Give me a reason to buy a Macbook

I've been comparison shopping lately and I can't find a $999 laptop that has a screen less than 15 inches, battery life that's greater than 2-1/2 hours, GPU that's decent (the 9400m is the best integrated graphics card on the market), and isn't from a completely unreliable company. Most computer companies will offer large HDD, lots of (slow clocked) RAM, a beastly CPU, and a crappy integrated Intel GPU. I don't own a Mac but I've been shopping around for about half a year now trying to decide when to buy a laptop and have yet to find anything that's better than the white macbook for $1000. There are some "desktop replacement" laptops in this range that will outperform the macbook, but they weigh >8lbs and have a 2 hour battery life, not to mention the discrete graphics will most likely cause overheating issues if you dont keep it propped up off the desk (or your lap).

I was thinking the white macbook was crap, but after the recent upgrade to DDR2 800 RAM, giving more breathing room on the base HDD, upping the CPU a tad (not to mention already having a P-series core 2 duo with 1066MHz FSB), and increasing the expected battery life by half an hour, the white macbook is certainly competitively priced with anything Dell or HP has to offer in this range. Of course Toshiba and Acer will have cheaper stuff but from what I've seen you get what you pay for with those companies. Don't forget to compare it to over sub-14inch laptops since laptops get more expensive as they get smaller.

And don't bother bringing up the Dell XPS m1330. The slower RAM, less efficient CPU and terrible intel x3100 graphics chip should be an embarrassment for the company's gaming line. I use to think the decision between PC and Mac was black and white, but now that I've compared what all the main companies have to offer I see that the difference in performance is very little if you catch them at the right moment.

Oh, and if you game a lot then you should have a PC desktop. People who say Macbooks are terrible for gaming are correct, but laptops shouldn't be considered as a primary gaming system.

Sorry if I sound bitter or angry because I'm not trying to be :/

I got my macbook about a year ago, it was my first mac and my first laptop. I used to buy desktops from Alienware (high-end gaming systems) I am very happy with it, and will continue to buy mac products. It has NEVER given me any problems, and found it easy and quick to learn the new OS. It is much simpler to use/install/manage programs than windows ever was. It still depends I think on what you will use it for. If you're a college student like me, it should be perfect (unless you are in some information systems major or computer-tech then obviously windows-based would make more sense) It isn't a gaming system, so if you are a gamer it would probably be a bad choice. If your primary use is media, publishing programs, internet, digital photo/video managing, then I highly suggest getting a macbook or Mac.

The things I don't like about other laptop manufacturers, despite their lower prices is:
They overheat a lot more despite loud fans(ouch! hot lap!)
They are usually much bulkier and heavier
They have poor reliability and customer service records
They (windows-based) laptops are much more succeptible to viruses and OS problems that aren't easily fixed and happen too often.

this is coming from a fairly computer-savvy nerd who used to be an information systems major and PC gamer. The macbook is much more well-suited for the average computer user.

Remember when Dad used to say "You get what you pay for."? It holds true with computers and Microsoft is lying when it pulls out the Mac Tax nonsense. There are a number of things to consider: 1) the display of the Mac is almost always superior to that of the lower cost PC computers. 2) the battery life of the Mac is generally twice that of the PC. 3) consumer PC notebooks are made from cheap plastic with a flimsy metal skeleton. 4) consumer PC keyboards are not very hardy. 5) consumer PC trackpads tend to be smaller than the Mac's. 6) tech support is offshore so you wind up talking to someone who may be difficult to understand and who is reading from a script. This is how PC manufacturers cut corners to get their prices down and why their custom satisfaction ratings are so low compared to Apple's.

Then there is the difference of computing experience. The Mac OS is a mature OS unlike Vista. Microsoft has nothing like the iLife suite though it has done its best to copy it. We can argue about why the Mac is more secure than Windows but we cannot argue the fact that it is more secure. And, let's not forget that a Mac can also run Windows.

To me the real question is why would anyone consider buying a PC...unless someone was holding a gun to their head.

People buy PC laptops because they offer more hardware configurations so you can pay for what you need. If you don't need much power you can get a laptop for les than $700. If you need a sturdy computer you can get a rugged laptop. There's just more options available to the consumer and people like that. The high price of macs drives off people who dont consider how long they will keep that computer and those who are use to windows and PC mentality of replacing a computer every 2-3 years because the old one is obsolete (becasuse it gets slow because they dont take care of it or reformat every year or so). It boils down to people not understanding Macs and being driven away by them starting out at $1000. There are plenty of ignorrant or closed minded (or both) people in the world, and also some people who legitemately don't enjoy using a Mac. I'm coming at this from the perspective of a lifetime windows user who is considering switching, mostly just waiting on payday to roll around. And to be fair... there are ways of running OSX on a PC, it's just a little tricky 😉

So the main reason for buying a PC is ignorance...I couldn't have said it better. And yes, you can install OS X on a PC but the experience is hardly smooth in the installation and in the usage and upkeep...making the Mac experience on a PC just like using a PC. So why do it?

And I come from PC land too (though before Apple starting calling us Switchers) so I'm well aware of the PC experience and the so called PC choice that Ballmer bleats about. When all the choices boil down to mediocre hardware running a mediocre OS on which I can run mediocre software I have no choice but call it no choice at all.

Or, of course, I can purchase a quality PC (whose price matches that of the Mac) but I'm still left with mediocre software on a mediocre OS. So why spend the extra money?

Well it's based on priorities. If you don't care how nice your car is, you just want something to get you to work everyday without having to pay a lot up front, then you'll get a cheaper car. If you want a nicer car that you can show off and that makes you feel better about yourself then you'll be willing to pay a much higher price.

There are a lot of people out there that want to buy a computer that will do what THEY want which is different for each person. More tech-savvy people will look to Mac and realize that it is better in many ways, but they'll also recognize that they will have to pay a higher price for that level of excellence. Some cannot justify spending that much so they'll insult it. Some people are stubborn and bash Mac for no reason. Some people are just dumb. There are a lot of reasons why someone would rather save money than buy a Mac but I don't feel there's a need to go much deeper into the argument then saying that they are either uninformed or stubborn. Maybe they just don't like the hipster image Mac is trying to put out there with their current add program (I know people who reason this way).

But yeah, you get what you pay for and Mac simply likes to keep their products top-notch in their respective category. The macbook is one of the best mainstream laptops and the macbookpro is one of the best desktop replacement laptops. You can buy more powerful ones at the same price, but they will most likely not last as long (how many people own an alienware laptop more than 2 years and how many own a macbook for more than 2 years... you shouldn't have to think too hard there).

Message was edited by: rfarr

I have been long time Mac user. Never used anything else. But I have family and friends who are always swearing at their PCs and buying new ones. My son-in-law recently bought an expensive 17" HP. Beautiful machine. But it came with Vista. He has had no end of issues, but he thinks Macs are toys. My last main computer, a Pismo (PB G3 firewire) served me for 9 years before I gave in an bought a MBP. The Pismo still sits on my desk and I use it from time to time.

In addition to the superior hardware, Macs are designed to run the most advanced OS for personal computers in the world. I run Windows XP Pro as well as Ubuntu and PC-BSD, on an emulator (which, incidentally you can do in a MacBook if you need to), and OS X is light years ahead. I can switch from Leopard to XP Pro with the click of the trackpad button.

As to Macs costing more, it takes some tricky accounting to come to that conclusion. How many PCs would you have to buy over 10 years? How many repairs? How many reinstalls? How much downtime? Compare the total outlay with the cost of a Mac. Besides, what PC offers support community like Apple Discussions, MacFixit, MacOSXHints, and several others? How about the Genius Bar when you can have your computer checked out, and sometimes repaired, for free?

Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference and ignorance, yes. My son-in-law knows nothing about Macs, but thinks they are toys and prefers a PC. That is his choice. My choice has always been Macs.

😉 cornelius

The long life of Mac computers and the supposed (I only say this because I don't know from experience) reliability of them are what drag me towards buying a macbook. I am unsure about them so I plan on trying out a Macbook for the next two years, but should the Macbook serve me well over the next two years I will most likely end up with a Macbookpro once I land a real job after college. I will probably never give up on having a PC desktop as long as I continue to play computer games, but the Mac laptops appear to be very reliable tools. And yes, it is a pain to maintain my desktop, running virus scans and making sure drivers are up to date, along with reformatting every so often :/ but it's the price you pay when you want a good gaming machine that you can say you designed yourself.

I'll tell you what my setup is I use to watch video files. I use the mini-DVI to DVI cable from my laptop to a 24" Asus VH242 monitor which is 1080p native. Here is a link to the monitor I have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236048

I play .mkv files which are HD video files, and they look great on this monitor. The monitor has the resolution 1920 x 1080 which correct me if I'm wrong is 1080p. The monitor is basically an HDTV, it even has HDMI input. I have never used h264 files but I assume they are similar to .mkv

Hope this answers your question, but you might want to confirm with more people to make sure that is the feature you are looking for.

it is a pain to maintain my desktop, running virus scans and making sure drivers are up to date

O, yes. I forgot about viruses, which is easy to do if you are working with OS X. So you'll have to add the cost of A-V software, and downtime if you get one of those bugs...

Trying out the MacBook for a couple of years while you are in college is a good way to find out what you want to do. Besides, the compact, lightweight, elegant, power-packed MacBook will serve you well. Besides, that is what most of the other kids will be using.

😉 cornelius

Actually, I'm an engineering major with mostly gamer friends so the amount of people I know with a Mac is fairly small 😉 I'm more working against the grain for my niche in the university.

But I do see a lot of strangers on campus with them.

I have a handful of friends who love their Mac so they're the reason I want one. One uses a powerbook (the one that looks like the previous gen MBP) that she bought in summer '04, it's still running great for her. Another friend used his brother's powerbook that's almost 8 years old now but now has a MBP he bought last summer. I know a couple guys who keeping messing up their MBP's (they're not the brightest bulbs on the strand) but their computers are just as old as my HP but run 1000 times better. It seems like I should get a MBP but I'm not as faithful as them, and I'm also not getting this computer as a gift but rather rewarding myself for an internship I'm doing right now.

And it sounds like I mentioned a lot of Mac users, but I'm leaving out details on the hundred PC users I know at school, some of which need a new laptop that they bought only a year ago! :O If you haven't figured it out, I'm not a freshman.

rfarr:

O If you haven't figured it out, I'm not a freshman.

Your reference to trying it out for a couple of years until you graduate and get a real job gave that away.

I think you know what you want and why. I mentioned my son-in-law in my earlier post. I should mention that of my four daughters three have Macs, one of them has two Mac laptops. One son-in-law has an iBook G4, and one of my grandsons has a PowerBook G4.

In any case, I think your exploring the subject was a good idea for getting information and ideas to help inform the decision you must make. Don't hesitate to post back should you have further questions. And, certainly, come back to Apple Discussions often with your questions or just to read up on issues. It is a wonderful source of support.

😉 cornelius

Agree with Desidarius.

I've hooked up my MacBook (5th Generation/Early 2008 model) to a 19inch eMachines monitor, my current 22inch ASUS, and my 26inch Sony HDTV. I've played HD movies right from the hard drive in both Quicktime and VLC (a media player that really does play almost anything) without a single hiccup or slow down or overheating issue.

Yes, it will do 1080p and it will do so admirably. Especially since it has the new nVidia 9400 in it. I know this because mine has the significantly weaker Intel GMA X3100 graphics chip (which renders video) & the slower 667MHz DDR2 RAM (new one has 800MHz). If it can do all this without pause, believe me, the new one can too!

::EDIT::
Actually, now that I think about it, at work we have a new white MacBook display and we have played short HD clips on it from DVD & the hard drive... so yes, yes it will do 1080p. 🙂

My 2008 Macbook plays 1080p x264 just fine - and that's with the integrated Intel graphics. Only you can decide whether you need a Mac or whether a Windows PC will be enough for you.

Matt