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Macbook or Sony Vaio?

Vintage Paw said:
One thing I want to ask:

What are the benefits of a Macbook Pro over a normal Macbook? I've got this horrible tendency when it comes to expensive things to always think I should have the most expensive because I'll regret it if I don't and then worry what I have got isn't quite up to the job. Except, the most demanding thing I'd use it for is probably Photoshop lol.

So, what has the Pro got that the normal one doesn't?
Click to expand...

There are a bunch of little things, but the biggest issue is the graphics card and of course the screen size. I have one - I need a fat graphics card and decent screen for my work - but most people who need something portable will be fine with the Macbook.
 
mae said:
I'd do it when I next need a switch, ie. when this one dies.

Why are they not viable for you?

There's no particularly good reason for me, I just like the lightness/smallness of the macbook air. I'm getting more and more frustrated with windows, so maybe leopard is a decent alternative...
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Macbook Air is a bit shit.

Not viable for me because of work and the occasional computer game.
 
Er probably quite a lot, aren't macs the laptop of choice for graphic designers etc?
 
ChrisFilter said:
And how many of the people that buy Macbook Pros fit into this category, do you think?

How many people will benefit from this highly margined bit of kit?
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Me for one. I did actually look through quite a few PC laptops to see if I could get something equivalent in punch, form factor etc, but the cost savings were marginal if any and wouldn't make up for losing OS X.

IMO clearly before this turns into one of those threads.
 
mae said:
There's no particularly good reason for me, I just like the lightness/smallness of the macbook air. I'm getting more and more frustrated with windows, so maybe leopard is a decent alternative...
Click to expand...

Air is a gimmick and I'd never buy a computer without an optical drive.
 
Think I'll stick with looking at a normal macbook then.

Not like I can afford anything at the mo, but still it's nice to dream :D
 
mae said:
Er probably quite a lot, aren't macs the laptop of choice for graphic designers etc?
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Unless someone is working in 3D, then the 8600GT isn't necessary. It's a gaming card, in essence. A 3D renderer.

There's no doubt that it's useless for some people, but it shouldn't be supplied as standard... it's just a way of making easy money off people who feel the need to have the most expensive gadgets.
 
FridgeMagnet said:
Me for one. I did actually look through quite a few PC laptops to see if I could get something equivalent in punch, form factor etc, but the cost savings were marginal if any and wouldn't make up for losing OS X.

IMO clearly before this turns into one of those threads.
Click to expand...

I got a 17" Dell with slightly better specs for less than half the price. It's probably a bit heavier, but for the sake of hundreds of pounds I can live with that.

Anyway, as you say, no need for one of those threads. Macbook is best bet for little edge.
 
mae said:
I'd do it when I next need a switch, ie. when this one dies.

Why are they not viable for you?

There's no particularly good reason for me, I just like the lightness/smallness of the macbook air. I'm getting more and more frustrated with windows, so maybe leopard is a decent alternative...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy an Air as a switching machine - it's lightweight and sexy and fits in an envelope so on but it does lack some features, and relative to the cost is rather underpowered. It's designed to be portable rather than a main machine really. You'll get better bang for your buck with a Macbook (Pro).

Certainly if you're pissed off with Windows, OS X is worth a try.
 
ChrisFilter said:
And how many of the people that buy Macbook Pros fit into this category, do you think?

How many people will benefit from this highly margined bit of kit?
Click to expand...

You're fucking kidding right?

Most of those Macbook Pros will still be going to creative pros. Folks like PK, Fridge and many others aren't a mirage of uninformed blokes paying well over the odds. The Macbook pro's feels a far more solid and pleasant to use machine than the Dell, although the basic specs and processor speed of your Dell stack up well.

You're right, there aren't many sad overaged gamers buying pros as gaming laptops. Apple leave that market to Dell and their plasticky contraptions.

;):p
 
little edge said:
I am buying my first computer :)

I have been walking into various shops and stroking lots of different laptops, I think I have narrowed my choice down to either a macbook or a sony vaio (the pretty red one!)

Really not all that clued up about the technical stuff, just want something sexy, that will inspire me to do lots of university work, that has a decent battery life and is unlikely to die on me in the not so distant future.

Trouble is, I just cannot decide which one to buy!

Any mac or sony fans out there that can swing me in a particular direction?

Cheers
Click to expand...

If you want something with a decent battery, I'd go for the MacBook. Its rated at 4.5 hours, but I can get around 5.5 hours most of the time... And, yep, you want the *black* one... The MacBook Pro is supposed to have a better battery but I don't have any direct experience of that...
 
FridgeMagnet said:
I wouldn't buy an Air as a switching machine - it's lightweight and sexy and fits in an envelope so on but it does lack some features, and relative to the cost is rather underpowered. It's designed to be portable rather than a main machine really. You'll get better bang for your buck with a Macbook (Pro).

Certainly if you're pissed off with Windows, OS X is worth a try.
Click to expand...

Yep... The MacBook Air is ideal as second machine if you already have a desktop, but it doesn't have enough storage to be a primary machine... Macbooks are ideal at this...
 
little edge said:
I am buying my first computer :)

I have been walking into various shops and stroking lots of different laptops, I think I have narrowed my choice down to either a macbook or a sony vaio (the pretty red one!)

Really not all that clued up about the technical stuff, just want something sexy, that will inspire me to do lots of university work, that has a decent battery life and is unlikely to die on me in the not so distant future.

Trouble is, I just cannot decide which one to buy!

Any mac or sony fans out there that can swing me in a particular direction?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Sounds like the Mac would be your best bet.
 
tarannau said:
Apple leave that market to Dell and their plasticky contraptions.
Click to expand...
What a silly comment. Why start such pointless bashing? In fact, the Dell XPS laptops are far from 'plasticky' - they're well built and some even prefer them to your beloved Mac products.

Here's a pretty fair and useful comparison from someone deciding whether to buy the MacBook Pro or the Dell XPS1530 (He chose the Dell in the end - mainly on grounds of budget - although both are clearly excellent machines):
http://skattertech.com/2008/03/dell-xps-m1530-vs-apple-macbook-pro/

xps-m1530-vs-macbook-pro.jpg
 
I'm a mac user with an iMac and a macbook - but if I was buying a laptop now I'd go with a cheap dell or a hp notebook.

I don't find the cost of the macbook, let alone macbook pro, justified by what you get for the money.

You can drag a cheap laptop around wth you everywhere without worrying too much, and they're pretty robust (my previous laptop - a hp notebook -lasted 4 years of heavy travel).

I do like my iMac though.
 
tarannau said:
You're fucking kidding right?

Most of those Macbook Pros will still be going to creative pros. Folks like PK, Fridge and many others aren't a mirage of uninformed blokes paying well over the odds. The Macbook pro's feels a far more solid and pleasant to use machine than the Dell, although the basic specs and processor speed of your Dell stack up well.

You're right, there aren't many sad overaged gamers buying pros as gaming laptops. Apple leave that market to Dell and their plasticky contraptions.

;):p
Click to expand...

I'm a mac fan now and can't see myself ever turning back to Windows, but Dell are clearly one of the best laptop manufacturers. Macbooks are made from plastic, and have a build quality issue with "springy" bit where there should be screws, Apple are far from perfect.
 
cliche guevara said:
I'm a mac fan now and can't see myself ever turning back to Windows, but Dell are clearly one of the best laptop manufacturers. Macbooks are made from plastic, and have a build quality issue with "springy" bit where there should be screws, Apple are far from perfect.
Click to expand...

Cool...that's why my old IBook survived various bounces.
 
ChrisFilter said:
For me, it's not worth switching unless it's a) your first PC or b) have a good reason to. It's not so far ahead as to be worth forking out too much to switch for the sake of switching, and for many people Macs just aren't a viable option (for me, for example).
Click to expand...

It's gone too far for me, could never switch, buying the software alone would bankrupt me.
 
beesonthewhatnow said:
+1 vote for the mac here, I can't see why anyone would get anything else if it's their first computer tbh.
Click to expand...
Well, apart from little things like budget, choice, functions, size, features, compatibility, preference for Windows, friends already using Windows, wider choice of games etc etc etc.
 
editor said:
Well, apart from little things like budget, choice, functions, size, features, compatibility, preference for Windows, friends already using Windows, wider choice of games etc etc etc.
Click to expand...

A mac will run windows quite happily now, no?

You get the best of both worlds as far as I can see.

(and this is coming from a lifetime PC user, typing this on a Dell laptop)
 
Usability is a telling omission from your list editor.

Windows is fucking awful, despite their best efforts at ripping off OSX.
 
beesonthewhatnow said:
A mac will run windows quite happily now, no?

You get the best of both worlds as far as I can see.

(and this is coming from a lifetime PC user, typing this on a Dell laptop)
Click to expand...

Im running windows on Parallels at the mo to watch the football (sopcast aint mac compatible). Runs fine. Boot camp on the other hand didnt go so well.
 
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