New Job - New Laptop.. Macbooks with Windows?

gord

gord

gord

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Ok, from what I've read on here already this is a hot topic, so no fighting.

Basically, I've got a new job as a graphic designer and web dev and they have given me a laptop, but its got 1Gb RAM in it and its not keeping up.

Herein lies some limitations, my job only has Adobe Windows licenses, so my Adobe suite will have to go on a windows install. So first up:

Is there any point in buying a Macbook simply to run windows and do everything in windows on it? Or am I missing out on the whole point of Macs? Or is there another way around this where I could nicely run my adobe suite in Windows alongside everything else? I also need to access the work network and servers, will there be complications in this respect?

Any help is much appreciated. Especially from other Web devs/designers.
 
If they won't switch the license then you are better off with a Window's laptop. Much less hassle unless you will use OS X for other things. Is it just a work laptop or are you going to use it for personal use?
 
Mainly work, I hardly use my work laptop at home, rather sit in front of the dtop.
 
gord said:
Mainly work, I hardly use my work laptop at home, rather sit in front of the dtop.
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I would go for simpler option of getting a Window's PC in that case. Will save you having to worry about changing licenses etc. Can get a good spec Windows laptop for a lot less than a Mac.
 
gord said:
Ok, from what I've read on here already this is a hot topic, so no fighting.

Is there any point in buying a Macbook simply to run windows and do everything in windows on it? Or am I missing out on the whole point of Macs?
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You could run Windows from within OS X via VMWare Fusion. If you install Windows via Boot Camp you have the option of then going into dedicated Windows mode for extra performance.

I'd go for a MacBook for the experience. Hell if you don't like it after giving it a good try the resale price will still be high.

Matt said:
You can just phone Adobe and get the licence switched to a Mac one if you want...
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Yes you can. A had to do this for a Graphic Designer in my previous team who went from a Dell to a 24" iMac. Adobe did it no problems.

james.miller said:
if you want that style keyboard, then look at a Sony laptop which would come in cheaper and better specced.
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I knew it wouldn't be long before the old cost and spec line was rolled out. :( :D
 
LordSplodge said:
I knew it wouldn't be long before the old cost and spec line was rolled out. :( :D
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:D i love the macbook pro's, i really do. but its just....well....my £1k sony vaio has a bluray writer and better specs all round and the keyboard is so so good. the only thing it doesnt have is that wonderful multi touch pad but i use a decent mouse whenever im not on the move anyway :)
 
james.miller said:
:D i love the macbook pro's, i really do. but its just....well....my £1k sony vaio has a bluray writer and better specs all round and the keyboard is so so good. the only thing it doesnt have is that wonderful multi touch pad but i use a decent mouse whenever im not on the move anyway :)
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I get what you're saying and to some extent I agree. However when push came to shove I ponied up the extra cash for my MacBook and don't regret it for one minute.

There is an Acer Laptop (yuck! :D ) in the house and I cannot remember the last time I used it and it was cheaper and better spec'd than the MacBook (although only by a little). The last person to use it was the wife when I had tied the MacBook up and she wasn't very nice about it. Pile of crap was what she thought of it! :)

Again if I was the OP and I had the cash to get an Apple laptop then that's what I'd do. Worst case scenario they don't like it or OS X and they can then seel it with little loss thanks to the high resale value.

Then they can give in and pollute themselves with a Vaio!*





* I have owned three Vaios and they are nice laptops. :D
 
RoleyBirkin said:
Like that'll make a difference!,lol.
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Hello I'm a Mac!
...and I'm a PC!

Round one: FIGHT!

Mac: I am smug and never crash unlike Vista. LOLOLOLOL
PC: I'm cheap and look at my massive specs and I have more than one mouse button. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

I am surprised this thread hasn't descended into that diatribe. :)
 
If you're going to be using Windows for all of your work and rarely use it outside of work then you're better off buying a Windows laptop over a mac.

In this situation (Lordsplodge), they offer more performance at the same price.

Mac Pro - £1399

2.4ghz
2gb ram
250gbgb HD
15.4" 1440x900
9600gt

Dell XPS M1530 - £1099

2.5ghz
Upgraded 9 cell battery
15.4" 1920x1200
500gb HD
4gb ram
8600gt

The Mac has a slightly better graphics card but overall the Dell is much better value if using Windows.
 
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I personally think the choice has in part already been made in your mind, with you posting this here in Apple Hardware!

You want a stylish looking, feature packed laptop with great software, oh and it runs windows better/faster than most laptops out there! ;)

Either BootCamp or Fusion, to get windows.

Also with Fusion you don't need to install Windows again once you've done it through BootCamp, because Fusion can see your BootCamp install and load it up in Fusion.

Pretty neat feature it is.
 
My problem with Dell is that they are cheap, and it shows. They just don't really do 'design' in the way Apple does. That's just me though, and i would rather have less but better designed, and yes i am probably in a minority there :)
 
Matt said:
My problem with Dell is that they are cheap, and it shows. They just don't really do 'design' in the way Apple does.
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Depends on what model range you're looking at; Dell cater for all budgets so obviously their £300 machines are going to look and feel cheap. The XPS series, on the other hand, are a lot more solid and have far more features.
 
I am not talking about features though, i am talking about the design on the machine itself. Dell just can't do that well :(
 
macs are just more flexible in use and sturdier imo.

plus when you do boot camp windows on them the experience is by far that best and easiest setup you will have.

If cost is a big issues you CAN get a cheap better spec windows laptop but it would be as good a "full experience" as you would get on a mac running windows.
 
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