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Macbook or HP?

The performance difference between the 8400GS and the X3100 is minimal...

If you want to game on a laptop, you need to spend ~2000$ if you want to play the latest and greatest games :p

Counterstrike: Source will not play very well on either, if at all (I know it can't be played on the Macbook, but even with the 8400GS being dedicated, I still don't think it can play it...and if it can it'll be low FPS <20 I'm guessing...) :confused:

And if you want real power, desktop IS the way to go for gaming. :rolleyes:
 
I can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet, but iChat's video features require the other person to use iChat as well !! :eek:

Skype works in Mac-PC connections though...
 
I'm gonna have to go ahed and say that my HP desktop has given me no issues at all (apart from Windows). On the other hand, my friends HP laptop is crap; it just turns off randomly due to overheating (Pentium 4 in a laptop = fail).

I've had a few small issues with my MacBook but when the MagSafe connector broke they just replaced the whole thing; and the new one was much better (1.83GHz vs 2.16GHz; new one has SuperDrive etc). I havnt personally had experience with HP customer support, but from what I've heard, its crap. Apple's support is the best I've ever used.

Mind, we are kind of biased here... :p
 
Like everyone else said, you might want to find a neutral forum and ask there since, after all, everybody here will tell you to get the Mac, including me.
 
skedealz said:
Mac or PC?
Macbook or HP?
Macbook or HP DV2700t?

That's my ongoing debate right now, I don't know what to get. My original plan was to get a macbook and install windows xp on it but seeing that the dv2700t has better specs than the macbook (in my opinion), i did some research and found out that it was possible to install mac on windows to dual boot, but my question now is that is it possible to use the pre-installed webcam on a pc with the macs ichat? My only reason to buy a mac is just for the ichat feature.
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I can see the bias in this thread already. Obviously most people on this forum including me are mac-lover's. So you'll get a certain amount of bias asking that sort of question here.

I'd say this though, Macbooks are better for the fact you can use OSX and windows natively, however windows doesn't run at full speed or fuctionality on boot camp even now because of driver issues (these haven't all been cleared up). Maybe i just despise using the windows operating system for anything serious (well who doesn't?) but it constantly mucks me about... again maybe thats just Windows in it's most natural element :)

I use Windows for games (performance is comparable to windows pc's of the same spec) and programs i can't run under OSX and i use the proper OS for everything else (i'll leave you to figure out which one that is).

Another note I'm using a macbook now and its the best computer i've owned, it does heat up quite a bit and there are other issues some have had with this type of Mac but personally i've encountered few problems using this computer (apart from under Windows, sorry i'll stop flaming that wonderful OS now). As for the HP machine my friend has used one of those exact laptops for about a year now, within the first few months they had to take it back to PC World to get the whole thing reinstalled and has encountered a fair few more problems than i have in that year. There's my 2 cents with a dose of "Buy a Mac!".

p.s. I realise the irony of me commenting on bias and including a fair amount in my own post :p but i can't help it, i'm not going to lie for the sake of non-biasedness.

p.s. MkII. After posting this i realise the word "bias" has been used in every post, but i've said Bias a whole lot more, i even included a variation of it i'm not sure is even a word, surely that's gotta count for something?
 
eXan said:
I can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet, but iChat's video features require the other person to use iChat as well !! :eek:

Skype works in Mac-PC connections though...
Click to expand...

i dont think so.... cause i was able to cam with my pc and my moms macbook. pc using aim and macbook using ichat on both aim and the .mac thing. i was able to video conference both through aim and .mac, maybe its just firewall settings? i'm unable to video conference through aim with a friend though, but shes at camp and they probably configured their internet settings in some way.
 
I've used a few different HP laptops. Not the Pavilion crap mind you, the business class systems [nc8430 and the newer 6720b series] and they are solid, but like the others said; they run Windows. I had a brand new 8430 setup, with NONE of the bloated junk installed [clean wipe, and fresh install with all the HP drivers, etc] and after about 30 days it began to slow, and after about 8 - 10 months it was time to reinstall.

Now, after using an MB for the same amount of time, no slow down, no issues with viruses, or updates causing problems. This is coming from a convert; someone who used Windows since 3.0 back in the 90's.

I agree with the others. Go with the MB, run Windows in BC or a VM system. If you really want to play games, get a cheap desktop, or save a ton and buy a PS3 or XBOX 360...
 
I was making this same decision about a year ago. Here's some of the things that swayed me:

MagSafe power connector. A laptop with a cracked motherboard is worthless. MagSafe may not be flawless, but it's better than the conventional plugs I've seen.

Simplicity of OSX just working. I'm usually the guy who historically fixed people's windows machines. I'm tired of that. Who wants to spend half their time on maintenance? It's the philosophy Apple has as opposed to MS, who would probably rather your machine crashed several times through it's life, so you are convinced you need to a) keep a legal copy so you get updates, b) upgrade so you get updates/fix whatever is "wrong", and final c) buy a whole new piece of crap machine so you can start the whole process all over again. Whoopy!

I liked the elegant simple design.

Lack of compatibility problems. I got a copy of MS Office for Mac for free through work. I run a VM if I really need a Windows app (rare). Didn't really need much else. Most of the time I'm just surfing and streaming iTunes to my Airport Express. Not the most demanding tasks, but it's been hassle free.

Girlfriend has MBP. Didn't want to mess around with getting compatible iChat software working.

Remote. Funny as I no longer use it. Probably because I stream to Airport Express now and volume doesn't work with that. Can't understand why they don't fix that.

Hope this helps. One last thing; I asked myself which machine I was going to be more than just satisfied with. I bought the Mac. :)
 
tmelvin said:
I've used a few different HP laptops. Not the Pavilion crap mind you, the business class systems [nc8430 and the newer 6720b series] and they are solid, but like the others said; they run Windows. I had a brand new 8430 setup, with NONE of the bloated junk installed [clean wipe, and fresh install with all the HP drivers, etc] and after about 30 days it began to slow, and after about 8 - 10 months it was time to reinstall.

Now, after using an MB for the same amount of time, no slow down, no issues with viruses, or updates causing problems. This is coming from a convert; someone who used Windows since 3.0 back in the 90's.

I agree with the others. Go with the MB, run Windows in BC or a VM system. If you really want to play games, get a cheap desktop, or save a ton and buy a PS3 or XBOX 360...
Click to expand...

i already have a ps3 and wii haha, so does anyone know when apple "refreshes" the macbook prices?
 
tmelvin said:
I've used a few different HP laptops. Not the Pavilion crap mind you, the business class systems [nc8430 and the newer 6720b series] and they are solid, but like the others said; they run Windows. I had a brand new 8430 setup, with NONE of the bloated junk installed [clean wipe, and fresh install with all the HP drivers, etc] and after about 30 days it began to slow, and after about 8 - 10 months it was time to reinstall.

Now, after using an MB for the same amount of time, no slow down, no issues with viruses, or updates causing problems. This is coming from a convert; someone who used Windows since 3.0 back in the 90's.

I agree with the others. Go with the MB, run Windows in BC or a VM system. If you really want to play games, get a cheap desktop, or save a ton and buy a PS3 or XBOX 360...
Click to expand...

i already have a ps3 and wii haha, so does anyone know when apple "refreshes" the macbook prices? and whats gonna be better about the new macs compared to the ones already out today?
 
skedealz said:
i already have a ps3 and wii haha, so does anyone know when apple "refreshes" the macbook prices? and whats gonna be better about the new macs compared to the ones already out today?
Click to expand...

I expect prices to be the same.

New MacBooks are rumored to have aluminium cases, LED screens, along with faster CPU, GPU, system bus, RAM speeds and more HD space.
 
I would say get both computers if you can afford both. Why not! Just wait a month or two till we hear what's coming from Apple.

Previous to me owning my four Macs, I had always owned HP desktops and laptops. The quality of them has always been just about as perfect as could be. Last month, I bought a HP running Vista home premium with 320GB drive and 4GB ram.

When I got my first Mac, a MBP a year ago this month, I had originally planned on not ever using a Windows machine again. It wasn't anything wrong with the HP laptops, but XP itself. Back in March, I tried giving up using them and bought my second Mac, an iMac. After a few months, I realized that I still missed the way a few programs ran in Windows. I dusted off my old XP lapto and began using it side by side with my iMac. Since then, I have bought two more Macs, my MacBook and a Mac Pro along with another HP laptop.

You sound like you are not ready to give up Windows yet and that's ok.
Of course you can always buy the MacBook and dual boot OS X and Windows on it, I choose not to.
 
I only kind of skimmed this post, but I did not really see a clear reason as to why you NEED a Mac? You said your only real purpose was to use the built in web cam. There are windows laptops that offer the same functionality. So, purley buying a computer based on the web cam doesn't seem like a wise choice.

Also, you mentioned wanting to play games. I am not a gamer, but the current macbook doesn't offer a dedicated video card. The HP computer you mentioned does, that sure seems like an advantage to me.

I don't know what kind of response you were looking to get, since you are posting on a mac message board, but based upon what you described wanting to use the machine for I would recommend getting a windows based laptop with a dedicated video card and built in web cab. OR if you are dead set on a mac, get a macbook pro, but keep in mind you are going to have to shell out more money for the Windows operating system.

Just my .02 cents.
 
hexonxonx said:
Because then I have to close whatever I am doing to boot into Windows or OS X. it's just easier to have a Mac running Leopard and a a computer running Windows.
Click to expand...

Don't you just love us folks that say "Why" LOL

But Why Not run VM or Parallels? Then you can stay right in OS X and not have to go between two systems?

I used to be the same. Windows and OS X. Then I got fed up with the constant slow downs, and the endless updates. I found alternative apps that were Windows only, and now solely on OS X.

I know I'll never personally buy another Windows based system again...
 
mwchris said:
I only kind of skimmed this post, but I did not really see a clear reason as to why you NEED a Mac? You said your only real purpose was to use the built in web cam. There are windows laptops that offer the same functionality. So, purley buying a computer based on the web cam doesn't seem like a wise choice.

Also, you mentioned wanting to play games. I am not a gamer, but the current macbook doesn't offer a dedicated video card. The HP computer you mentioned does, that sure seems like an advantage to me.

I don't know what kind of response you were looking to get, since you are posting on a mac message board, but based upon what you described wanting to use the machine for I would recommend getting a windows based laptop with a dedicated video card and built in web cab. OR if you are dead set on a mac, get a macbook pro, but keep in mind you are going to have to shell out more money for the Windows operating system.

Just my .02 cents.
Click to expand...

Good point. I think that was lost in this whole thread. I know I lost it...lol...years ago!

But you're right. If you want to play games, and need a web cam, get a PC/Laptop with built-in. Or just buy a $30 clip on Logitech Web Cam. They have small ones now that clip to a laptop.

However! If you want to rid yourself of all the crap associated with Windows, and since you have a Wii and PS2/PS3, get a Mac...
 
Tallest Skil said:
Keep your pants on, sonny Jim. While it is indeed illegal to sell OS X on non-Apple computers, the jury is still out on whether or not it can be called illegal to put OS X on a computer of your own NOT for resale.

In summation: DON'T DO IT. Buy a real Mac and stop being a pretender.
Click to expand...

Thats what I did, lmao, I COULDN'T STAND THE GUILT!:eek::confused:
 
Again all these apple fanboys trying to push their opinion. I will try to give my 2 cents with as little bias as I can.

Games will run faster on HP. It has dedicated video card. Besides you might try some other games you didn't mentioned in a future. I don't think you buy a laptop just for few months, so there will something you would like to play. However since games are not primary task you will do I think macbook will serve you well. Especially when you don't have to update antivirus and firewall every week (and pay) or watch stupid pop ups from system tray.

OS X is pretty solid. Hardware however is weaker. I think HP hardware vice is better- it is more powerful and cheaper, but problem is with windows. It is weaker than OS X. You could install OS X on anything (there is youtube video of someone who installed OS X on Asus EEPC), but it might be quite buggy or slower than on a mac. Besides it might be not compatible with any future updates and upgrades.

My friend has HP dv series and it is not too bad. I can say that I liked it somehow.

here is short review too:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4245

it is fast performer with good price tag.
Macbooks will be updated in a month or two, so they might be cheaper than $1K and better???
 
If you do buy a MacBook now, be sure to check in the refurb section.

Apple refurbished computers are like new (except you don't get a white box, the box is brown and says refurb.)


___


I wouldn't bother waiting for the refresh, I'd buy now, simply because you never know how long you will have to wait, and the longer you wait the higher chance of buying it the day before the new one comes out is. Not to mention, they could change prices :rolleyes:

___

Do what you want, and feel comfortable doing... not what MR says.
 
if I added it up correctly, you've got 9 saying get a Mac and 4 saying the HP. The Macs have it. what a surprise
 
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