New Job - New Laptop.. Macbooks with Windows?

iSam · 9 Nov 2008 at 17:25

TheVoice said:
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.

Agreed. My Dad uses an XPS at work and I have to admit I was impressed.

JediFragger · 9 Nov 2008 at 18:13

RoleyBirkin said:
Like that'll make a difference!,lol.

Any fighting and people get a holiday. Will that help?

I had a play with a friends new MacBook yesterday and it totally blew me away. Absolute quality in all areas, I finally 'get it' and soooo want one :cool:

J1234 · 9 Nov 2008 at 18:23

Get it!

RoleyBirkin · 9 Nov 2008 at 19:06

JediFragger said:
Any fighting and people get a holiday. Will that help?

Makes no odds to me. I don't take part in the usual, yawnable 'Mac vs Pc' spats

JediFragger · 9 Nov 2008 at 19:25

Justin said:
Get it!

Trouble is if I get one I'll have to get the cool as **** 24" LED screen and wireless kb+mouse

iSam · 9 Nov 2008 at 19:46

JediFragger said:
Trouble is if I get one I'll have to get the cool as **** 24" LED screen and wireless kb+mouse

In other words, go the whole hog!

Get a MacBook, you can get the screen etc at a later date.

rp2000 · 10 Nov 2008 at 11:16

gord said:
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.

Are you still eligible for the Higher Education student discount? This would help eleviate the cost side of the arguement. (Give me a shout on xbox live later if you want).

rp2000

Caged · 10 Nov 2008 at 11:55

Maybe I've missed something, but if your work supplied laptop isn't good enough for you to do your job then surely they should be the ones stumping up the cash for a new one?

iSam · 10 Nov 2008 at 12:24

Caged said:
Maybe I've missed something, but if your work supplied laptop isn't good enough for you to do your job then surely they should be the ones stumping up the cash for a new one?

I bet the company would argue it is perfectly good enough..

gord · 10 Nov 2008 at 12:48

Caged said:
Maybe I've missed something, but if your work supplied laptop isn't good enough for you to do your job then surely they should be the ones stumping up the cash for a new one?

Ive only just started (I would feel uncomfortable demanding a new laptop immediately and we've just been given the credit crunch speech from the CEO) and it is usable. I could survive on this laptop. But its just a painful experience.

But I have just discovered the Apple hardware phenomenon.. it holds its value! :eek:

meghatronic · 10 Nov 2008 at 13:24

I have a dell and an apple laptop (air) with my right now. They both have advantages and disadvantages.

But, in this instance, buying a more expensive mac to put Windows on it, is counter-intuitive. Any apparent performance gains will be negated by the extra cost.

Get a nice Dell, and buy us all a pint with the change.

(or, try and get the license changed to OS X)

Electroshadow · 11 Nov 2008 at 14:46

here goes all my future credability in future posts lol

i absolutely love acer laptops ive had 4 so far and never had one crash on me or go bust or break anything.

current gem stone with vista is brilliant and the style is really nice leaning towards sony....

to be honest you do get a huge spec with for your money with acer.... and they are a lot better than they use to be 5 years ago.
have a look at the gem stones series you could get a batch for the price of the mac and they are really nice to use.

get comes the flame squad

iSam · 11 Nov 2008 at 15:26

Electroshadow said:
here goes all my future credability in future posts lol

i absolutely love acer laptops ive had 4 so far and never had one crash on me or go bust or break anything.

current gem stone with vista is brilliant and the style is really nice leaning towards sony....

to be honest you do get a huge spec with for your money with acer.... and they are a lot better than they use to be 5 years ago.
have a look at the gem stones series you could get a batch for the price of the mac and they are really nice to use.

get comes the flame squad

No on the contrary, if I had to have a Windows laptop, the Acer would be on the top of my list.

LordSplodge · 11 Nov 2008 at 18:48

Electroshadow said:
here goes all my future credability in future posts lol

i absolutely love acer laptops ive had 4 so far and never had one crash on me or go bust or break anything.

iSam said:
No on the contrary, if I had to have a Windows laptop, the Acer would be on the top of my list.

Are either of you on crack? Acer? Seriously?

I scrapped Acer as the standard laptop platform at work because they have been so troublesome and the one I own at home is no better (I do wish I'd kept the Dell!)

Never mind the previous job where Acer laptops also proved to be unreliable.

When it comes to Windows laptops I'd buy Dell every time.

If the OP wants to go down the Wintel laptop route I recommend he avoids Acer and plumps for the Dell XPS listed in this thread.

iSam · 11 Nov 2008 at 20:54

LordSplodge said:
Are either of you on crack? Acer? Seriously?

I scrapped Acer as the standard laptop platform at work because they have been so troublesome and the one I own at home is no better (I do wish I'd kept the Dell!)

Never mind the previous job where Acer laptops also proved to be unreliable.

When it comes to Windows laptops I'd buy Dell every time.

If the OP wants to go down the Wintel laptop route I recommend he avoids Acer and plumps for the Dell XPS listed in this thread.

Ah right, Acers obviously hate you!

I agree in regards to the OP as I have stated previously that a Windows laptop is a better choice.

LordSplodge · 11 Nov 2008 at 23:32

iSam said:
Ah right, Acers obviously hate you!

I agree in regards to the OP as I have stated previously that a Windows laptop is a better choice.

I hate Acer so the feelings mutual!

I still think if the OP has the money the should get a MacBook (or MBP) after all they are curious enough to post in here. Like I said worse case scenario they can sell it for very little loss and get the Dell.

meghatronic · 12 Nov 2008 at 00:40

meghatronic said:
Get a nice Dell, and buy us all a pint with the change.

I'm thirsty, so I'll reiterate.

iSam · 12 Nov 2008 at 01:08

LordSplodge said:
I hate Acer so the feelings mutual!

I still think if the OP has the money the should get a MacBook (or MBP) after all they are curious enough to post in here. Like I said worse case scenario they can sell it for very little loss and get the Dell.

What's the point though? Just get a Windows PC, will save a lot of hassle.

LordSplodge · 12 Nov 2008 at 12:51

iSam said:
What's the point though? Just get a Windows PC, will save a lot of hassle.

Because he is interested I'm getting a Mac? It's also hardly hastle to use both oses. Only to op can decide. I have given my opinion

gord · 14 Nov 2008 at 09:40

Cheers for all the input guys, useful to hear everyones opinions from both sides.

I have.. gone and bought a MBP, the slower proc but with 4Gb Ram.

I couldnt really justify spending much more than £1K and with the HE discount and VAT back thats what I have done.

It should last me a long time and im going to be using it all the time, that said it should also retain some of its value if I am to sell it in the future.

Just a waiting game now.