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Here's a point no one raised:
To get an Apple with a dedicated GPU you need to buy a $2600 American dollar laptop just for the most basic video card. Even if money isn't an issue I would buy one of the Alien-ware Gaming laptops in that case. The screen is a bit small but it has great battery life as well as plenty of power under the hood.
http://www.alienware.com/microsite/m11x/m11x.aspx
Which is also half the price. While there is a lot of crapware when you buy a new laptop I usually clean install an OS when I buy a new computer so I don't need to worry about it. Usually a laptop will have the OS hidden on a separate drive which you can get and use. Check http://www.notebookreview.com/ as it has great information on the good/bad of PCs and Macs as well as bunches of freeware and so on and how to customize your notebook.
And yes, while Macs are also PCs, Macs are commonly referred to as 'Macs' so 'PCs' is a shorter and easier way to abbreviate the whole 'Windows OS' thing so I prefer to call Windows computers PCs.
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I got myself a 13 inch MacBook and I can say the biggest advantage is really OSX. You have to use for some time to really appreciate the small things that make it great.
for me, the pros would be:
OSX, and other Mac only programs (Adium, Quicksilver ..)
build quality
size/weight (the difference may be only 500 grams, but if you carry it around all day, it makes a big difference.)
the price issue is not clear: it depends on how much discount you get, I got 20% at my school. Also I couldnt find a another 13 inch laptop at the same level. Most of them were really business oriented and cost more than a mac.
cons:
Gaming
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I don't have any experience with a mac. The only pros I can potentially "see" with it are programs, from what I've heard from a friend he prefers macs when it comes to creating media. seeing as how you're going into mathematics and not film-editing or something in that flavour I would say that you choose what OS you're most comfortable with. Don't be afraid because of the "PCs crash on me..."-arguments. Use common sense and don't click on every ad you see saying you've won a prize and you'll most likely be fine. If there's a problem, google it.
If you however don't care about the price-tag I can see why one with little free-time would lean a bit towards the mac.
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If being trendy is that important to you you just buy a Sony VAIO. I hated having to use my friend's Mac during our shared project times, Mac was being a bitch about basically everything it had to like connecting to the school network or just sharing files with PCs.
Too much headache and silly shit when working with Macs in my opinion. You can do anything on windows but you can't do everything on Mac ( Without jumping through hoops ).
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I havent read through the thread, but if you look enough youll find some notebooks with realllly good battery life. Last time I bought one I was considering this other one which had something like 12 hours. Wasn't expensive either, I think it was like a 2,2ghz duo, 4gb ram laptop for about 650$ (sry dont remember which brand/name)
Either way I dont really get why people by macs. I'm no antifanboy but I always like going for something with a good price/performance ratio. And that's just so much better for most notebooks.
Oh also if you care about looks a lot, get a skin for your laptop, I got a great looking one for about 30$
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Like a few mentioned before, OSX can become a pretty large factor in your decision, as it does for me. I absolutely enjoy the OSX, and it's really not all that hard to get used to if you don't approach it with a stubborn mindset.
My preferences have always been for:
PC/Windows Desktops
Mac Laptops
Honestly, don't even look into what's popular. Just find out what you need your laptop for, and which computer is going to satisfy. Although nowhere near as numerous, a lot of more applications and programs are coming to the Mac. It's not perfect yet, but it's a start. Like I said, find out what you need first. If they both satisfy, just go with whichever makes you happier. If Macs make you happy, go for it. If PCs (Windows) work better for you, by all means.
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well think of it this way, the way i look at it is that Macs are like supercars ie: Lamborghini, Ferrari all that jazz, extremely expensive, the "cool" factor, gorgeous exterior and interior appearance, only difference is that in terms of performance Macs aren't as top notch as supercars...
now PC's are like street racing cars, think the Fast and the Furious kind of cars, extremely customisable, performance depends on how much cash you dump into the cars, if anything fucks up like exploding engines and shits its your mechanics or your own faults...
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I have always been a proponent of apple ever since the first old machine I owned back in '96. I currently own a mac laptop however I'm in the process of buying a desktop pc.
Despite the price, I think for what you are going to be doing (lack of gaming) a Mac would be your best choice for a laptop. However with Windows 7 out and Mac starting to get so full of themselves, it's not so cut and dry.
Desktop windows still wins hands down for it's customization, but in the laptop department I'd go for a Mac
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Marshall Islands104 Posts
Well, I'm running a Macbook Pro with an i7 in it and yes . . . I must say I like it a lot. My parents have been with macs for upwards of 20 years and I have just grown up with them [macs].
That being said, I still have the necessary Windows XP partition. For program compatibility and for the fact that my Razer Deathadder Mac Edition ironically still works better with windows.
Since I feel more productive on Mac (remember, I've grown up with them) I use the Mac partition the most, but Windows is always there for gaming/compatibility kind of stuff.
So yeah, I'd totally recommend a mac. I have owned many macs over my lifetime and I hope to own many more.
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Use the computer that you have more experience with. All OS have pretty much the same functionality. What it comes down to at this point is simply how good the user is. I have used a PC for my entire life. So i will always use one 
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![[image loading]](http://images.apple.com/euro/macbookpro/images/overview_gallery20100409.png)
MacBook Pro 17"
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It's hard to be impartial but I'll try. All of my comp eng friends think pcs are better than macs nowadays. They kinda know their stuff better than the arts majors. The computing power for the money is definitely better. However people should try to get as good a computer as possible (as long as it's not cutting edge... too expensive) since it's a good investment.
If you are heavily into gaming, pc without a doubt, because as you said: Great graphics and gaming.
If you are casual:
You said you were going into a mathematics/chartered accountancy program. The main reason why people even go mac is because they like the arts software. Either they are used to it or they think that it is better. This used to be true, but nowadays pc's have great art software too.
You however, should probably get a pc because all the software you will be using comes from pcs. Many jobs require knowledge of pcs, not macs. I will however add that knowledge of both can be useful for finding certain jobs.
In addition, cross of the battery life things from your list. Even if pcs use different types of batteries, which they don't, you won't be taking your laptop around campus without an outlet nearby, and if you do, power saver mode in power options provides you with enough time.
User Friendly, well macs are user friendly in that they used to do automatic backups and disk defragmentations whereas pc's did not. Now pc's also do these things automatically as well.
Viruses: Mac's are less prone to viruses than pc's but they are not immune. While this used to be the case, since the people who made viruses liked to target the larger population of computer users, they've now realized that they can infect a lot of mac user's computers as well.
Conclusion: Get a pc, It may help you find some computer networking job when you grow up.
I've never used a mac so take everything I say lightly.
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Zurich15325 Posts
After having gone through several laptops from Toshiba over IBM, 2xSamsung, Dell to Lenovo I finally got a Macbook Pro this year. It is without doubt the best laptop I ever had. All the previous ones don't come even close. Also every one of the con points you make does not apply to a 2010 MBP (well, except Expensive).
With Bootcamp out there there is really no drawback I can think of - except the price. If you are willing to pay for the best laptop out there then go for MBP.
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Marshall Islands104 Posts
Hmm, I really would like to point out to the people that say you need windows for gaming that...
You still have it.
Remember that a Boot Camp partition is basically installing Windows on a chunk of hardware (in this case a "mac" chunk) and that unlike some virtualization programs, Windows installed under Boot Camp is really Windows.
Games work. Mice work. Apps still function. ICCUP will still work. I played starcraft on ICCUP just two nights ago on my windows partition.
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I would use a PC, but again it also depends on what your major will end up being. I don't want to make it see to stereotyped; but macs often have the better artsy programs, but its again a matter of preference.
As for PCs crashing business, as long as you aren't doing funny business you should be ok...
I would rather get a PC laptop because its cheaper than a macbook which is way overpriced for what it can do. I also tend to think that Apple abuses their customers a bit by upgrading their gear bit by bit for another hundred bucks or so.
Again though... It's a matter of preference. If you're a gamer you obviously have to go with a PC. No question haha.
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I'm using a bootcamp on a macbook pro. But I still wouldn't get a mac considering the price if you are using it for gaming. I don't know about the newer macbook pros but mine gets extremely hot even with fan control and an external cooler. Then again, mine is old and I heard Apple even underclocked the graphics card for heat reasons.
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Russian Federation410 Posts
It's pretty simple:
Macs are only good for specialized software, which mostly is video editing stuff (also some web building). For every single other purpose PCs are better.
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If you pick a macbook pro, watch the size. 17" is way too big if you're gonna carry it on a back pack regularly. The only difference between 13", 15" and 17" is the screen size.
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On June 08 2010 00:03 zatic wrote:
After having gone through several laptops from Toshiba over IBM, 2xSamsung, Dell to Lenovo I finally got a Macbook Pro this year. It is without doubt the best laptop I ever had. All the previous ones don't come even close. Also every one of the con points you make does not apply to a 2010 MBP (well, except Expensive).
With Bootcamp out there there is really no drawback I can think of - except the price. If you are willing to pay for the best laptop out there then go for MBP.
What makes it so much better than all other laptops?
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EPT
