Mac vs. PC

bpat1434

I know this has probably been asked/answered in many threads here, but right now I've got a sort of dilemma. I need a laptop, and I'm getting one around New Years. So I'm searching, and I've narrowed my choices to three or four (unless others arise).

So my choices are:

Apple Powerbook G4 (15.2")
Apple iBook G4 (14.1")
Dell Inspiron 9300 Pentium M 2.73 GHz (17")
Acer Ferrari 4000

So what I'm looking for is a powerful CPU, plenty of Memory, stability of operating system, powerful web-design capabilities (including running its own mini-testing server), ability to burn DVD DL, Bluetooth, Long life, Great battery life, Cool (temperature).

So that's where I stand. Anyone have any input as to which one to purchase, which would be better for which? I'm used to Windows, but been around macs for almost my entire life. So switching OSes is not a big deal. Thanks for any help you can offer me.

~Brett

vaaaska

Do you HAVE to buy one before the end of the year. Rumor has it that the new iBooks will be unveiled on January 6th (Mac with Intel processor).

I have an iBook (and two other Macs). I can do everything on your list with my iBook...and I do. It's NEVER crashed or stalled...no hangups...no worries...no complaints. Everything works.

As you probably know, it has Apache built-in. You can upgrade it to PHP5 (even make use of either PHP4 and/or PHP5 as you need), run Ruby/Rails, program with Python, etc., etc. DarwinPorts, which you'll find on Linux as well (I'm told), can easliy be setup and put into action.

The other rumor is that Apple laptops will drop a couple hundred bucks as well...starting at $799!?!!

bpat1434

Thanks vaaaska, but which would be better: powerbook or ibook?

~Brett

vaaaska

Pick one and you win. Really. I think the iBook is a fantastic deal while the Powerbook would give you a slightly larger monitor and just a little more in many other categories. I debated just the same and realized that it wasn't going to be my primary machine...I didn't need more storage or a bigger monitor. So, the iBook...I've already said it.

Another great thing for your laptop is a free plugin called Desktop Manager. It gives you multiple desktops for doing stuff. It's sort of like having three (or however many desktops you ask it to give you) computers all at the same time. I have email open in one window...browse in another...work in another. My primary work machine has four desktops...

http://desktopmanager.berlios.de/

The_Chancer

All I have to say on the subject is don't get a Sony... !! I wish now I had got a MAC like I originally planned... powerbook G4 would be my choice now above all others - a work machine - rather than one that can be ruined with spyware... :-( The bane of my life...

goldbug

This is the point where I make a reference to Billy Madison (shampoo vs. conditioner), and dalecosp finishes the dialog. 🙂

bpat1434

But which is which...?

"Shampoo is better.. I go on first and clean the hair...."
"Con-Dish-On-Her is better... I make the hair silky and smooth..."
. . .
"STOP LOOKING AT ME SWAN!!"

thorpe

honestly, id'e probably go the dell with a nice gentoo OS, but then again, you can probably run gentoo on mac.

hell, i got an extreme tech magazene the other day that shows you how to install OSX on an intell.

The_Chancer

Ahh - a simple case of getting Pear PC and an OSX image ? Only runs on some - all depends on which type of memory is in your machine... I say simple.. only takes about 3 hours !! LOL

bubblenut

I've got a Dell Latitude D810, it's got a nice big screen, it's powerfull and the internal wireless works with linux without any grief, only problem with it to be honest, is it's lack of portability (something I value in a laptop). It ways fscking ton!

I'm planning on getting one of the 12 inch iBooks (they're sooo sexy) in the near future. Never had a mac before, should be fun 🙂

goldbug

The Chancer wrote:
Ahh - a simple case of getting Pear PC and an OSX image ? Only runs on some - all depends on which type of memory is in your machine... I say simple.. only takes about 3 hours !! LOL

My guess: they're using a pie-rat version of the Intel developer/transition copy of OS X/Rosetta. I tried PearPC once....... ONCE. 🙂

The_Chancer

Yeah - I made that mistake on here as a "lets see".. bombed out - thought oh well, tried it on a "standard" tower - and worked all OK... still ditched it - if I really need a MAC - I'll buy one instead of emulating it... Although my Amstrad 6128 emulator is working FIIINNNEEE... :-) (Google Caprice Amstrad emulator) Shame it can't run as well.. 😃 😃

OOo - just noticed same post count for me n Goldbug.... 1224... I remember when Weed only had that few..

thorpe

mac has been devloping there OS for intell for the last 5 years in preperation for there transit to intell. no emulation envolved, just a little hard work.

anyone interested in the mag, i can email you a pdf. 2.9mg.

dalecosp

goldbug wrote:
This is the point where I make a reference to Billy Madison (shampoo vs. conditioner), and dalecosp finishes the dialog. 🙂

Amen, so mote it be.

😃

vaaaska

Ah, a Mac Intel build of OSX 10.4.3 just got out there and it seems to have totally upped its use of Rosetta and supports Altivec now. This might sound like more geekery, but it's clear that Apple is getting close to putting something out there as they are really focused on 10.4.3 (for the MacTel).

Buy a laptop in December and you might be surprised to hear that new ones are coming on January 6th. It's all speculation though...

Jason_Batten

How about a PCimp Daddy-Mac 3.5 Litre Turbo iebook?

vaaaska

And now some of the big media are saying they believe the Apple laptops will be out in January too...

http://news.com.com/Apple+may+launch+Intel+laptops%2C+analyst+says/2100-1044_3-5976771.html?part=rss&tag=5976771&subj=news%3Cbr%20/%3E

bpat1434

Okay, but I do wonder....

Will the intel mac be faster than the Motorola gX processor?
Will there be a performance boost or not?
Will mac stay at the head of the class with digital content creation?
Will the cost of the intel mac be the same as a g4 now, and the g4's price drop?

Things I wonder... And then I wonder if the intel chip will destabalize the Mac OS (seeing as windows is terrible...)...?

~Brett

goldbug

bpat1434 wrote:
And then I wonder if the intel chip will destabalize the Mac OS (seeing as windows is terrible...)...?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that no, the Intel platform itself will not be any more or less stable in a consumer-noticeable way--Intel instability isn't why Windows is crumbly. Look at BSD/Linux/QNX/etc.... on Intel....very very solid. OS X is really just a variant of BSD (mach), just wearing a sleek evening gown; BSD runs just dandy on Intel (right Dale? 🙂 ). There will surely be hiccups at first, with device compatibility, and more importantly, application compatibility (where Rosetta comes into play), but they'll get them ironed out.

In reality, when Joe Consumer wanders into his local Apple Store, he'll probably not notice a difference between the Intel-based Macs, and the IBM/Motorola Macs--and he'll probably not care either way.

(Which IMHO is the way it should be--it's akin to changing out your RDBMS system in a web app.... if carefully written, the backend change will not be noticeable from the frontend.)

</wild speculation>

bpat1434

Okay.... so to bump an old topic... BUMP....

So, Mac enthusiasts: What puts the mac above any other PC other than "It works". That's the age-old saying, and it's just not cutting it for me. If you know how to deal with windows, you too can "make it work". And which is better: PowerBook or iBook? I mean, for a web-developer/student? Someone who needs portablity and speed?

Windows enthusiasts: Why go with Windows over a mac in a laptop? Desktops are a different story. But can the Windows really beat the Mac OS?

Linux Enthusiasts: How difficult a transition would it be for me to go from Windows to SuSE or Gentoo? Me, not knowing how to install/upgrade anything, and being a total linux n00b?

I only ask these questions because I want to have the most informed decision when I purchase my next laptop. And that purchase is inching its way here. I've seen/heard about the new Intel Macs coming out, but no-one has set down a specific date (and Jan 6 is really close).

~Brett