Q. Apple vs Dell - which laptop?
Discussion
(Apologies in advance for the waffly text, but advice apreciated)
I want a new laptop - i really have my heart on an Apple Powerbook G4 (the 15" version but with upgraded RAM and chip and i think graphics from the 17" version). In Aus this comes to about Aus$4150.
The company i currently work for would allow me to salary sacrifice this as a sort of a legit tax dodge. There are two ways, either i buy it and get reimbursed through the tax wringer, or they do and it gets taken from my wage. If i buy it no probs on suppliers etc, just fill in the forms after purchase - except that i haven't really the resources to stump up $4k at the moment (i could get the resources, but it seemsnicer to have it spread over a few months from my pay...). So i enquired about the scheme whereby they buy it outrght and you have it taken from your pay but this only works as far as i have so far deduced, by using their recommended supplier, which happens to be Dell in this case.
I keep coming back to wanting to try an apple though - am i misguided..? I have not had one before but have used them. Some questions; are they as reliable as made out..? What effect will the new chip change supposedly next year have..? How comparable are they to MS these days..? Are they worth the extra expense (new MS laptops are very low in price for seemingly good spec)..? Is the latest windows edition actually superior..?
I use Dell computers at work (obviously) and i have to say i am not too impressed. Plus i don't know much about their public market as i haven't been looking at them as an option. Which model is a good one to go for from the Dell range? Looking at relatively high end of the scale as i want it for higher end technical 3D packages for my dissertation etc. Also keep up with my personal (very basic) web design etc.
Six months ago when i was last looking i was quite impressed with the Vaio range, and if i wasn't going to go for an apple, then maybe that is what i would prefer to a dell. Are Dells any good really - am i dissing them unfairly..?
Cheers
I want a new laptop - i really have my heart on an Apple Powerbook G4 (the 15" version but with upgraded RAM and chip and i think graphics from the 17" version). In Aus this comes to about Aus$4150.
The company i currently work for would allow me to salary sacrifice this as a sort of a legit tax dodge. There are two ways, either i buy it and get reimbursed through the tax wringer, or they do and it gets taken from my wage. If i buy it no probs on suppliers etc, just fill in the forms after purchase - except that i haven't really the resources to stump up $4k at the moment (i could get the resources, but it seemsnicer to have it spread over a few months from my pay...). So i enquired about the scheme whereby they buy it outrght and you have it taken from your pay but this only works as far as i have so far deduced, by using their recommended supplier, which happens to be Dell in this case.
I keep coming back to wanting to try an apple though - am i misguided..? I have not had one before but have used them. Some questions; are they as reliable as made out..? What effect will the new chip change supposedly next year have..? How comparable are they to MS these days..? Are they worth the extra expense (new MS laptops are very low in price for seemingly good spec)..? Is the latest windows edition actually superior..?
I use Dell computers at work (obviously) and i have to say i am not too impressed. Plus i don't know much about their public market as i haven't been looking at them as an option. Which model is a good one to go for from the Dell range? Looking at relatively high end of the scale as i want it for higher end technical 3D packages for my dissertation etc. Also keep up with my personal (very basic) web design etc.
Six months ago when i was last looking i was quite impressed with the Vaio range, and if i wasn't going to go for an apple, then maybe that is what i would prefer to a dell. Are Dells any good really - am i dissing them unfairly..?
Cheers
Apple make exquisite laptops. SWMBO has a 14" iBook and it's been rock solid for nearly 2 years (since new). Battery hasn't faded (and "3 hours" on the little doohickey really does mean 3 hours), screen is impeccable, keyboard is quite simply one of the nicest I've ever used on a lapper. All the ports are in a sensible place (left-hand side).
Plus, you get all that yummy non-virussy OS X goodness, AND you can get a much nicer version of MS Office than Windows-using folk are lumped with.
Faced with a choice of Dell or Apple, I'd go for the PowerBook every single time.
Even if the Dell were as well-assembled as the Apple, the PowerBook is quite simply the nicer thing. You get the impression that someone very clever has thought very hard about it and engineered it. PC laptops, by comparison, are designed down to a price, and it shows.
>> Edited by CommanderJameson on Friday 9th December 08:06
Plus, you get all that yummy non-virussy OS X goodness, AND you can get a much nicer version of MS Office than Windows-using folk are lumped with.
Faced with a choice of Dell or Apple, I'd go for the PowerBook every single time.
Even if the Dell were as well-assembled as the Apple, the PowerBook is quite simply the nicer thing. You get the impression that someone very clever has thought very hard about it and engineered it. PC laptops, by comparison, are designed down to a price, and it shows.
>> Edited by CommanderJameson on Friday 9th December 08:06
Thanks for replies! Seems an easy choice. What are the thoughts re: this supposed chip change to intel? Worth waiting for? I have to say i think i'd rather not have an intel chip, but it depends if their introduction makes my new very expensive powerbook - if i get one - obsolete...
I hate buying computers
I hate buying computers
Buffalo said:
Looking at relatively high end of the scale as i want it for higher end technical 3D packages for my dissertation etc. Also keep up with my personal (very basic) web design etc.
I'm sure you've checked this already, but is all the technical 3D software you need available for both PC and Apple? Also, if it's high-end 3D modelling, would a 15" screen be big enough for sustained use?
zcacogp said:
Avoid Dell lappies at all costs.
End of post.
Oli.
Had dell for the last 2 laptops, Sony before that, Dell before that.
My Thoughts
a) Dell is much more durable
b) Sony is so much more sexy
c) Dell USED to have REALLY REALLY poor Disk I/O Performance (current model is like a starship tho!)
d) Dell have Stunning prices
e) My Current Dell looks Sexy!
I have the XPS Gen2 M170 Gaming Laptop atm
17" Widescreen
2Gb Ram
80gb 7200RPM Drive (Very Fast!)
256MB GeForce 7800 GTX (Very Very Fast!)
Onboard Bluetooth
Onboard WiFi
6x USB
1x Firewire
1x CF Reader
1x DVI Out
6x LEDs (2x in XPS logo in screen, 2x in Side Heat Exhausts, 2x in Front Speakers) (funky when you're in a techno mood, 16 different colors
) DVD RW
Its not a small laptop (about 8lbs) but its SO fast.
All depends what you're after. This one DOES look funky too.. tho I'll happily admit, nowhere near as sexy as an iBook G4 17"
But this one does play all the latest games, and all the applications you need. Compatability isnt an issue.
J
If you want a laptop that looks nice, buy a Sony or an Apple.
If you want a workhorse buy a Thinkpad
If you want to look like you've just wandered in from the Desert Storm operation buy a Panasonic Toughbook.
If you want a plastic box containing electronic components that are vaguely related buy a Dell
If you want a workhorse buy a Thinkpad
If you want to look like you've just wandered in from the Desert Storm operation buy a Panasonic Toughbook.
If you want a plastic box containing electronic components that are vaguely related buy a Dell
Buffalo said:
What are the thoughts re: this supposed chip change to intel? Worth waiting for?
There are all sorts of rumours about what will (or will not) be announced at MacExpo, Jan 10th.
- What seems clear is that the Intel chips will be rolled out over several months, probably led by the Mini and the Powerbooks (not iBooks).
- Rumour suggest one, both, or neither will be announced and demonstrated.
- Apple do not pre-announce - thay say "Available Now, not "Available this summer". So new machines are in stock immediately (at least at the factory, it can take several weeks to release stock for UK orders, and Aus is probably even less important). If they are announced in January, expect delivery in early March
- The Powerbook range is old. So an intel model is also likely to be a completely new design
- Whilst the Mac/intel OS (known as Leopard) is likely to be robust from launch, do remember that you would be a very-early adopter. There could be a few risks. That also applies to the applications - some have been recompiled in a day, others have had a lot of problems.
- Conversely, if you go with an 'old' PowerPC based Powerbook, you can reasonably assume good Apple support for at least two years, through Software Update.
- Leopard is not just a migration to Intel, but is believed to have some new features. Yet no-one has asked whether Leopard will also work on PowerPC machines. Which only raises yet more questions.
So I would agree, wait until Jan 10th (and follow first reports on macworld.com).
- If an Intel Powerbook is announced, you will have a better idea whether it is right for you.
- If they do not announce the Intel powerbook, but do announce other Intel machines and Leopard, you will still learn something about where the future is headed.
- If they don't announce any Intel stuff, the odds are that they will either dress up the existing models with better features, or more likely shave the prices.
So whatever happens, you can expect wither a clearer picture, or a better deal
spivvy said:
But you need a beard and sandals to own a MAC
Oi! I don't have a beard any more and I only wear my sandals on holiday!
But, I do own about 10 Macs
I've used Macs for over 15 years and they have all been faultless, all I would say is that when a Mac goes 'bang' it tends to go big time!
Tim
The only dell models that feel really well made at the moment are the Latutude D610 and the X1. The precision laptops share teh D610 chassis, but i haven't used one. i would assume they'd be similar in build.
With a laptop, the most forgotten thing when buying is the design and robustness of the case. I've just thrown away a perfectly good 2 year old laptop because teh screen hinges seized and snapped the case. One of our clients has this happen to their Voyager laptops at the rate of about 2 a week (in 400 laptops).
HP are very good these days, all the best bits of the old compaqs but with a bit of design. If tehy still sell the NC6000 (which i think they do as i got a brand new one delivered last week) or NC4010 if you want something small, then they're a good bet.
IBM are bombproof but pricey and STILL don't have bloody windows keys.
Main thing to consider with any Apple vs PC question is what you use at the moment. If you use a PC and switch to a mac, then be prepared to take a week or two crashing around the place not knowing what anything does.
With a laptop, the most forgotten thing when buying is the design and robustness of the case. I've just thrown away a perfectly good 2 year old laptop because teh screen hinges seized and snapped the case. One of our clients has this happen to their Voyager laptops at the rate of about 2 a week (in 400 laptops).
HP are very good these days, all the best bits of the old compaqs but with a bit of design. If tehy still sell the NC6000 (which i think they do as i got a brand new one delivered last week) or NC4010 if you want something small, then they're a good bet.
IBM are bombproof but pricey and STILL don't have bloody windows keys.
Main thing to consider with any Apple vs PC question is what you use at the moment. If you use a PC and switch to a mac, then be prepared to take a week or two crashing around the place not knowing what anything does.
los angeles said:
The next iPod will be the size of a thumb nail and hold half a song.
I'd heard it was the iPod Earwax, you get a special USB dongle which you place some ear wax into the media drawer of, then it loads 10 songs into the wax using Hydro Thermal Dynamic Resonance Recording. Pretty cool, but I don't think it will sell as people can't look cool while listening to their songs.
I have a Sony Vaio, nearly 4 years old, been everywhere with me. Faultless. I've also had many Dells - perhaps less sexy, but also faultless.
I do agree IBM/Sony/Compaq are more 'complete' than Dell.
A lot of people I work with use Apple laptops - fantastic systems. Just an offbeat choice - so long as you're OK not being on Windows go for it.
I do agree IBM/Sony/Compaq are more 'complete' than Dell.
A lot of people I work with use Apple laptops - fantastic systems. Just an offbeat choice - so long as you're OK not being on Windows go for it.
jamieboy said:
Looking at relatively high end of the scale as i want it for higher end technical 3D packages for my dissertation etc. Also keep up with my personal (very basic) web design etc.
I'm sure you've checked this already, but is all the technical 3D software you need available for both PC and Apple? Also, if it's high-end 3D modelling, would a 15" screen be big enough for sustained use?
Most of the stuff i could probably use at work on twin screens, so at the moment i am not sure exactly how much i will need it at home, but knowing me i will probably want to work on it there too. I'm pretty sure 90% of what i will use will be fine on a mac. I have to check with some of the 3D packages (i don't suppose anyone uses things like Vulcan and Map3D and would know offhand..?)
Perhaps I will wait until the new year and see how this Macworld thingy goes - its no real hurry i guess, another month or so won't hurt!!!
Cheers
>> Edited by Buffalo on Friday 9th December 23:18
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