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17" MBP compared to 17" Dell studio - What if I just want a high res screen?

getz76 said:
There is where I disagree. I find the exact opposite. You want the latest processor, LED backlit screen, discrete graphics and form factor, the Macbook Pro is actually reasonably priced. Same with the 8-core Mac Pros.

The specifications on the 13" Macbook Pro or 13" White Macbook? You can get a similar Dell (like the M1330) for a much better price.
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If you actually go and spec it out you'll find that what I was saying is correct, and it is infact opposite to what you are saying.

The dell M1330 is actually more money and you don't get the high quality aluminum enclosure or nice battery. The larger models though can be matched for WAY cheaper.
 
thesmoth said:
The dell M1330 is actually more money and you don't get the high quality aluminum enclosure or nice battery. The larger models though can be matched for WAY cheaper.
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Maybe Canadian, but definitely not in the US. You can get the M1330 with the LED backlit screen, more memory and a larger hard drive for under $1,000.
 
If all you want is the high res screen and don't care about the OS just get the Studio. The studio is just fine for a laptop screen. Many people buy the studio over the mac because its a $1,000 cheaper.

I had a 17" studio with the same configuration as the MBP in my sig before my mac and and its a very capable machine. Vista 64 is way faster in many ways than OS X. and unless your gaming or doing some other type of very intensive graphics work you wont miss the graphics of the mac at all.
 
Schraiber said:
I have to say, just anecdotally, I have had some friends with HORRIBLE experiences with Dells. I think it's just bad luck, but one of my friends had his harddrive die TWICE within the first year of owning the computer and another friend had it happen once. I'd personally go with an HP, an OEM which I've seen fewer problems with.
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Then allow me to balance your post. I'll spare you the details, since parts of them are already in other threads here at MR. I went through four (4!) uMBP's before I got one that would work 100% and stay that way for longer than a month. Upon receiving the last replacement I've sold it, sparing me the headache of potential overheating et. al. problems yet again. So when anyone refers to 'Apple build quality' these days just makes me want to slowly shake my head. OS X is good, the hardware ain't.

It's since been replaced by a Samsung notebook which impresses me far more than my uMBP did, and for much less as well. I even had enough money leftover to buy a powerful stationary HTPC as well. Yes, the Samsung has a LED screen as well and the ever infamous feature of an SD card reader! And no SATA problems whatsoever either!

Let the ever flaming rain of posts from Apple-apologists begin! :rolleyes:
 
thesmoth said:
Vancouver.

And like i said I realize that the macs are way better, and for the 13" specifically there is a lot of value in what you get (including OSX). My point is that when you move up to the realm of the 15" and 17" models, they are far overpriced compared to competators (even though they are VERY nice). If you spec out a similar 13" lenovo or dell, they will be about the same price as the 13" MBP, AND they will be far worse quality. The same thing can not be said for the 15" and 17" models (well they are still way better, but the prices are not comparable).
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You keep on saying this, but all you've done is provide one example of a 17" machine with completely different specs and performance. Your argument lacks any sort of evidence.

There have been comparisons done of the 17" MBP vs. similarly-specced, professional-grade notebooks, and the Apple comes out very well in those comparisons. It does do poorly in comparisons with similarly-specced consumer-grade notebooks, however. My point is, your comparison is completely invalid because your only criteria is screen size. It's like saying a VW Beetle is better than a Ferrari because they both have engines, but the VW is cheaper.
 
If all you need is a big screen, get the Dell. What else is there to say? The two are not comparable in the slightest.
 
if its price you're more worried about get the pc theyre always cheaper. truth is macs are expensive.
 
thesmoth said:
A 17" macbook would be great, or take same specs in the baseline 13" mbp, put them into the 17" body, and charge $1500-1700 for it.
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First you would need users who want 17" portable with little power. Most people can use an external display or simply a desktop. If they need a laptop, they want portability. If they need as much power as they can get on the go, they often sacrifice portability and agree to carry 17" laptop. I think relatively few people are willing to lug around 17" notebook just to browse the web, unless they consider it a desktop replacement and never take it with them anyway. I suppose it's too small target group for Apple.
 
Basically it comes down to this: Apple relates screen size to user type. Bigger screen = more performance = higher price.

It kind of sucks, seeing as how you can get 600$ 17 inch screen laptops from HP and such. I also want a 17 inch screen with macbook performance, but it wont happen.

You have to decide whether paying double is worth it (I have had many 15 inch MBPs and I've gotten over the price, and won't ever go back to a PC :p).
 
my room mate has that Dell...

The colors on the screen are worse than my 13" MacBook before and after hardware calibration, the track pad is a piece of crap, the keyboard just randomly stops working once in a while, random crashes out of the box, it's been returned 3 times.

Does that summarize it for you?

Oh yeah, it weighs so bloody much and it's so bulky... it's too much to carry around.
 
sporadicMotion said:
my room mate has that Dell...

The colors on the screen are worse than my 13" MacBook before and after hardware calibration, the track pad is a piece of crap, the keyboard just randomly stops working once in a while, random crashes out of the box, it's been returned 3 times.

Does that summarize it for you?

Oh yeah, it weighs so bloody much and it's so bulky... it's too much to carry around.
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The dude above had the same unfortunate experience with his $1700 mbp. So any brand can have a dud.

If resale value is a big deal than get a used/ refurb mac and a year later sell it for almost the same amount. Used MacBook prices are insane.
 
So now we're compating a Porsche to a Proton?!!

If you want a High Res screen and you're OK with Windows Vista / 7 and Dell's support. Go for it. For me OS X is an integral part of my laptop buying choice. I can run Windows Vista / 7 on my MBP but can I run OS X (reliably, legally, supported) on a Dell?
 
Please, lets not talk about the XPS M1330, this is the absolute WORST laptop I've ever dealt with. I purchased two for work (I'm the IT director) a little over a year ago, and BOTH have been repaired at least a half a dozen times with no exaggeration. These weren't little things like batteries and CD/DVD drives; multiple motherboards and LCD screens (the screen quality is awful by the way). I've just finished arguing with Dell to get the one repaired under the NVidia extended warranty (tech support wouldn't even talk to me without demanding $50), I really can NEVER recommend Dell's consumer line. I find their business lines much better, but nothing "great".
 
My friend has a Dell Studio 16 and I've gotten to use it a few times. I find that it overheats a lot and while I like the casing, I do prefer the MacBook Pro's aluminum. I own the pre-WWDC MacBook Pro and it's a much more solidly built machine than the Dell.

With that said.. if you only want a high res screen, go with the Dell.
 
I bought a 13" mbp with a printer and iPod touch a few minutes ago, about 5 minutes before closing time. Hopefully the screen is a good one!
 
I think you made the right choice :D
Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

I had hands on time with the Studio 15,17 and the "flagship" XPS 16, and yeah, they are years behind what Apple offers.
 
LowMach said:
The dude above had the same unfortunate experience with his $1700 mbp. So any brand can have a dud.

If resale value is a big deal than get a used/ refurb mac and a year later sell it for almost the same amount. Used MacBook prices are insane.
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Aside from the hardware errors, that doesn't excuse the screen and track pad... not to mention it's shear weight... it is a colossal piece of crap. There are better PC options than a Dell.
 
crzdmniac said:
Please, lets not talk about the XPS M1330, this is the absolute WORST laptop I've ever dealt with. I purchased two for work (I'm the IT director) a little over a year ago, and BOTH have been repaired at least a half a dozen times with no exaggeration. These weren't little things like batteries and CD/DVD drives; multiple motherboards and LCD screens (the screen quality is awful by the way). I've just finished arguing with Dell to get the one repaired under the NVidia extended warranty (tech support wouldn't even talk to me without demanding $50), I really can NEVER recommend Dell's consumer line. I find their business lines much better, but nothing "great".
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And the m1330 is one of the best notebooks I ever owned, I also never had anything but great experiences with customer service. On the other hand, I've had a bad MPB, a bad Rev A Air, and now a Rev B Air with lines that I bought a week ago that they will not let me exchange or return without paying a restocking fee.

We can go back and forth like this all day, I'm sure...the previous poster was right, all brands have duds. I happen to have terrible luck with Macs so far and great luck with Dells.

I think a fair comparison to the higher MBP is the Dell XPS Studio 16. You can get a 1080p RGBLED display, a 6mb cache CPU, a 128GB SSD, BD writer, and 3 year warranty for about $2k. That's pretty competitive if you ask me.
 
dell forums

I wonder what you would get if you posted on a dell forum site?

Is there such a "Dell Forums" site?
 
CarcinogenX said:
I think you made the right choice :D
Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

I had hands on time with the Studio 15,17 and the "flagship" XPS 16, and yeah, they are years behind what Apple offers.
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I've been downloading calibration profiles for the screen (I found a great one), and installing tons of software (VM fusion, office, acrobat, transmission, skype, etc...).

I'm going to install VM fusion and windows 7 64 bit RC, any tips?
 
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