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General discussion

One of the Macbooks or Dell Latitude??

by robertkho Jul 8, 2006 1:52PM PDT

I've done a lot of research on many laptops for college and I've come down to these three.

Apple Macbook Pro 15.4 inch
Apple Macbook
Dell Latitude 620

I want a 2.0 ghz processor, at least 1 GB or RAM, and a 100 GB hard drive. I probably do not need all the speed and memory but I want quality. I am not a gamer either, but I do have a lot of music and movies downloaded.

As far as the prices go, I get a pretty sweet educational discount.
(with my standards and 7200rpm hard drive or pro and 620)

Macbook Pro $2159
Macbook (Black) $1579
Dell Latitude 620 $1751

I have never owned a Mac, but I hear these new Macbooks are amazing and almost perfect. My only problem deciding between the Macbooks and Dell Latitude are the prices. It costs several hundred dollars more to up to the 15.4 inch macbook pro from the 13 inch mackbook. I don't know if I want a small 13 inch screen all throughout college (I have considered buying an external monitor to go along with it though). I like the 14 inch screen for the Dell and I can get all the desired features I want for about $400 less than the Macbook Pro with only an inch smaller screen, which I don't mind.

What would be the smartest option for me? Is it worth spending the extra money for the Macbook Pro?

HELP!

Discussion is locked

15 Posts
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Go with the Dell
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 8, 2006 11:45PM PDT

But make sur to get the nVIDIA QUADRO graphics chip to have a better future with Windows Vista AERO Glass.

Don't spend your money on a 2.00 GHz. A 1.86 or even a 1.66 GHz is fine. The difference will be in the video encoding. You'll get 20 minutes of less with a 2.00 GHz than a 1.66 GHz. Is 20 minutes worth the extra money ? For me, no !

The difference between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro is that this last has an ATi Mobility Radeon X1600, the best graphics chip you can have in your three choices.

For exemple, the Quadro NVS 120M is worse than my ATi Mobility Radeon X1400, and the X1600 is the double of the nVIDIA chip...

But for a non-gaming use, the Quadro chip can be fine to run Vista.

Look also at the Dell Inspiron 6400 / E1505 with the Mobility Radeon X1400. I own the Inspiron and I really love it.

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yup
by peter9788 Jul 9, 2006 7:32AM PDT

ghost is right, go with the dell, its cheaper and will provide you with what you'll need

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disagree w/ nvidia vs ati
by Yasha I Jul 12, 2006 3:43AM PDT

the quadro is meant for design, you comparing apples and oranges. a quadro fx4000 beats my 2 GEF 7950 X2 in Solidworks 2005.

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About Quadro graphics chips
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 12, 2006 7:59AM PDT

I was talking about the NVS line of the Quadro business chips. There is more than one line in the division of the Quadro graphics chips. Quadro FX are for workstations and NVS for mobile business computers, as in the ATi side. There is FireGL graphics solution and FireMV graphics chips.

And you're talking about desktop chips ... The highest-end Quadro FX mobile chip is the Qaudro FX 2500M ... There are no FX4000 in mobile computers.

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(NT) (NT) the fx4000 was just an example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Yasha I Jul 12, 2006 11:40AM PDT
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Lol ! Ok !
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 12, 2006 11:44AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) of course but depends on what u do
by Yasha I Jul 13, 2006 4:17AM PDT
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HP?
by robertkho Jul 9, 2006 8:08AM PDT

What about a dv2000t? Would I still be better off with the Dell?

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HP
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 9, 2006 8:25AM PDT

The HP Pavilion dv2000t is another kind of laptop, it's an entertainment laptop. It has an integrated GPU so the Quadro 120M of the Dell Latitude will run better under AERO Glass of Windows Vista, but the X1400 of the DIE1505 will delivers better performances than all GPU.

So, if we do a summary :

Gaming + AERO Glass : Dell Inspiron E1505 with ATi Mobility Radeon X1400 / HP Pavilion dv5000t with nVIDIA GeForce Go 7400.

AERO Glass + business OpenGL applications - Non-gaming use : Dell Latitude D620 / D820 with nVIDIA QUADRO NVS 110M / 120M ( 120M is better ).

Entertainment PC + non-Gaming utilisation + Windows VIsta capable but without AERO Glass Interface at maximum details : HP Pavilion dv2000t.

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Something About Latitudes
by goldberg3971 Jul 9, 2006 2:20PM PDT

Latitudes are more aimed at business than student. I would go for the MacBook if you don't care about the 2 USBs and no PCMCIA or Expresscard slots. If you want good virus protection and not having to waste time deleting stuff, go with MacBook. For MacBook Pro, it would seem odd to bring a 15 inch notebook when most others have a 12-13" LCD. For Latitude, It has a good sized LCD. And, you have a discrete graphics chip that the MacBook doesn't offer.

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Have you decided yet?
by Barry Hennessey Jul 9, 2006 11:45PM PDT

Well, I have been using PC or Windows-based system since 1980 and have used Intel based 8086 system all the way up to the latest and currently still owns a couple of these systems. However, begining this year, I have purchase two units of Mac, in particular the iMac and recently MacBook (Intel based processor as well). It is kind of hard to compare them, but for what you need (not gamer, student etc.) I would go for the Mac if I were you. Because for you pay for and what you get, it would comparatively be more expensive to equip a PC will all that you get from a Mac (out of the box), and I have so much fun playing with the Mac lately. Having said that I am not trying to convince you to get a Mac, but get your hands on all you have narrowed down, go to a computer store and get the feel for what you need adn make your decision from there. Good luck with your choice.

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The problem with MacBook is ...
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 10, 2006 12:29AM PDT

that they only have integrated GPU.

If he wants to upgrade one day to Vista with AERO 3D effets ....... It will certainly slow down the computer but the integrated chip steals VRAM from the system RAM.

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Macbook any time
by mjdeegan Jul 10, 2006 10:25PM PDT

I purchase laptops all the times for users ranging from computer-illiterate to geeks.

I just purchased a MacBook for a user that was completely Mac illiterate, but has always had problems with Windows laptops (Toshiba, Dell, etc) - ranging from Wireless to file loss, etc.

I was quite worried at first, as we have a Windows 2003 domain network, about file compatibility, folder access, and just different OS. Well I shouldn't have been.

Not only this user is now extremely happy, saying that he can't believe how fast the system is (sic), how more efficient he has become, and how much fun he is having. The truth is, he has not called me for support since he got the Macbook Pro. All the members of staff in his team are begging me to 'upgrade' their laptops to a MacBook, which gives me a problem because I just purchased some of them...

OK. It sounds like a sales pitch I know, but it is the truth and just the truth.

On a last note, I tried the MacBook, if only to install some software on it and make sure it works on our set-up, and I was blown away. Little things like the built-in camera, remote control, integrated wireless, very very good keyboard, magnetic power cord, magnetic latch, iLife software, make a huge difference in usage comfort. I tried Vista a little, and honestly, why are people so jumping on the bandwagon is beyond me! It sure looks nicer and is more intuitive than XP, but is still a little behind OS X Tiger (and I am an IT Manager of Windows domains).

If you are afraid about the difference in the OS, don't be, because Tiger is very intuitive, because the file formats work on both platforms, and you will have less problems connecting devices (printers, cameras, USB pen-drives, etc.)

Jean-Marc

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I have no doubt
by Ghost26-20878886633866019035262628200812 Jul 11, 2006 11:23AM PDT

I have no doubt on what you're saying Jean-Mark. Apple always made very good laptops.

" Little things like the built-in camera, remote control, integrated wireless, very very good keyboard, magnetic power cord, magnetic latch, iLife software make a huge difference in usage comfort." I completely agree with you. But the Mac are very expensive. Under 2200 $ CDN, you have nothing ( for a MacBook pro ). And the Macbook only has an Intel GMA 950 so it was better to go with my Inspiron 6400 with the ATi Mobility Radeon X1400. The price was 300 $ CDN less and I get better graphics performances. So why go with a MacBook ?

But I don't say no for my College laptop. I don't say that it will not be a Mac. But I would check the Dell Latitude laptops and Lenovo laptops before looking to a Mac. But know that I agree with your opinion on Mac computers. They always made good laptops.

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No doubt?
by mjdeegan Jul 11, 2006 9:03PM PDT

Thank you for your reply.

I have worked with Dell desktops and laptops for more than 5 years now. I have been satisfied with the servers only, unfortunately.

In the 80's I was quoted in a French computer magazine article about how Compaq hardware and service was getting worse (I had been working with Compaq for the past 5 years) and 1 year later it became big news of how Compaq were struggling (they eventually got bought by HP, something unthinkable a few years before).

I am afraid that Dell is going the same route today, although I don't think anybody will eventually buy them. They are spending hundreds of millions in damage limitation, trying to improve their hardware quality, and support, which have fallen quite low.

Now, talking about comparing the Dell Inspiron 6400 to the MacBook, I MUST say that there is NO COMPARISON.

The Macbook CORE DUO with: 1Gb RAM, 60Gb HDD, external USB modem, mini-dvi to VGA cable, iWork suite costs ONLY $1,399.00 education price - and you get a free iPod nano after rebate.
Video display is amazing - VERY fast and sharp, and the 13' screen is top class (13' is surprisingly a very good size for portability with readability actually). Anyway, enough from me.

You can read reviews at:

http://www.cnet.com.au/laptops/laptops/0,39035649,40060982,00.htm
http://www.notebookreview.com/price/default.asp?productID=15890&productFamilyID=798&display=reviewDetail
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13553257/
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1201878,00.html
mac_fastest_core_duo_laptop/

There are new models:

http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/07/20060703200705.shtml
http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/07/03/apple.ultimate.macbooks/

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