I have both the Macbook Pro and a Dell XPS M1210 and love both of them, however, nothing compares to the mac in my humble opinion. I use the mac approx 90% of the time and use the XPS on business trips because of the small form factor and it's fairly quick/fast for what it is.
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MBP or Dell XPS.....
- Thread starter kmjones
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you sir are wrong, I had a screen shot of my xps m140 running it. Sure its not legal, here is a pic of osx on my old gaming set up
you sir are wrong, I had a screen shot of my xps m140 running it. Sure its not legal, here is a pic of osx on my old gaming set up
dude, give us a real screen shot, not just a white screen with an apple on a dell monitor! Just because your 13" macbook is black doesn't make it a Dell
Honestly speaking, I can't see how you can say that Dell hardware is better than apple hardware. Its not even close.
I don't mean to be vain, but when I spend $2k+ on a laptop, I want people to go ooooo, not, blah, its a dell.
You get an apple, you get resale value. You get Dell, you get a piece of plastic.
I mean, if you really want small size + Speed, get a Sony laptop! Now those are good laptops. If its just speed you want, get an Alienware. If you want overall appeal, speed, support, and OSX, get an apple. If you want bulk government or cooperate computers, THEN I would say get a Dell. You get a Dell and you are no different then the guy on the plane next to you whose company gave him a laptop.
I don't mean to be vain, but when I spend $2k+ on a laptop, I want people to go ooooo, not, blah, its a dell.
You get an apple, you get resale value. You get Dell, you get a piece of plastic.
I mean, if you really want small size + Speed, get a Sony laptop! Now those are good laptops. If its just speed you want, get an Alienware. If you want overall appeal, speed, support, and OSX, get an apple. If you want bulk government or cooperate computers, THEN I would say get a Dell. You get a Dell and you are no different then the guy on the plane next to you whose company gave him a laptop.
Yes, you can run OS X on an XPS. It requires alot of hacking, is very buggy, and many things are unsupported. I'd go for the mac. It also has a backlight keyboard, ambient light sensor, frontrow, and camera. Plus if you ever get into video editing, or photo editing you'll be able to use iLife, or upgrade to FCE.
I can definitely say that Dell hardware can be better Apple hardware. I turned in my Crackbook for my XPS and couldn't be happier.
Apple builds beautiful machines with a great OS, but their hardware does leave something to be desired.
I was also deciding between a MBP and a M1330 but I went for the MBP.
Initally I ordered a m1330 but I waitied 20+ days only to get my shipping date pushed back another 20 days. I am totally disappointed with dell. I believe if you order a m1330 now you will only get your machine in sept or oct.
I ordered a MBP online and received the on the very same day.
I am very satisfied with my MBP. The screen is amazing. I run boot camp on it but I find I don't use xp very often anymore.
OS X > Xp
Initally I ordered a m1330 but I waitied 20+ days only to get my shipping date pushed back another 20 days. I am totally disappointed with dell. I believe if you order a m1330 now you will only get your machine in sept or oct.
I ordered a MBP online and received the on the very same day.
I am very satisfied with my MBP. The screen is amazing. I run boot camp on it but I find I don't use xp very often anymore.
OS X > Xp
As others have said, the "low" config of the Macbook Pro is a better value. Cheaper and it's got a GPU that's more than twice as powerful.
Otherwise the specs are fairly similar, and the XPS 1330 even has an available LED backlit LCD.
Once consideration with the Macbook Pro-the hard drive isn't officially user replaceable. I would own one now if not for that.
I've also head a LOT more complaints about the Macbook Pro than the XPS 1330, but that may or may not mean anything.
Otherwise the specs are fairly similar, and the XPS 1330 even has an available LED backlit LCD.
Once consideration with the Macbook Pro-the hard drive isn't officially user replaceable. I would own one now if not for that.
I've also head a LOT more complaints about the Macbook Pro than the XPS 1330, but that may or may not mean anything.
The m1330 is a very nice looking machine. Honestly though, barely anyone even has their hands on one yet. It's really hard to make a good comparison.
I'm aware of notebookreview, and have been following the m1330 through those forums. I'm speaking in terms of long term quality.
I'm not backing the MBP. I just think it's a bit unfair to compare a notebook that's been out for over a year to one that's been out for a month, from a hardware quality standpoint.
The m1330 is a completely different beast. I don't expect it to be a hunk of junk, but it's too early to tell.
the dell m1330 is a seriously nice little package! held one yesterday and i gotta admit that Dell certainly did a great job on designing and executing the notebook. however, when both are specced with what you want i'd say opt for Apple. you'd get a bigger screen, despite its bigger size it's very portable (i'm 5'11 185 lbs and i carry this all day around campus in my backpack without any discomfort), the option to boot into Vista and OS X (legally)...
This is the Macrumors dilemma you are witnessing. Anything that will go wrong with a Mac will be posted about on MR. And the worst cases get the most attention. Where as anything that goes right with a Mac will never get a single look (cause no one ever complains when things go right!).
If you only base your buying experience based on what you read on MR then you are likely to scare yourself into thinking there is a problem when there really is not.
Have faith in Apple, they've never let down many many many of its users (including me!).
The nice thing is that even when Apple hardware is terrible, like my Macbook situation, Apple steps up to make the situation right.
If you have enough problems, they will replace your machine.
I would go with the MBP too. I have had a few technical issues with both apple machines and dell machines, and the level of service and support I have received from apple FAR exceeds that of Dell.
It seems that Apple is behind other PC manufacturers in that they offer no PREMIUM SMALL laptop. Hopefully they'll come out with one soon.
That M1330 sure looks nice (exactly what I'm looking for if it ran OS X).
Thanks...yeah, I guess I can intellectually accept that, but boy does it look scary. I mean people are getting electric SHOCKS from their Macbook Pros!?! Just all kinds of weird scary stuff like that.
I wish I could make up my mind! I know I'd just bite the bullet and get a MBP if the drive was easier to replace. Also sounds like Apple's notebooks can't handle running their CPUs at 100% all the time like I do. And then there's the audio, which some people say works fine, and others say has feedback from the power connection, and hiss/static, etc.
Don't get my wrong, I'm not really on board with Apple's current hardware. I had so much trouble with my Macbook, that I washed my hands with it. I don't even own any current Macs. I think Apple has some serious quality control issues.
I have no faith in Apple's current laptop lineup. I'm typing this on...gasp... a Dell XPS M1210. It's an excellent laptop.
I do, however, look forward to Apple releasing an ultra-portable. But, it would have to be pretty damn good to get me to switch from my current machine.
I honestly don't know what the OP was expecting, posting this question on a Mac forum. Of course everyone is going to suggest the Mac.
I'd say the best thing would be to play around with a MBP in an Apple store first, and if that's possible with the Dell too, go play with that. Otherwise, it's mostly a choice between screen sizes. I can say this though: MBP's run WindowsXP without a hitch. Half-Life 2 runs on max settings with great framerates.
I'd say the best thing would be to play around with a MBP in an Apple store first, and if that's possible with the Dell too, go play with that. Otherwise, it's mostly a choice between screen sizes. I can say this though: MBP's run WindowsXP without a hitch. Half-Life 2 runs on max settings with great framerates.
Umm, part of that is because most people don't even have their XPS M1330's yet. Dell only recently (this week) started shipping them out to the people who placed the initial orders over a month ago.
-Zadillo