Apple Vs Windows

Smickan

I am considering purchasing a new laptop for my FE course and as I've found out that apparently 98% of the college's computers are Macs and both my mum and brother having Mac's it's becoming a contender for the first time.

TBH I don't like Mac's - I've played on my mums, only the internet side of it - and I'm not a fan. I'm staying open minded however because like I said - I've only played on the internet side of it.

As much as I don't like Mac's - I hate Vista with a passion - I have it personalised on here for as much as I can but I'd give anything to go back to XP but I don't think there's many places like Staples etc that sell XP laptops are there...?

I know I could get between 12-14% discount off a Mac (new, not refurb - the refurb ones are £1000+ at the minute) and I also know that the applecare would be £60 for a further 2 years cover so that is a bonus.

It's likely there'll be somewhere else like Dell I could also get a student discount but without XP being the OP I'm swaying more towards a Mac I think.

Please can anyone advise as to what they think? Anyone with experience of both know which would be most useful? Thanks

weegie.geek

Before the zealots weigh in...

You can buy XP fairly cheaply, and install it on your laptop.

In what way was browsing the web less pleasant on OSX than windows? You can get firefox for the mac as well, so you could maybe try it?

What's the course?

Smickan

It was firefox i used, it was more MSN that I didn't like using on it - I didn't like the menu at the bottom either - I guess I'm just used to Windows and like everything else it would take some time.

How much roughly would XP be and where might the best place to buy it be? Would it be a case of just putting it in the drive and running through the set up?

I know the battery life on a Mac is much better too.

Thanks

Smickan

Oooh, and should have said - it's a 2 year Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies, then 1 year BA Hons top up and then likely some teacher training

[Deleted User]

Smickan wrote: »

As much as I don't like Mac's - I hate Vista with a passion - I have it personalised on here for as much as I can but I'd give anything to go back to XP but I don't think there's many places like Staples etc that sell XP laptops are there...?

Why don't you buy XP then?

Smickan

Because I don't have the first clue about putting it on - would it just be ptu the disk in and load it in or would I have to do anything else?!

Thanks.

Marty_J

If it was MSN messenger you didn't like, I agree it's awful for the Mac. Adium is a lot better.

As for the Mac vs PC thing, Macs can run Windows now so it's rather moot. If you get a Mac, you can run Windows if you want to, and you can run OS X if you want to. OS X will partition your HDD for you, tell you to put the Windows disk in, and then restart. The Windows installer will run and take you through the various stages of installing it. It's all pretty easy.

[Deleted User]

If you've been using Windows for most of your life (as I think a lot of people have) then you may findit takes a while to get used to a Mac. After you've got used to it, you'll pprobably find that a lot of things are easier. I switched last year and I'm still learning new stuff, often I ask a question to my friend who's a mac 'expert' of sorts about how to do something I used to do on Windows and he says "why would you want to do that anyway?" Things like deleting only selected items from the trash - you can on Windows, not on a Mac. Why would you want to? If you don't want something to be deleted, don't put it into the recycle bin!
You'll find there are pretty much no programs that can't be run on a mac, (using the mac version, or equivalent) but there are plenty of programs that can be run on mac but not windows. (Because Apple designs both the hardware and software, it can make the programs more reliable, and means that 3rd party apps can have more freedom). If the worst comes to it, you can always install Windows on there and not use the mac part at all. (Intel mac required though).

So I'd say get a mac.

Smickan

Much appreciated, thank you

I'm worried about an install over Vista incase I didn't have all the drivers etc. The laptop I'm on at the minute will have to go back to be mended for the THIRD time in 8 months so I've sent an email in to Staples to see if I can evoke the terms of the SOGA - it's unlikely they'll let me but there's seriously something up with this so I have to do something before my course.

Smickan

Overheating to the point of being ridiculously hot and cutting out, despite being 'mended' twice.

If I got an mac I wouldn't put windows on it, I'd stick with the operating system it has. The XP side of it is to cover over Vista if I had a Vista laptop to replace this one.

Smickan

Oooh, sorry.

I use it on a desk where it's well ventilated and nothing can get into or near the vents. It gets absolutely boiling all over, vents and the top of the plastic (bits around the keyboard etc) that are near the vents. To touch the box on the adapter that is also roasting - when it gets to its hottest it turns itself off - does this like... 2/3 times a week (has for the past 2 weeks but I've not been home to contact HP and so to push my luck I contacted Staples before I do this time.)