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Shopping for new laptop/computer

Qlip

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I'm pretty much a Linux guy, because I like to have an unreasonable amount of control over my own user experience. So in that way I have a ton of respect for Jobs, who has similar.. uhh.. issues. Buying a Mac requires a premium, and what it offers is design. That is a really hard thing to quantify, but is a joy to use. Mac isn't afraid to give the users a well thought out interface with hardware specced to work well together. Windows... well I don't know what they do, but not that.
 

ICUP

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I'm pretty much a Linux guy, because I like to have an unreasonable amount of control over my own user experience. So in that way I have a ton of respect for Jobs, who has similar.. uhh.. issues. Buying a Mac requires a premium, and what it offers is design. That is a really hard thing to quantify, but is a joy to use. Mac isn't afraid to give the users a well thought out interface with hardware specced to work well together. Windows... well I don't know what they do, but not that.

I would expect that everyone would want to know how to use Windows, because it's what I consider to be "standard". I prefer Linux.
I agree that Mac makes it easy, but I don't think easy is better. It's just easier and more simple. Windows caters to businesses moreso as well. I'm not a windows fan either, but it's standard. A Mac product is limited.
I can play Simon, and that is easy, and a joy to use. :) My point being, that I would expect at some point that people would tire of that, and grow into something else, especially if it is more cost-efficient and sensible, and it broadens one's skills in the marketplace.

I'm thinking over-priced toy haha..... If I want control over my own experience, I need to be able to run the software titles I want, upgrade my laptop's memory, and plug in more than one usb accessory, for example lol...... a good set of speakers wouldn't hurt lol..... and if i accidentally drop it, well, I'd rather it still be running when I pick it up off the floor :)......
 
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Qlip

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I would expect that everyone would want to know how to use Windows, because it's what I consider to be "standard". I prefer Linux.
I agree that Mac makes it easy, but I don't think easy is better. It's just easier and more simple. Windows caters to businesses moreso as well. I'm not a windows fan either, but it's standard. A Mac product is limited.
I can play Simon, and that is easy, and a joy to use. :) My point being, that I would expect at some point that people would tire of that, and grow into something else, especially if it is more cost-efficient and sensible, and it broadens one's skills in the marketplace.

I'm thinking over-priced toy haha.....

Calling a Mac a toy is hyperbole. There's a spectrum of productivity between tools and their uses. The rule of thumb is that the more uses a tool has, the less useful it will be on each of them. A swiss army knife sucks as scissors, pliers, and even as a knife.. the handle is crap for usage, because it is such a general purpose multi-use tool. Windows is similar. Mac is good for what it is designed for, and if that's what you want it for, it's worth the price. I can make a similar analogy between playing a piano or modular synth.
 

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Calling a Mac a toy is hyperbole. There's a spectrum of productivity between tools and their uses. The rule of thumb is that the more uses a tool has, the less useful it will be on each of them. A swiss army knife sucks as scissors, pliers, and even as a knife.. the handle is crap for usage, because it is such a general purpose multi-use tool. Windows is similar. Mac is good for what it is designed for, and if that's what you want it for, it's worth the price. I can make a similar analogy between playing a piano or modular synth.

Oh, i don't doubt that windows sucks in some ways. I'm not arguing that.....
However, I disagree that a Mac runs overall better and faster, just because it doesn't employ Windows, although now, it has the option to. I think that is a good addition, as maybe some people will choose to learn it. Plus, you have the option of installing another OS on a different laptop, and generally you aren't limited to using Windows the way you are limited to two OS'es with a Mac.....
To me, a Mac would be an overpriced toy, and that's no exaggeration. I have no use for it. I think it even looks like a toy. I honestly see it as a toy-version of a pc or a laptop. It's simple, like they design products simple for kids. :)
It's a simple, easy-to-use product, geared toward people who need simple products, but you have to pay big for it. I would just learn to use windows in a short period of time, and you're there. I would not use an Apple laptop in public, being completely honest, because I find it embarrassing. It's like Apple is saying, "Here ya' go, gimps. Now pay us BIG." I would, however, use an iphone.
My computer hardly ever blue-screens, and it never gets overtaken by viruses. All it takes is a little knowledge, and you can overcome any difficulties the OS may cause :). The overall gains from learning windows greatly outweigh the disadvantages.


My PC regularly needs attention to keep crap spyware and malware from affecting it.

My pc very-rarely needs attention to keep malware from affecting it.
You must not be using a good, maintenance-free antivirus software, like Eset Nod32. Besides that, you need to run antivirus protection on a Mac as well.
 
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PeaceBaby

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My pc very-rarely needs attention to keep malware from affecting it.
You must not be using a good, maintenance-free antivirus software, like Eset Nod32.

No I don't. I use Bitdefender, because it's better.

What are you trying to prove in this thread? You like PC's - good for you. You won't convert a single soul with the approach you are taking. Plus, myself, I own 4 PC's and one Mac. One. You're preaching to the choir here.
 

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No I don't. I use Bitdefender, because it's better.

What are you trying to prove in this thread? You like PC's - good for you. You won't convert a single soul with the approach you are taking. Plus, myself, I own 4 PC's and one Mac. One. You're preaching to the choir here.

I don't plan to convert any Mac users. I have no interest there. Just here, posting like everyone else is :)
I recommend Nod32 to people because it is virtually maintenance-free. There are no requesters that pop up, so someone can't keep procrastinating d/l definitions and get a virus lol..... which is what a lot of people seem to do :) Haven't tried bitdefender lately.....
 

DiscoBiscuit

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For what you want to do, a Mac book pro should be more than enough.

My hatred of Mac's will continue unabated.
 

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For what you want to do, a Mac book pro should be more than enough.

You are probably right, but do you really think it's going to last her very long? If I shelled out $1,500 for a laptop that lasted me a year, I would probably have a stroke lol......

I have gone through 4 laptops in 3 years (to be fair, one was second hand).

This is exactly why my S.O. issues Thinkpads to people in his company. They go through Dell's and HP's like candy. Thinkpads last a loooooot longer.....
 

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^ which were all PC's ftr ...

Oh, gees......
The new Macs are even easier to break than those cheap brands.

I'm not necessarily a pc person, btw, although I prefer most brands to Mac. I don't see it as pc vs. mac, as both can run windows, or not. I can choose to run an os similar to the mac ones on my pc, if I choose to. I no longer see a big difference, other than hardware, build. It just becomes another laptop with a touchpad.
I can't build a laptop, so I choose to buy the best I can find. Other than that, I choose to build my own pc's.
 
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CrystalViolet

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There are a lot things I like about the mac's, I've been thinking about getting one on and for ages. There's no doubt they build beautiful machines.
And I have to say, actually Mac users don't seem have a single bad thing to say about them. Seriously, that speaks volumes to me. And the Mac OS system...well, I got say I'm liking. liking a lot. I last used a Mac in '96, they've come a long way.

I haven't been very happy with windows OS for a long time. Vista was beyond terrible, and windows 7, while an infinite improvement on the car crash that vista was, certainly isn't great. I'm not savvy enough for Linux, though the concept greatly appeals. I don't hate PC's, but Y'all have to admit, to keep them running smick you have to have some nouss about you. Some times I just want to sit down
at my computer and play, I don't want to worry about the latest piece malware that screwing with performance or are all my windows updates up to date so I can run a piece of software on it.

You have to admit the lack of viruses etc, has got to be pretty appealing...and dealing with anti virus software. I've got four different kinds on my old laptop just deal with a particularly nasty piece of malware.

I'm one of those people while better than average with a computer, and I know where to look for fixes, I just want some thing was less fuss.

That said I was looking at the latest Asus model in Oz, and that's looking pretty appealing too.

And you have to admit after vista, how many people were driven into Apple's arms, as well as Linux?
 

CrystalViolet

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ICUP,
Obviously you are quite up with the whole OS thing, I'm not particularly. Without my boys down the road, or next door, and me being one of more computer savvy people in my acquaintance (it's scary I know!) it's either windows or Mac. I know my limitations, and it's got to be a fairly low maintenance deal.
 

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There are a lot things I like about the mac's, I've been thinking about getting one on and for ages. There's no doubt they build beautiful machines.
And I have to say, actually Mac users don't seem have a single bad thing to say about them.

That's probably because either: 1) they wouldn't know what to say; 2) they got brainwashed by advertisements and/or other people; or 3) they wouldn't want to upset their friends by bad-mouthing a Mac. :D And in this case: Ignorance is bliss. :) People that get had repeatedly sometimes don't realize that anything bad has happened to them. (It has happened to me, and probably will again, unfortunately).

Seriously, that speaks volumes to me. And the Mac OS system...well, I got say I'm liking. liking a lot. I last used a Mac in '96, they've come a long way.

I haven't been very happy with windows OS for a long time. Vista was beyond terrible, and windows 7, while an infinite improvement on the car crash that vista was, certainly isn't great. I'm not savvy enough for Linux, though the concept greatly appeals. I don't hate PC's, but Y'all have to admit, to keep them running smick you have to have some nouss about you. Some times I just want to sit down
at my computer and play, I don't want to worry about the latest piece malware that screwing with performance or are all my windows updates up to date so I can run a piece of software on it.

I hardly ever touch my machine when it comes to antivirus or windows updates. My updates are set to work at 3 am, so I simply allow my computer to run at night. My antivirus never prompts me, and runs automatically in the background. I probably haven't messed with either in 6 months. Very occasionally, I will have to do something more than nothing-at-all, and spend a few hours here-and-there. The only other-thing I do is run malwarebytes every once in a while (maybe every 3 months) to see if I have contracted any viruses. So I spend about 1 hour every 3 months on maintenance.
I run one piece of antivirus software, Eset Nod32. I have had some viruses on my machine, but they have not spread, so my malwarebytes got them. If they would've tried to spread, my Nod32 would've more-than-likely kicked in. I haven't had a virus that spread in 8 years. I've been using Nod32 for about 4 of those.

You have to admit the lack of viruses etc, has got to be pretty appealing...and dealing with anti virus software. I've got four different kinds on my old laptop just deal with a particularly nasty piece of malware.

I personally would run antivirus software on a Mac, so it would be no difference in my world, other than less chance of getting a virus and I really don't need that. You will still be susceptible to viruses, and they still provide security updates, as windows does. More and more Mac viruses are being found, although your chances of getting one are very low compared to windows, at this time. http://gigaom.com/apple/antivirus-software-on-your-mac-yes-or-no/

"Even Apple suggests running some kind of antivirus software on your Mac and included one with a .Mac subscription. Additionally, numerous security flaws are found and Apple releases regular security updates to patch them up.

Apple has also been found to be installing spyware on computers, which I found to be interesting. Macs are still very susceptible to spyware. Threats that run within the context of the browser or that target a Web applications such as Sun Java, Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime, or Adobe Reader can also impact Mac users.

My S.O. says, "Mac does get nasty viruses
just most mac users don't notice
I think every Mac Book I've fired up usually has like 4-5 trojans running on it". Lmfao......

He also says that anything you want to do technically takes more time, such as shifting a POP e-mail account to IMAP, takes 25 minutes and counting, vs. 5 minutes on a windows system. I'm thinking there's not a whole lot of truth to the fact that it's a better design, in any way. This thing appears to be a big, honking piece-o-shit. I've given it a chance..... my S.O. is working on one right now.

I'm one of those people while better than average with a computer, and I know where to look for fixes, I just want some thing was less fuss."

That said I was looking at the latest Asus model in Oz, and that's looking pretty appealing too.

And you have to admit after vista, how many people were driven into Apple's arms, as well as Linux?

"Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces" So they just wrote a unix-based os with a graphical interface. Why would i pay for that, when I can get many very similar to that, for free?

Personally, if I wanted to buy a Mac, I would buy a good laptop and then install an OS similar to the Mac OS I wanted to run, for free, such as: http://www.internetling.com/2008/08/18/4-linux-distros-which-look-like-mac-os-x/
Win-win. There's no point in spending more for crappy hardware and an outer shell that breaks easily. But I understand if some people think it's pretty (though I wouldn't ever compromise power-for-pretty), and I still think most-of-the-time that they just want to be doing "what the cool kids are doing". :D College kids think they have to have Macs these days. My brother's gf bought a mac, and he doesn't even know what he owns. :D She just bought it because other people were buying them.

Oh, I know windows has been far from perfect. Ha. But I don't have to run windows on my pc. The reason I do, is because I play games. However, there are other good options, rather than resorting to buying a Mac. There are some easy-to-use versions of Linux that you might want to consider as well, that are supposedly just as easy to learn as the Mac os'es, although I haven't tested them. I find it funny that many Mac users complain about how hard it is to learn windows, but they relearned a whole new OS, when Mac's came out with one. :D To me, Mac wouldn't be less fuss. I honestly don't find windows 7 to be any fussier than I would a Mac os, more-than-likely..... I haven't had many troubles..... none that I even care to remember. I don't even bother to install another OS on my machine for when I am not playing games.

Yep, Asus is also a decent choice, I think. My S.O. has been eyeing one..... :)

Let's face it, Mac has a cult-following. Apple has convinced people through advertisements that they can be cool and different if they buy a Mac. They write an os similar to ones you can get for free, throw it on a crappy but cutesie laptop, and charge an extravagant price for it all with the sureties that if you own one, you can now belong to the "cool kids" cult. I think The Church of Scientology should compile a list of Mac-users to target and increase their numbers. :D I think displaying a Mac symbol might be damaging to my psychological state of mind, and it might draw in the predators. :D lolol.... sad, but it's probably true to some extent. If a predator is looking for a victim, finding people with Macs wouldn't be a bad choice.....

I've found some mac users to be liars in general. To make up stories and take on personas in order to try to "sell" Macs. If you ask me, many are much like the company they are loyal to, and I think that if you operate that way, then you are liable to getting had yourself by your very own modes of operation. Sad, but true.
 

ICUP

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ICUP,
Obviously you are quite up with the whole OS thing, I'm not particularly. Without my boys down the road, or next door, and me being one of more computer savvy people in my acquaintance (it's scary I know!) it's either windows or Mac. I know my limitations, and it's got to be a fairly low maintenance deal.

I am really not up on OS'es. I'm pretty new to it all...... but I'm definitely the type to just dive in there haha. I'm a little better at hardware than I am os'es. I know windows semi-well, and a little Linux. It's all a matter of time for me, though.

The one thing that keeps me from getting had is that I generally research my options, whether I have knowledge of them initially, or not.
 

CrystalViolet

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Yeah well, I haven't decided yet. It's probably going to boil down to the Convenience factor, being in a small town, PCs will be easier to get fixed, should any thing go wrong. Luckily all the top brands of PC seem to be in stock. Good lord you can get Alienware here (which makes me go a little bit shaky with excitement, but would be entirely wasted upon me, and I have to be reasonably sensible). Why, oh why only two USB ports so close together on everything! These are things that I look at also.
Looking at the Asus n53sn, which now reading the specs, is a very sexy option.
 

Qlip

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Yeah well, I haven't decided yet. It's probably going to boil down to the Convenience factor, being in a small town, PCs will be easier to get fixed, should any thing go wrong. Luckily all the top brands of PC seem to be in stock. Good lord you can get Alienware here (which makes me go a little bit shaky with excitement, but would be entirely wasted upon me, and I have to be reasonably sensible). Why, oh why only two USB ports so close together on everything! These are things that I look at also.
Looking at the Asus n53sn, which now reading the specs, is a very sexy option.

This all may just be uniquely American...

Most all of the time when your laptop breaks for serious instances it will be mailed off to be repaired. The difference being with on an online retailer vs brick & mortar is that you'd mail it yourself. When you get ready to buy a laptop from a local establishment, keep in mind that the people on the floor have been given directives to sell you accessories and services. I have heard that Best Buy will tell you that the only computer they have for model you want has already had their virus removal/bloatware removal/etc service installed. So if you'd like to buy it it would be $XX dollars more. I have also heard that if they get the sense that you won't be buying anything other than the computer itself, they will tell you that it is not in stock so as not to mess up their sales stats for corporate.
 

CrystalViolet

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This all may just be uniquely American...

Most all of the time when your laptop breaks for serious instances it will be mailed off to be repaired. The difference being with on an online retailer vs brick & mortar is that you'd mail it yourself. When you get ready to buy a laptop from a local establishment, keep in mind that the people on the floor have been given directives to sell you accessories and services. I have heard that Best Buy will tell you that the only computer they have for model you want has already had
their virus removal/bloatware removal/etc service installed. So if you'd like to buy it it would be $XX dollars more. I
have also heard that if they get the sense that you won't be buying anything other than the computer itself, they will tell
you that it is not in stock so as not to mess up their sales stats for corporate.
'tis not so bad here in Aus. I hate it when Norton is preinstalled though. Hmmm, I was slightly surprised, at the brands they have in stock here in this wee town, but then, people are so relant on the Internet here, people don't just rock on up and buy any old thing. If I get the Asus, I will be buying it from a chain store, and it will be up to me what accessories I need (nothing except maybe new antivirus software which I need to research, oh and maybe a tablet ( - : )
I've brought from stuff from these guys before, at other stores, so I know what I'll be in for. I thinking though I should wait until I go to either Melbourne or Sydney, so I can check out some of the other brands available. Some laptops look pretty smick in pictures and specs, but turn out to be horrors to use in terms of key board and touch pad placement.
 

Octarine

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In Australia I wouldn't buy from a typical chain store as the markup is huge. Sometimes you can bargain down JB HiFi a lot though (people post their reciepts online so that everyone can get the same bargain LOL).

I often see some amazing specials listed on http://www.ozbargain.com.au (user suggested bargains)

Example of recent bargains:
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/49520 (Lenovo laptop for $350) <-I should have bought that a few weeks back as it is an amazing bargain! A laptop like that is more than enough unless you are gaming or doing video or music production. (Lenovo took over from IBM)
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/51245 (i7 & decent graphics chip for gaming for $600! - but it is a HP, which is a bit.. meh.)

You have to be ready for them though as they are typically only on special for a few days.
 
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