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Are Macbooks worth the dosh?
 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 16:12 [#02310251]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



Are they?

I'm going to buy a new laptop in a month or two and wondered
if mac users feel like the extra cash is well spent. I like
the OS (but will be dual booting with windows for some apps
anyway) but care most about the build quality (My current
laptop is pretty battered after just a few years).

Are people happy with their macs, especially considering you
can get higher spec PCs for the same price?


 

offline MetallicaDude from the stazhole on 2009-07-27 16:42 [#02310263]
Points: 3644 Status: Regular



why dont you just use your old laptop


 

offline 1up from greater manchester (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 16:42 [#02310265]
Points: 2302 Status: Regular



For me personally, buying a mac was one of the best
decisions i've ever made. I have one and shall only buying
macs from now on.


 

offline 1up from greater manchester (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 16:43 [#02310267]
Points: 2302 Status: Regular



*be


 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 16:44 [#02310268]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Followup to MetallicaDude: #02310263 | Show recordbag



It is dying. You can have it for 50 quid.


 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 16:45 [#02310269]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Followup to 1up: #02310265 | Show recordbag



Please tell me why!


 

offline retape from http://retape.net (Norway) on 2009-07-27 16:45 [#02310271]
Points: 2355 Status: Lurker



great battery life, great build quality, great specs and
perfect size. also, you can run any OS you want on it.

I'm considering getting a 13" myself for studies.


 

offline MetallicaDude from the stazhole on 2009-07-27 16:47 [#02310273]
Points: 3644 Status: Regular



you should get a linix


 

offline MetallicaDude from the stazhole on 2009-07-27 16:48 [#02310274]
Points: 3644 Status: Regular



ubuntu is just as cool looking as mac ox.


 

offline Phresch from fucking Trondheim (Norway) on 2009-07-27 17:10 [#02310286]
Points: 9989 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



i think you should buy a mac. vlari will brief you in on the
details (why'a and how's), as i don't want to come off like
a fucking mac ad


 

offline lupus yonderboy from 1970. (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-27 17:15 [#02310287]
Points: 1985 Status: Lurker




definitely imo. tho it's shit that they took out firewire
400 in that recent build- fucking stupid form before
function. I couldn't give a shit if it's made out of one
piece of metal or 5000, i'd like to be able to plug my motu
in please.


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-27 17:24 [#02310291]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular



Join Stephen Fry, Vlarice, Douglas Adams (rip), ae, a guy
called lupus and the whole crew of Mac owners! Join us!

(Adams and fry were the first to own one in the UK
apparently)


 

offline b6662966 from ? on 2009-07-27 17:26 [#02310292]
Points: 1110 Status: Lurker



Its not worth it.
I bought a macbook 2 years ago and had many hardware issues
with it. I ended up buying a windows laptop at best buy for
a third of what I paid for my macbook and ive gotten
infinitely more use from the PC than I ever did with the
mac.

buy the cheaper PC laptop (which will have the same specs as
the mac) and spend the money you save on software, a mouse,
keyboard, nice speakers, whatever you want!



 

offline Exaph from United Kingdom on 2009-07-27 17:33 [#02310294]
Points: 3718 Status: Lurker



i say yes had macbook 13inch for a couple of years nowm its
worth it for an os that works.


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-27 17:43 [#02310295]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular



Yes we'd love you to join us!


 

offline pulseclock from Downtown 81 on 2009-07-27 17:47 [#02310297]
Points: 6015 Status: Lurker | Followup to b6662966: #02310292



so it's not worth it because you had a faulty macbook?


 

offline earthleakage from tell the world you're winning on 2009-07-27 17:47 [#02310298]
Points: 27790 Status: Regular



here's your answer


 

offline freqy on 2009-07-27 18:15 [#02310310]
Points: 18724 Status: Regular | Show recordbag




haha people would buy it too..



 

offline b6662966 from ? on 2009-07-28 01:04 [#02310336]
Points: 1110 Status: Lurker



It wasnt faulty, it suffered from problems that these fuckin
macbooks have traditionally suffered from but was unaware
when I purchased. The fuckin thing was too fragile and I
hated using it because I felt i was going to break it
everytime I tried. I suppose thats another reason to buy a
PC, theyre cheaper with the very same specs but are also
more robust.



 

offline Mask 500 from now on 2009-07-28 01:55 [#02310338]
Points: 500 Status: Lurker | Followup to Exaph: #02310294



Who cares about the OS? XP, Vista and Win7 do work, the
point is being able to run the software you want.


 

offline diamondtron on 2009-07-28 02:27 [#02310339]
Points: 1138 Status: Lurker



of course they are not worth it
it's capitalist profit

tho if you are going to buy something either buy the crap
cheapest thing ot the best most expensive, anything else is
a compromise


 

offline TroutMask from New York City (United States) on 2009-07-28 02:45 [#02310341]
Points: 472 Status: Regular



When you're shopping for a laptop, and are deciding between
a Windows-based laptop and an OSX-based laptop, remember one
thing: the hardware is all the same!

I use an Apple laptop, though my primary computer is a Linux
workstation. That being said, I am glad to pay the Apple
premium if it means I won't have to deal with Windows.

Don't buy a Mac expecting to get the following:

Better hardware
Better support
Better reliability
Better performance
Chicks

Buy a mac if you understand the follies of having to use
Windows, by far the worst and most horridly designed OS in
the history of the world. Until somebody can get a 100%
functional Hackintosh setup going, this is the only way to
get a UNIX-based laptop that isn't Linux. And frankly, the
new MacBook Pros run Linux pretty well too.

So yeah, in other words, they are basically just as crappy
as any Windows laptop, but cost a couple hundred dollars
more, and run a significantly better (but, still bad in
relation to other options) operating system.


 

offline Exaph from United Kingdom on 2009-07-28 02:56 [#02310344]
Points: 3718 Status: Lurker



btw i have a 13 inch macbook and no case or anything and i
always take it out and about and it has never failed me in
18months +.

DO expect better support (apple will replace anything - they
have for me with my power supply etc) better
performance/reliability (my os has never ever crashed once
or never had one virus and you dont need antivirus shit) and
every bit of hardware added just works - no installation.

my experiences anyway


 

offline lupus yonderboy from 1970. (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-28 03:10 [#02310346]
Points: 1985 Status: Lurker




Anything that's ever broke on my powerbook/macbook has been
replaced in about 5 days with applecare. I got a new screen
and a complete new enclosure at one point, which felt just
like a new computer. Yes things can break but i'd never say
that the build of a aluminum mac was comparable to the
average cheap plastic pc. Sony seem to the main competitor
but they're as expensive and still very plasticy. [heat
dissipation and fan noise always being a problem on plastic
pcs i've used]

But anyway, this debate is as old as the hills. Walk into PC
World and check out the hardware for yourself. if your use a
computer everyday in life and work on it then spending a bit
more to have a more pleasurable 3-4 years till your next
upgrade isn't really too mental.


 

offline Terence Hill from Germany on 2009-07-28 03:30 [#02310347]
Points: 2070 Status: Lurker | Followup to Mask 500: #02310338




i've got an early'08 2.4GB MBPro which is my first mac and
opposing to what b6662966 says, this box doesn't feel like
it would ever fall apart.

the OS is a pleasure to use especially with Quicksilver.
Mask 500 says who cares, but imo the OS's shell is critical
part of the user interface. Apple's user interface =
winner.

also i've had more than a dozen chicks in that last year,
about as many as in the years before.

/macDorkMode


 

offline vlari from beyond the valley of the LOLs on 2009-07-28 03:46 [#02310348]
Points: 13915 Status: Regular



i fucking like macs

thats what it basically boils down to


 

offline Mask 500 from now on 2009-07-28 03:53 [#02310349]
Points: 500 Status: Lurker | Followup to Terence Hill: #02310347



Of course the UI is important but most OS's for the tasks
that most people do they're all on the same level.


 

offline Phresch from fucking Trondheim (Norway) on 2009-07-28 04:22 [#02310351]
Points: 9989 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



i know dennis really wants one


 

offline Brisk from selling smack at the orphanage on 2009-07-28 04:29 [#02310353]
Points: 4667 Status: Lurker



mac thread.... how can i resist!

haha surprisingly, i'll just say what i always do: go to a
mac showroom and have a go on one. if you like it, then fair
enough. i think most people already know my views on apple,
but if you find yourself enjoying using a mac and get more
work (or play) done with one, then fair enough i say.

i will say i bought one of those new ipod shuffles the other
day without realising that you can't use your own headphones
with it.. this did not help change my impression of apple,
especially considering there isn't an adapter available yet.
nice design though and the whole shuffle system is perfect
for my needs. the stock ipod headphones are absolutely
un-usable though. in fact, they're the worst i've ever used,
but i digress.

oh and obligatory mac sucks sentence to finish with :)


 

offline Brisk from selling smack at the orphanage on 2009-07-28 04:31 [#02310354]
Points: 4667 Status: Lurker



oh and this is what happens when i use a mac


 

offline hexane on 2009-07-28 04:53 [#02310357]
Points: 2035 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



pros:
- bright screen good for design work
- customiseable trackpad gestures for yer apps
(multiclutch)
- not really much of a pro but bootcamp3.0 fixes trackpad
issues in bootcamp (tap-to-click, 2-finger
tap-to-right-click)
- takes no time waking up from sleep when you open the
screen
- my penix stands erect each time i boot up and hear that
sound

cons:
- dead pixels after a year
- no home/end keys you need to command-arrow that bitch
- poor battery life in bootcamp
- you can triple boot linux osx and windows on the 1hdd but
its a pain in the arse to set up


 

offline hexane on 2009-07-28 05:14 [#02310358]
Points: 2035 Status: Lurker | Followup to Brisk: #02310354 | Show recordbag



oh and this is what happens when i use a mac(nsfw)


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-28 06:33 [#02310370]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular



Haha the amount of anti-mac drivel in this thread! It's as
if because you have a PC then you have to say Mac is shit.
People saying they are fragile? please! : )


 

offline Quaristice on 2009-07-28 06:37 [#02310371]
Points: 521 Status: Regular



Macs are OK, but OSX is a bit outdated now.

They are very expensive too, but you are paying for the
pleasing design. PCs are cheaper and more powerful but tend
to look ugly.



 

offline dariusgriffin from cool on 2009-07-28 06:39 [#02310373]
Points: 12394 Status: Regular



macs always seemed like a computer for professionals to me
like, you know, graphic designers, creative-types and such,
and it's severely lacking in video games
i'm not a big fan of that


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-28 06:42 [#02310374]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02310373



Very true about videogames : (


 

offline larn from PLANET E (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-28 06:56 [#02310376]
Points: 5473 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



not had any problems to report on my MBP which iv'e been
using for a few years now


 

offline horsefactory from 💠 (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-28 07:02 [#02310378]
Points: 14867 Status: Regular | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02310373



u r right, but at least mame + a few other emulators are
pretty well supported. you can always run windows of course,
not being able to upgrade graphics card is pretty suck
though.


 

offline noon from United Kingdom on 2009-07-28 07:08 [#02310382]
Points: 65 Status: Lurker



PCs are rubbish


 

offline Mask 500 from now on 2009-07-28 07:23 [#02310384]
Points: 500 Status: Lurker | Followup to dariusgriffin: #02310373



Not anymore they aren't, CS4 is still 32bit on Apple, next
version they both will. This is just an example, back in the
90's it was all a diferent story tho as Mac's had a clear
advantage. Of course creatives will still go for Apple
hardware as that's fashionable and more impressible to
clients plus they have good hardware.


 

offline PORICK from fucking IRELAND on 2009-07-28 07:30 [#02310386]
Points: 1911 Status: Lurker



No, they're not


 

offline noon from United Kingdom on 2009-07-28 08:31 [#02310391]
Points: 65 Status: Lurker



get a SAM Coupé


 

offline oscillik from the fires of orc on 2009-07-28 09:20 [#02310396]
Points: 7746 Status: Regular



i personally wouldn't touch Apple portables anymore,
considering 4 of them have died of the same issue. search
the board and i'm sure you'll come across my trials and
tribulations.

i used to be one of the most pro-Macintosh guys on the
board.

if you want to get an Apple, go for the Mac Pro desktop
tower systems. steer clear of any Apple machine that uses
their laptop logic boards (that goes for any of their
portable line, the Mac Mini, and the iMac).

But considering the price of the Mac Pro tower, you'd be
better off going for one of those Pystar clones. even if you
have to pay import duty you'll still get a better machine
for much cheaper, and it'll run OS X


 

offline oscillik from the fires of orc on 2009-07-28 09:21 [#02310397]
Points: 7746 Status: Regular | Followup to oscillik: #02310396



"4 of them have died of the same issue" was meant to imply
that 4 machines i've personally owned.


 

offline freqy on 2009-07-28 09:53 [#02310399]
Points: 18724 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



might sound nutty ..

buy a tower pc and overclock a multicore cpu for half the
price and get x6 the cpu power . get a sled/trolley ,a
portable psu from a heavy duty truck battery and make it
mobile by being towed by husky dogs !!

you'll turn heads , you'll process much faster ..and even
have cuddley wuddly huskys to cuddle during long 3d
renders.

:P
husky mobile pc
husky can also program for you



 

offline Indeksical from Phobiazero Damage Control (United Kingdom) on 2009-07-28 10:54 [#02310404]
Points: 10671 Status: Regular | Show recordbag



Thanks for all your conflicting opinions guys! :)


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2009-07-28 12:43 [#02310423]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



They are not worth the money.
If you have the money to spend, consider getting a thinkpad.
You won't be disapointed. I'm currently typing this on a
thinkpad T60 and quite frankly almost all other laptops feel
like cheap crap compared.

I also find the black conservative thinkpad look much more
professional. I don't need a silly glowing piece of fruit on
the case, thank you very much!


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-28 12:45 [#02310424]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular | Followup to dave_g: #02310423



That's the worst post you've ever made. Sounds like you've
tested everything.


 

offline Brisk from selling smack at the orphanage on 2009-07-28 13:18 [#02310427]
Points: 4667 Status: Lurker | Followup to RussellDust: #02310424



actually, he's quite right about thinkpads - they're
absolutely solid and probably the best pc laptops, alongside
the high-end sonys for me.

macs have beautiful exteriors, but the parts they include
inside leave much to be desired, especially with regards to
the video card.

apple are more about convenience than rock solid
performance. i always say that for the same money, you can
get a better performing pc, which may or may not be slightly
uglier than the mac. in the end though, it all comes down to
the software you intend to use on your lappy.


 

offline RussellDust on 2009-07-28 13:23 [#02310428]
Points: 16057 Status: Regular | Followup to Brisk: #02310427



My sister in law (not the lightest of girls) once sat on a
chair that had two legs on my old g4 laptop. She noticed
after about 45 mins. It still works today. The only downside
i see in mac is that lately it's got a bit too big. Less
quality materials, viruses etc are now a part of the mac
experience. It wasn't so much the case before the bloody
Ipod.



 


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