Pro 15 and 17 versus XPS 16

[MH01]

You have no idea. When I was in the Apple store waiting to pick up my laptop, I heard a nerdy looking boy with pimples telling an older couple that the only computers that Apple sells that can run Photoshop are the Mac Pro's, and that a Mac Mini isn't powerful enough for simple color correction.

They were upgrading from a G3 iMac for crying out loud!

I hear you... when I was picking up my new 24" LED to go with my MBA Rev B with the display port I overheard a customer asking one of he Apple sales rep (reminded me of the bloke from the I am a Mac ads, cocky and thought he knew his stuff) if he could use the new 24" LED on his Mac Pro, they guy said "of course you can, you just need an adapter" The customer was about to buy one when i jumped in (did not want the guy to lug it all the way home just to return it) and explained that it only works with a mini Display port. The sales rep politely explained that i was wrong, so i asked him which adapter he should use, after a short walk to the adapter section the Apple rep, the rep handed the customer the Mini Display port to DVI adapter.... at this point i asked him how you connect two female mini display ports together...at this point the cogs started to turn...and after further consultation with a genius who had to talk to his manager, they realized that the 24" only works on a computer that has a mini display port.

I recommend to anyone that has an issue with their mac, do your research (these forums will probably have the cause/reason for it) and then see a genius, its a title and not a reflection of their actual ability.

 

[zmttoxics]

All my dells have vanilla windows loads. Dell has shipped me mixed and match parts and each and every time the driver has come with the part whether it is a direct replacement, upgrade, or a part from a completely different manufacturer.
Are you saying, for instance a network card X from the original build isn't compatable with network card Y from a replacement?
Seems odd.
With over 30 warranty calls for the in the past 8 years I have never been left with a dead computer after the first parts delivery.
30 warranty calls for 12 computers over 8 years. Most of the calls were after the 2 to 3 year point I don't recall ever seeing the exact same part for the replacement and that includes the mother board. Never had an issue.
My last company had dell and never had issues, sure a new driver may have been required but neve a full replacement.

When you build network install images with specific platform drivers, the platforms need to be identical. Introducing this different wireless module was hell for me. It was instant BSOD with our current images. They gave me 3 different modules before I realized they were sending me the wrong one. Rebuilding the images is out of the question as the cost of labor is too high compared to the cheap dell laptop.

Please, please elaborate on this. Also how can they not keep track of your original factory components?

The part I needed had been phased out at the factory. They were giving me the standard new replacement part, which unfortunately in my environment is unacceptable.

When I handle the Mac installations, its platform independent. I build 1 image, and it works on every mac we own. (I am a sys-admin by job atm.)

 

[MH01]

Please, please elaborate on this. Also how can they not keep track of your original factory components?

Here is the main point I think of when I look at the macbooks versus standard laptops.

Proprietary hardware.

When your machine is the same as everyone else's machine, you are more likely to see the same issues and more likely to have them resolved quicker. This also means longer and better support from the OS.

Dell and the other laptop makers pump out a new revision every day with slightly different hardware which creates different possible problems between them. On top of that, Windows is a general OS, and the vendors are in charge of testing the hardware with the OS. To keep work down and the products coming, you basically loose support for you laptop a week after you get it.

Case and point, I have a Sony VAIO, and it's only driver fix ever was issued the week it came out.

Another example, I deal with Dell laptops at work, and they all run the same same hardware and same OS images. I had a wireless module go on one a week after we got it, and they sent me a different module. Which required different drivers, and thus incompatible with the rest of the laptops. Dell told me this was what the new models had and it was better. The laptop was a week old, there shouldn't be a replacement model already when you are still selling this model. In order to get the same module, I had to trade in mine for a whole new boxed laptop.

When you buy a machine with proprietary hardware, you are buying not the OS, but the guarantee that it will work with that OS in a certain way for a certain period of time. Apple generally keeps there machines well supported for 5 years give or take. To me, that that is worth the extra money.

Could you please explain what you mean about loosing support for a laptop a week after getting it? You support is the length of the warranty cover you bought.

No company makes laptops that change daily/weekly basis.

Do you realize that Apple uses different parts in the same revision of the laptop? Take the current MBP 15" there are two variations of LCDs, one is a LG and the other some chinese company, some like one, others like the other, and some are prepared to return their machines till they get the LCD which they prefer.

Laptops are made in batches, and components are likely to change within in. This also applies to Apple.

I do agree with you in the fact that Sony laptops are very good, i am yet to have a problem with mine, yes it run windows but has yet to fail me after 2 years, solid as.

 

[Eidorian]

When I handle the Mac installations, its platform independent. I build 1 image, and it works on every mac we own. (I am a sys-admin by job atm.)

And how is that the hardware manufacturer's fault?

 

[MH01]

When you build network install images with specific platform drivers, the platforms need to be identical. Introducing this different wireless module was hell for me. It was instant BSOD with our current images. They gave me 3 different modules before I realized they were sending me the wrong one. Rebuilding the images is out of the question as the cost of labor is too high compared to the cheap dell laptop.



The part I needed had been phased out at the factory. They were giving me the standard new replacement part, which unfortunately in my environment is unacceptable.

When I handle the Mac installations, its platform independent. I build 1 image, and it works on every mac we own. (I am a sys-admin by job atm.)

Now I understand where you are coming from.

Though dealing with multiple configurations / updated components should be your bread and butter. We have about 6 different configurations of Dells where i work.

For the few Dells that fail, can you not boot in safe mode and update the driver? Surprised that you are getting a BSOD loading windows.

 

[zmttoxics]

Could you please explain what you mean about loosing support for a laptop a week after getting it? You support is the length of the warranty cover you bought.

No company makes laptops that change daily/weekly basis.

Do you realize that Apple uses different parts in the same revision of the laptop? Take the current MBP 15" there are two variations of LCDs, one is a LG and the other some chinese company, some like one, others like the other, and some are prepared to return their machines till they get the LCD which they prefer.

Laptops are made in batches, and components are likely to change within in. This also applies to Apple.

I do agree with you in the fact that Sony laptops are very good, i am yet to have a problem with mine, yes it run windows but has yet to fail me after 2 years, solid as.

And how is that the hardware manufacturer's fault?

My point was that because Windows forces the hardware vendors to produce the drivers and such, and because there is new hardware so frequently, its not as stable as a platform. Apple maintains the hardware and OS, leaving the user a much longer supported platform. Another example is Sun with its Solaris and proprietary hardware.

This isn't the vendors fault. But again, my point is, with proprietary hardware, the matching OS is guaranteed to work for a certain expected period of time. Windows is never really guaranteed to work with anything.

Now I understand where you are coming from.

Though dealing with multiple configurations / updated components should be your bread and butter. We have about 6 different configurations of Dells where i work.

For the few Dells that fail, can you not boot in safe mode and update the driver? Surprised that you are getting a BSOD loading windows.

These machines are installed weekly and automatically. Manual intervention must be avoided.

 

[bruinsrme]

My point was that because Windows forces the hardware vendors to produce the drivers and such, and because there is new hardware so frequently, its not as stable as a platform. Apple maintains the hardware and OS, leaving the user a much longer supported platform. Another example is Sun with its Solaris and proprietary hardware.

This isn't the vendors fault. But again, my point is, with proprietary hardware, the matching OS is guaranteed to work for a certain expected period of time. Windows is never really guaranteed to work with anything.



These machines are installed weekly and automatically. Manual intervention must be avoided.

New hardware frequently, cmon ghost an image, update a driver. add corporate add required add ons and give it back to the customer.

Network load and script updated drivers. Apple doesn't provide updates between releases?

 

[Eidorian]

New hardware frequently, cmon ghost an image, update a driver. add corporate add required add ons and give it back to the customer.

Network load and script updated drivers. Apple doesn't provide updates between releases?

Which is what I do when managing Windows machines.

Get a new Mac and you can't image it at all without the original system discs. Dare I remind you of the original Santa Rosa iMac release and 10.4.