The "I might make a switch if apple doesn't hurry up" thread

[KnightWRX]

My eyes have been opened to the new breed of computer user--the Spec Whore.

Wait what ? New breed ? You obviously haven't been around long enough. Heck, I knew guys that would talk for hours on end about their x87 (yes, that 7 ain't a typo) math co-processor and their awesome 1024KBytes video card.

These same guys would scoff at you for using Double Density floppies, because of their whopping 5 1/4" size 40 Megabytes Hard Drive.

Then they would play this awesome new game, in EGA 16 colors and try to amaze you with their Adlib music synthesizer.

And guess what, even those guys weren't a new breed at all. Except back in those days, PC specs actually mattered and upgrading certain parts did in fact make a huge difference in user experience. Even the first days of 3D accelerators (what we called GPUs back then), even new generation of cards was a huge difference. Today, it's incremental upgrades every year and yeah sure, you've now got quad pipelines for sub-pixel shading, but can you really tell the difference ?

 

[fluent617]

haha, wow you guys are great.

 

[Max(IT)]

Seriously, what's your problem? We are all Macbook pro users waiting for an update, and the OP wanted to know what we as MAC USERS would POSSIBLY consider on the PC side. I'm waiting on my Thinkpad T410. Who knows what it will be like? Maybe I'll hate it. But it was the best one I could see myself using as a former Macbook Pro user (Mine died and I had to get a new laptop asap).

The OP repeatedly said that was exactly his/her intention. Not to say "Hey I'm switching over," but more to see if there are any possible alternatives worth considering for a mac person.

If you don't have any recommendations for the OP, you probably shouldn't be posting on this thread.

There is not such a "mac person": there are Mac users and PC users.
If you are a Mac User, searching for informations or wanting to talk about experiences with your MBP, you sign up this forum and come here. You can also freely complain if something is wrong with your Mac (see iMac board), and you are welcome. But if you sign up for the only reason of let us know that you want a PC, on a Mac forum, in my opinion you are a troll searching for a flame

my two cents

 

[anothernoob]

There is not such a "mac person": there are Mac users and PC users.
If you are a Mac User, searching for informations or wanting to talk about experiences with your MBP, you sign up this forum and come here. You can also freely complain if something is wrong with your Mac (see iMac board), and you are welcome. But if you sign up for the only reason of let us know that you want a PC, on a Mac forum, in my opinion you are a troll searching for a flame

my two cents

err.. Why would I be posting here if I don't have a mac. Do a lot of PC trolls make an account here just to say random things? If that's indeed the case, it's understandable why some of you are not too happy with this thread.

Either way, I don't think we should be forbidden from discussing possible alternatives to mbp for people who are used to osx/mbp, unless of course it's actually forbidden by the forum guidelines. Is it? (I'm actually asking.)

 

[StuddedLeather]

-___-

This thread is still alive?

Max I agree 100%, I don't see the point of telling Mac Users you're switching. YES OP, I understand you are a Mac User as well but to make another thread about NOT wanting to wait for the updated MBP's is kind of. . . laughable

I hope they update within the next two weeks though, so all of this madness will be over.
Yet then only will we begin to see "My New MacBook Won't Start. . .Should I Switch" . . .

 

[KnightWRX]

I hope they update within the next two weeks though, so all of this madness will be over.
Yet then only will we begin to see "My New MacBook Won't Start. . .Should I Switch" . . .

No, if they update in the next 2 weeks, then the forum will get flooded with : "Why didn't Apple include _______ ? For _____ $ t makes no sense whatsoever, Sony has it in their Vaio for _____ $. Screw Apple! "

 

[6-0 Prolene]

Wait what ? New breed ? You obviously haven't been around long enough. Heck, I knew guys that would talk for hours on end about their x87 (yes, that 7 ain't a typo) math co-processor and their awesome 1024KBytes video card.

These same guys would scoff at you for using Double Density floppies, because of their whopping 5 1/4" size 40 Megabytes Hard Drive.

Then they would play this awesome new game, in EGA 16 colors and try to amaze you with their Adlib music synthesizer.

And guess what, even those guys weren't a new breed at all. Except back in those days, PC specs actually mattered and upgrading certain parts did in fact make a huge difference in user experience. Even the first days of 3D accelerators (what we called GPUs back then), even new generation of cards was a huge difference. Today, it's incremental upgrades every year and yeah sure, you've now got quad pipelines for sub-pixel shading, but can you really tell the difference ?

Haha... touche'. There really is nothing new under the sun.

 

[6-0 Prolene]

Call those people spec whores all you want but if I am going to invest a large chunk of change then my MBP should be top of the line without worrying about a $600 Windoze machine blowing out of the water. I know the OS is the difference maker but W7 is closing the gap on OS X.

But many of us have already invested. I almost have more invested in OS X software than I do in any of my hardware. CS4, Aperture, OsiriX 64-bit, Office 2008, all the plugins for those... It would take a hell of a lot more than feeling jealous of Windows users for the switch to be worthwhile to me.

And at user levels beyond me, where the data etc. are source of income (pro photographers come to mind), there's even less incentive to switch OS's solely for the right to say you have the latest bell/whistle combination.

Yup, if I had Windows I could have had a core i7 laptop a long time ago--that weighs 8 pounds, runs at 90C, and has an hour of battery life. I kinda don't mind Apple taking their time on what usually ends up being a pretty damn good design.

 

[Max(IT)]

err.. Why would I be posting here if I don't have a mac.

there are several

Do a lot of PC trolls make an account here just to say random things?

Actually quite a lot

If that's indeed the case, it's understandable why some of you are not too happy with this thread.

Either way, I don't think we should be forbidden from discussing possible alternatives to mbp for people who are used to osx/mbp, unless of course it's actually forbidden by the forum guidelines. Is it? (I'm actually asking.)

it isn't forbidden, this is a free forum.
If you have SOMETHING to discuss.
But someone is only searching for a flame.

 

[Sn0wball]

Wait, writing shell scripts isn't computing ?

If you use your computer for scientific data crunching or rendering or sound processing or about any other advanced capabilities, you're not using a laptop anyhow, so why would you care if they have C2Ds.

Just shows how little you know about the realm of sound processing and data crunching, or how times have changed in the last ten years with regard to those into (any kind of) media production. Myself and countless others in the industry use a laptop exactly for those purposes. My work pushes realtime data manipulation to the limits. 32 channels of 88KHz audio at 24-bit with full effects sound processing in realtime (1.5ms ASIO), as well as sequencing, sampling and virtual software synths integrated with all my hardware synths and outboard. I've also done a fair bit of video editing in my time too, as well as 3D ray tracing in Maya, along with photoshopping. I also tend to compress huge amounts of data for backups.

All heavily CPU based. Funnily enough laptops have been working towards stretching these limits for years. Gives you a fully functional mobile studio. Something a desktop PC cannot.

So to get back to the point, Core2D vs. i7 is highly relevant for all those into media and data manipulation.

 

[anothernoob]

Actually quite a lot





it isn't forbidden, this is a free forum.
If you have SOMETHING to discuss.
But someone is only searching for a flame.

Ok. I think I see why you think I'm a troll. Understandable.

But we DID have something to discuss. It was about POTENTIAL alternative to mbps. But I already said this like 5 times, and it's obviously not getting through you, and I honestly don't understand why you think you can tell others what's worth discussing or not. We all have different needs. This thread fit my needs, but obviously did not fit your needs. No need to call me a troll for that. Maybe it's a language issue, since you stated that English is not your first language (btw, it's not my first language either).

Anyhow, I may still get a mbp when it gets updated, in addition to my new Thinkpad.

 

[Max(IT)]

Ok. I think I see why you think I'm a troll. Understandable.

But we DID have something to discuss. It was about POTENTIAL alternative to mbps. But I already said this like 5 times, and it's obviously not getting through you, and I honestly don't understand why you think you can tell others what's worth discussing or not. We all have different needs. This thread fit my needs, but obviously did not fit your needs. No need to call me a troll for that. Maybe it's a language issue, since you stated that English is not your first language (btw, it's not my first language either).

Anyhow, I may still get a mbp when it gets updated, in addition to my new Thinkpad.

Wait a moment, I wasn't calling YOU a troll.
I was speaking about the OP ...

 

[fluent617]

Yea silly, I am the troll he speaks of. How dare I ask people what other computers they might be considering. Shame on me!

Nothing like name calling on a internet forum. I bet you feel great about it huh, Max? Hopefully you scored some cool points with the in-crowd on the boards.

 

[6-0 Prolene]

Yea silly, I am the troll he speaks of. How dare I ask people what other computers they might be considering. Shame on me!

Nothing like name calling on a internet forum. I bet you feel great about it huh, Max? Hopefully you scored some cool points with the in-crowd on the boards.

Maybe it's because we're still waiting to hear what you're UNABLE to do without a Core i7 MBP.

 

[troopstorm]

i'm new here , but i noticed this thread.

to be honest with hardware being so cheap nowadays talk of "switching" is kind of old school. for example over here in the UK , when one of my mates signed up for a 3G package , they threw in a cheapo netbook to go with it.

in the old days when a personal computer was so expensive it was definitely a case of "switching".. nowadays , not so much.

 

[fluent617]

Maybe it's because we're still waiting to hear what you're UNABLE to do without a Core i7 MBP.

Hmm.. Maybe one day I will share, until then I'll remain troll status. Thanks for the concern though.

 

[charlieroberts]

I also find it kind of ridiculous to get angry because someone is daring to buy another brand of laptop.

i mean, he obviously loves mac but is unwilling to a) wait for another disappointing tuesday and b) buy outdated macs.

So he asks if anyone has had a pleasant experience with another brand, maybe to hold him till macs are top notch again. This forum being filled with mac lovers, I assume many of them have high standards for the quality of laptops, and maybe some of them own a work laptop that is not a mac (heaven forbid) and MAYBE they have something nice to say about it, being that the have a direct comparison with the mac at home.

What would youthink would happen if he went over to some pc loving forum and asked the same question ?

well pretty much the same childish responses that you guys have given him
"OMG mac sux u r a luzer 4 havin one"

So OP, i'm sorry but it seems your question is out of place pretty much everywhere. What a shame, since it is very interesting.

Me ? I would go with Vaio Z (pending reviews) or the amazing thinkpads.

 

[cutthroughthebs]

Your welcome. No offense, but this sort of talk/threads/discussion always happens around a refresh. In hindsight, its nothing aimed at you personally, its more a personal vexation at the entire discussion that comes up.

I did edit my above post (a couple of times).

If you feel that you can wait for a refresh and justify it (like me and expresscard), go for it. If you haven't invested a metric arsetonne in software/hardware (aka not like me) that is tied to OSX, then alternatives may be tasty. Lenovo is very nice, as well as Dell's Precision line for mobile computers(speaking from experience); if I had to buy a non-Macintosh workstation, it would be from Sun Microsystems.



Well, if there was any time to jump ship, now's a good time. Windows 7 is a good OS, as well as offerings in the open source community stepping up to the plate as well. Not to mention Apple caring about professionals, so far, being on the downswing (special thanks to Mr. Jobs and Apple hierarchy). From a practical standpoint, at the rate Apple is going, people are going to switch platforms for their NLE/photo/sound editing needs.= unless some major updates come out in the next few years.

In fact, I would switch if I wasn't locked into OSX. If it wasn't for the fact that the new models are supposedly around the corner, I probably would've dropped on an older machine.

Some recommended perusal that would pertain to the topic at hand.

WOW... You get on here and post you don't have any cost tied to software and you have a G5... Then you blatantly support EFI cracking OSX! I know now NOT to take any advice from you because your into other things besides using a Mac... Your into cracking anything Mac and to me... that's the LAST person I'd take any advice from! I'm sure you visit the torrent sites quite frequently too. Probably have some of your own torrents flying around the net... wow, truly incredible he he.

 

[Mindinversion]

Maybe it's because we're still waiting to hear what you're UNABLE to do without a Core i7 MBP

I'll bite, just this once. I have a better idea: What am I able to do with $2,800 [what I was expecting to pay for a new 17" i7 equipped]

I'm able to buy:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...20695&cm_re=asus_g73jh-_-34-220-695-_-Product

but that's not all, I can also get:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC239LL/A?mco=MTM3NTAxNDA

$1600 + $800 =$2400.

I can't tell you what I can't do without an i7, but I can tell you what I *CAN* do with a state of the art 5870 equipped PC, a mac mini, and virtual box:

just about anything I want

I'll say this though: all those ppl saying "if you need a machine now, you should buy NOW" were correct. And I still have my Macbook [limited edition non-pro] to fall back on. . .if my wife ever lets me touch it again

[I shouldn't say "can get" when what I really mean is "got last Thurs". I just wasn't able to put it off any longer, and while I"m willing to pay apple's prices, this time I couldn't justify it for the aging architecture. I didn't have time to wait while Apple drug their collective bums on this one.]

 

[MacDannny]

I also find it kind of ridiculous to get angry because someone is daring to buy another brand of laptop.

i mean, he obviously loves mac but is unwilling to a) wait for another disappointing tuesday and b) buy outdated macs.

So he asks if anyone has had a pleasant experience with another brand, maybe to hold him till macs are top notch again. This forum being filled with mac lovers, I assume many of them have high standards for the quality of laptops, and maybe some of them own a work laptop that is not a mac (heaven forbid) and MAYBE they have something nice to say about it, being that the have a direct comparison with the mac at home.

What would youthink would happen if he went over to some pc loving forum and asked the same question ?

well pretty much the same childish responses that you guys have given him
"OMG mac sux u r a luzer 4 havin one"

So OP, i'm sorry but it seems your question is out of place pretty much everywhere. What a shame, since it is very interesting.

Me ? I would go with Vaio Z (pending reviews) or the amazing thinkpads.

everything that he said!
it seems as though apple 'fans' are becoming even more arrogant than ever. I love apple stuff but I'm not naive enough to buy outdated hardware and lap up everything Jobs does. I think its a very valid question OP, as I am also considering a switch back to Windows, IF MBP's arent updated soon. And before any body gets on the high horse saying that the current macbooks are good enough, yes they are, but for about 50% of the price being charged!! it seems some people are missing this point.

We pay a lot for apple products, but it seems they are just getting greedier as a company (yes, I do understand its a business), but I'm sure some people understand what I'm saying. I'm also sure a lot of people on here are too ignorant to see whats happening with apple, they are making all the mistakes that microsoft made in the early 00's... too much focus on profit, not on quality. Just look at all the issues with every product they make. 27 iMac screens, Mac pro's, remember iPods blowing up on people last year anyone?


my 2 cents...

 

[6-0 Prolene]

I don't think anyone's getting mad at the OP for buying a different laptop. I certainly don't care.

What I think people are getting mad at is that he can't seem to grasp the fact that we really, honestly don't care, and he's projecting some kind of Apple fanboy thing on all of us. If he actually stops whining about what he believes we all think and actually does it, though, he'd realize that it really isn't going to matter to anyone.

 

[phrint]

I'm able to buy:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...20695&cm_re=asus_g73jh-_-34-220-695-_-Product

That ASUS is absolutely gross. Have fun with that one.

 

[6-0 Prolene]

That ASUS is absolutely gross. Have fun with that one.

Let's not forget the outstanding battery life of the i7-720QM.

 

[wikoogle]

This post makes me very tempted for the 15" HP Envy with Blu Ray...

so after using my parents macbook pro and my hp envy i got it price matched at 1799 canadian and the pro was 2199(2.66) here are the specs of the envy
Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6
6gb ddr3 ram
500gb 7200rpm
ati 5830
15 cells of battery 6 cell plus 9 cell slice
build quality is excellent on par with the mac, mine doesnt feel cheap at all but id still give the edge to apple because its the original
screen WOW, the envy at 1080p destroys the macbook pro, at its lowest brightness its equivelent to the pro at 3-4 notches, best laptop screen ive ever used and i really hope apple goes 16:9 the form factor is so much sleeker
performance well in everything the hp feels much faster, the i7 is an amazing processor
heating- some review units have been getting hot, note that this were rev 1, mines a rev 2 and it has no cooling issues, it does get mildly hot tho but hp has done a good job on cooling
keyboard- its great no backlight but they both feel identical no flex at all.
battery. heres where the pro shines but this is due to the i7 and the gpu, on the 6 cell i get 3 hours and with 15 cells i get around 6 hours, the pro gets 7 hours, here brightness is at half and office with web browsing.
Speakers- hp destroys although not as loud as the pro the sound is so much richer and has less distortion
Im glad i went with the envy, its the best laptop ive ever had and i strongly reccomend it those willing to use windows 7. Also i find it rather odd that my laptop has better specs than the 27 inch imac

 

[psingh01]

I wouldn't so much as makea complete switch, but I've been looking at the Lenovo W510 Thinkpad. If I hadn't had such crappy experiences with Lenovo before I might just get one now.

I'd still keep my current MBP, it'd just become a secondary machine. I use both Windows and OS X and prefer to have a MBP so I can use bootcamp and only need one machine.