Macbook or other compact laptop?

The Freeman

hey lads, firstly i see there is a constant debate on 'apple versus dell' but i assure you this one is diferant.


currently i have a desktop thats bout 3 years old, made it up for the half-life 2 release back then, was a gaming machine...(9800pro, 3gig,1 gig of memory)
don't laugh please:p


don't use it for games anymore so just use it for burning dvd's and i play music so use it for home recording also, i have a 360 for games so no need to push the 9800 pro anymore:p


so basically i am looking to save space and throw out the desktop and upgrade to a laptop, now i was looking at my options over the last week or so..

option one would be one of these...

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=329865

is what i really like bout the macbooks are the sheer comfort factor with them that you just don't get with a dell(the quality of the keyboard,the magnetic charger, they just seem so solid and better built compared to a dell, and i have heard of occasions where Macbooks have fallen of tables and still work perfectly(wouldn't like to test this with a dell tbh.)

the only thing with the apple laptops are the fact that they are fairly expensive compared to the specs of a regular desktop

option 2?...well option 2 i am not sure of thats where ye lads come in;) , i would go for a dell in a heartbeat but they are not compact like the macbook and not as comfortable to use imo.

i don't know of any company that specialise in more compact laptops like the apples, i picked a mates toshiba a month or so ago and that seemed solidly built and small/compact also.

i guess what i am hoping for here is a laptop that is compact like the apple and seems solid as a brick and don't have to pay 1200e for



any advice would be appreciated

Johnny Bitte

I was recently considering getting a mac but payin a couple of hundred extra for half the disk space and half the memory you would get with dell just doesnt seem right

MDTyKe

I recently bought a Macbook. Never looked back.

Now, I saved a little fortune by buying it in California, but if you check the Apple Ireland student store (if you are one) I think you can get a discount that way. In another thing, keep in mind Leopard is due out in October.. may be worth waiting, but its not that much to upgrade anyway. Nor is it necessary - changes don't look that fascinating.

You're right about the sheer experience of using a Mac. My father recently bought a Dell - to use it is just horrible. It's reminded me how clunky and unfriendly both Windows is; and the whole laptop feels creaky and bulky.

On the other hand, Macs arent perfect, I'll say that - but they're top of the league in their game. You get quality for what you buy; not to forget added extras like Bluetooth, Remote Control(Frontrow), Camera etc that often come at premiums on other manufacturers. Plus, to be quite honest, using OS X is definately 'different'. It takes a while to get used to, but I personally love things being new and the experience it gives in learning it all again.

Trust me, with the mac you won't regret it. Just get a very good bag/backpack and a sleeve cover to protect it. Ive dropped mine, and (thank god) its fine - however ive noticed two 'stuck' (white) pixels on the screen now. They're pissing me off, but I've contacted the Genius Bar up in Newtownabbey (mac-sys.co.uk :: NI) and they say they an fix it for me under Applecare, so Ill do that (not in a massive rush though). Not sure if the problem is related, or whether they were always there and that I just didnt notice them until I was actually looking for faults after the drop.

Mind you, when I say drop; it wasn't much.. only a few cm, but still. Not to mention, the motion sensor that protects the HDD if it falls, and Magsafe.. all the little extras. Everytime you close it or use it, you just feel a sense of quality.


Matt