<p>Is it Astounding? Because the last time I checked the hardware was not the same, and thus the reason for Bootcamp. The BIOS and hardware used on macs is simply proprietary, and thus it has been nearly impossible for windows as well as Open Source operating systems to create fully functioning kernels module base for the mac hardware. Apple does not release a API for its hardware and thus it makes it a guessing game for OS developers. There is a reason you cannot properly reboot in Linux and that in both windows and Linux you only get 1/3 of the battery life. If the hardware was the same then it wouldn’t matter and there would be no discrepancies. The fact remains that the hardware abstraction is not given and thus OS developers cannot create modules. If we take the exact same hardware from a mac and from a pc with the same open api bios, each will get similar battery life on both OS’es. If we run windows on both setups time should be the same, and if we run OSX on both battery life should also be the same. Though the proprietary hardware control the hardware has, which gives OSX a edge is not the same on both. </p>
<p>Dr. Horse, your statement that Windows and Linux are “crap” on Apple computers was hyperbole. You focus on one issue, which is battery life halved in a Linux environment. Apple provides drivers for Windows, and the Linux implementation (at least for Ubuntu, that’s all I know) is constantly improving. Isn’t that the point of running Linux, it’s never perfect, but it’s free and constantly improves through the open community? Apple’s implementation of EFI is not that unique, btw. It is still based on Intel’s guidelines. </p>
<p>I do run Ubuntu, and most of the errors have to do with poor drivers created by the community rather than any problem with the computer. Linux power management is poor in general. Part of the low battery life in Linux is an error in the OS in dealing with dual cores and speed stepping. With some tweaking, the battery life can be improved You will never get Linux as optimized on the Mac as OS X is. </p>
<p>I haven’t had any problems with power management in Windows on a Mac- Apple’s drivers work OK. Most of your criticisms about Apple’s refusal to release information seem
to be applicable to Linux rather than Windows, and you have to expect poor implementation in Linux anyways.</p>
<p>Even though Linux power management may be weak, the problem is not just with Linux, it is with any non OSX OS, as the link above shows. The problem is with the EFI as you said and no it is not publicly compliant, if it were the OSx86 project would be a lot further then it is now and the other OS’es would run a whole lot better. Have you ever written a device driver? The whole trial and error game gets old really fast when you actually do write one. </p>
<p>Its pretty simple, if the hardware was truly the same the same OS no matter what its power management should get responsibly the same battery life. If I take a HP and a dell with similar specs and install the same OS on them, then I should expect similar run time. It may not be exact but it certainly will not be 1/3 or 1/2 the difference. If the apple truly had the same EFI and allowed windows to access the hardware properly, then similarly spec’ed computers should have the same battery run time. </p>
<p>The real problem is they dont and they keep it proprietary and thus the OS’es you mention do not run the same as they do on a regular PC. I have a IBM T400 and Ubuntu runs with a standard install for nearly 4.3 hours. Though the T400 is much more powerful compared to the macbook which only allows Ubuntu to get around 2hrs.</p>
<p>The reason there is such a large gap in the battery life is because apple knows exactly what hardware their OS will be working with and how they can use those components to get the most battery life out of them, while windows and Linux are meant to run on a vast array of parts and machines and therefore cannot have such refined power management.</p>
<p>Bananasandwich, if I could get any notebook for free, I’d go with the 15" MacBook Pro. You should check, though, to see how much the scholarship will pay for; they may offer the regular 13" MacBook instead.</p>
<p>If you know little about computers and are not wedded to the Windows operating system, I’d go with the Mac without question. Some people have difficulty making the transition between the two because they have been using Windows for so long.</p>
<p>It’s fascinating to me that some people try to provide useful information while others want to argue about points important to them. I said, for example, that linux and windows run in emulation under parallels and vmware. It actually creates a virtual machine, but that’s not important to many people, since all they want to know is “can I run windows or linux on a mac?” The answer is yes. Then someone argues that it doesn’t run in emulation, but of course doesn’t mention that he’s correcting my language, which thus gives the wrong impression that macs don’t run linux or windows. How is that helpful?</p>
<p>Anyway, I seriously don’t understand why someone would buy a Mac if they only want to use Windows/Linux. Sure, virtualization is a dandy solution if you just have a few troublesome Windows-only apps, but the only thing that makes a Mac unique is OS X.</p>
<p>I’m always amused when hardcore PC people try to tell me “BUT MACS HAVE 897659786 LESS GB(*&( OF SOFTWARE!” or something equally computer-y. I don’t pretend to be a computer expert. All I know is that, in my experience, Macs are prettier and they work better and last longer, and for me, they suit my needs best. No doubt some people don’t like them, but the technological argument doesn’t particularly impress me, because that’s not really what I’m interested in for my personal computer.</p>
<p>You are correct that Apple’s implementation of EFI is different, (…yet still within Intel’s standards), and their poor choice of refusing to release hardware information and other information is poor. But this seems mostly to affect Linux rather than Windows. </p>
<p>But the poor battery life in Windows (on a Mac) is less clear cut; OS X does have better power management than Windows, but part of the culprit is probably Apple’s poor drivers for Windows. But the link provided proves that the reason for poor battery life is inconclusive: Yes, the Lenovo had equivalent battery life to the Macbook Air; it had a smaller battery, but more power efficient processor than the Macbook Air. </p>
<p>For me, these are both non-issues: I use Linux and Windows for quick fixes, then jump back to OS X as quickly as possible. I imagine that’s how most Mac users would use Windows; since you pay a premium for OS X, why use Windows unless you have to?</p>
<p>With the advent of Intel’s VT, there is direct hardware access via instruction set extensions. No emulation is apparent on all or any newer X86 based [processors from both AMD and Intel.</p>
<p>“but the only thing that makes a Mac unique is OS X.”</p>
<p>The level of service you get at an Apple Store sets the Mac apart from Dell, HP, etc.</p>
<p>The area where you lose performance on a VM is in the display and in high-performance graphics. One other issue with VMs is memory consumption. I don’t usually use VMs but have a coworker that uses them a lot and he’d like to go to 6 or 8 GB on his MBP to handle VMs. He has 24 GB on his MP.</p>
<p>or you can get a Lenovo and get better support then apply supplies.</p>
<p>If you were in sub-Saharan Africa and your macbook broke down, what would apple tell you to do? Lenovo would usually have to a new thinkpad to you by 9am the next day or somebody these to fix it with parts. </p>
<p>While the support is similar, Lenovo wins, Ive used both and for critical needs, its not really a comparison.</p>
<p>Yeah, Lenovo’s support is better. Apple’s support really is overrated. People see the shiny Apple store with the hip-looking “Geniuses” and go “ZOMG amazing support!!11”.</p>
<p>Dr. Horse is under the impression that this is slashdot, not a college advice forum. On slashdot, it makes sense to argue about sub-Saharan African support for your computer. Or how Parallels or VMWare works. When in a college advice forum, no one cares. It’s about advice for kids who will be going to college.</p>
<p>It’s like you tried making a point, but by the third sentence, you realized you really had nothing going for you.</p>
<p>Fact of the matter is Apple’s customer service is great, whether you’d like to admit it or not. I can’t see how anyone would consider the actual in-person customer support a bad thing. If there’s a problem with your device, if at all possible, they fix it on the spot, as soon as possible. </p>
<p>When my friend’s laptop case was very slightly starting to crack on the edge, he was in and out, with a new case for his laptop in no time at all. My iPhone’s screen was non-responsive, so they actually gave me a brand new iPhone, right then and there. Horrible customer service, right?</p>
<p>But honestly, “hip-looking”? What is this, middle school? Grow up. They’re normal people, in jeans and a t-shirt.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=Another_Adam]
It’s like you tried making a point, but by the third sentence, you realized you really had nothing going for you.</p>
<p>Fact of the matter is Apple’s customer service is great, whether you’d like to admit it or not.
[/quote]
Do you even bother reading what you write, or do you just enjoy contradicting your statements in the very next sentence?</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=Another_Adam]
When my friend’s laptop case was very slightly starting to crack on the edge, he was in and out, with a new case for his laptop in no time at all. My iPhone’s screen was non-responsive, so they actually gave me a brand new iPhone, right then and there. Horrible customer service, right?
[/quote]
Go anecdotal evidence!</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=Another_Adam]
But honestly, “hip-looking”? What is this, middle school? Grow up. They’re normal people, in jeans and a t-shirt.
[/quote]
Have you really been that blinded by the RDF? Apple’s entire sales strategy is based on projecting the image that it is the epitome of cool, including the employees at their retail stores.</p>
<p>And I really have to give them credit, for it has worked amazingly well. There are now legions of people (including yourself) who will buy anything that has the shiny Apple logo and has been blessed by His Holiness the Jobsmeister.</p>
<p>I will say that I haven’t actually gotten support in an official Apple Store, since they don’t have one within 1000 miles of my home. But the support I have received for my junk iPod over the phone was condescending and unhelpful.</p>
<p>Apple online support is comparable to the other usual vendors. Their in-store support really shines. They take a LOT of abuse and keep on smiling and while being helpful.</p>
<p>I buy desktops from Dell because I can deal with the problems myself - their CS is generally awful but that’s what you get for ultra-cheap hardware. For laptops I like the higher level of service at the Apple Stores.</p>