Article you might find interesting.
http://technologizer.com/2009/03/31/hey-lauren-is-apples-17-inch-macbook-pro-expensive/
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Sorry power book, but you cost to much.
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Article you might find interesting.
http://technologizer.com/2009/03/31/hey-lauren-is-apples-17-inch-macbook-pro-expensive/
The refurbs or Prev. gen that might be on the Apple sight are not going to be lacking in the graphics dept. enough to keep you from what you're doing. Otherwise, I think you've already answered your own question. You're not willing to pay a premium for what you don't think is worth it. The fact is $ for $ Macs are more expensive for what you get.
For me it's the solid OS, the clean smooth OS, the reliability of the hardware, the way programs integrate so well with the OS, and the negligible threat of malware/trojans. All of those, along with Apples tremendous customer service and technical support that make it a little less painful to pay extra.
For me it's the solid OS, the clean smooth OS, the reliability of the hardware, the way programs integrate so well with the OS, and the negligible threat of malware/trojans. All of those, along with Apples tremendous customer service and technical support that make it a little less painful to pay extra.
Ahhh this is a little more along the lines of what I'm looking for do all the powerbooks use ddr3? Because the asus I originally linked to uses ddr2 thats worth at least 100 bucks, possibly 2.
edit* dumb question that I answered myself yep all of the powerbooks have ddr3
Graphics performance between the last-gen MacBook Pro and the new ones is pretty similar. The new card isn't a great upgrade, frankly. I'm not sure what's available in the refurb store, but previous-gen 15" Pros were going for ~$1300 after the Unibody came out. That's an amazing price for that machine.I would seriously consider the MacBook, though. If you want a larger screen, spend a couple hundred dollars and buy an external monitor. You'll wind up with way more screen space than you would by buying a laptop with a 15" screen! I use my MacBook with a 22" external, but the new one will support anything up to and including a 30" display. Can't go wrong.
And it will easily handle Photoshop work.
As to your original question, is the Apple worth the extra cost over the Windows machine? Yes! You say you don't mind reinstalling the OS a couple times a year... that's fine. But would you feel the same way when you have a paper due the next day, your computer crashes, and you're stuck reinstalling Windows? I've been there. It's not pleasant.
I bought a Mac for University - in spite of the higher price - because of the stability. Yes, a well-maintained Windows machine will be very stable. But keeping it that way takes time. And even if it is well-mantained, the risk of getting a virus or malware is still higher than under OSX. Running a Mac, you know your computer will always be there for you. Windows... well, once burned, twice shy. :/
If you can't afford the MacBook Pro, then you can't afford the MacBook Pro. If you don't like the 13" screen on the MacBook (which I can relate to, I hate a screen that small), you might have to go with the PC notebook. But to make your experience more enjoyable, put Ubuntu on it alongside Windows. Then you can use Ubuntu when you want and have Windows incase you need it.
How similar are the hardware components to a mbp? Get on some online forums, and consider a hackintosh. (I'd keep the danged restore disks handy, though.)
Sounds like a Macbook + external monitor would be enough for what you want to do with it. The refurb store has great discounts too. Going to a 13" screen at first sounds odd, but after awhile you get used to the smaller screen side. Or you stretch your budget and get the Macbook Pro. Your choice.