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General discussion

Price the same - relative advantages/disadvantages Mac/PC

Jan 19, 2005 8:40AM PST

I have a Dell Inspiron 2650, 1.7ghz P4, 256mb ram, 20g HD. I've had too many OS problems to count, the casing surroundng the screen is falling apart and 256mb ram(though it doesnt seem it should be) is painfully slow when running IE (or Mozilla), Word and WMA at the same time - and fairly slow in general (theres a 1 second delay when opening the start menu and then 2-3 seconds to open the progrms menu no matter what else is running).

The programs above are those that I use the most (and mostly at the same time). I write and research for a living. I spend alot of time on the computer and take the computer on the go. Battery life is relatively moot as I'm usually near a plug, but like to watch movies on flights.

Bottom line: I'm thinking about a Mac (Ibook or Powerbook) as my next laptop.

My question is, assuming price is the same, why would I choose one over the other???

Thanks in advance for responses.

Discussion is locked

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Apple, look at new Pentium M Sonoma Centrino like Dell 6000
Jan 19, 2005 9:25AM PST

If you are still using 256mb RAM I hope you are not running Windows XP or Windows XP professional or no wonder you are having slow performance (256mb should be enough for Windows 9Cool.

The sweet spot for Windows XP is 512mb and many now go to 1gb as you can add a 512mb RAM notebook stick for under $100 in most cases (PC2700 or PC2100 DDR memory) after rebate -- but of course you have only 2 slots so if you are full already you are wasting money.

Apples are great if you do not have specific business IBM programs you need to run. The Microsoft Offic Mac version allows easy conversion of IBM Microsoft Office to Mac Microsoft Office files.

You are paying a premium with Apple --for a 15" LCD or larger you have to get an Apple Powerbook from $2,000-$2,500 depending on whether you get a DVD slot loading burner or only a CD-RW/DVD ROM.

Apple is #1 in service and support, the Apple retail stores are a plus and they have free service reps inside these stores (but huge lines in many cases).

Apple is getting the halo effect from the Apple Ipod and Ipod shuffle -- these work of course with any PC notebook with a USB port.......

You should seriously look at the new Pentium M Sonoma specification just released today however -- the Dell inspirion 6000 (see their website) is one of the first out.

You will not be disappointed with Pentium M Centrino performance, battery life and weight at a lower price point than Apple.....

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Thanks
Jan 19, 2005 9:58AM PST

Interesting you should say that about the RAM, everyone I spoke to prior to buying my laptop 2 years ago said that 256 was plenty as long as I wasn't gaming (which I dont). I suppose I'll upgrade until May when I replace my current laptop.

However, my real problems w/ the PC - other than the physical quality of the Dell - are OS problems, though maybe they have been magnified by the other problems that have kept my experience from being streamlined (i.e. not enough memory). The new chip won't do anything to solve these problems.

If I got a Mac - it would likely be this:

? 512MB DDR333 (256MB built-in + 256MB SO-DIMM)
? 80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 5400rpm
? Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
? AirPort Extreme Card
? Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
? 1.33GHz PowerPC G4
? NVIDIA GeForce FX GO 5200 with 64MB DDR Video Memory
? 12.1-inch TFT Display

Subtotal $1,602.00

So I guess my only reluctance is software integration. But as I mentioned, I mostly word process, do internet research and use multimedia programs.

What more do I get on a PC for $1600?

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Look at Dell 6000 Pentium M Sonoma -- 12.1" LCD too small ..
Jan 19, 2005 10:59AM PST

I would not get a 12.1" Apple Ibook for your main computer. If this is mostly going to be used to travel all the time and to sit in starbucks and do internet surfing, etc than fine.

Otherwise, a 12.1" LCD is too small for everyday use --thus, you could either get an external keyboard and monitor or you should move up to an Apple Powerbook as I stated.

If you look at all the mainstream notebooks now being sold ($1,000-$2,000 range) they all have 512mb RAM -- the only ones with Windows XP sold with less than that are under $1,000 and have Celeron processors, integrated video, etc as well so the only reason they have 256mb RAM is cost.

You will only benefit substantially moving from 512mb to 1gb if you do certain things (a faster hard drive at 5400rpm or 7200rpm versus 4200 rpm would do more benefit for example) but the 512mb RAM is the sweet spot.

Check out the Dell 6000 (which is the only new Sonoma Pentium M out so far) to see what you can get with a 15.4" widescreen versus a 12.1" Apple Ibook.

Again, do not compare an Apple with a tiny LCD to an IBM notebook with a standard 15" square, 15.4" widescreen (which I have) or larger LCD --- that is the Apple Powerbook at over $2,000 (which also has dedicated video RAM)

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re: Dell 6000
Jan 19, 2005 11:59AM PST

The specs I mentioned above were for a powerbook - not an ibook - and the size of the screen is not necessarily a difficulty for me (I've used a 14.1 for the past 3 years, and I use my brothers 12 in ibook w/o problem - if it became so, I could certainly get an external monitor for home.

I looked at the Dell per you suggestion, heres what I speced out that seems comprable to the powerbook in terms of options:

PM 1.6ghz, 15.4 in WUXGA display, 512mb, 60gb@7200rpm, cd rw/dvd, wireless a/b/g, bluetooth, integrated graphics

Totals out at $1706

Or I could do it for $1436 if I went w/ the standard WXGA display, 40gb@4200rpm

Or a 15 inch powerbook
? 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 with 64MB Graphics Memory
? 512MB DDR333 SDRAM - 2x256 SO-DIMMs
? 80GB Ultra ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
? Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
? AirPort Extreme Card
? Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
? 15.2-inch TFT Display

$2002

I assume you would say go w. the Dell - I don't want to spend more than $1500, so how would you outfit it, and what benefit do I get over the 12inch Mac beyond the display size?

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Apple versus IBM notebooks
Jan 19, 2005 12:08PM PST

Note that Dell is supposedly going to add a dedicated video option to the Dell 6000 in a few weeks but that will add more cost.

If you say that the size of the keyboard on a 12.1" notebook is adequate for your use in comparison to a 15" notebook keyboard then you have smaller hands than I do.

Yes, a 14.1" square LCD is fine and still used on many business notebooks but not 12.1" LCD's -- that is primarily for traveling and doing light typing, etc.

But as I said, if you want the smaller size and don't want to pay $2,000 for an Apple powerbook you could use an external keyboard to get that full size and use an external LCD (you can get a fine 17" Samsung LCD for $300 or under after rebate on sale) when at home then you can do that.

The 15" Powerbook has the 64mb dedicated video -- are you getting dedicated video on the 12.1" Powerbook ????-- that is a major difference if you are not.