Apple putting me in a bad situation for laptops

lasuther · Sep 29, 2005

I bought my first Apple about 2 years ago after seeing my friends 17. I thought OS X was the greatest operating system every built, and I swore I would never buy another Dell again. Unfortunately, my wife and I started to fight over the 12 iBook. I got into World of Warcraft and was using the iBook all the time. No one ever wanted to use my old Dell so I figured I would just by another iBook and solve all of our problems. Apple released iBooks in October and April for the past couple of years, and after the iMac rev B update I had high hopes for an amazing iBook update. Well not only did the iBook update come months late, it wasnt what I wanted. I really was hoping for a 64MB graphics card. Then I decided I would save up some more money and get a stripped down 15 PowerBook after the update and would surely come at the Paris Expo. Paris came and went with rumors that the eventual PowerBook update was going to be disappointing. Overall, I am very disappointed in Apples current line of portables.

Today I got a company email on our company discount for Dells. Below is a comparison of what Im looking at.
------------------------
Inspiron 9300 Intel® Pentium® M 17"
1.73 GHz / 2MB Cache / 533MHz FSB
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Memory 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 at 533MHz
Video Card 256MB NVIDA® GeForce Go 6800
Hard Drive 60GB 7200 RPM
Wireless and Bluetooth
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Battery 80 WHr

$1906 initial price
($300) instant dell price drop
($609.63) company discount
$59.78 tax
$22 Shipping
$1,078.15 Total
-------------------------
PowerBook G4 17"
1.76 GHz G4 / 512kb L2 Cashe / 167MHz FSB
OS 10.4
Memory 1GB PC2700 Single DDR at 333MHz
Video Card 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
Hard Drive 80GB 5400 RPM
Wireless and Bluetooth
Superdrive
Battery 58 WHr

$2749
$169.94 tax
$2,918.94 Total

After looking into it, Im going to be buying a Dell laptop even though I know Apple has a better operating system. The PowerBook is just too expensive for what I can get from Dell. And the Dell much better equipped in comparison. It just makes me said to be in a position where a Dell is the best choice for me. I am now going waiting for a Rev.B intel iBook and hope Apple doesnt disappoint me again.

And if your company has a Dell EPP plan, check with your HR department for the extra 34% discount going until tomorrow.

lasuther

devilot · Sep 29, 2005

Your situation is most unfortunate... But let's not be rash.

lasuther said:
hen I decided I would save up some more money and get a stripped down 15 PowerBook after the update and would surely come at the Paris Expo.

Have you considered getting a refurb PB off of Apple's site? You could get a great deal. And if you haven't used a Windows machine as your primary computer in awhile, you might have forgotten what a hassle it can be.

If, however, you really do feel that you have no choice but to settle for the Dell, then I wish you the best. Not everyone can be complacent w/ the way Apple's machines are right now.

eva01 · Sep 29, 2005

Another person that doesn't know how important OS X is.

I would spend 3,000 on a laptop to get OS X then get a FREE top of the line Dell laptop. No way in hell am i going to use Windows. You can't even give me it.

iSaint · Sep 29, 2005

It takes me awhile to remember the problems I had with Windows. I have two Compaq desktops sitting here in pieces because the motherboards just gave up trying to run Windows 2000 and/or XP. Despite every effort to control adware and viruses with the proper software, the harddrives are shot.

I'm not that knowledgable, but I know enough not to go back to Windows after a blissful year with my iBook. Seems your comparisons are close, but still have some differences that affect cost. Like, IT'S a DELL running on WINDOWS!

P.S. I agree about the updates, I was hoping for a higher res screen in the iBook. I want a 15" PB, but am wondering if it will be outdated after I buy it.

tekmoe · Sep 29, 2005

some people will pay the high price for OS X, other's wont. i myself, will. not only because of OS X but also for the reason that i love the apple hardware.

now, some people downsize Windows to be the worst OS of all OS's. it's really not that bad. if it were, there wouldn't be as many Windows users that there are to this day. yes, compared to OS X, it's a shame...i know this. BUT, please people, Windows is not as bad as you make it to be. it has come a long way, and ANY OS can always use improvements.

i guess i am posting this because i hate it when i see someone knocking on another board member who is griping about the hardware being "outdated", and jump all over them because the board member is going to switch back to Windows. great, let them switch back to Windows. if it makes them happy, so be it.

the point is, we know OS X works for us. if it did not, we would not be using macs. and we also like the hardware. if we did not, again, we would not be using macs. the people that decide they want to use Windows over mac are obviously not as determined as you or i to use OS X. sure, it's our job to help remind them, "hey, mac OS X kicks ass. you know it. i know it. we all know it." but that will not change their mind when they have tunnel vision of the "outdated" hardware they will have to use to run OS X.

my advice: let them go to Windows. it will not hurt you or i. it won't even hurt them. Windows is just another OS. not as good as OS X (opinion of course), but still fully functional.

rant over.

ohcrap · Sep 29, 2005

tekmoe said:
Windows is just another OS.

Simply put, yes, Windows is just another OS. But don't forget that it is one of (if not THE) most malware and security hole ridden OS to ever hit the market.

My advice, if you must go PC, fine. But at least install a nice Linux distro like SuSE 9.1 Pro or something. I just can't understand why anyone would want to run Windows when there are so many security problems to worry about.

jsw · Sep 29, 2005

Good grief, people!

XP is fine. Yes, it's not as great in a lot of ways as Tiger, but this malware/virus/spyware myth/old news has got to stop! Anyone with even a decent capability to use a computer can stop it. My parents, for god's sake, who can't program a VCR, don't have anything on their XP system.

Buy the Dell. It's 1/3 the cost and not 1/3 the features, and feel good about it. If you want OS X, get a 15" PB at ~twice the price.

And FWIW, if you spend $500 on an Apple Select membership, you'll save more than that on a loaded 17" PB.

Edit: and I say this partly because I'm still PO'd at Apple for the crummy screen choices on the PBs (not size but resolution). Everything else is fine, but those screens suck compared to PC offerings.

nutmac · Sep 29, 2005

Like others have said, it's all about the experience. That said, I think it is difficult to justify 17" PowerBook's price tag, even at Amazon's more attractive price of $2457.60 ($2699.99 - A9.com's 1.57% discount - $200 mail-in rebate) with free shipping (and no sales tax unless you are in WA).

The question is, do you really need a notebook? 17" notebooks aren't very portable and if it doesn't need to be moved much, perhaps you should consider much more powerful and capable iMac G5. 17" iMac G5 does not cost much more than Dell and it is arguable more powerful.

stonyc · Sep 29, 2005

nutmac said:
Like others have said, it's all about the experience. That said, I think it is difficult to justify 17" PowerBook's price tag, even at Amazon's more attractive price of $2457.60 ($2699.99 - A9.com's 1.57% discount - $200 mail-in rebate) with free shipping (and no sales tax unless you are in WA).

The question is, do you really need a notebook? 17" notebooks aren't very portable and if it doesn't need to be moved much, perhaps you should consider much more powerful and capable iMac G5. 17" iMac G5 does not cost much more than Dell and it is arguable more powerful.

I second that, if portability isn't an issue then I would highly consider an iMac. Or even one of the updated 1.5 mac minis.. I'm pretty tempted myself to get a mini and a nice dell flat panel.

wdlove · Sep 29, 2005

You should really consider a refurb first before going with a Dell. There are a lot of good deals. You know that you really want a Mac.

Scottyk9 · Sep 29, 2005

TCO

= Total cost of ownership...

http://securityawareness.blogspot.com/2005/09/mad-as-hell-finale-recommendations-and.html

crees! · Sep 29, 2005

devilot76 said:
And if you haven't used a Windows machine as your primary computer in awhile, you might have forgotten what a hassle it can be.

I can attest to that.

wPod · Sep 29, 2005

if you were playing WOW on an old iBook then why do you think you need a 17" PB to play it now?

also consider the portability the dell is a brick. i think the 17" PB is not portable but compared to the 17" dell the PB is actually portable.

just remeber what you are getting yourself into if you get a windows machine. i think you will still be fighting over the iBook if you end up going the dell route.

Koodauw · Sep 29, 2005

At those prices, I would go with the Dell as well. Not everyone gets huge discounts like that everyday, and thats the real kicker here. Anyways enjoy the dell, I'm sure you will like it.

GFLPraxis · Sep 29, 2005

Buy the Dell. Sell it for more than you bought it for on EBay, advertising it as new, never opened, still in box. Then buy a PowerBook with that money. Problem solved!

jiv3turkey748 · Sep 29, 2005

if i were you i would wait at least a couple of weeks to see if the powerbooks get updated, and if they dont then i guess you should get the dell, it is a better deal but windows really sux

Yoyodyne · Sep 29, 2005

For all that is rational and logical in the worldget the Dell. I agree that members of this board exaggerate XPs cons and make it sound like a useless piece of software. As long as you arent surfing porn sites with Internet Explorer, you rarely get these apocalyptic malware takedowns that people scream murder about. Reading those Dell specs makes me want to cry when I compare it to Apples specs. And dont go preaching build quality advantages, because at this point Apple is no better than Dell. But, macs arent meant for power, theyre meant for reliability. At least thats what I keep telling myself.

jhujhiti · Sep 29, 2005

Everyone seems to be focusing on the software side of things. Let's not forget that this, physically, is a *Dell*. I've heard so many horror stories about Dell hardware problems, my head would explode if I tried to even remember all of them. There's nothing wrong with trying to save that money, but keep the engineering in mind as well.

BGil · Sep 29, 2005

jhujhiti said:
Everyone seems to be focusing on the software side of things. Let's not forget that this, physically, is a *Dell*. I've heard so many horror stories about Dell hardware problems, my head would explode if I tried to even remember all of them. There's nothing wrong with trying to save that money, but keep the engineering in mind as well.

As if we all haven't heard Apple hardware horror stories as well

jhujhiti · Sep 29, 2005

BGil said:
As if we all haven't heard Apple hardware horror stories as well

But this is largely a support forum, so I hope your sampling area is much broader than just here. Of course you see more people with problems around here than is an accurate sample of the known universe of Powerbook owners.

barneygumble · Sep 29, 2005

Get the dell mate, even OS X is not worth $2000 and anyone who thinks it is is really blind and would buy any tripe they Apple serve at the moment. Do a fresh install of the OS keep it patched and up to date and get a non symantec Security Suite something like McCaffe, oh and enjoy that beast i hope you don't have to move it around much. Keep that baby till Rev B intelbook, which may end up at those specs about 2 yrs

And despite what most people think XP SP2 is a pretty good OS, i don't even have antivirus software and it is still good and no viruses.

Dell uses the same hardware as everyone else accpet it, they fail, Apple fail all hardware fails occasionally live with it

Bear · Sep 29, 2005

barneygumble said:
...

And despite what most people think XP SP2 is a pretty good OS, i don't even have antivirus software and it is still good and no viruses.

Do you also play with fire?

barneygumble · Sep 29, 2005

Bear said:
Do you also play with fire?

Funnily enough all the time

thats what happens when you work in a lab

EricNau · Sep 29, 2005

Something to keep in mind about the Dell is that Microsoft will be coming out with Windows Vista sometime soon. After that, from my experience, it gets harder and harder to find software for an "outdated" system. And the prices Microsoft has been know to charge for thier OS, I just looked at Circuit City and XP Pro is going for $300- and it's about 4 years old! (Comapred to a brand new OS from apple for $130).
I just switched from Windows to Apple and have never been happier with a computer. You'll waste a lot of time and money bothering with things like viruses, spyware, etc. Is it really worth it? I don't think so, but if you don't mind then the dell is cheaper...

NicP · Sep 29, 2005

barneygumble said:
And despite what most people think XP SP2 is a pretty good OS, i don't even have antivirus software and it is still good and no viruses.

lol

I drive around without seatbelts all the time and i havent had a problem yet! i mean, people that know how to use cars shouldnt need seatbelts!

Apple putting me in a bad situation for laptops

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