thinkpad T60 or Macbook

<p>Additionally, in response to the "minimizing 100 windows" thing, OS X offers a similar feature in that it will instantly clear the desktop by pressing F11 (you can change the hotkey or even make it so one of the corners of your screen activates the feature)--additionally, pressing F11 a second time brings all the windows back to their original positions (that feature was introduced in 10.3--about 4 years ago). On top of this, 10.3 and onward have offered the ability to use a suite of features called Expose (of which the desktop clearing function is one feature). Expose allows you to do such things as see all windows at once (with animation and full functionality) to make easier to find individual applications and documents you may have open when you have a lot running by pressing F9, and seeing all the windows of anyone program (i.e., all Microsoft Word documents or all Firefox browser windows) simultaneously to better facilitate finding individual documents or browsers when you actually ARE running 20-30 programs. Finally on 10.4, F12 brings up the Widget screen.</p>

<p>em, I heard microsoft word was not as good on macs and on pcs... And I also find it kind of annoyhing that you can't access all your programs at the bar on the bottom, unlike windows where you can access everthing from the start button...</p>

<p>Paulfoerster,</p>

<p>You quickly learn how to access programs differently on the Mac, and learn that the start button is actually slower in many ways from the more "search" oriented Mac way of running programs. I can swap between files and programs much faster on my Mac than I could on Windows because I bothered to learn how.</p>

<p>And no, Mac OS has changed drastically since 1995. Drastically.</p>

<p>dude if your not feeling the mac thing then don't buy one, go with the pc if that is what you want, i personally have sony vaios for both pc and laptop and i also have an alienware laptop so i have never used either a macbook or a thinkpad but just go with what you want</p>

<p>My recommendation is to go with what you think will offer you the most utility. Macs are good computers, and mine has been an awesome purchase. But Thinkpads are known for being high-quality machines as well, and you can't go wrong with them either.</p>

<p>Either way, you're picking a winner.</p>

<p>Paulfoerster, if you feel so uncomfortable around them, then why don't you just buy the Thinkpad? Everytime you list a complaint, someone answers, and then you find another problem. Go to the nearest Apple Store, play around with the different models; if you like the "feel" and chemistry between you two, then buy it. If not, then move on (to the Thinkpad). That's what I was like; I was a die-hard Dell fan, and I didn't like Macs (bad experience at school with the old iMacs running Mac OS 9) until I started using my cousin's iBook. Now, I've converted my entire family. </p>

<p>It seems like you'd be more comfortable with the PC, which is unfortunate because I think you'd have a great experience with a Mac if you give it a chance.</p>

<p>also, why are macs so much more expensive than pcs that have the same hardware? Is it because it is a "name brand" or something?</p>

<p>paulfoerster,</p>

<p>The price difference today is negligible. Look at what you get with the Macbook for $1299 (without academic discount):</p>

<p>2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
80GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive</p>

<p>Compare that to the T60 in the same range:</p>

<p>1.83 Ghz Core 2 Duo
Mobility Radeon x1300 (this is nice)
512 MB of RAM
60 GB HD
DVD-ROM</p>

<p>I don't think that the Lenovo is necessarily the "better deal," really. Different would be how I'd put it.</p>

<p>Paul, they aren't significantly more expensive. Depending on the model, some are the same price you would pay for an equivalent PC. With Macs you get OS X, which alone is a deal maker for many, plus a slew of programs (ie iMovie, iPhoto, Garageband...). In my opinion the macbook is a better choice. You have the advantage of having OSX, plus, if you need to, you can install Windows using Bootcamp or Parallels.</p>

<p>can you install windows vista using bootcamp or parallels? Whats the difference between the two?</p>

<p>Yes, Vista works on the MB and MBPs.</p>

<p>I believe that on bootcamp, you are required to shutdown/restart when switching between Mac OS X and Windows, and vice-versa. Parallels (others, please correct me if I am wrong) does not require this.</p>

<p>You pretty much got it, diehldun.</p>

<p>Bootcamp is a beta program by Apple that allows you to run either Windows or OSX on the same computer. Parallels is a third part application that lets you run Windows inside of OSX. Parallels is $50 and from what I've heard, is very worth it. </p>

<p>When OSX 10.5 comes out in a couple months it will, as far as I know, include the final version of Bootcamp.</p>

<p>edit: was beat to it</p>

<p>how can MB and MBP run vista? Do you actually have to buy it?</p>

<p>paulfoerster,</p>

<p>If you want to follow the law, then yes. The OS is not free.</p>

<p>paulfoerster, you would have to buy Vista seperately to run it on a Mac.</p>

<p>Thinkpad by far.</p>

<p>There is NO more durable laptop. End of story.</p>

<p>paulfoerster, since you seem more comfortable with a PC, but rather curious about the MacBook, I REALLY suggest that you go to your closest/local Apple Store (do you live in the US?). Seriously, the shopping experience inside the Apple Store is just amazing. Hell, sometimes I go in just to check my e-mail!</p>

<p>Really, just ask some of the friendly staff to talk to you about Macs, etc. There are literally dozens and dozens of Macs to play with and afterwards, you can tell whether or not you're "ready" to switch.</p>

<p>It is worth mentioning that VMWare is also developing a Windows emulator that should support DirectX, so your gaming problems will also be solved.</p>