<p>Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a mac, but I'm still debating whether to get an ibook or a powerbook. I think I may take my laptop around campus with me occasionally (like to the main green or the library, maybe to an occasional class), but it will stay in my room sometimes. Which one should I get? Also, what screen size is optimal?</p>
<p>Get a 12" iBook; you'll be the best battery life, a durable, light computer, and great wireless reception.</p>
<p>You don't really need a larger screen -- all they'll do is just burn your battery faster. Same thing with a PowerBook -- unless your needs fall under a more media professional realm, save money and battery life.</p>
<p> 512MB DDR266 SDRAM (256MB built-in & 256MB SO-DIMM)
80GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card
iWork '05 preinstalled
Keyboard & Mac OS X - U.S. English
AppleCare Protection Plan for iBook
12-inch TFT XGA display
1.2GHz PowerPC G4
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 w/ 32MB DDR video memory
Estimated Ship:
1-3 business days
Free Shipping
Subtotal $1,360.00</p>
<p>Then, take $100 at <a href="http://education.apple.com/go/save%5B/url%5D">http://education.apple.com/go/save</a></p>
<p>And, pick up an HP PSC 1610 all-in-one for $29 after $100 rebate.</p>
<p>im not buying a computer named after a fruit</p>
<p>boo macs/apples!</p>
<p>Actually, Apple was named after the Beatles' record label.</p>
<p>It has been the basis of many-a-lawsuit.</p>
<p>Anyone else putting his outside scholarships towards buying a laptop?</p>
<p>Now I just have to be careful not to go crazy with my $3500 in outside scholarships and get some ridiculously awesomely expensive computer...</p>
<p>it was Steve Jobs' idea i assume?</p>
<p>I wanna get an iPod, but macs are too incompatible with everything and are too... uncool and too cutesy haha</p>
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I wanna get an iPod, but macs are too incompatible with everything and are too... uncool and too cutesy haha
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</p>
<p>How are they incompatible? Mac OS X is built on UNIX and is based on all open standards. Apple has embraced open source and has leveraged on Darwin and the open source community. All of the technologies Apple uses are based on industry standards -- hardly incompatible.</p>
<p>Uncool and cutesy? My PowerBook is sleek and sexy.</p>
<p>In the last few months, I've set up 2 laptops: an ibook (mine) and a mid-range dell (my computer-illiterate mother's). The mac is MUCH more user-friendly. Everything works, right away, and it's much more intuitive. Networking, especially, is a breeze. I've had it for about six months and it's never crashed, never gotten a virus, or had any problems at all. What PC user can say that? Man, I really sound like I'm getting paid to say this. Anyway, in my convert's opinion, unless you are very PC-savvy, need specifc programs the Mac doesn't run, or can't afford the price difference, go for the mac.</p>
<p>My Thinkpad does not crash and does exactly what I want it to do.</p>
<p>Good. Glad to hear there are people out there with better luck than I have. Gives me something to works towards = )</p>
<p>Macs are not more reliable than pc's in most technical categories, though i do admit the OSX is probably the more stable mainstream operating system.
Nonetheless, if you DO know what youre doing with your PC and if youre savvy enough to customize it to do what YOU want it to do, then a good manufacturer's PC is the way to go. Dells are good, but nothing matches a good Thinkpad. I have dropped that baby maybe 50 times, it still looks new, plus as far as customizing goes, few laptops are as prone to modifications and upgrading.
In addition, no computer i have ever used is assembled with this much stablility in mind as the Thinkpad, which managed to crash maybe twice in the two years i used it. Sony is incredibly overpriced, and are supposed to be good for multimedia and art functions. If you need multimedia, Macs are a much better chioce. </p>
<p>In the end you need to figure out what you are looking for. If your computer use is casual aka email/word/im, then youre better off saving a thousand dollars and buying a used 2 year old laptop off ebay and, putting the money to better use.
Im coming into Brown with a 2.5gHz, 512 RAM computer, which unless you're insane, a compsci major or a computer nerd, is more than you need for basic computing. Combine that with the fact that it cost $200 on ebay (plus 20 bucks for some RAM) and this is a bargain.</p>
<p>JustPete, you're being way too much of a salesman, you can get much better hard drive size, ram, and ghz processor speed at a much lower price with a PC. And if you're even semi-knowledgeable about a computer you won't be getting a virus or having your comp crash. There is absolutely 100% no reason to spend more money on a mac for less impressive specs.</p>
<p>but they're soo cute!</p>
<p>There is one reason: Mac OSX. It does have a much better kernel.</p>
<p>"JustPete, you're being way too much of a salesman, you can get much better hard drive size, ram, and ghz processor speed at a much lower price with a PC. And if you're even semi-knowledgeable about a computer you won't be getting a virus or having your comp crash. There is absolutely 100% no reason to spend more money on a mac for less impressive specs."</p>
<p>Sure there is. The operating system is far better, the computer likely is smaller and weighs less, and the notebook will last longer-- IMO, most Apples despite having seemingly less specs are at least 50% more future proofed. They work as well as they do the day you purchased one for quite some time. Most Windows computers unless you REALLY know what you are doing degrade over time.</p>
<p>the nature of all computers is to degrade overtime...right?</p>
<p>people are just careless.. i've been using my windows pc for 6 years now and its running great, its operating system has been upgraded twice</p>
<p>i can't speak for everyone but i wouldnt pay a $1000 more for a laptop that may look a little nicer and an operating system that functions somewhat better but still is not compatible with most peripherals since htey are made for pc</p>
<p>
[quote]
i can't speak for everyone but i wouldnt pay a $1000 more for a laptop that may look a little nicer and an operating system that functions somewhat better but still is not compatible with most peripherals since htey are made for pc
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<p>$1000 more? Hardly.</p>
<p>What peripherals? Yeah, I guess they must not be compatible, I mean... when you plug them in, they just work. They obviously must not be working since you don't need to wait for Windows to try to find and install drivers.</p>
<p>If you wanna get the software that you have accumulated over the years to work on a MAC, you WILL spend 1000 dollars to get a comparable value. And to get a good MAC will run you significantly more than getting a good PC. MAC's have their advantages, for visual and multimedia applications they usually make more sense, but for a basic consumer, who wants to get a decent computer, a PC is cheaper, easier to fix, upgrade and find software for. </p>
<p>If you think JustPete sounds like a MAC salesman, that's because he is. </p>
<p>And about that,I'm curious if they pay you well and do you work on commission?</p>