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MBP 17" or Dell XPS M1710

dap1215 said:
I hope this would be the correct place to post this question/debate about getting a MAC or PC. I am a long time PC user, though I did have 2 yrs on Macs about 8 yrs ago. I am currently looking into buying one of the 2 MBP or a Dell XPS. The main things I would be using either one of these computers for, would be travel (using as a portal to get to my desktop), web, general net usage, some gaming, light web design, light flash and some decently heavey video editing.

I know there are many differences in these computers, and a ton of different ideas on which might be better and so on. I guess over all I am looking for some ideas or past experience from people that have crossed over or who are debating this same idea. What might I face? What will I have to deal with in a change of platform and so on?

As for the computers I would build a decently loaded computer either way. 2gb ram min, best video card so on..

Anything will help! Thanks!
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I'm a recent switcher and the primary reason is the bolded text on your post. And one of the great surprises not related to my actual use of an MBP is OSX. I can't believe how much of a pleasure it is to use this operating system. I don't have any issues as I did with Windows (and I was a lifetime user - until recently) and I have not looked back.
 
You know perfectly well what we'll tell you, this is a Mac forum after all. But myself being a switcher, I advise you to switch back, you'll love your MBP a lot more than a Dell, I do 😀
 
Go with the MBP. That way you can run windows if/when you need to (with the use of Parallels, of course). While more expensive, you actually get the capabilities of two machines.
 
If you were to do a lot of gaming, I would go with the Dell. But if you are going to do moderate gaming and want a stable system, go with the Mac. I tend to do more gaming on my mac in OS X cause it just works, rather then on my Dell 1710.
 
If you are not gaming 17" MBP, I used to have one and loved it, if it had LED backighting I would have snapped it up.
 
iToaster said:
You know perfectly well what we'll tell you, this is a Mac forum after all. But myself being a switcher, I advise you to switch back, you'll love your MBP a lot more than a Dell, I do 😀
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Yeah you are right, I guess that I knew that there wasnt gonna be someone who was like Mac sux, stay with Dell!! But I guess that I just wanted to see how many people have switched and LOVE the fact that they have. I do like Mac's just want to make sure that the switch is the right idea. Bootcamp seems to be one cool reason that I would switch. I do still have a PC desktop and will add the MBP as sorta a desktop replacement / stand along if that makes sense. 😀

I might just have to order one in a couple days !
 
I have a Dell Inspiron 1600 also, not what you are talking about, but my MBP beats it hands down. Not saying its a bad computer but the MBP really has that extra sense of style, quality and reliability about it.

Also if it needs repairing which can happen to any computer, I have had experience with both support and unless you are a Dell "I have bought a million computers from you and am the most massi super crazy extreme turbo business" customer the support is shockingly bad compared to Apple.

Another big reason to get a mac and never go back. Hope you enjoy it!!! 🙂
 
You say this notebook will be used mainly during travel. Have you ever picked up a Dell XPS? They weigh a ton. I would go with the MBP as well. Apples to Oranges if you ask me. 😀
 
Get the MBP you couldn't be happier! I'm getting my black MB 2day. I'm sure you'll love your MBP if you get it!
 
Microsoft released RDC v2 recently and I used it for 2 weeks straight to get on my desktop to code in .NET. It works like a dream though for something like that I should have just used boot camp.
 
So I went to the Apple store here in KC on the Plaza tonight and played around with the Mac's. I think that I decided that I'm going with the Pro 17". So a couple questions.

Would it be better and faster just to buy it from the store here in town or will it be shipped to me either way?

I guess at the store you get a free printer? Do you also get the Ipod if you are a student at the store too, or is that just a net thing?

I looked at the prices and I seem to remember them being the same at the store compared to online? Is that true?

And, last but not least.. I keep reading lots of posts about people getting problem macs, of course this is a forum and they are looking for help, and this could be just a few unlucky ones. But is this a pattern? Mac's have always had a rep of being good, built well and so on. But it seems there are lots of issues going on, should I be worried?
 
My sister just got XPS, biggest piece of crap I have ever seen. It looks ugly as hell and runs like crap even with Santa Rosa at 2.2GHz. Dell is crap. The Computer is ugly and has no style at all. Buy a mac and unleash the power in a real laptop.
 
noodle654 said:
My sister just got XPS, biggest piece of crap I have ever seen. It looks ugly as hell and runs like crap even with Santa Rosa at 2.2GHz. Dell is crap. The Computer is ugly and has no style at all. Buy a mac and unleash the power in a real laptop.
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Since this guy's sister "just got XPS" I doubt the validity of his claim that it "runs like crap." More than likely he just has some personal issues to work out. And his comment that "Dell is crap" leads me to believe that he's a chump. I have had two XPS machines, the most recent being the incredible (seriously) m1210, and I loved them both; never a single problem.

As for your decision, both the MBP and the XPS can be used as desktop replacements, but I'd like to echo a few of the intelligent comments here to help you out: If you want to use your laptop for heavy gaming, get the XPS (and be sure to get the 512MB nvidia 7950 GTX card), if you want portability, style (the m1710 isn't much of a looker), and the benefits of OS X, then get the MBP. Both are quality machines that will serve you well. I suggest you see both in person if possible, and examine what your needs and wants are for your next system.

Cheers,

Ado


P.S. - My next laptop will be a MBP when Leopard arrives, so that's my personal vote. 😀
 
P.P.S. - The m1710 doesn't have SR yet, so there is no 2.2GHz processor option. The only XPS model to have it is the m1330, which is a completely different computer than the OP was asking about, and much like comparing the MBP to the BlackBook.

P.P.P.S. - Still a chump.
 
As I said in POST #16 I will be getting a MBP but had a few questions. And yes, posts with more content then xps SUX are a little more helpful..

Questions are:

"Would it be better and faster just to buy it from the store here in town or will it be shipped to me either way?

I guess at the store you get a free printer? Do you also get the Ipod if you are a student at the store too, or is that just a net thing?

I looked at the prices and I seem to remember them being the same at the store compared to online? Is that true?

And, last but not least.. I keep reading lots of posts about people getting problem macs, of course this is a forum and they are looking for help, and this could be just a few unlucky ones. But is this a pattern? Mac's have always had a rep of being good, built well and so on. But it seems there are lots of issues going on, should I be worried?":apple: Thanks!!!
 
dap1215 said:
As I said in POST #16 I will be getting a MBP but had a few questions. And yes, posts with more content then xps SUX are a little more helpful..

Questions are:

"Would it be better and faster just to buy it from the store here in town or will it be shipped to me either way?

I guess at the store you get a free printer? Do you also get the Ipod if you are a student at the store too, or is that just a net thing?

I looked at the prices and I seem to remember them being the same at the store compared to online? Is that true?

And, last but not least.. I keep reading lots of posts about people getting problem macs, of course this is a forum and they are looking for help, and this could be just a few unlucky ones. But is this a pattern? Mac's have always had a rep of being good, built well and so on. But it seems there are lots of issues going on, should I be worried?":apple: Thanks!!!
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If you aren't going to be custom configuring it (the only options that might interest you would be upgrading to the 7200 RPM hard drive or getting the high resolution screen - the screen is $100 more, $90 if you are a student, HD prices vary - 2 GB RAM is standard and the upgrade price to 4 GB is insanely overpriced via Apple), get it at the Apple Store. If you qualify for the student discount, you get that at the store and you get the printer/iPod rebates.

The prices online/in store should be the same (some online retailers like Amazon have mail-in rebates and are tax-free in most states, making them ultimately a better deal than even the student price, once tax is allotted - so check that out - Amazon does not let you get the iPod/printer rebate) - save some open-box special at the store or something.

As far as the problems - look, from everything I've read, the screen thing seems to be the most "common" complaint - but it's impossible to judge the validity of a screen argument over the Internet (at least for me - most digital cameras are going to show yellow anyway because of default white balancing). Take a look in the store, display models are a good way to judge things because they get beat up and are on 10 hours a day. Like any other company, Apple has its faults and is not perfect - but they seem to be easier to deal with than some of their counterparts. Again, that's subjective and a per-person kind of experience.

Good luck and enjoy your MBP!
 
Mbp

I have a MBP and I love it, and I'll admit that I'm in Windows every once and a while, but thats for games...

But look at what you need:

Gaming - the MBP can handle that
Travel - Its light and thin
Web - No Viruses!
Video Editing - A free decent editor, and two very good professional options, I <3 editing video on this thing, no rendering because of the decent gpu is epescially useful
Windows - you can also run windows...if you really have to 😉

The Dell:
Not as thin, heavy? (dunno weight but they usually are bigger)
Web - IE yuck, but even using a different browser there are always those damn viruses
Video Editing - As far as I know the free editing is crap on Windows still, and Premier is pretty good but nothing like the tools you get with FCE for example

And don't let posts about broken laptops n such discourage you on these forums, if every person posted when they got a non-defective laptop...well...the forums wouldn't be very interesting would they 😀

As for the shipping, it took like 3 days to get to me from online. If you buy it at a store and want a certain configuration, they may have to order it for you anyway cause I think they only sell the stock 2.2, 2.4, then 17". Prices instore are the same, and I got my free ipod and printer online, so I know you can do that, but I also think you can do that instore. sorry I just know read your other post I some how missed <.<
 
I love all the FUD about viruses, crashes and whatever on Windows.

If you aren't a moron nothing of that will affect you.

Install XP SP2, Comodo firewall and Avira Antivir and Opera or something and you are good to go.
 
The Irony ?

aliquis- said:
I love all the FUD about viruses, crashes and whatever on Windows.

If you aren't a moron nothing of that will affect you.
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I agree with you on that one mate. 🙂

The only security on my PC is Windows Firewall and the excellent free AVG Anti Virus. I've NEVER had any spyware on my 4 year old PC with XP. The reason is simple. I don't download your typical "Free Wallpapers - Download Now!", "Free Smilies", "Warning! Your Registry is corrupt download Super Registry Fix immediately!" piece of crap programs.

My sisters and cousins all use MSN Messenger a lot and downloaded programs such as MSN Plus, MSN Discovery, Limewire etc. in the past resulting in their computers being full of popups and spyware. With some programs, even if you uninstall them the spyware stuff still remains. Even programs like Spybot can't get rid of them.

In the end I had to use either System Restore or wipe and reinstall Windows to fix the problem. I then told them not to download those type of programs and hey presto they've never had a problem since!

Of course it would've been simpler for them to just have Mac OS on their computer in the first place so I didn't have to spend my time worrying whether they were gonna download more dodgy software everytime one of their friends recommended it and subsequently f*** up their computer.

But that's the irony isn't it? The people who would most benefit from using Mac OS are the kinda people who know nothing about it and are prejudiced against it. Whereas people like ourselves who wanna switch are more likely to be computer literate and less likely to have installed crap on our computers in the first place! 😀
 
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