<p>MacBook</a> Air hacked in two minutes : Gina Hughes : Yahoo! Tech</p>
<p>'nuff said?</p>
<p>I was seriously just about to post that. I have the link on my clipboard...</p>
<p>A few comments:</p>
<p>Several years ago, I ran into a lot of open source folks that were big Linux fans. What surprised me is that a lot of them are now using Macs. You didn't list this category of users but Macs are great for open source developers and for those Computer Science students that have classes where the professor requires you to use Unix.</p>
<p>I spend a lot of time in terminal sessions (character cell; not graphical programs) in Windows, Linux and Mac OSX. My main work environment is Linux. But I use a 17 inch MacBook Pro that just arrived as my client to other systems. Or just develop on the MacBook Pro. My son, a CS major has a 15 inch MacBook Pro and he spends a lot of time doing his CS homework on the system instead of using the Unix systems in the lab. Our daughter spends most of her time using Windows on her MacBook Pro.</p>
<p>At the high-end of the laptop market, MacBook Pros are competitive in price. They don't play in the low-end market and I'm not sure how competitive they are in the mid-range.</p>
<p>Sheed30,</p>
<p>You know what the guy who hacked the MBA bought with the money he won?</p>
<p>Apple hardware.</p>
<p>/shrug.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_kGL3M5Cg%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_kGL3M5Cg</a></p>
<p>I think this says it all. ^_^</p>
<p>yaay Mac.
mac + bootcamp= everything you'll need</p>
<p>UCLAri.. is it safe to assume that you're one of the mac convert/user/fanboys/etc?</p>
<p>Whatever the reasons, Mac users often turn into rabid fans and bigots (I did, too). Win users don't seem to do that in the sense of loving their computers (yes, it's a sorry state when you do!). Because of my company's business, I've had to use Win and Mac side by side for years (we develop for both platforms). I have simply come to hate Win because of the constant side-by-side comparison forced upon me. My co-workers who use Win only don't seem to share my opinion; they focus on Mac being more expensive and different. This is from the user's standpoint. As a developer, the Win tools have been better over the years, but it feels like Mac is beginning to catch up since the switch to Unix underpinnings.</p>
<p>pearlygate,</p>
<p>I have a Mac, but I also run a Wintel box as well. I'm not necessarily what you would call a "fanboy" in the sense that I find plenty of things wrong with the Mac experience. I just find the rather sophomoric "Macs are ____" attitude prevalent amongst many to be silly. There are a lot of funny things said about the machines that may have been true 3, 5, 10 years ago that are no longer the case. I just believe that consumers should have good information in front of them and should make a decision based on utility, not specs or what the overclockers think.</p>
<p>I gladly recommend Lenovos and Fujitsus to people, but I don't think that Apples should be overlooked simply because of a few issues. It's all about bang for the buck as a user, not how many 3dmarks your system gets.</p>
<p>I think Apple is afraid of having people see that OS X can run on Windows configured hardware. They only want people to see that Mac can run windows and OS X and not the other way around.</p>
<p>As for the bloatware problem, it's not really a problem. You just have to uninstall everything, and it really doesn't take that long if you have a little bit of patience.</p>
<p>As long as you don't go to any shady sites, you're not going to get that many viruses or spyware. For those people who look for warez and free mp3's and free movies and all that illegal stuff, it's their own fault if they get a virus for doing illegal stuff.</p>
<p>Macbooks aren't bad. It's just that a macbook won't satisfy more advanced users. It's just that for budget users, a macbook isn't really worth it since OS X requires premium hardware. I think that you can get more bang for you buck if you go with PC's. Sure a macbook can last 4 years, but for the same amount of money spent, you'd be able to buy two laptops. You can get a PC to last you 2 years, and then get another one once it's broken, and the new one will have even better specs.</p>
<p>I've used Macs and Windows side by side for the past couple of years and the PC that I bought was far better and far cheaper than the Mac I've used. The Mac was a little too simple to use, and it was just too slow.</p>
<p>I would say the difference in performance between a desktop and laptop is more than "slight"</p>
<p>I can find pc desktops that give TWICE the performance for the buck than a laptop.</p>
<p>However, if you were comparing the pc laptop to a mac desktop it might be different, because apple definitely overcharges. Then again, you would have to pay even more to get that performance in a macbook.</p>
<p>All in all, the performance for your dollar is MUCH greater in a desktop than a laptop, not "slight" at all. I agree with "get a laptop" but if the difference was anywhere near "slight" there would be zero sales of desktops.</p>
<p>Similarly, the performance for your dollar on a PC is much greater than that of apple.</p>
<p>Crap I totally posted this in the wrong forum!</p>
<p>Hey, since this thread seems to be alive again, one more tip. If you're using a laptop, whether PC or MacBook, consider buying a mouse for when you're using it at your desk at home/dorm. As another poster hinted earlier, trackballs and touchpads are no match for a mouse when you need to do a lot of cutting and pasting.</p>
<p>
As another poster hinted earlier, trackballs and touchpads are no match for a mouse when you need to do a lot of cutting and pasting.
Just use ctrl+x,c,v for that.</p>
<p>It's the selecting of the items that is easier with a mouse.</p>
<p>Would people recommend buying a tablet pc? Some people seem to rave about taking notes directly onto them, but as far as I can tell, they are rather expensive, relatively underpowered, and generally on the smaller side...are there some good exceptions to this trend?</p>
<p>As a college student, heres my take. Get a laptop. There will be a time when you want to do something online someplace, take some assignment you have with you home for the weekend, you name it, laptops are just so much more convenient. If you really need that extra power boost (you won't.) there will be a computer lab at your school. If you're just getting a computer for work and whatnot, get one with windows. Theres no reason for a mac unless you're doing lots of intense graphics and video. My recommendation is a lenovo T500. They do run a little more than a dell or hp, but they are built strong, and built to last. I've had mine for over a year now, and it is great. Drain holes in the keyboard so liquid won't kill the computer.. thats come in useful more than once. Also, get accident protection warranty. Your roommate might do something and knock it over... its worth it. One more VERY USEFUL TIP: Get a second monitor. The old style monitors can usually be found on craigslist for free or for 10 dollars. If it works, having 2 monitors is great for those times you have lab instructions and data sheets and are trying to do things with it... display somethings on one screen, and work on the other. Makes life 10 times easier.</p>
<p>"If you're just getting a computer for work and whatnot, get one with windows. Theres no reason for a mac unless you're doing lots of intense graphics and video."</p>
<p>I disagree. Get a Mac if you're used to a Mac, get a PC if you're used to a PC. If you don't care, get what your school supports most strongly, but if they support both equally, you'll be happiest with a Mac. But I agree about getting a laptop.</p>
<p>Wow! Great articles! They are tons of help! Thanks!</p>
<p>Macs cost more.</p>