SRL Archive - News and General

Okay well basically title says it all,
I'm interested in buying a laptop at Christmas,
So i'm starting to look now.
Can't decide wether to buy a Macbook or a Windows operating Laptop.

Mac is like, stylish and stuff. :P
Not really the point, but I like having things other people dont.

So basically, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of buying a Windows Laptop, or a Macbook?


The Macbook i'm looking at is, http://store.apple.com/ca/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTE2NTQ
1349 $ canadian.

And if i got a Windows Laptop, I could get a decent one for around 1000 after tax. (I think?)

What should I buy?
Help!
Post links of good laptops if you are feeling nice.

If you are going to auto a lot.. Scar isn't compatible with Mac or Linux, it is "to platform dependent" with Windows.

A friend of mine has a macbook, and he has both operating systems on it. So he can switch to windows any time he'd like.

Does that take up a lot of room?

And if i go onto the windows operating system on my macbook, i can run SCAR right?

Yes, my intention is to buy a laptop, so i can run SCAR.
Its hard for me to auto on the family computer :P since people are always wanting to go on lol.

I used a macbook all summer, and after awhile, I got used to it. It's not too bad if you don't mind not playing games and stuff. However, more and more games are being released for it (like Spore). So who knows, whichever you want to do, My advice though, is to NOT buy an upgraded RAM set from apple, just buy the computer, and then upgrade the RAM yourself. It is WAY cheaper :)

EDIT:

Just noticed you want to dual boot with windows.

It is VERY easy on Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard).
You just start up the boot-camp assistant and it'll walk you though the steps, but you need a Windows install disk. And you can choose how much size you want to use for Windows. If you will rarely use Windows and not DL anything or save anything to it, just use like 20GB (for xp) of you HDD for the windows partition. If you will mainly be using windows give it a little more, like half or so. Later on, if you decide you want more space on your mac or windows partition you have to completely delete your windows partition and re-run bootcamp, so you will lose all your windows stuff that you don't back-up. And you will have to re-install it. (no big deal)

Any more questions just pm me, and post here :)

Buy a windows pc, install Linux, skin it to a mac standard and there you go. You almost truly have a mac pc.

This has been debated thousands of times. I see no benefits mac provides over pc except no viruses. But I mean, is 1000 bucks extra really worth no viruses just download AVG or something. If you have money to blow then go ahead and get the mac, I just hope you don't like games or autoing.

"A friend of mine has a macbook, and he has both operating systems on it. So he can switch to windows any time he'd like."

Cant i do that?

"My advice though, is to NOT buy an upgraded RAM set from apple, just buy the computer, and then upgrade the RAM yourself. It is WAY cheaper "

Not a very computer-savvy person.
Don't know how to do that :P hahahaha.

From: oo00o
"A friend of mine has a macbook, and he has both operating systems on it. So he can switch to windows any time he'd like."

Cant i do that?

From: Brain

Just noticed you want to dual boot with windows.

It is VERY easy on Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard).
You just start up the boot-camp assistant and it'll walk you though the steps, but you need a Windows install disk. And you can choose how much size you want to use for Windows. If you will rarely use Windows and not DL anything or save anything to it, just use like 20GB (for xp) of you HDD for the windows partition. If you will mainly be using windows give it a little more, like half or so. Later on, if you decide you want more space on your mac or windows partition you have to completely delete your windows partition and re-run bootcamp, so you will lose all your windows stuff that you don't back-up. And you will have to re-install it. (no big deal)

Summary: yes, you can if you have OS X 10.5 and a windows install disk

From: oo00o

"My advice though, is to NOT buy an upgraded RAM set from apple, just buy the computer, and then upgrade the RAM yourself. It is WAY cheaper "

Not a very computer-savvy person.
Don't know how to do that :P hahahaha.

It is VERY easy, you take the battery out, un-do 3 screws, the RAM slides out, you slide the new stuff in, put the cover back on, tighten the 3 screws, put the battery back in

Oh lol, that sounds easy enough to get more RAM.
So you think i should get the 1,100 $ macbook and just buy more ram for it and install it myself?

Well i'd only want to auto on Windows.

And is a macbook good quality? is there other laptops i can get which are better and cheaper?

Im a proud owner of a macbook. Its really good quality. When I'm autoing, I'm just running Parallels Desktop. Im then getting Windows in a window, or full screen if I want it. Works perfectly.

personly id have windows xp (fast reliable and if something does go wrong u can fix it) also scar works best on xp not to mension better anti-virus and most programs are made for xp ;)

Or you could get an Asus Eee PC. They come with Linux, but you could easily install Windows. My brother got one a few days ago, he left it on for over 24 hours, and it's basically silent, because it's flash.

Personally i think macs are overpriced, you would be using windows anyway, why go through installing the other OS, and upgrading ram, it being more expencive, (most likely) not as big of screen (doenst really matter to most people, nor myself but meh), and feeding the beast of the attempted Apple monopoly…

ive seen many things that arnt compatible with mac so its gotta be pc

From: R1ch4
Or you could get an Asus Eee PC. They come with Linux, but you could easily install Windows. My brother got one a few days ago, he left it on for over 24 hours, and it's basically silent, because it's flash.

Arnt those like 7 inches big and are like super slow because they have barly any memory?

"Personally i think macs are overpriced, you would be using windows anyway,"


No, I like Mac format WAY better than Windows. Another thing is, if I was to get a new Windows laptop, it would have Vista running on it, which I HATE.

Compared to other laptops the same price as macbooks, which are better quality?

Most of you are basically saying that getting a Windows laptop is better. Could i get a windows laptop 200 dollers cheaper that's better than a macbook?

Like i'm willing to pay the extra 150 for a better laptop, but if it's like over 300, that's basically a ps3 right there. I could get a decent laptop and a ps3 for the price of a mac.

Or like 150M 5$ ea :P and a laptop

I would go with windows operating labtop way better, especially for autoing but that is just my opinion

I still haven't really seen any specs with windows laptop vs macbook.

I think it all comes down to what you want to do, If you are comfortable you can run windows on your mac and run lots of windows apps.

Well if you aren't worried to much about money and you want a really good windows laptop go to AlienWare.com.

As for which is better, I personally don't like mac. They have a mac lab at our school that they use for all the design crap like yearbook and stuff and I had a graphic design class in there and I hated it. So I would go with a PC.

kk, thanks guys.

XP has more viruses than MAC, but has more games.

MAC is cleaner than XP, but XP seems easier to function.

From: TheVoiceInYourHead
XP has more viruses than MAC, but has more games.

MAC is cleaner than XP, but XP seems easier to function.

Linux -> Mac

Both have their good points but after getting a nasty piece of Spyware on my Windows box and having used nothing by my new Macbook Air for 2 weeks while on holiday, I'm going to be getting a Mac Pro to replace my Windows box when it becomes obsolete.

Windows machines have far more hardware and software compatibility, but are far more bloated that OSX which really shows when you are doing the amount of photo editing that I am

"XP has more viruses than MAC, but has more games.
MAC is cleaner than XP, but XP seems easier to function."

Yeah, I don't care about games too much.
I just wanna auto and play rs a bit.
I'm not too concerned for playing other games,
EXCEPT Starcraft 2 but it will probably be for mac.

Could i get a faster/better windows laptop for less than a macbook?
Or is macbook pretty good?
or should i get like a toshiba/alienware laptop?

I wish there wasn't so much selection! lawl

Edit: double post is fail.

Protoss rules.

Alienware laptop, ftw.

A Mac is generally a lot more expensive than a PC. Also, a Mac has a lot of issues with compatibility. You said you want to auto, so you'd end up using windows for that anyways. No point in blowing all your money on something you'll never use. PC can do everything a Mac can and more.

I'll say this… typically speaking, PC is better for gaming and most programs. Mac is better for Artistic and Work purposes. (photoshop, etc.) Mac also comes with a lot of neat little features and software that you don't see on windows. But I would say that if you are going to run both operating systems either way, it would be more cost effective to buy the PC. Also, if you don't actually plan on taking it anywhere, I would suggest getting a desktop over a laptop, way more power for the money. If you just want a laptop so you can be comfortable on the couch, consider buying a better desk chair. lol.

PC is the best :D

"If you just want a laptop so you can be comfortable on the couch, consider buying a better desk chair. lol."

Haha I like that.

Okay you guys have convinced me.
What type of laptop could I get within the range of 900 - 1200 Canadian?

Macs are way overpriced, but I love them. I would recommend one to anyone.

From: richk1693
PC can do everything a Mac can and more.

Expose and Spaces? Linux can do them, but not as well in my opinion. Windows has applications to do it, but they are crap.

I would reccommend a Windows Laptop as for all the compatability advantages. Macs….are kind of isolated in the software and hardware world.