ghz with 800 bus is very different from a 2.4ghz process with 1066 bus
As well as 4gb DDR2 at 667 vs 4gb DDR3 at 1066
So please list your specs.
it's a hp dv5 1054tx - c2D centrino2 9400 2.53ghz - 1066 fsb - 3gb ram - 320gb hdd - nvidia 9600 512 graphics
paid $A1,400 (that's australian money, and includes $100's cashback) in september 2008, however was $100 cheaper the week before but i was too slow.
>> http://pcfirst.com.au/hewlett-packard-dv5-1054tx-c2d-2-5ghz-15-4-3gb-999060991.html
a 2.66ghz macbook pro (they don't offer the exact same chip), with 320gb 5,400 hdd and same graphics, is $3,999 from the apple site.
>> http://store.apple.com/au/configure/MC026X/A?mco=NDE4NjMxNA
if you were to add on the price of the 'optional' extras like a dvi connection adapter ($45) or a card reader or a usb hub, you can see it is almost exactly three times as much.
in my laptop research i looked hard at a macbook pro, but as i said in my original post, things like having 4 usb ports, native dvi, hdmi and card reader, make the difference to me.
but hey, that's just my opinion. i sure wish i had as much money as you to waste on toys.
Some people like it--about 8% of the market--and how many of them spend most of their time in Boot Camp / Parallels is anybody's guess
Norton and McAfee arent Apple programs. iTunes owns the market when it comes to music software.
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by sting7k
May 20, 2009 7:45 AM PDT
- Biggest put offs on Mac laptops/notebooks are lack of memory card slot and proprietary video outputs (aka lack of VGA, DVI, or HDMI output to connect to ANY display and not just their over priced LCD screens, and having too carry around a dongle to do so is not a solution for me.
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by ikramerica--2008
May 20, 2009 2:52 PM PDT
- Displayport is NOT PRIORITY. It is the new standard, open source. There are dongles for all sorts of connections, and they will be made by third parties soon.
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by streamline35
May 20, 2009 5:42 PM PDT
- ikramerica - I assume you mean "propriatary" =) Open standard or not, the only screen I've ever heard of with a display port is... you guessed it, an apple display. Where as just about anything today (any LCD TV or monitor) will have at minimum a VGA port. Just about every monitor today has a VGA and DVI port (and often times HDMI) and most TVs will have a VGA port (and all will have HDMI). Any laptop with a VGA is guarenteed to hook up to just about anything.
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by Chris-Gonzales
May 21, 2009 8:16 PM PDT
- I shouldnt need to carry around a $30 cable jsut to hook it up to my 24" LCD that uses a DVI/HDMI port. (and no I will not spend $1000 on apple's stupid display when my display does the job just fine)
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Showing 1 of 5 pages (254 Comments)So, on your laptop, if you have VGA out, and where you are only has HDMI, what do you do? If you have DVI-D out and your monitor/projector is only VGA, then what? Dongles, if available. Otherwise you are screwed.
On the Displayport, you get an adapter and can run VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc. One port for all.
My girlfriend's 14 inch HP is pretty basic, and yet still managed an HDMI and VGA. And as for dongles, you can get a DVI to VGA adaptor for $3 (newegg), or a DVI to HDMI adaptor for $6 (newegg - can't imagine ever needing that for a laptop - just a desktop). Apple charges $30 for their displayport dongles (vga or dvi, I didn't see hdmi on their website). I can't imagine why they use a video port standard that no one else does, unless it is to make a fortune selling $2 adaptors for $30 a piece.
I can't say you will never need to use a dongle on a PC, but the case is very rare (since pretty much everything has VGA on it these days, and HDMI is becoming just as common on both laptops and TVs), and involves only a $3 adaptor, rather than needing a $30 adaptor in every situation. I think it's a completely valid complaint, and apple really needs to hop on the bandwagon and start putting in at least one of the three main display standards onto their computers.