MacBook Pro vs. Alienware

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to buy a laptop for desktop replacement. I want a laptop that will allow me to play games for at least another 1.5 years. After that, I will only be using the laptop for general word processing/email.

I really would like to purchase a Mac, I like the sleekness, and I believe I have been converted to OS X. However I have my doubts at it's ability to keep up with future gaming needs.

My other option is to buy one of the Alienware gaming laptops, their big, their builky, but their going to suit my needs. But when it comes time that it will just be used for general stuff, it's size and weight will really become a pain.

I'm looking for opinions, from Mac users (biased, I know). But I need to know what people think about MacBook's and their ability to keep up with future gaming trends. As much as I would like a beast that can run top settings in anything, I guess my primary focus is to get something that will just get me through.

Look forwards to your replies.

Chris

Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jul 15, 2007 9:44 PM

Reply
2 replies

Jul 15, 2007 10:31 PM in response to xFluid

I don't use a mac at home but they work flawlessly in all games. They have direct X10 video cards that are like the second best video cards in laptops out now. The 8600 GT M will give you tons of power. I think you mean gaming in windows, right? Boot camp will give you great performance for gaming. I recommend going to youtube and typing in macbook pro counter strike source. I belive you will find a video of a pre santa rosa chipset macbook pro running windows xp in bootcamp with counter strike source running at 80 FPS in the video stress test. That was with an old Radeon X300 video card. The new MBP delivers way more performance. I would not get an alienware because I know someone who has one and it is junk in my opinion. It is BIG and is just for gaming. It is also the dumbest looking computer I have seen in a really long time. I think that for the amount of time you will be gaming the MBP will be one of the best Notebooks for the job. Not many laptops will be able to keep up with the best of the best in any video game especially with direct x 10 and vista (throws up in mouth). I don't have a mac so I would not consider myself biased. I build PCs for a living (at the current moment) and I love MBPs they are the best of the best in my opinion. Hope you make the right choice.

Windows Vista 😟 too poor for a mac

Jul 15, 2007 10:54 PM in response to xFluid

Hi xFluid,

I've been using an iMac Core Duo (about 15 months old) for some light gaming in Windows. This machine has an ATI X1600 video card, and would run most of my games (I mainly played Rome: Total War) at next-to-maximum settings.

That was until I got a brand new Mac Book Pro... 2.4GHz with 2GB of RAM and the 8600M GT video card with 256MB memory. Am still loading up my applications but I have no doubt that the MBP will nail pretty much all the latest 3D games for some time to come. I'm really wanting to test World of Warcraft on this machine!!

That's my $0.02 worth!!

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MacBook Pro vs. Alienware

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