A friend of mine works in IT, he has a very new bling pc and also a brand new dual core mac, the mac, runs windows alot faster than the pc

A friend of mine works in IT, he has a very new bling pc and also a brand new dual core mac, the mac, runs windows alot faster than the pc

if it really is a very new bling PC then BIOS aside, it's the same hardware inside both boxes...:confused:

as far as how apple stuff "just works"...bull****, we've just had to dig out an old ruby imac to be able to use a newish slide scanner at work because the software simply doesn't work on an intel based imac yet it works 100% on our 3+ year old £350 XP based PC and the imacs seem to "forget" that they should be outputting to a projector as well as the lcd panel...

hasn't 10.5 been delayed again? isn't Vista doing things in terms of UI that Apple wanted 10.4 to do, but didn't/couldn't (where is QuartzGL?) :P

I use both Windows and Apple computers everyday, and I do like OSX - I just don't like the smug, superior crap that seems to be a part of owning an Apple computer (mainly down to Steve Jobs)

This is the exact dilema i am having.

So, the Mac is twice as expensive for the same spec but you're not sure whether to buy one?

The point is, the spec is not the same; the Mac is better! It must be or you & others wouldn't have this dilemma; you'd just buy the PC. The real question is whether it is enough of an improvement to justify the extra cash. That's a personal thing; only you will know whether it's worth it to you. To most people it's not; they'd rather put up with the hassle & save some money. I suggest you try to borrow a Mac for a while before committing what is a fair amount of cash to one.

The other thing coming from this thread is what is equivalent? Two cars have the same size engine. Doesn't mean they'll have the same performance, economy or reliability! A computer is much more than the processor or number of megs on it's video card. As an example of this, I have a really old iMac with 8MB VRAM. It struggles with iTunes coverflow album art. The covers jerk & don't display properly. Tried a friends HP lappy with 256MB VRAM & coverflow worked properly with only slight hesitation. So I thought 'My next computer needs 256MB VRAM min'. Then I had a play on my bro's MacMini. Coverflow was absolutely seamless. I checked out the video card. 32MB! (maybe the video card is 'better' or perhaps it was some other part of the 'puter that made the difference?) Don't just look at the numbers; try the thing out & see how it works for you

Anyway; I guess this thread will degenerate into a Mac vs Windows thread as these things always tend to.

Adam/Rob. I would try out several different laptops, ignore the evangalising & make your own minds up.

that'll be down to itunes' use of core effects for cover flow, same gig as the genie effects for the dock and window. not really any "equal" test

Yup, you could be a Fabia owner

I used to be a Windows user/abuser and one day I just had enough of it all... I always seemed to be tinkering with PCs and re-installations and what have you. I replaced all my PCs with just a single Mac Mini and I haven't looked back. Now I just want to replace the Mini with a MBP...

Settle for one of the little mac books?

I now use, mac, linux and windows, vista is only doing now what linux was doing 12 months ago if not more.

Old sage once said, use round peg for round hole.

Personally I'd not buy windows, there is no doubt you can get headline price comparisons going and say mac is 2x the price, but actually it's not. Sure it's a little more, but you do at least I think get a little more, but that's more it's unix roots, memory management etc.

I've got a mac pro and I wish I'd done it sooner, sure it's taken a while and I cuss myself when I mis key, but hey, now I can't play games or worry about virus updates / scans tc I do actually get some work done...

For those moments when I get totally stuck out comes the windows work laptop or fire up the virtual pc sessions

Go and try them out...but here's one for you, recently gave an old pc to a family friend, he is pushing 80 and not really used computers, apar from windows 3.1. Anyway sit him down, be given 1:1 with linux for 30 minutes and still send emails, skype the next day...there is hope for us all, round peg round hole...I know he can't break it

So, the Mac is twice as expensive for the same spec but you're not sure whether to buy one?

The point is, the spec is not the same; the Mac is better! It must be or you & others wouldn't have this dilemma; you'd just buy the PC. The real question is whether it is enough of an improvement to justify the extra cash. That's a personal thing; only you will know whether it's worth it to you. To most people it's not; they'd rather put up with the hassle & save some money. I suggest you try to borrow a Mac for a while before committing what is a fair amount of cash to one.

The other thing coming from this thread is what is equivalent? Two cars have the same size engine. Doesn't mean they'll have the same performance, economy or reliability! A computer is much more than the processor or number of megs on it's video card. As an example of this, I have a really old iMac with 8MB VRAM. It struggles with iTunes coverflow album art. The covers jerk & don't display properly. Tried a friends HP lappy with 256MB VRAM & coverflow worked properly with only slight hesitation. So I thought 'My next computer needs 256MB VRAM min'. Then I had a play on my bro's MacMini. Coverflow was absolutely seamless. I checked out the video card. 32MB! (maybe the video card is 'better' or perhaps it was some other part of the 'puter that made the difference?) Don't just look at the numbers; try the thing out & see how it works for you

Anyway; I guess this thread will degenerate into a Mac vs Windows thread as these things always tend to.

Adam/Rob. I would try out several different laptops, ignore the evangalising & make your own minds up.

You are semi right on the specs. The acer laptop i have looked at for

I found that I could just get on and use the Mac for what I bought it for rather then spending ages installing and configuring various bits n bobs.

As much as I like Linux I just didn't want to buy a PC laptop (which for one with a 12" screen would of cost me twice as much as the iBook, YES the Mac was the CHEAPER option for me anyway) and then install and configure Linux to get it to do what I want.

The iBook just worked straight out of the box with very little faff.. yes there was abit of a learning curve but OSX is really very user friendly.

So yes an Apple machine may cost more initially but just think of the time you don't have to spend on anti-spy/malware and AV prevention etc...

At the end of the day if you don't like it then there is always ebay, Apple products always seem to go for a decent amount on there.

and there is always the option of Apples 14 day return if you buy it from a retail store

that'll be down to itunes' use of core effects for cover flow, same gig as the genie effects for the dock and window.

OK, that would probably explain it.

not really any "equal" test

My point exactly. Even amongst PC laptops seemingly equal on paper MHz, MB, RPM's etc do not mean equal performance. When you add different operating systems into the mix & take into account that different people use their PC's for different tasks, it's really hard to compare what's better just from paper specs.

I think Apple in particular would benefit from a 'try before you buy' type scheme & in fact they did run one last year if I remember correctly.

I think I am probably biased against Windows because I only use it at work & the IT guys there have locked it down so hard & so badly that it's a complete misery to use. Everyone else I work with (bar one Linux guy) uses Windows at home & they all say their home PC experience is a far better one than what they have at work.

You computer experience at home always will be different than that one at home as they are for different things.

Having said that though as i manage most of the machines at work my experience isnt that bad

Totally agree with you on the spec not matching performance thing though as simple things like having an IDE drive over a SATA drive can make a huge difference etc.

You failed to mention the apple resellers across the UK.

A whole army of independent retailers who are passionate about macs and who probably know ALOT more than the apple stores, they do it because they are passionate about macs because they make virtually no money from selling apples.

You will do alot better supporting a local business and getting a better service from a reseller than going to the retail stores or online. In order to become a reseller you have to pass exams so they don't give them out willy nilly.

Maybe i am biased because i am one!! :P

You failed to mention the apple resellers across the UK.

A whole army of independent retailers who are passionate about macs and who probably know ALOT more than the apple stores, they do it because they are passionate about macs because they make virtually no money from selling apples.

You will do alot better supporting a local business and getting a better service from a reseller than going to the retail stores or online. In order to become a reseller you have to pass exams so they don't give them out willy nilly.

Maybe i am biased because i am one!! :P

That's handy to know -- is there a list anywhere of these resellers ???

I prefer to use specialist outlets where possible - are they the same price as from Apple direct ??

part of the apple agreement is that you have to charge the same price as apple..

Apples List Apple (UK and Ireland) - Where to Buy

MacUsers List MacUser - Mac News, Reviews and Know-How

You can also find a list of the most popular ones in the back of MacUser

resellers again a retail store.

I know which one id go to but then again im biased

we have a deal with apple, its called the employee purchase program, gets me discounts.

the 15inch 2.33ghz mbp is £1699 on the internet, i get it for £1562

Its the same saving as the education sector get, nothing massive but i just rang them and the guy seemed quite keen, said he could take payment from another card so if you want a bit of a discount on a mac i may be able to help!

You failed to mention the apple resellers across the UK.

A whole army of independent retailers who are passionate about macs and who probably know ALOT more than the apple stores, they do it because they are passionate about macs because they make virtually no money from selling apples.

You will do alot better supporting a local business and getting a better service from a reseller than going to the retail stores or online. In order to become a reseller you have to pass exams so they don't give them out willy nilly.

Maybe i am biased because i am one!! :P

looks at mac under desk...dam that would of been good to know.

I can see a few pm's coming your way, not least me as I need some FW 800 external quiet disk

No seriously I really must get some ad sit down and write the freedom members what buisness are you in directory...to help those find you and you find them.

Been looking at the Apple refurb store and there seems to be some savings to be had.

However has anyone any experienc of a refurbished macbook pro??

What can i expect the quality of the laptop to be like compared to a new one? Will it be covered in scratches etc??

From what I've read on usenet/forums is that the refurbs are fantastic value for money with little wrong with them. Packaging is plain brown though, so if you plan to show off the neat packaging that would normally come with them, think again

Seriously, if I need to buy again, I'd buy from the refurb store.

From what I've read on usenet/forums is that the refurbs are fantastic value for money with little wrong with them. Packaging is plain brown though, so if you plan to show off the neat packaging that would normally come with them, think again

Seriously, if I need to buy again, I'd buy from the refurb store.

For the macbook pro i was looking at i could save

I've not used it in the past, but people do recommend it.

just seen this

eBay.co.uk: Mac Book Pro 17'' (item 270111315627 end time 21-Apr-07 14:39:05 BST)

do you think it is worth putting a bid in:rolleyes:

Only if you can collect

Only if you can collect

an auction from a new member who cant take a picture of it or spell properly

not with a barge poll mate