In desperate need of a new laptop!

[mackk3]

<p>I currently have a Dell Inspiron 1520 and it has been great for the last four years. However, it does seem to be getting a bit slow and the computer itself makes a buzzing noise (possibly from the battery?) I plan to study abroad next spring semester and I cannot afford my computer to crash! I've been looking into new Dells and even Macs. I've read that Mac laptops have very low rates for viruses and crashes..is that true? I do love to carry my laptop around campus with me and the Mac computers seem A LOT lighter than Dells, in general.
I do love my Dell, but everyone seems to have Mac's lately and swear by them.</p>

<p>Now my big question: Is the white Macbook just as good as the Macbook Pro. I really don't need all the fancy accessories. Will the white Macbook suffice my needs (college papers, musics, photos, surfing the web, watching movies) The Macbook Pro is a little too expensive for me right now, as I am trying to save to study abroad. So I am wondering if I will be all set with the White Macbook?</p>

[4khaos]

<p>There’s only one reason Macs had a low rate for viruses - hardly anyone used them. So hackers didn’t bother going after Macs since it would be far more economical going after Windows. In reality, Macs are as easily hacked as Windows.</p>

<p>Macs are generally overpriced, and the quality of each product contained within the computers is mediocre - the same as many other computers. But, it is wrapped in a pretty thin shell that so many people love, so it will always look nice.</p>

<p>Your “needs” can be satisfied by almost ANY computer these days. You can get the Mac and pay for the brand, or you can get a cheaper Acer/Asus/Toshiba/HP/Dell and still get the same specs.</p>

[gojack]

<p>Mac’s are nice but pricey for what you get.
If you have the cash, a white mac will do you fine,
Mac’s are good.</p>

<p>A Windows Asus or Toshiba will also do you well,
if you install “Windows Security Essentials” as recommended and let it do it’s thing. </p>

<p>[Laptop</a> reliability survey: ASUS and Toshiba win, HP fails – Engadget](<a href=“http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/laptop-reliability-survey-asus-and-toshiba-win-hp-fails/]Laptop”>Laptop reliability survey: ASUS and Toshiba win, HP fails | Engadget)</p>

[SgtDonut]

<p>Macs are good, if you have the money.</p>

[phantasmagoric]

<p>Here’s something I posted before on this:</p>

<p>

Either a PC or a Mac would do just fine. I know plenty who have one or the other and do fine with it. I’d really recommend a Mac. I remember I was making the decision of what laptop to buy for college and was so close to buying a MacBook after having researched it very, very extensively, reading tons of people’s opinions, etc., then opted for a PC laptop instead (which cost over $1k). For a while I hated–and I mean HATED–Macs because I thought they were too simple, for the people who wanted to mix music, etc. … until I bought one. The MacBook Pro is honestly the most amazing piece of technology. I love it so much it’s absurd; it’s my baby.

</p>

<p>That said, for you the regular (white or black) MacBook would be just fine for you. I got the Pro because of my specific research/study, but for what you are doing, the MacBook is perfect. I disagree that Macs are mediocre computers in pretty packaging; I used to believe that, again until I got one. Not only are their specs *objectively *among top-of-the-line laptops, but there really is something (most important) to be said of their interfaces. OS X is amazingly fast, and the physical interface - the keyboard and trackpad - just “work.” It’s like your MacBook syncs with you.</p>

<p>Oh, here was the rest of that post:</p>

<p>

Like you, I had been agonizing over whether to buy the MacBook or not, and kept hearing the claim that there will be compatibility issues, etc. When I finally got a MacBook Pro, 1.5 years later, I regretted ever having listened to those people online. I have never encountered any program that wouldn’t work on the Mac (and I’m not worried that I will; if I do, I can just dual-boot with Windows). More importantly, OS X has never crashed on me, never froze for more than a few seconds (and even then rarely). Its interface is amazingly intuitive, both the trackpad and the GUI for the OS. I hated not right-clicking–now I prefer tapping two fingers once to get the right-click; I used to hate the dock at the bottom, but now I realize it’s one of the most useful awesome features. Spotlight is waaay better than the search function in Windows. The list goes on and on.</p>

<p>Seriously, I was a Windows user for 10 years (the entire time I’d been on computers), but can confidently say now that I will be using a Mac from now on.

</p>

<p>In short, I’m a CS person who went from being a long-time Windows user and Mac hater, to being a Windows hater and Mac lover. :)</p>

<p>edit: just to add, the main reason Macs are priced higher is the software they package with the computer. I use some of it, but most of it isn’t useful to me. Regardless, the MacBook is worth it. Apple knows how to make computers. (Not surprising, since Apple kind of commercialized the first personal computers, besides IBM’s.)</p>

[mackk3]

<p>Thanks all I really think I may purchase a Macbook!</p>