Tagged Products - 2.40ghz

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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$700 SSD upgrade on Apple's site. 7200rpm drive is something a tech savvy user can install themselves, though.
6. Price. Base model is $1299.
7. $1299 model does not have backlit keyboard. $800 Dell laptops have this.
8. Display appears to have poorer contrast and viewing angles than previous model, even when using a Spyder calibration device. Also display is only available in glossy which some consumers do not like.

Other points consumers should be aware of:
1. Aluminum body; better displacement of heat than previous model, but body may dent easier.
2. Button-less trackpad, people will have to retrain their muscle memory, but is rather easy to get used to.
3. Display port replaces mini DVI port, but at least they have new adapters to DVI and VGA.

Overall: I am generally neutral on this redesign. Very pleased with graphics upgrade, but equally disappointed by lack of ports, poor LCD display, and glossy only option. Bottom line, I can get a Dell Latitude for $800 with eSATA and Firewire--but, of course, it can't run Mac OSX.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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with these new aluminum MacBooks I think things have changed. You get a backlit keyboard in the higher end model (which is the one I'm reviewing), an aluminum body (of course), and a multitouch trackpad. I think the backlit keyboard is the nicest addition. It's really something you appreciate more once you've used it. I've never had any difficulty typing in the dark but I can't see myself ever buying a machine without a backlit keyboard again. It's incredibly helpful when you need to type a special character or press a function button. If you don't have the usual key positions memorized, I imagine it's even better. This makes the high end MacBook feel a lot more like a MacBook Pro.

Regarding the aluminum unibody Apple likes to talk about so highly, it's very nice. While they did this with the Macbook Air, it seems much more refined with the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. My one complaint, which I feel will fade over time, is that it sometimes looks too perfect. I don't mean this as a backhanded compliment, but that there is such a thing as being so perfect it lacks a human touch. Think about listening to a computer play a song versus a human. It's just not as good. Well, technically the computer is better but that human touch is relevant to us. This machine is so exact and precise that it sometimes feels inhuman. At the same time, it is rather stunning. I think I'll get past the lack of human imperfections as I get used to looking at it each day.

The multitouch trackpad is something I'm not foreign to, as I used a MacBook Air for awhile. The new trackpad space is identical. I found this very fortunate as I don't like buying new machines without being able to get a Marware Protection Pack as well. Luckily I bought a MacBook Air pack and it fit perfectly. Even the trackpad film fit. While multitouch gestures didn't make their way into my regular routine too often, I did use them here and there and am glad they now exist throughout Apple's line of laptops. The disadvantage of the new trackpad is the lack of a button. Yes, the whole trackpad is a button and yes it's very clickable. The problem is that sometimes the click doesn't register. I turned on single and double taps for left click and right click (respectively), but sometimes those don't register as well. If this were my first Apple laptop, I'd panic and run to the Genius Bar for help. Since I've been through a few of these, I've found that it takes a month or two before you really break in the button. I've had the laptop for about ten days now and it's already working better. Still, I wish it just clicked as expected out of the box. For those that are wondering how you click and drag if there's no actual button, you just kind of pretend there is a button. While Apple gives you the entire trackpad for tracking, and you can click pretty much anywhere (with resistance building more and more as you move upwards), you can expect this trackpad to work just like the MacBook Air's trackpad. The space where the Air's button would be is where you can safely rest a thumb (or whatever) for clicking. It will not register as a second finger as easily. If you pretend there is a button at the bottom of the trackpad, you'll quickly forget there isn't one.

But those are the bells and whistles. As far as performance goes, there's not much excitement in regards to speed. The computer's architecture has changed, but the Core 2 Duo processors aren't really much faster (or any faster as the case may be here). The big jump is in the new graphics processor from NVIDIA. I'm not going to pretend to be a hardcore gamer. I don't play many games, and especially not when it comes to those that are GPU-intensive. I can't give you frame rates from World of Warcraft or anything like that. What I can tell you is that the new NVIDIA graphics make for smoother performance around the operating system and seem to contribute to 1) better battery life and 2) a cooler system.

One of my favorite things about this laptop is that it doesn't really get hot. I ran an H.264 video encode today so I could put a video on my iPhone and it didn't feel hot at all. The MacBook Air heats up in about five seconds and then cripples the GPU first, before throttling anything else, and gets pretty warm. You could iron a shirt with the old MacBooks and I won't even start with the MacBook Pros. I can't believe how cool this machine has been. I'm not punishing it with endless work, but for it to make it through a twelve minute video encode without breaking a sweat is pretty amazing. It's the first time I've used an Apple laptop and didn't worry about becoming sterile. I don't know what they did, but it's wonderful.

I get about four hours of battery life under normal usage. While this still doesn't quite match what Apple promises, it's the highest I've ever, realistically, gotten out of an Apple laptop. I'm more than happy with four hours. I rarely use my laptop off of the power adapter anyhow.

Another neat feature of the new MacBooks (and MacBook Pros) is that you can use your iPhone/iPod touch stereo headset with microphone to record (crappy) audio and have basic control over iTunes. Since I swap my iPhone headphones out of the iPhone and into the laptop very frequently, this is fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I've been interrupted and clicked the microphone on the headset to pause the song, only to remember that I can't. Now I can. This is wonderful.

So far I've only had good things to say and that's because, overall, this is an excellent machine. I want to talk about a few bad things, however. In my opinion, the biggest flaw is the display. This is why I've rated it a four and not a five. The display is an embarrassment. If you have any intention of doing any visual work that actually matters, this machine will be completely useless to you. The viewing angle is so terrible that no matter where you are, you will not get even contrast. I don't notice it quite as much when I'm surfing the web or just writing, but when I watch a video it's very apparent. If you do visual work and it's not just for fun, do not buy this machine. Get a MacBook Pro where it's not an issue. Even the old MacBooks have better displays. I don't do visual work on this machine for that reason. If it's not critical, I might, but for the most part I work on my desktop machine instead.

Another downside about the display is that it's glossy. These look cool and all, but the reflections are obnoxious when you can't easily avoid them and you don't get very accurate color or contrast. This is a fault of the panel itself, too, but the glossiness just ruins it further. For general use, this isn't a big deal. If you want to color correct or design, Apple has pretty much opted to screw you over regardless of how much you decide to spend on their hardware. Matte screens are just not going to be an option anymore. I think this is a stupid choice, because the people who kept Apple alive are the designers who chose Macs early on in Apple's history. The loyalists are generally not fond of glossy screens and have been vocal about it. I think having an option is fine, but forcing people to use glossy screens is awful. Being a loyalist and needing a matte screen, I've just started using my laptop for everything but color critical work. It's allowed me to prefer working on a smaller screen, which is nice because it means less computer to cart around. I've been able to work around this problem, but my situation allowed for it. It's still a big problem for a lot of people who can't defer to a desktop.

The other disadvantage is a lack of Firewire. While I rarely employed Firewire in my laptops, especially after using the MacBook Air (which has none), I still liked having it around. I don't really miss that it's gone. Again, this is primarily due to having a desktop companion that can connect with just about anything. Whether or not this is a major issue is really up to the individual. If you know you need it, you have your answer. Personally, I wish Apple would've kept it until they had something better to replace it with. Maybe they couldn't fit it into the new, slimmer casing. I would just like to see a USB 2.0 alternative, since USB 2.0 doesn't quite live up to its claims.

When it comes to upgrades and replacements, this machine gets a little better and a little worse. If you're upgrading from a MacBook Pro to a MacBook Pro, you're getting easier upgrades all around. If you're used to upgrades in a MacBook, however, I'd say things are better and worse. If you want to replace RAM, you have to remove the bottom case. It's not that hard to do but it means keeping track of quite a few screws and exposing the entirety of your machine's innards. If you're simply replacing the hard drive, however, you can pretty much just yank it out. One of the first things I did is replace the hard drive with a solid state disk. They're getting cheaper and you can get a 120GB or 128GB drive for much less than what Apple offers. But on the plus side, if you do want your computer to come with an SSD you now have that option as a custom order. While in tests SSD hasn't really proven to have too many benefits, in real world practice it makes the machine feel much snappier. For that reason, having an SSD is worth it.

Apple's RAM upgrade prices are also not as terrible as they used to be. At least, it seems that way. A RAM upgrade through a third party only saves $10-20. When spending a lot of money on a new machine, I think many people would choose the convenience over the comparatively small savings that come with doing it yourself.

Anyway, that pretty much covers the majority of the relevant pros and cons of the new MacBook. So far I love it. I think it's a wonderfully made machine. It's sturdy, it's attractive and it works really well. I've very pleased with it and as long as you can handle the poor display, I highly recommend this MacBook.

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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to it. Two finger scrolling and right click are very convenient. And there are no arguments against the superiority of Mac OS over Windows, and especially Vista. Mac OS applications are lot more fun and easier to use, not to mention less crashes, freezes and viruses and malware.

I miss dedicated PgDn and PgUp keys; it also lacks numLk, Home, End, and Del (forward) keys. Lack of Firewire can be a problem if you do not have another computer with one and need to use it for camcorder etc. Card reader is also absent and it is not easy to transfer camera pictures unless the camera also works as a card reader. Neither is there an express card slot or 3G modem. Cost is definitely a lot more than similarly equipped Windows notebooks. Mac versions of Quicken, Quickbooks, Dragon speech and several others programs are not as good as Windows versions which I have been using under Windows and Fusion.

I feel the ideal weight for a truly mobile computer should be 2-3 lbs and screen 12 inches. 13.3 inch screen has a big footprint and 4.5 lbs is slightly heavy. MacBook Air is not as powerful, is expensive, has smaller hard drive and lacks ports. And the main reason to get MacBook Pro is if you need firewire port and do lot of graphics intensive work. I loved my ThinkPad X31 with 12.4 inch screen, 3 lb weight and all the ports. For me the ideal computer would have been a ThinkPad X200 with Mac OS; but in absence of that, this MacBook is next best choice.

Apple MB404LL/A 13.3" MacBook - Black

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5
westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200
fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd
western digital passport 320gb usb external hd
pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)
logitech wireless keyboard & mouse

As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.

pros:
fast, lightweight, long battery life
cons:
slow graphics chip

Apple MacBook with 13.3" Display

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Macbook 2.16ghz/3gb ram/160gb hd/superdrive w/ OSX 10.5.5

westinghouse 24" LCD monitor @ 1920x1200

fantom drive 250gb firewire external hd

western digital passport 320gb usb external hd

pinnacle hdtv stick for mac(hdtv tuner)

logitech wireless keyboard & mouse



As you can see i have my macbook plugged in with a lot of accessories and i run 7+ programs at once when im using my mac, including eyetv(hdtv), isight cam w/ sightspeed video conferencing, as well as other less intensive applications. If you want a great dependable and quick mac this is the one to get, especially now that you can find it at discounted prices since the new macbooks came out. The only con that I have is that my old mac has the old 950GMA integrated graphics which can be an issue if you like to play/edit/encode high res videos or play graphic intensive games, especially full hd 1920P. I can play 1920P videos fine but it will get bogged down if im using a lot of other cpu intensive programs. im sure this won't be an issue for the majority of users since those people would probably get the macbook pro instead. i have had no issues at all that people have complained about(fans, cracked plastic, screen flicker, etc) and im sure i'll use this mac for another 2-3years before upgrading again.



pros:

fast, lightweight, long battery life

cons:

slow graphics chip

Sony VAIO® VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Notebook PC

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for me at 320GB.

The unit only weighs 3.3lbs, to me this is nothing coming from a 14.1" DELL Precision M2400 which weighed about 2x that!

Some of my gripes:

Internal Broadband card is set to Sprint! (come on, who uses Sprint anymore?)

BIOS is very very limited, I'm a bit spoiled with all the options you can set in a DELL's BIOS

It's still a bit hard to find accessories for this laptop since it's so new. I'm trying really hard to find a extra power adapter since the one i bought at the Sony store is a "travel" adapter and it's basically a brick.

All in all I'm VERY happy with my purchase, I will be travelling to Germany in a couple weeks so i guess that will be the ultimate test.

Keep in mind, there is a big brother to this laptop that was not in stock at the time when i bought my laptop but i think it is called the VGN-Z590N which comes with a more powerful graphics card, a BluRay player and 4GB of RAM, had I seen that one i would have bought it but either way, I'm happy with what I got and would HIGHLY recommend it.

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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This is not confirmed, but there is substantial discussion online suggesting this is the case. The 9600M is essentially a 32 processor computer (running at 120 gigaflops). So, a MacBook Pro will actually gain in speed over time. The MacBook does not have a separate graphics card that can work this way.

3. MacBook Pro graphics are twice as fast as MacBook graphics, so if you do anything visual with your computer (digital photography, video, games, etc.) then everything will run much more quickly and smoothly. Some games that are just barely playable on the MacBook become fun and seemless on the MacBook Pro.

4. The MacBook Pro has a firewire port (omitted from the new MacBook).

5. The MacBook Pro has an expansion card slot (really handy for adding a memory card reader or 3G roaming internet).

So, for the extra $400 (MacBook 2.4 GHz vs. MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz) you get a lot of extras that you will notice and use. And you will avoid the poor LCD on the MacBook. You are still stuck with the highly-reflective glass screen (if my eyeglasses can get anti-reflective coating, then why not this computer screen?), however, so it's only four stars until they solve that problem.

Apple MacBook Pro with 15.4" Display

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the silver case. If you ask me, the old MBP had too much silver. EVERYTHING on the machine was silver aluminum. Don't get me wrong, i loved the old MBP, but this is just one step up. The Keyboard is also backlit so when you are in a darker environment, the keys light up, helping you see anything and everything on the keyboard. The Keyboard is absolutely beautiful on the machine and adds a nice touch overall to the look.





TRACKPAD
I find it weird that i can put an entire section on a review about a laptops trackpad, but this is undoubtedly necessary. The new trackpad is ALL glass and there is no button---per say. In reality the entire trackpad is the button. They took off the button on the bottom and extended the trackpad down to give you more real estate. Apple spent months designing this trackpad and i have to give them major credit for that. recently me and my friend were looking at laptops at Circuit City, and one thing we did was go through every single laptop and look at it's trackpad. It is absolutely amazing how much time and effort company's DON'T put into designing their trackpad, when in my book, it is a HUGE factor. The coefficient of friction on this trackpad is exactly what it needs to be. not too rough, not too smooth, just right. I absolutely love the MBP trackpad and think it is something apple needs to be commended for.




GRAPHICS
Apple and NVIDIA joined up and came up with a new video card for this MBP. The MBP actually has 2 graphics cards in it. One that is integrated, and one that is dedicated. The integrated graphics is NVIDIA instead of the old intel, so it is immensely better. The dedicated card (which can be easily switched on) is a powerhouse and almost puts a MBP in line with other gaming machines, almost. Needless to say, this notebook will do just about whatever you want it to do graphics wise, gaming, video editing, photo editing, you name it, it will do it pretty easily. no worries here.


OVERALL
overall this laptop is at the top of it's class and you might be wondering why i gave it 4 stars and not 5.....first and foremost, money. I have to say that this is still overpriced. You are paying for a collection of things like the operating system, graphics card, high end components and things like that, but come on apple, 2000 dollars is a lot to drop on any laptop, no matter what it is. Is it worth it? without a doubt yes, and that is why apple can jack up their prices, but at the same time, it seems like they are kind of taking advantage of us, especially in the economic slum we're in right now. Maybe i am just cheap (which i don't think most people would classify me as that) but that seems a little high to me. And another thing. what is up with the new display port? i have a 46 inch samsung tv and i will be hooking it up to my MBP but the cable is 100 dollars!!!! and that is just to dual link dvi----i still have to buy a dual link dvi to HDMI adapter after that. Ugh. apple (along with other company's...cough cough monster cables) is completely ripping us off on their cables and that makes a difference in my outlook on the big picture.



CONCLUSION
The new MBP is absolutely stunning in every aspect of its design. Apple continues to wow us, and they will also continue to prosper and grow. I will be enjoying my new Macbook pro and i hope this review helped you in any questions you might have had. It is an investment that will live for a long time and will be greatly enjoyed every day. good job apple.

Apple MB403LL/A 13.3" MacBook - White

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(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.

So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).

The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.

The Software (is what makes Macs shine):
OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.

The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.

You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.

Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.

The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.

Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.

Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.

If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.

Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):
I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.

Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.

There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.

Viruses and Security:
Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.

Caveats:
Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.

The Bottom Line:
Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Pavilion a6500f - Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2220 2.4GHz Desktop

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(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.



So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).



The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.



The Software (is what makes Macs shine):

OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.



The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.



You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.



Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.



The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.



Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.



Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.



If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.



Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):

I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.



Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.



There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.



Viruses and Security:

Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.



Caveats:

Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.



The Bottom Line:

Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Pavilion a6500f - Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2220 2.4GHz Desktop

...

(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.





So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).





The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.





The Software (is what makes Macs shine):


OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.





The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.





You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.





Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.





The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.





Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.





Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.





If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.





Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):


I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.





Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.





There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.





Viruses and Security:


Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.





Caveats:


Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.





The Bottom Line:


Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Pavilion a6500f - Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2220 2.4GHz Desktop

...

(or run Parallels, Fusion or Crossover) if you have one or two legacy Apps that you absolutely can't do without. A PC can't run OS X or any of its great applications, but a Mac can run Windows right along side Mac OS program with Parallels, VMWare Fusion or Crossover.







So, if you're trying to decide between a Mac for OS X and the easy of use I talk about below and a PC for old Windows programs, you can choose both by buying this or any Intel based Mac (which is all shipping models).







The Hardware is simply top notch. In its stock configuration you can do anything 99% of computer users do. And with a third party app, you can do the last 1%. OS X is Unix. Then you have the Mac OS (OS X) and you have he option of running Windows. So, really Macs these days are THE machine IT professionals are turning to in droves.







The Software (is what makes Macs shine):



OS X is extremely stable. It is a Unix OS, so advanced users can easily do anything from a command line they can do on any Unix system from a command line using the terminal application. If you don't understand the previous sentence you don't have to because the user interface as easy or easier than Windows and you never have to learn complex commands to unleash the power of the system.







The only time I reboot is when I install software that requires a reboot. (Currently My Uptime is over 21 days -- since I installed an OS Update, and I have no doubt the system could remain on for months without needing a reboot). That's almost unheard of in Windows land, where often the machine chokes on some process and the only option is a reboot.







You can't mess up the system by clicking the wrong button, or putting the wrong file in the trash -- OS X doesn't allow that and requires an administrator password to change any important settings.







Adding Users is as simple as clicking a new account button, typing in their name and a password. Then you can switch users with a click and be secure in the knowledge that your kids or grandma can't mess up the system or your settings (because they'll have their own set), or applications.







The system is very secure out of the box, and configuring to server web pages is a simple click and drag documents into a folder and flip the Sharing panel switch on. There's a built in Firewall that's extreme easy to configure. Wireless performance is top notch. There is zero downside to buying this machine.







Installing Applications is often a simple process of clicking and dragging the application into any folder or subfolder you want. Uninstalling is a simple matter of dragging thhe program, or program folder into the trash. No messy registry, no dicey uninstall apps that might delete a shared DLL, nothing like that at all.







Adding Other hardware to the machine is also a simple process of double clicking an installer (if it's even needed) and plugging in he hardware. You never experience hardware conflicts like you do in Windows. You just plug it in and it works.







If you've never used a computer or want to migrate from Windows or another Operating System, a Macintosh is an excellent choice. I've never had a person I recommended a Mac to come back and say, "This was a mistake, " or "I hate it" or "I can't figure out how to use it." They usually thank me and gleefully tell me they never realized using (and even administrating) a computer could be so easy.







Mac VS. PC (Real world stories):



I HAVE had many, many people come back to me after purchasing a Windows only Machine against my advice months or years later regretting it. They didn't realize a Windows based computer would be so much work, or that it wouldn't be reliable.







Windows XP is a bear to manage and Vista is the same bear, but just in a shiny coat with a bow. And all you can get on new computers these days is Vista. And I have yet to run into anyone, technician or layman, who even likes Vista. Sure you can downgrade to XP, but you have ot make sure there's XP drivers available for your system before you downgrade it, because if not, you'll end up with Audio or Wireless not working, and have to put Vista back on. A friend went through this exact experience.







There are some quality PC makers out there, but most are junk. If you're wondering why the MacBook costs hundreds of dollars more than a PC, remember, you get what you pay for. The margins Apple makes for a Mac are comparable to what PC manufacturers make nowadays. So, realize that most PC manufacturers are using cheaper (read "low quality") parts, and they're going to fail a lot sooner than a typical Mac would.







Viruses and Security:



Windows is way behind the Mac when it comes to security and virus prevention. Microsoft's solution was to pop up a dialog box for anything and everything a virus might do to try to gain control of a Windows PC. The effect: annoying the hell out of users. The OS X way: run in a mode where only things such as installing applications will bother the user. That and only check the first time if someone wants to run a new application. Once that's done the OS gets out of your way and let's you get your work done. Also, if this sounds too open, you can tighten down security simply by checking boxes in most cases. If you want to secure your machine's network connections even more try Lil Snitch.







Caveats:



Almost all computers will have problems. The Mac is no exception. You might get a lemon, but apple's return policy is great. With Applecare you're covered for the practical usable life of the computer (3 years). A hard rive might die on you: that's where backing up comes in. Backup your data. The more important, the more often you should backup. Other than that most Mac problems are simple and might just require a setting change or (at worst) a reinstall of the application. With Windows you might have to reinstall the OS and each and every application. For software and hardware problems Apple's tech support is top notch. If something needs ot be replaced -- like a bad LCD (which is rarer and rarer these days), you'll often have the machine back in a few days if you choose to ship it in for repair. Just get Applecare with your system and you'll be set.







The Bottom Line:



Macs are far superior to PCs. Take it from a guy who makes money off of repairing computers. If this is to be your first computer, you probably couldn't make a better choice. If you're a Windows user considering a sea change, you couldn't pick a better time to do it -- especially considering that with a third party App you can still run Windows apps if you want to. And believe me you won't want to after experiencing the level of usability of the standard OS X application. And if you're one of those RARE Mac users considering saving money, and thinks computers are all the same: save your sanity and not just a couple of bucks, and turn away from Sony, Dell or HP.

Pavilion a6500f - Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2220 2.4GHz Desktop

...

has become a doorstop. No one at HP seems interested in helping me with this problem.

All that said, the pc is a powerful, fast machine. For anyone for whom the 64-bit VISTA does not present a problem, (such as someone willing and able to purchase all new software and peripherals) it's a good buy.

Two-month update: The on-off switch is broken! I didn't mistreat it in any way but I now (until I get it repaired) have to use a knife or box cutter to pry up the switch just to start the pc. Ridiculously poor workmanship! I have spent two hours on the telephone and online trying to find one simple piece of information: where and how do i get this fixed? HP "Totalcare" online takes one around in circles. The telephone automated attendant purgatory has DISCONNECTED me three times. AVOID HP!

Sony VAIO® VGN-Z550N/B 13.1" Notebook PC

...

has become a doorstop. No one at HP seems interested in helping me with this problem.



All that said, the pc is a powerful, fast machine. For anyone for whom the 64-bit VISTA does not present a problem, (such as someone willing and able to purchase all new software and peripherals) it's a good buy.



Two-month update: The on-off switch is broken! I didn't mistreat it in any way but I now (until I get it repaired) have to use a knife or box cutter to pry up the switch just to start the pc. Ridiculously poor workmanship! I have spent two hours on the telephone and online trying to find one simple piece of information: where and how do i get this fixed? HP "Totalcare" online takes one around in circles. The telephone automated attendant purgatory has DISCONNECTED me three times. AVOID HP!

Lenovo 7454-2GU ThinkPad X200 12.1" Notebook

...

The video card on this laptop is capable of playing HD content like Blu-ray discs, but you need to order the docking station that includes a blu-ray drive on it (I think it was an additional $800). I felt I didn't need that as I'll be using my main desktop to view movies anyway. And that price to pay is a bit to steep. I choose getting an SSD drive over blu-ray since my desktop is already capable to playing blu-ray with a much large lcd display. The audio is nice since has to be capable of playing HD content too. Overall, I'd rate this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Very portable and light even with the 6 cell battery I have installed. This laptop can be bought as a steal if you order with just a regular hard drive. The drops the price down significantly and to a very affordable level. Makes you really think twice about competition and what it has to offer.

Gateway DX4710-UB002 Desktop PC

...

only useful if you watch TV on your pc, which is not something I do or intend to).

Other than Norton 360, which you can uninstall, the bloatware factor seems pretty low compared to previous purchases I've made from Dell (and Gateway in the old dayts).