Convincing my girlfriend - she wants me to buy a Dell!

[svejar]

Hi,

I just can't seem to convince my girlfriend that we should get an iBook instead of one of those ugly Dells. She's scared that getting a Mac will mean that we'll be seeing compatibility issues all over, and her life will fall apart. :D We're both Windows users at work (and at home), so this will be our first Mac.

Anyway - can anyone in here reassure her? This laptop will be used for:

1) Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Outlook/Entourage
2) Movies - connecting it to the TV to watch DivX, DVD, etc.
3) Music - connecting it to the stereo
4) Some PHP/html, but I mainly use a CMS to maintain my web site, so this is not a huge thing.
5) Browsing
6) Some image work - light stuff in Photoshop. Usually this will mean resizing pictures to put them up on the web.
7) Since I'm getting her a DV camera later this year, some video editing capabilities would be useful.

That's basically it.

Since I'm paying for this machine, I could more or less just go out and buy an iBook, but I would like her approval.

Would an 1GHz G4 iBook with an extra 512MB RAM be a wise choice?

An

[wrldwzrd89]

Hi,

I just can't seem to convince my girlfriend that we should get an iBook instead of one of those ugly Dells. She's scared that getting a Mac will mean that we'll be seeing compatibility issues all over, and her life will fall apart. :D We're both Windows users at work (and at home), so this will be our first Mac.

Anyway - can anyone in here reassure her? This laptop will be used for:

1) Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Outlook/Entourage
2) Movies - connecting it to the TV to watch DivX, DVD, etc.
3) Music - connecting it to the stereo
4) Some PHP/html, but I mainly use a CMS to maintain my web site, so this is not a huge thing.
5) Browsing
6) Some image work - light stuff in Photoshop. Usually this will mean resizing pictures to put them up on the web.
7) Since I'm getting her a DV camera later this year, some video editing capabilities would be useful.

That's basically it.

Since I'm paying for this machine, I could more or less just go out and buy an iBook, but I would like her approval.

Would an 1GHz G4 iBook with an extra 512MB RAM be a wise choice?

An
I can tell you that I know all of those (except #2, which I don't know much about) will work well on that iBook. Perhaps someone else can chime in on #2? As far as #7 goes, Apple supplies an application called iMovie, which should be just the ticket for you. If you think you'll ever be burning DVDs on that iBook, get one with a SuperDrive - you won't regret it!

[blue&whiteman]

found this text here (http://www.apple.com/ibook/graphics.html)

"S-Video and Composite Video Output

Displaying your multimedia projects on a big-screen TV is easy. Simply connect your TV to the Video output port via the optional Apple Video Adapter, and you’re on television."

so its an optional part but I would assume its only 20-30$

[Wes]

As for playing the DiVX movies: www.videolan.org or http://mplayerosx.sourceforge.net/ will both suit you fine. It sounds like the iBook will do everything you need!

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Your iBook should be able to do all that, the only thing I'm a bit concerned about is divx-viewing. DVDs are no problem, but my 800MHz G4 iBook struggles a bit with larger divx files...

VLC getting better and better for each version, but if you watch LOTS of divx movies, and use your computer as a home entertainment centre with mostly divx' then you need something other than an iBook, unfortunatly. For DVDs, music and all other things you mentioned, though, it will be excellent... I love my iBook, even better than the Pismo it replaced (which was an awsome machine when new...)

I think your biggest problem is your girlfriend. How can you be with someone so aesthetically challenged that she wants a Dell, that is just too gross... Dump her and get the best Mac money can buy... ;)

[JFreak]

Since I'm paying for this machine, I could more or less just go out and buy an iBook, but I would like her approval.

you don't need her approval, it is you who buys it and not her. but you can always be nice to her and say "honey, trust me on this one" with a nice big smile... :)

just don't buy the dell. be without a computer for a while and when she asks when you're going to buy it, just say "whenever it can be an apple" :)

[applekid]

1) Got Microsoft Office
2) Got mplayer and DVD Player and the Apple Video Adapter.
3) Got iTunes with a cable from the headphone jack to your stereo
4) Dunno about that. I'm assuming the software exists on the Mac.
5) Got Safari and all of those Mozilla Browsers and IE (if you actually need it)
6) Got Photoshop or even Photoshop Elements (I find it just as good)
7) Got iMovie and iDVD

Get the iBook if you can get all of that software cheaper. The only thing you actually have to buy are Microsoft Office and Photoshop/Elements, if you don't already own those. Everything else is free.

[evil_santa]

6/ iphoto will do image resizing & publish to web if you have the .mac account
7/ dv is very good on the mac. imovie if you want to do basic edits of you home movies & final cut express if you want to do more

[windowsblowsass]

just remind her how cute the mac is tje awe its pretty routine should convince her

[quagmire]

Get her drunk, then have her sign a contract saying it is okay to buy the ibook. Then you have her approval and get the ibook. :D

[JasonL]

As mentioned, it will perform those tasks very well.

It's your money, buy what you want. I recently switched and have been very happy with my decision to do so. Even my wife, who is rather technology-averse has gotten up to speed (or her version of it) on the Mac.

For future reference, try to go out with open-minded girls that are willing to try new things. ;)

[thedoc1111]

If you can cope with the small screen - look at the 12" PowerBook with the 80GB 5400rpm Hard Drive Option

It is literally a 33% Processor Speed Increase (33% Faster System Bus, same CPU Multiplier) and buy the RAM from Crucial.

The Faster Hard Drive makes a huge performance difference and it is smaller and lighter than the 12" iBook.

It also has much better graphics - I compared the two and the extra features made it much better value than a nicely customised 12" iBook.

If you do get the iBook, make sure you get Bluetooth Built-In, you never know when you might use it and it can't be retrofitted later!

It is also just as good value than any Dell for sale in the UK as far as the specification goes!

[Koodauw]

The iBook will do everything you have asked of it. As for the GF, just explain to her that this is what you really want to do. She should understand.

[wide]

I have a Dell and I can't do any of the things you want to do. Just tell her that :D

[grapes911]

If she wants a dell, let her get it. You aren't the one that has to use it.

[Les Kern]

Awww. Her sex must be GREAT, huh? Buy what you want and quit the whining. If your love can't survive a computer purchase, then why bother? I mean, it's so damn trivial.

[dvdh]

Your iBook should be able to do all that, the only thing I'm a bit concerned about is divx-viewing. DVDs are no problem, but my 800MHz G4 iBook struggles a bit with larger divx files...

My iBook G3 900 has not problem with DivX. You may want to to try playing them with Mplayer as an alternative to VLC.

Mplayer can be found here: http://mplayerosx.sourceforge.net/

[baby duck monge]

Get her drunk, then have her sign a contract saying it is okay to buy the ibook. Then you have her approval and get the ibook. :D

alas, it doesn't quite work that way. even if you sign something, they have some silly rule that if you were coerced or otherwise unable to really think for yourself (ie: not sober) it doesn't count. oh well... :D

If your love can't survive a computer purchase, then why bother? I mean, it's so damn trivial.

i think you're missing the point. his girl has some legitimate concerns about whether a mac would suit their needs (since all the computers in their life run windows), so he wants to be able to reassure her that whatever computer they get will suit their needs adequately. yes he could just go out and get whatever he wants, and yes it would probably be just fine in the end, but wanting to make sure his girlfriend is on board with this purchase is just a nice thing to do.

[SuperChuck]

If you buy the Dell, you'll forever regret it. If you buy the Apple, she'll soon see the light and be forever grateful. If she doubts you, just ask her how many people she knows who blather on endlessly about how much they love their Dell PC and spend their free time searching for the latest scoop on what's happening at Dell's Corporate HQ. Then, direct her to this site. Either we're all nutcases, or the Mac is something special. I vote for the latter.

[Jovian9]

If you were taking her out for dinner what would she enjoy more?

-An inexpensive meal from mcdonalds that she'll probably enjoy and will fill her up so she's not hungry anymore.....she'll be comfortable eating there and you'll be in and out in 10 minutes......no fuss
or
-A more expensive meal from a nice restaurant that takes its time preparing it....it will take longer to cook....you'll have to sit down and enjoy each others company while you wait......but she will enjoy it a lot more and remember the experience.

Sorry.....but my PC experiences remind me of fast food.....put together fast and cheap.

[SuperChuck]

his girl has some legitimate concerns about whether a mac would suit their needs (since all the computers in their life run windows)

Actually, he's listed the things they will be doing with the Mac, and none of the incompatibility concerns are legitimate. In fact, for some items on the list (like editing video) the Mac will run circles around the Dell.

[quagmire]

alas, it doesn't quite work that way. even if you sign something, they have some silly rule that if you were coerced or otherwise unable to really think for yourself (ie: not sober) it doesn't count. oh well... :D



i think you're missing the point. his girl has some legitimate concerns about whether a mac would suit their needs (since all the computers in their life run windows), so he wants to be able to reassure her that whatever computer they get will suit their needs adequately. yes he could just go out and get whatever he wants, and yes it would probably be just fine in the end, but wanting to make sure his girlfriend is on board with this purchase is just a nice thing to do.

Who says that you have to tell her that she was drunk. You can just say that she was to busy doing something and she signed it without reading it. It is still valid.

[rt_brained]

My GF received a PC as a college gift from her family. I convinced her to return it and upgrade to an iMac. 5 years later, she's on her third Mac (iMac --> iBook --> Powerbook) and she probably knows more about OS X than I do.

Unlike anything else available on a Dell (or any other PC for that matter) Apple's iLife suite quickly becomes an extension of you. Switching is not just a computing change...It's a whole lifestyle change.

[BornAgainMac]

found this text here (http://www.apple.com/ibook/graphics.html)

"S-Video and Composite Video Output

Displaying your multimedia projects on a big-screen TV is easy. Simply connect your TV to the Video output port via the optional Apple Video Adapter, and you’re on television."

so its an optional part but I would assume its only 20-30$

My iBook had the composite and audio connectors in the box. I hook it up to my TV to watch DVDs, show slideshows, console gaming, and as a WebTV device since it's wireless.

[baby duck monge]

Actually, he's listed the things they will be doing with the Mac, and none of the incompatibility concerns are legitimate. In fact, for some items on the list (like editing video) the Mac will run circles around the Dell.

:rolleyes:

yes, but if neither he nor his girlfriend knew that ahead of time, their concerns were still valid. this is actually one of the biggest problems in getting people to switch: they think that macs will have these problems, and never take the time to ask.

[thirteen1031]

I don't know if this has been asked but have you taken her to an Apple store and let her play on a Mac? A walk through a Dell store--then a walk through the Apple store may be all it takes to convince her. Apple stores are pretty spiffy and actually playing on the computers there may be enough to entice her over to the light side.

[Darwin]

I don't know if this has been asked but have you taken her to an Apple store and let her play on a Mac? A walk through a Dell store--then a walk through the Apple store may be all it takes to convince her. Apple stores are pretty spiffy and actually playing on the computers there may be enough to entice her over to the light side.

I guess its easy to say that a Mac is good and all but as 13 said they best experience it for themselves

and if she still says no buy one anyway :D

[quagmire]

I don't know if this has been asked but have you taken her to an Apple store and let her play on a Mac? A walk through a Dell store--then a walk through the Apple store may be all it takes to convince her. Apple stores are pretty spiffy and actually playing on the computers there may be enough to entice her over to the light side.

Do they live near a dell store. They are very scarce now.

[dopefiend]

Yall have to remember though....

OS-X is not for everyone.

There are a lot of people out there that actually like Windows and would be extremely hard to be swayed away from it.

[Sun Baked]

If she plans on having a lot of contact with law offices and their WordPerfect loving natures -- she may want to pick up MacLinkPlus (http://www.dataviz.com/products/maclinkplus/index.html) ((useful program for file conversion)

Then again AppleWorks is also another method around it, since it comes with a WP widget.

Otherwise Office, and Adobe use universal file formats.

And the only problem would be whether she wants to use the Dell/MS MP3 player or an iPod.

And if she outgrows iMovie and iDVD, there's always Final Cut Express/Pro.

[anubis]

I don't think there's anything wrong with dell laptops.

In the past 7 years I've owned 3 mac laptops and a dell laptop. The first mac laptop I got was a wallstreet G3. It's motherboard went out after a year and a half, and I sold it for parts because a replacement motherboard was $700. The second laptop i got was an ibook SE. it had a 800x600 12-inch screen that was impossible to get used to. it was just too small. i sold it and got a powerbook g4 titanium. i had to send it back to apple on 3 seperate occasions because the dvd drive jammed, the the screen went out, and the motherboard went out. Just after the warranty expired the motherboard went out again. I sold it for parts.

Then I got a refurbished dell inspiron 8100. I've had it for over 2 years and it has worked beautifully. Not a single problem in that time. It's fast, with a huge beautiful 15-inch screen.

The cost of PC laptops was a major consideration to me. The average prices of the apple laptops were over $2000, while the inspiron was $1100 and has lasted twice as long as any of my mac laptops.

*shrug* i dunno.... i know people are going to hate me for suggesting getting a dell over getting a mac. but you need to understand: i'm not just blindly loyal to apple. if something better than apple comes along, i'm there. right now i have a dual 867 g4 MDD desktop and an inspiron 8100 laptop, and i'm very happy with each of them.

[blue&whiteman]

I don't think there's anything wrong with dell laptops.

In the past 7 years I've owned 3 mac laptops and a dell laptop. The first mac laptop I got was a wallstreet G3. It's motherboard went out after a year and a half, and I sold it for parts because a replacement motherboard was $700. The second laptop i got was an ibook SE. it had a 800x600 12-inch screen that was impossible to get used to. it was just too small. i sold it and got a powerbook g4 titanium. i had to send it back to apple on 3 seperate occasions because the dvd drive jammed, the the screen went out, and the motherboard went out. Just after the warranty expired the motherboard went out again. I sold it for parts.

Then I got a refurbished dell inspiron 8100. I've had it for over 2 years and it has worked beautifully. Not a single problem in that time. It's fast, with a huge beautiful 15-inch screen.

The cost of PC laptops was a major consideration to me. The average prices of the apple laptops were over $2000, while the inspiron was $1100 and has lasted twice as long as any of my mac laptops.

*shrug* i dunno.... i know people are going to hate me for suggesting getting a dell over getting a mac. but you need to understand: i'm not just blindly loyal to apple. if something better than apple comes along, i'm there. right now i have a dual 867 g4 MDD desktop and an inspiron 8100 laptop, and i'm very happy with each of them.

all those resons are somewhat valid but for most all it comes down to is pc or mac. I would take a slower mac over a faster and even cheaper pc any day.

[cebritt]

...the next version of Windows, code named Longhorn, when it ships in two years. Dell's dirty little secret is that they don't provide drivers for PCs that are more than six months old. They want you to buy a new PC every three years. Think Bic pen.

I'm running Panther just fine on my 450MHz iMac with 512MB of RAM. Think Monteblanc pen.

If you're going to be stuck with a PC notebook, at least get a Sony or Toshiba.

[grapes911]

all those resons are somewhat valid but for most all it comes down to is pc or mac. I would take a slower mac over a faster and even cheaper pc any day.

Right there is my point. YOU would take a mac over pc any day. You aren't this guy's girlfriend. Most of you just don't get it. If she wants a dell talk to her about getting a mac. Don't pressure her. If she doesn't want a mac, get the dell. What is all of your problems? It is for her. If you want a vette and she wants you to get a minivan because she feels it is safer, do you want her pressuring you to get the minivan? No, you have to drive it, not her. She has to use the computer, so let her get what she wants.

[grapes911]

...the next version of Windows, code named Longhorn, when it ships in two years. Dell's dirty little secret is that they don't provide drivers for PCs that are more than six months old. They want you to buy a new PC every three years. Think Bic pen.

I'm running Panther just fine on my 450MHz iMac with 512MB of RAM. Think Monteblanc pen.

If you're going to be stuck with a PC notebook, at least get a Sony or Toshiba.


My roomate just purchased a 4 year old dell and put windows xp on it. He had no problems getting drivers.

[OziMac]

Get her drunk, then have her sign a contract saying it is okay to buy the ibook. Then you have her approval and get the ibook. :D

I think the contract would probably be void since she was under duress and did not have capacity to sign when she did. :)

But seriously, just take her to an Apple shop and address each of those concerns in turn. They are all very reasonably met by the iBook. If she is still not happy, then you're not going to convice her. You need to then decide whether falling in line with her concerns is more important than taking a 'gamble' on the Mac and seeing if she grows to like/love it. I would think the latter is the best way to go if you are paying for it yourself - but your decision ultimately, I hope you choose wisely ;)

[blue&whiteman]

Right there is my point. YOU would take a mac over pc any day. You aren't this guy's girlfriend. Most of you just don't get it. If she wants a dell talk to her about getting a mac. Don't pressure her. If she doesn't want a mac, get the dell. What is all of your problems? It is for her. If you want a vette and she wants you to get a minivan because she feels it is safer, do you want her pressuring you to get the minivan? No, you have to drive it, not her. She has to use the computer, so let her get what she wants.

dude. back the hell off. i'm not pushing anyone to do anything. you have some issues. work on that.

[sethwerkheiser]

During our marrige (4 years this November) our Compaq went pooey. It still works, but we wanted a change.

My wife is a grad student. Being able work with Word and such was important (though she just uses AppleWorks now... heh). She was a die-hard Window user. Heck, I used Windows for 10 years. But we made the leap.

It's a bit scary at first, but you get used to it. Heck, I convinced my parents to get an eMac and they LOVE it, and they were die-hard windows users.

Ttry to get her to a Mac store. Have her play with it. Ask questions. All that. That's what pushed me and my wife over the edge. And as I type this we're sitting in bed, she;s playing the Sims on a G3 iBook, and I'm spending my Sunday evening typing on MacRumors with my G4 iBook :)

[nyprospect]

Find another girlfriend ;)

[grapes911]

dude. back the hell off. i'm not pushing anyone to do anything. you have some issues. work on that.
Don't get so defensive. I was directing my comments to the group as a whole. I was using you post as an example. People just keep saying that they would rather have a mac or a mac can do everything the girl wants. Except for a few people, no one just says "let her have what she wants."

[Sun Baked]

All depends on whose credit card you will be using...

Let the person that forks over the plastic make the decision.

[Daveman Deluxe]

Don't get so defensive. I was directing my comments to the group as a whole. I was using you post as an example. People just keep saying that they would rather have a mac or a mac can do everything the girl wants. Except for a few people, no one just says "let her have what she wants."

Why should it just be what she wants and not also what he wants when it sounds as if this is a computer for both of them?

[nyprospect]

I remember starting with a webtv and i was tickled.i then went from a webtv to an aol tv :o than to a 120p nothing lol.than gradually to a desktop p1 200mhz .i was still happy.like wow a pc.than i craved speed i bought a dell 266 laptop omg that was so fast .using windows 98 than a compaq 550mhz now i though that this was a monster.a year later i bought an amd pc.and now i thought i had the ultimate pc.Noone was gonna stop me now lol.now people are arguing about speed.I now have a 3.0gig p4 and i thought i was on top .now they have a faster processor out lol.im gonna switch soon.A Quality 1.5ghz with stability will win.im sorry if this is off topic but i just want to but in my 2 bucks worth.

[blue&whiteman]

Don't get so defensive. I was directing my comments to the group as a whole. I was using you post as an example. People just keep saying that they would rather have a mac or a mac can do everything the girl wants. Except for a few people, no one just says "let her have what she wants."

when you post is directed at multiple people don't quote someone elses post. now go accuse more people of things they didn't even do.

[grapes911]

Why should it just be what she wants and not also what he wants when it sounds as if this is a computer for both of them?

It sounds like it is for both of them. But why start a fight if she wants a dell. You have to pick your battles and I don't think this should be one of them. Just trying to get this guy both sides of the coin. I'd rather have a mac as well, but I wouldn't get one if my girlfriend did want it. Maybe I'll use that to win a more important arguement later.

[slooksterPSV]

Macs are very big on Movies (ever watched Lord Of The Rings? yup it was done on a Mac), Pictures are a big thing on Macs - photoshoots and that are made to look better on a Mac - At my school my teacher has a mac lab (never uses Windows) and for the Senior part of the yearbook, he put tuxes on people who weren't wearing them and you couldn't tell the difference. Music is also big, ever listen to BT (Brian Transeau) ? He's a Trance Artist and he does his works on a Mac and they are perfect. Office I've heard is really good on Mac.
That sums up basically as much as I know. Also the security on a Mac is unmatched

[form]

I'd get a dell (laptop only), not just to appease her, but because it's better, faster, etc.

[tamara6]

I'd get a dell (laptop only), not just to appease her, but because it's better, faster, etc.

Better, faster, etc? Not if you are trying to run OS X - you just can't do that on a Dell.

[slooksterPSV]

PPC processors are proven to be faster than Intel and AMD (I love AMD to death don't get me wrong). AMD has the first 64-bit Windows Processor for the home user, but Mac was the first for the world. Pentium is now tring to over that by using 'dual chipping' which is 2 processors in one processor. Buy a Mac dude its the sensible thing to do.

[revenuee]

It sounds like it is for both of them. But why start a fight if she wants a dell. You have to pick your battles and I don't think this should be one of them. Just trying to get this guy both sides of the coin. I'd rather have a mac as well, but I wouldn't get one if my girlfriend did want it. Maybe I'll use that to win a more important arguement later.

wife maybe ... g/f? common, thats a compromise of a few thousands dollars.

i agree on picking your battle but as far as what she needs the computer to do, the mac can do it, and it can do it better ---

i hate using windows because when i browse the net i have to run one of those stupid anti-spyware software packages every little while because the computer slows down ... on my mac i see this stuff downloading to my desktop but it can't run since it's always .exe

i need a computer that i don't have to spend time maintaining since i have better things to do on it ... the a spyware free environment is reason enough for me to stay with mac

as far as "using this to win a more important battle" --- wow that's one healthy relationship you have there if you throw things back in your wife or g/f face like that

[Darwin]

I'd get a dell (laptop only), not just to appease her, but because it's better, faster, etc.

Speed isn't always everything

My Dad has just been given a Dell Laptop for work, soft as hell, you rest your palm on it and it feels like its going to break

I'm sure it will last but its ugly too :rolleyes:

[grapes911]

wife maybe ... g/f? common, thats a compromise of a few thousands dollars.

i agree on picking your battle but as far as what she needs the computer to do, the mac can do it, and it can do it better ---

i hate using windows because when i browse the net i have to run one of those stupid anti-spyware software packages every little while because the computer slows down ... on my mac i see this stuff downloading to my desktop but it can't run since it's always .exe

i need a computer that i don't have to spend time maintaining since i have better things to do on it ... the a spyware free environment is reason enough for me to stay with mac

as far as "using this to win a more important battle" --- wow that's one healthy relationship you have there if you throw things back in your wife or g/f face like that

First, I've never had an .exe download to my windows, os x, or linux desktop. You may want to check that out.

Second, its not throwing things back in her face. Its a form of compromising. My girlfriend loves my ibook and now wants one. She didn't want the powermac I was going to buy. Instead I got a ibook and I built a low end pc combined for the same price of the powermac. We each got almost what we wanted. After two years of having my ibook, she now loves os x. Our next computer will probably be a powermac in the next year or so. If I just got the powermac, she probably would have not liked it just because I didn't listen to her input. But because I did take her into consideration she was more willing to accept the mac.

I know that building an laptop is out of the question, and not everyone has the money to get two computers (I spet about 1,800 on the two computer about two years ago).

[thirteen1031]

Having gotten new info, I've edited this:

It's a JOINT computer (BOTH using it), and it's HIS money. She is, however, his long-time girlfriend/fiance (they're getting married).

This means:
1) HE has to use it, too. And if he WANTS a mac, why should her wanting a Dell take precidence? I'm not saying she shouldn't have any imput, but he's not buying it for her. He's buying it for THEM. If he was buying it for her and her alone, then let her have what she wants. If it's for both their use, then they MUST examine both, test out both, and not just blindly go for one or the other.

As for the "pick your battles" argument--that works if you're talking about where to go for dinner or a movie or buying a blanket for the bed. But for a computer? No. That's a lot of money and something they'll both use a lot. I would be furious if my significant other made me spend MY money on a computer that crashes, is vulnerable to viruses and impedes MY work and uses an OS I can't stand JUST because they're too scared to try something new. That is NOT an acceptable sacrifice for an acceptable reason.

2) As written in the original post, it would seem to be HIS money. But they're going to marry so I'm a bit fuzzy on this. If they both work and earn about equal money, then she should buy her own Dell. If he works and supports them, then they need to jointly decide. If they both work but he makes more money, again, they need to jointly decide.

I would still urge him to take her shopping with him, show her both Dell and Mac and how they work, show her how cute and slim and pretty the iBook is and that it can handle everything THEY want it to handle. He should NOT disregard her opinion in this joint decision, nor make her fear that he made a stupid mistake they both have to live with. In the end, however, I strongly feel that no good can come out of letting her, alone, make this decision. Not if he's really, really, really wants a Mac and will regret the money he spent if he doesn't get one.

I suspect that he's going to feel sick to his stomach every day he looks at that Dell if he buys one, regretting and kicking himself for not getting an iBook. I seriously doubt that she's going to feel the same if they buy an iBook instead of a Dell.

[anubis]

This is kind of a continuation of a post I made earlier. Someone mentioned that regardless of how much cheaper/faster my dell laptop is, it can't run OS X. Well, that may be true. But can a mac laptop run all of the programs I need in college, including Electronics Workbench, TopSPICE, Altera, and Scientific Workplace? The best operating system in the world is worthless if I can't use it for anything.

Someone else mentioned that placing their hands on a dell laptop made them feel like they were going to break it. My dell inspiron is one sturdy sonofabitch. It's been stepped on, dropped, beat to hell and it's still working like a trooper. Can't say the same thing about my titanium powerbook g4. My powerbook got all kinds of cracks in the case from normal wear (because titanium, contrary to popular belief, is actually a very brittle metal... what makes it strong is when it's alloyed. Apple touted "99% titanium content" in the powerbook g4 because people fall for gimics. a 90% titanium powerbook would have been MUCH stronger and would have resisted cracking). It was so thin that I couldn't put it in a backpack because it would be crushed. However I can slam my inspiron into backpack with a few huge college textbooks and don't have to worry about the thing snapping in two.

Anyway, I'll reiterate my previous point. I'm not blindly loyal to apple. If something better comes along, I'm there. I use my MDD G4 for day-to-day tasks because OS X makes me feel good. I use my inspiron for all of the electronic circuit simulation that is required for my degree, because none of these programs are available for Mac. If all of the programs you need to run are available for Mac, and you are willing to pay twice as much for the priveledge of running Mac OS X, then knock yourself out. Otherwise, considering a PC should not be out of the quesiton.

[snooziums]

I owned a Dell laptop just a year ago and it was nothing but trouble. It completely failed twice, and on the second failure, it went up in a blaze of flames and smoke.

There is no such thing as tech support. You call and wait on hold for an hour, get connected to someone who does not know the answers, get transfered, wait for another period of time, and then get disconnected.

Read the following site before buying a Dell:

http://grohol.com/computers/dell.htm

Dell had gone way down to just about zero in tech support. If you have to buy a PC laptop, buy from someone other than Dell, please!

[BrianKonarsMac]

tell her it's over. seriously, who wants to date a girl who prefers Dell's anyway?

[revenuee]

tell her it's over. seriously, who wants to date a girl who prefers Dell's anyway?

best response ever

[dopefiend]

who wants to date a girl who prefers Dell's anyway?

My girlfriend owns a compaq(even worse) ....

I wish I could post pictures to show the 2 reasons I stay with her :p

[LethalWolfe]

...the next version of Windows, code named Longhorn, when it ships in two years. Dell's dirty little secret is that they don't provide drivers for PCs that are more than six months old. They want you to buy a new PC every three years. Think Bic pen.

I'm running Panther just fine on my 450MHz iMac with 512MB of RAM. Think Monteblanc pen.

If you're going to be stuck with a PC notebook, at least get a Sony or Toshiba.


I recently got an ancient (7 or 8 year old ) dell lappy for $25. It came w/win95 and I had no problem getting 98SE up and running or d/ling the Win98 related drivers for it off of Dell's website. I woulda liked to install Win2k but the hardware just isn't fast enough to keep it above a slide show.


Lethal

[LethalWolfe]

Someone else mentioned that placing their hands on a dell laptop made them feel like they were going to break it. My dell inspiron is one sturdy sonofabitch. It's been stepped on, dropped, beat to hell and it's still working like a trooper. Can't say the same thing about my titanium powerbook g4. My powerbook got all kinds of cracks in the case from normal wear (because titanium, contrary to popular belief, is actually a very brittle metal... what makes it strong is when it's alloyed. Apple touted "99% titanium content" in the powerbook g4 because people fall for gimics. a 90% titanium powerbook would have been MUCH stronger and would have resisted cracking). It was so thin that I couldn't put it in a backpack because it would be crushed. However I can slam my inspiron into backpack with a few huge college textbooks and don't have to worry about the thing snapping in two.


Just out of curiousity what is the size and weight of your Dell?


Lethal

[quagmire]

If she musts have a pc computer but, you want a mac get a hp. The reason is HP is in a partnership with apple, so you can feel in a way that you can own an mac. Post pics of her so we can decide to for you to dump her or to give in and get a pc( also to keep her).

[nyprospect]

If shes hot! then tatoo a dell logo on your stomach.serious i though all girls liked the cute ibook.

[dopefiend]

If she musts have a pc computer but, you want a mac get a hp. The reason is HP is in a partnership with apple, so you can feel in a way that you can own an mac. Post pics of her so we can decide to for you to dump her or to give in and get a pc( also to keep her).

No way!

Check out Averatec!

www.averatec.com

The 12 inch laptop is just plain bad ass and very cheap.

[grapes911]

No way!

Check out Averatec!

www.averatec.com

The 12 inch laptop is just plain bad ass and very cheap.

Its a nice laptop (for a windows machine)

[svejar]

Wow. 60+ replies, what can I say? Well, I just finished reading through them, and I came uå with a solution:

1) I get the iBook and she gets a Dell - it'll cost a bit extra, but it's still fairly reasonably priced.
2) We're getting married - we'we been together for 8 years, so I guess it's a stretch to call her my "girlfriend"

Is she hot? Well, to me she is! :) Guess it's love, eh?

Thank you all!

[dopefiend]

2) We're getting married - we'we been together for 8 years, so I guess it's a stretch to call her my "girlfriend"

Congratulations :D

[anubis]

Just out of curiousity what is the size and weight of your Dell?


Lethal

you bring up a good point. the dell is only slightly lighter than a cinder block, weighing in at over 7 pounds. it's probably 2 inches thick. true, the powerbook is only 1 inch thick and weighs less. however, i always feel like i'm going to snap the powerbook in two because it's so thin and small whenever it comes time to carry it in my backpack. i'd rather have a laptop that i can bang around and i know it won't get busted up than a laptop that i have to treat like a baby to avoid getting any scratches/breaks in it.

[LethalWolfe]

you bring up a good point. the dell is only slightly lighter than a cinder block, weighing in at over 7 pounds. it's probably 2 inches thick. true, the powerbook is only 1 inch thick and weighs less. however, i always feel like i'm going to snap the powerbook in two because it's so thin and small whenever it comes time to carry it in my backpack. i'd rather have a laptop that i can bang around and i know it won't get busted up than a laptop that i have to treat like a baby to avoid getting any scratches/breaks in it.

It's a trade off. Size and weight against abuse absorbtion :). I think one reason why most people recommend iBooks for students is because they are more suited for a rough and tumble lifestyle.

I'm looking to get an iBook for a similar reason. I've never owned a laptop before so I know it's going to get abused (kinda like your first car) and I have a desktop so I don't need the faster, and more expensive, Powerbooks.


Lethal