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September 26, 2005
I'm not getting a Dell
I need a new laptop, and I'd love some advice.
I want a laptop to replace both my highly unreliable Sony VAIO laptop and my Dell Dimension desktop. I want one computer for business and personal use that travels well. I've vowed to stay away from Dell hell, but I'm not sure what brand/model to buy.
My requirements:
* Fairly light but rugged enough for travel
* Ports for a USB keyboard and flat-screen monitor
* Connects to Palm Treo 650
* Built-in wireless
I've never owned an Apple. Steve Rubel just switched to a PowerBook. I'm tempted, but I'm afraid of the learning curve.
Any feedback on HP, Thinkpad, Toshiba or other models?
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I've switched to Mac (12" iBook) about 6 months ago. It works. I'm really really happy.
I still don't understand why so many people like apple laptops, I had the worst experience ever! Decided to switch to apple to give it a try after having worked with PCs for 10 years. Got my brand new 17 inches Powebook in april, after 3 weeks I discover that the DVD burner has problems recgnizing DVD written with other drives, and when it does recognize them (rarely) it takes 2 minutes to load. It doesn't burn at full speed unless you buy apple discs (10 times more expensive than others). And there is a petition on apple web site signed by some 3000 people begging apple to do something about it. This is not all: the powerbook is only certified to work properly up to 35 degrees celsius (95 F), which means forget about using it in summer time unless you are in a AC environment, I could have used it to fry eggs for my breakfast (think why apple just switched to Intel...) I had major problems with the hardware not to mention how little is the variety of software available compared with PCs. I think this is unacceptable for a latpop that retails for $2.700
I have now a DELL 9300. It's much faster than the every apple laptop, a million times more reliable, amazing screen. I have to admit one thing though: apple products looks soooooo cool!
As for the MAC/PC thing I use whichever you give me. I realy can't see that much difference when it comes to executing my job. I personally have tried almost everything: a powerbook (awesome and awkward at the same time, specially as I'm from Brazil. It's like, you can never ask anyone to do something in your machine from a distance), a Dell (didn't like the one I had, sturdy, didn't like the keyboard), IBM, Toshiba (I'm a freak user, when Satellite saw the thousands windows and programs running at the same time, it just collapsed and lost touch with planet earth), and I'm definitely at peace and happy with my HP Pavillion. Light (although it's quite a piece (17"flat), have improved with one more HD and another 512 RAM. So it has great performance, relatively low noise level, and quite stable. So the bottom line is: you'd be cooler with Mac, but I think you'd get more peace of mind with HP. At least my average attempts to throw the machine by the window went down considerably.
Oh, and regarding viruses, man, there's a zillion ways to avoid it. And probably the most expensive would be buying a Powerbook.
Mac is the only way to go!
I haven't used a PC in years, and I don't regret it
for one single moment. Personally, I wouldn't use
anything but Mac. It's like comparing a Pinto, to a
Cadillac.
Saying Windows is equal to Macintosh is like
finding a potato that looks like Jesus, and
believing you've witnessed the second coming.
Raven~
Okay. Bob says that he had to replace the following parts on his Dell:
Power block
Screen
Modem
Touchpad mouse
The entire case
Motherboard - twice
And he's excited about it? He even states he'll get another? That's crazy! No wonder people love their Macs...
HI Jackie:
First of all after reading all the comments on the laptops-I am sticking with my MAC. I have an iBook and will probably upgrade to the Powerbook soon. I LOVE it and find it much easier than the PC-everyone in my office at Artist for Humaniity in Boston are on MAC's-including the ;high school students who are apprentices and the collegiates at Mass Art, etc. Plus the MAC laptops are so light.
By the way-these comment are definitely keeping me with a MAC powerbook the next time around.
Happy Thanksgiving-
Sylvia
I was a Dell-till-death laptop guy and mine just passed away so I needed a new one.
I like Dell cause of the screens and their high resolutions capabilities, good Graphic cards, solid built, etc... but I switched !
I bought a new Powerbook Pro and it definitely rocks !
With the ability to have both windows and OSX at the same time, there is no reason not to switch.
It's lighter, thiner, more beautiful and learning OSX is really not difficult.
Don't think about buying a mac, do it.
I wish I could be an acolyte. I adored my early '90s Apple and so, traded from HP laptop to iBook a few years ago.
Physically I love it, great for travel. But running programs, for me, is a nightmare, counter-intuitive. My first Apple was intuitive, amazing. I, my husband and my (techie) middle schooler have had a lot of late nights trying to work OSX. And now, I will slither back under my rock of shame....
