Buying an Apple PC or other type?

david4791

I was considering purchase of a new laptop for work, some have spoken of the apple range of PC's.

What is so good about an apple pc?

johnners2981

I wouldn't get a mac, a lot of people think they're great just because of the apple brand.

So unless you need the apple software get yourself a windos pc, better performance at a lower price

kirving

People will tell you that Apple have the best build quality, but there are lots of other makes which are as good if not better. You're paying a heavy premium for the Apple logo, nothing special really.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/acer-aspire-s3-ultrabook-review/

Alanstrainor

OP, what will you be using this laptop for, what budget do you have, and are there any other requirements you think you need?

david4791

The pc will be used for general work doc files along with auto cad and photos. Work email etc

kirving

PC or Laptop?

I do a good bit of AutoCAD and 3D work in college, and I think I'd kill myself if I didn't have a desktop.

With drawing, you're going to want a big screen, and a 17 inch laptop is a monster. I'd consider a 15 inch screen unsuitable for AutoCAD, or for prolonged use. I think my dad has a 22/24 inch 4:3 screen for AutoCAD in work. You could get a seperate monitor, or a nice laptop stand maybe?

kfish2oo2

A lot of CAD software isn't OSX (Apple operating system) compatible. If you're getting it through work, ask someone in IT to help you out. They'll be able to get you something decent, and probably at lower prices than anything we could recommend here.

david4791

Thanks all for advice

adam500

johnners2981 wrote: »

I wouldn't get a mac, a lot of people think they're great just because of the apple brand.

So unless you need the apple software get yourself a windos pc, better performance at a lower price

What a useless and inaccurate response, do you have any experience working with an OSX system?.

Apple OSX is one of the most reliable and trust worthy systems on the market, windows is unreliable and not consumer friendly. Those who post against purchasing an Mac are usually those that haven't used them or can't figure them out or are simply to scared to change over to OSX.


My advice, Id go for the Mac, your paying for a top class operating system, reliability, incredible engineering, fabulous software and a hugely successful and trustworthy brand.

Adi

mathepac

kfish2oo2 wrote: »

A lot of CAD software isn't OSX (Apple operating system) compatible. ...

To re-assure those of you worried about the lack of CAD packages on Mac OSX, here's a quick list I compiled from another thread with help from WikiPedia. (:o I know, but it was the quickest way) This list is not exhaustive.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=77223459&postcount=5

mathepac

johnners2981 wrote: »

I wouldn't get a mac, a lot of people think they're great just because of the apple brand.

So unless you need the apple software get yourself a windos pc, better performance at a lower price

The key performance indictor for any piece of kit, hard-ware or soft-ware is how fast the user can achieve their objective using it, and how consistent and repeatable this is without getting diverted into "sys admin / debug" mode. Apple wins hands down all the time.

Kevin Irving wrote: »

People will tell you that Apple have the best build quality, but there are lots of other makes which are as good if not better. You're paying a heavy premium for the Apple logo, nothing special really.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/acer-aspire-s3-ultrabook-review/

Interesting that the innovative product they all measure themselves against is the original MacBook Air, now of course surpassed in Apple's line-up but not in the minds of the so-called competitors.

drunkmonkey

johnners2981 wrote: »

I wouldn't get a mac, a lot of people think they're great just because of the apple brand.

So unless you need the apple software get yourself a windos pc, better performance at a lower price

I had a mac before there was ever an iphone, Rock solid reliable, immense power of running multiple programs. Not one virus ever, don't even have anti virus, they just don't get them.

You do know you can run window on a mac if you need windows for something but not the other way round.

Here's the PC bechmarks for sheer power, notice their pc benchmarks as pc's are quicker than laptops.. http://www.primatelabs.ca/geekbench/pc-benchmarks/

Now here's the Mac benchmarks http://www.primatelabs.ca/geekbench/mac-benchmarks/ which does include laptops.

Do you see the difference yet? My mbp is up their with the quickest pc's out there right now. Those pc's are not cheap, spec up a dell workstation and you'll be more expensive than a very good apple laptop.

johnners2981

adam500 wrote: »

What a useless and inaccurate response, do you have any experience working with an OSX system?.

Apple OSX is one of the most reliable and trust worthy systems on the market, windows is unreliable and not consumer friendly. Those who post against purchasing an Mac are usually those that haven't used them or can't figure them out or are simply to scared to change over to OSX.


My advice, Id go for the Mac, your paying for a top class operating system, reliability, incredible engineering, fabulous software and a hugely successful and trustworthy brand.

Adi

And with adjectives like incredible and fabulous you're obviously just another apple fan so i just can't take your response seriously.

Windows is not consumer friendly? Where did you pull that nugget from? Windows doesn't have 90% of the OS market share for no reason.

Windows is unreliable? You're doing it wrong.

I've used snow leopard on my macbook pro but I prefer windows and there is no way to justify the hefty price tag that a mac comes with, you're basically spending an extra couple of hundred € to have the apple brand. If you've money to burn by all means get a mac but otherwise I'd go for windows.

Anyways, I'm not interested in participating in pc vs mac war, hopefully the op got the info he needed (and hasn't been brainwashed by the mac cult )

johnners2981

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I had a mac before there was ever an iphone, Rock solid reliable, immense power of running multiple programs. Not one virus ever, don't even have anti virus, they just don't get them.

You do know you can run window on a mac if you need windows for something but not the other way round.

Here's the PC bechmarks for sheer power, notice their pc benchmarks as pc's are quicker than laptops.. http://www.primatelabs.ca/geekbench/pc-benchmarks/

Now here's the Mac benchmarks http://www.primatelabs.ca/geekbench/mac-benchmarks/ which does include laptops.

Do you see the difference yet? My mbp is up their with the quickest pc's out there right now. Those pc's are not cheap, spec up a dell workstation and you'll be more expensive than a very good apple laptop.

Are you serious with those benchmarks, one i7-2600k has 9000 and another one 19,000, you really are comparing apples and oranges. Anyway I'm not sure what the point you are trying to make. A mac with an i7-2600k and 16gb ram should score the same as a pc with an i7-2600k and 16gb ram, if it has better hardware it will score better

U_Fig

johnners2981 wrote: »

Are you serious with those benchmarks, one i7-2600k has 9000 and another one 19,000, you really are comparing apples and oranges. Anyway I'm not sure what the point you are trying to make. A mac with an i7-2600k and 16gb ram should score the same as a pc with an i7-2600k and 16gb ram, if it has better hardware it will score better

except a mac would cost like double the PC. OSX is a brilliant OS and macs are in general good build quality and all but the price compared to a similar spec PC/Laptop is a joke like how can they justify charging >€2000 for a product that can be clearly bought for a little over €1000. Personally I'd go for windows 7 Laptop maybe a 15" and then you could always get a monitor for using at home and dock the Laptop that way you have the ability of working on a big screen with the ability to work on the go also