What's the out-of-the-box cost on the MacBook with XP Pro?

I'm currently sitting at a Dell Dimension laptop, using the office WiFi connection.

The proofreader is sitting 40 yards away. He is using a Dell XPS using a wired connection to the same network. He also has a PowerBook that he is running through the WiFi (and also works when wired) - and he has an AirPort setup too, if he so desires.

Any problems are just that - problems, something that is f-ed up, and not something that should be endemic or "just because I have a Mac" . . . and I'm a total PC homer.

$1,049 for the macbook. You install your own version of XP on it and you can take a copy from your old computer, get it from your school for $10 or some ridiculously cheap price, or just jank it off of a friend.

That $1,049 gets you great dual core hardware (with all the extras like a remote control and a built in camera) and comes with great software. That's why it gets rated so highly and why experts constantly talk about how it's definitely worth the money spent on it.

Plus the education/back to school discount gives you money or an ipod.

-Rudey

YAY!

The Mr. made a huge deal back when I bought my PowerBook about how he wouldn't be able to help me out. Well...three years later, he's looking to get that MacBook in black. He just realized that Macs are far superior. :)

YAY!

The Mr. made a huge deal back when I bought my PowerBook about how he wouldn't be able to help me out. Well...three years later, he's looking to get that MacBook in black. He just realized that Macs are far superior. :)

I got the back-to-school bundle or whatever it is...instead of getting an iPod, I got a really nice HP printer that allowed me to print some of the stuff from my design classes and a $99 rebate.

Trust me. You will not regret this.

http://www.kondo-eye-info.com/mac_wo..._lovemac01.jpg


Once you try Mac, you'll never go back!

I have a MacBook Pro that I got about two weeks after they came out, I wish I had waited a little bit longer so some tiny annoying things would have been fixed, but overall I am in love with it.

I run Windows on it just fine, you can choose which OS to use when you start your computer up and the only thing that doesn't work in Windows is the backlit keyboard and scrolling trackpad. Other than that I've had no problems at all with Windows on my Mac. I also have all the Microsoft Office programs on my Mac and I've never had a problem with them. Also, I installed extra memory myself (which I didn't think I could do since I know nothing about that) and it couldn't have been easier.

The only thing is the price (mine was a graduation present, thank god) and since I'm not in law school I don't know how great they'd be for that, but as a general, overall computer I highly suggest them. They are so much fun! :)

Alright, I'm bumping this up, because I might be in the market soon for a new computer.

My old one was fine, it was an HP Pavillion, but somehow my mother fried it, and it won't even boot up. If I could get it to turn on, I have the reformat disks, and I don't need anything off of it (what the hell would I do with my old Eng 180 term paper?). I would be fine keeping that one and getting it fixed, but with the prices of computer repair being expensive, and new computers being so cheap anymore it might be cheaper just to get a refurbished desktop.

All I really need it for is internet access and really basic wordprocessing, etc.

Any suggestions?? Get the old one fixed? New ones to look into??

I recommend a Dell

Look at overstock.com and dell.com for refurbished laptops/desktops

:)

Definitely DO NOT get a Dell unless you want to have to replace it in a little over a year. Pretty much everyone I know that has a Dell laptop, including my mother and I, has not had good luck with Dell laptops.

Don't know much about their laptops, but these days it's the service/warranty that you want to buy.

No one like Dell or HP makes their own components any more they just box them up. My company uses Dell exclusively and besides the general reliability their service is EXCELLENT.

If you're just going for something refurbished though, the maker doesn't matter as much as the features.

. . . and everyone I know uses Dells across their entire respective companies, with little or no problem.

Anecdotes are fun, but let's talk about WHY these problems occur - and besides, your computer is out of date in 2 years anyway, so that's your price/benefit tipping point anyway.

My problem with my laptop is that it started running very slowly and has the tendency to overheat and crash. My mother's computer had problems with the screen that it would flash and go fuzzy or get these weird lines on it. A couple of friends also had problems with their laptops overheating or just crashing and losing files on it for no apparent reason.

Sadly, 'slowness' is generally an operator issue - whether it be excess runtime 'noise' in the background, 'spyware' or lack of upkeep, or keeping it on too long, etc . . . or the computer simply being underpowered for what it's being asked to do.

Overheating may be a technical issue (poor design of the heat fan in the back), but there are steps you can take (keeping the laptop away from a wall, not working on a bed, etc.) to help in that situation, and often it's because of where the laptop is located and how it sits more than a bad design.

Sure sounds like a technical problem - this is the kind of thing people should be looking into, to see whether their particular model shows these kinds of endemic problems.

Things like 'crashing' or 'losing files' are usually not a problem with the actual computer - they're often issues with the OS or other software. Remember - Dell/Toshiba/whoever has little to do with that (which gets back to the Mac/Windows debate more than anything).

And please people.. back up your files...

A friend of mine is a special education major and must provide a portfolio of all of her work at the end of her schooling. Last year her laptop crashed (she was a junior) Had she backed up any of her files? Of course not!

Much much easier to save that stuff ahead of time than to pay someone beaucoup bucks to access it later.

KLPDaisy, if your laptop was otherwise fine.. I would suspect the fan was the issue, overheating can cause it to run funny.

The thing is, laptops are really really touchy beasts.

this past weekend the apple store was giving away free nanos with the purchase of an macbook, but you had to have a student id

i just got the white macbook with the 13' wide screen. and i'm totally in love with it. i got it for grad school (master of social work program) and everyone is right on with they are saying.


i got the back to school bundle which included a 2gb nano, and an hp all in one printer, scanner, copier.

For laptops, I go Dell. If I watch gotapex.com, every few months they'll have a coupon that gives a pretty deep discount on the product. For example, when I purchased my current laptop, the coupon was $750 off of any purchase $2000 or greater -- so I bought a 600m (which is a good comprimise between size and being functional) loaded up on options. It runs reasonably fast, and I've never had a problem with it.

For desktops, I generally want something a lot nicer than a 'basic' system. I've found it's a lot more cost-effective just to build your own PC -- and it's not complicated at all. You just have to do a little bit of research to make sure your memory is compatible with your motherboard, things like that. If you're buying an office-application type of system, I really like Dell's basic machines if for no other reason than that they are extremely quiet.

So true. I've been using Mac for the past year and I can't STAND PCs anymore (considering I've using them for over 10 years). I use them in class too. Never really had any problems (except the exam software is not compatible with MACs).

ExamSoft?

That would be a deal breaker for me when considering a Mac. That exam software I think gives me a huge advantage.

I was pissed when I found out. But I can always just borrow a friend's labtop or write it by hand (bad idea for me as I can't read my own writing). I'll buy a cheap PC labtop next semester. But overall, Macs are better than PCs.

Yeah I'm pissed that my Atari and Commodore 64 and Vic20 don't run that exam software. I think I can get it to run on a 286 if I overclock it and reduce it to subzero temperature.

-Rudey

Sounds like a plan. Let me know how it works out.

I just got a Dell Inspiron E1505. I heard, after I bought my laptop, that Dell is the way to go with Desktops (I love mine and that's the reason I went with Dell for my Laptop) but many people have had problems with Dell notebooks. However, I really agree that it's the service you really should be paying for, and Dell can't be beat for customer support/warranty services. Should my laptop ever crap out, I can just have them fix it for me, and quickly.

Everyone's right on the back up your files thing. I usually back up with network space, my hard drive, and a flash drive. That way, if the network is down, I still have it, if I lose my flash, I still have it, and so on. One of them is bound to work!

I did make the mistake of not getting a CD burner, though, so, if I get out of a network (and starting a 2 year master's program in August, so it won't be for a bit), all I have is hard drive and flash drive. That makes me nervous.

I have a Sony VAIO laptop. It is lightweight (people ask if it's a real computer, can they hold it, etc.) and so adorable, but it's fast and smart (Windows XP + pentium M). It is a great computer, and I highly recommend it! :cool:

I think I've said this before, but my school lets people take exams in the computer labs. Y'all who want Macs should check on this.

For all the retards that can't read, you can run Windows on an Apple computer.

You can also run Apple OS X on an IBM or an HP or a Dell.

Before posting, please read. There is zero confusion or room for argument on this. There are no shades of gray. Really, this is it.

-Rudey
--Thanks

Rudith, one of my classmates tried running the exam software on a Mac that was running Windows and it didn't work. However, our IT department also can't figure out wireless printing, so it could be that.

Running non-mac software on a Mac is very, very slow and cumbersome. It's not worth the effort. And yes.. I have the new Intel Chip Mac Powerbook.

Another caution-- if you run non-mac software on a Mac, you open yourself up to viruses.

Funny how benchmarks show you are completely wrong. Running windows on an Apple natively is the same as running windows on a Dell. They have the same hardware. In fact the Apple had the faster chips first.

Running windows through emulation software is not as fast as running it natively on a mac but it's also not "very, very slow and cumbersome" unless you are doing something incredibly processor intensive which most people don't do.

-Rudey

And funny how you presume benchmarks make me wrong. The fact is-- it is SLOW and CUMBERSOME on my computer. :D

OK let me get this straight. Fact based testing is wrong and you are right? And I am the one that is presuming?

And don't try and play it off as if it's a YOU thing when clearly you were giving advice to others.

It has been repeatedly tested with results to the contrary of what you said and you are wrong or not using it correctly.

-Rudey

Fact is that I own a new Powerbook with an Intel Chip.

Fact is that I tried to run some non-Mac programs on it.

Fact is that I found them to be extremely slow and cumbersome.

Fact: An Apple system running Windows natively using bootcamp has been shown to be very fast and actually beat similar Dells and HPs in speed tests.

Fact: What you are saying does not agree with a proven fact. It is similar to you saying that pigs fly in your opinion.

Fact: You should go and take a computer lesson or something to figure out what you are doing wrong.

Fact: The world is not flat.

-Rudey

Fact: You're a know it all that really knows not all

Right. Again, there are proven test results on this so if your computer is some magical bizarre outlier, then go take a computer class to figure out what you're doing wrong.

Oh and by the way, here's a fact for you.

Fact: You are an annoying late-to-middle-aged woman who won't shutup, can't handle it when anyone proves her wrong, and makes about as much sense as 2 monkeys, a wolf, and a rhino having a sex party.

"As you can see, the Macs running Windows gave these PCs a run for their money, with the 2.16GHz MacBook Pro turning in the fastest scores on three of the five individual tests. The build-to-order MacBook configuration also tied the 2.16GHz HP Compaq in the sixth test, involving Roxio VideoWave." MacWorld

"It works. Impressively well. With games, even. Our 20-inch iMac came with a 2.0-GHz Core Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, and an ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card with 128MB of GDDR3 memory. That's roughly equivalent to a high-end laptop machine". PCWorld discussing the Mac running windows natively.

http://www.macworld.com/2006/04/firs...arks/index.php

Actual statistics are available so that your ignorant, uneducated, annoying self can go read it on her own time.

-Rudey

Fact: You're a little child who always has to be right, even when he knows he's wrong. Perhaps you need to grow up.
:D

If I gained 50 years in age like you, I still would know how to read and think. I still would know when to back down when someone showed me I was wrong. I'm sorry age hasn't been kind to you.

-Rudey
--Even a post-menopausal woman can still read the quotes and look at the numbers from the previous post.

I'm not in my 50's yet, but then, it's no surprise you're wrong yet again. :)

You're showing your immaturity again. You feel the need to lash out in personal attacks rather than face the fact that you're wrong. But, soldier away... the more you do, the sillier you make yourself look.

Let's review.

I show you that you made a mistake.
I post facts and statistics to prove it.
You attack me by calling me a know it all and a little child.
I say even if I became like you by gaining an additional 50 years I still would know how to read.
You attack me further by saying I am immature and cry that you're being attacked?

Blueangel, you are so mature - keep insulting me, denying facts and statistics, and being a hypocrite who says I am "Soldiering away" while she keeps replying to me.

Please repost and rehash some form of a previous post now. Please. I need it. We all do.

-Rudey