Laptops: Mac vs. everyone else - Page 4

PSKAdvisor · #1 06-08-2006, 12:55 PM

I can't say for sure. One of my employees can WiFi fine here at work, but my mother-in-law's boyfriend has issues with my WiFi at home. Even with the network key he can't get in WiFi, but does OK when plugged in directly to the router.

(Both on Macs, by the way)

Rudey · #2 06-08-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670
Interesting point you've raised here.

My next question is this: the mister is a computer professional, and he pretty much doesn't want me to go the Mac route. I say this b/c even if I do decide on the Mac, he's going to make things difficult for me at home and be stubborn when I ask him for computer support.

At home, we've got a router, which my current PC is plugged into, and then the wireless router sitting on top, which he uses for his laptop. If I bring in a Mac, are we going to have to have two different router configurations for me to be able to use wireless? Please forgive me if this has already been answered, I may not be using the right "computer speak."

I'm getting really frustrated with the geek advice that's supposedly being given.

Donna, buy a macbook. It's cheaper than most other laptops out there for that performance level. Then install Windows XP on it. You now have a PC. Your husband can't say anything.

And I have never had an issue logging into networks around the world with my powerbook. I have done wifi off of a/b/g networks everywhere. Go to any starbucks and you'll see mac users on the web. I can log onto MS Outlook servers using just OS X and if I was worried about it, I could log in using Outlook since, once again, Macs run Windows. You do not need separate and special routers.

And to the guy from Marquette, your IT department makes no sense if they don't know what's going on. I even googled it and found support for Panther up on their site: http://www.marquette.edu/pages/home/its/help/cm/datemac and I bet they are running macs in quite a few of their labs and I would almost bet that they are not running most of their servers off of Windows. If they are, then they are stupid morons. I don't know what files you and your friends send to each other, but I can open everything from Adobe files to music files to Word files to Quicken files without a single problem just like anyone else I know when going between macs and pcs. Also, running Windows on macs is not unstable or new or scary. Windows uses BIOS still and bootcamp essentially allows Window to run without that. Other than that, you have an Intel chip and the hardware is not different from any other PC.

-Rudey

PSKAdvisor · #3 06-08-2006, 02:15 PM

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

KSig RC · #4 06-08-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670
At home, we've got a router, which my current PC is plugged into, and then the wireless router sitting on top, which he uses for his laptop. If I bring in a Mac, are we going to have to have two different router configurations for me to be able to use wireless? Please forgive me if this has already been answered, I may not be using the right "computer speak."

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.

Rudey · #5 06-08-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PSKAdvisor
What's the out-of-the-box cost on the MacBook with XP Pro?

$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

Munchkin03 · #6 06-08-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670
Perfect. You've just given me ammunition for the, "Honey, my Mac's not working because you're an idiot!" argument.

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.

Munchkin03 · #7 06-08-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670
Perfect. You've just given me ammunition for the, "Honey, my Mac's not working because you're an idiot!" argument.

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.

blueangel · #8 07-20-2006, 08:28 PM

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

_Opi_ · #9 07-28-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel

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

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).

Kevin · #10 07-28-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Opi_

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.

_Opi_ · #11 07-28-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktsnake

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.

Rudey · #12 07-28-2006, 04:08 PM

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

SigmaChiCard · #13 11-08-2007, 11:31 PM

Anyone running leopard yet? I'm planning on getting in on that soon, but haven't made the jump yet. now that I've had my mac over a year I can without a moment's hesitation....I would never use my own money to buy a windows-based computer. Mac seems to work under the motto anything you can do i can do better. Except typically it pushes its own boundaries because windows is too slow to keep up.

I truly wish the business world would catch up to the consumer world, but i know it will likely never happen. i know if i ever get around to owning my own firm, it'd be macs only.

I truly cannot understand the hesitation any longer now that Macs can do virtually everything a PC can do, and I read a report that the best machine for running Vista was a Mac! OF course the legal market is probably the furthest behind (next to the government), so we're still on thinkpads (though at least its le novo!)