Laptop Imminent!
Posted under: Podcast
Thursday, I had the great honor and pleasure to be the guest of honor at the PC/Mac Smackdown’s very first live podcast!
I entered the show on the fence, and throughout the show managed to hop nimbly from one side to the other. By the end of the show, my head was spinning (Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!) and I needed to think about what I’d learned and evaluate.
Windows or Mac?
Comparing hardware alone, Windows was the clear winner in terms of cost.
If I wanted a machine that I could use as a primary or secondary gaming machine, I would almost certainly be better off getting a windows machine, as the Macbook Pro is the only Mac that meets the requirements and it is over my budget.
If I just want a machine that’s mobile and I can write on and get to the internet from – again, Windows gets me there cheaper.
As far as primary software is concerned, there’s really not a crystal-clear winner. Anything a Mac can do, so can Windows. I’m not missing out on any functionality by going one way or the other.
A Mac would have a pretty steep learning curve – I’m unfamiliar with everything from the touchpad to the software. I could plug myself into a Windows machine and keep my comfort zone.
Seems like an easy enough choice…except for the fact that BOTH of my previous laptops (the one I got in college that is known as “The Brick” and the Eee which is so small that it is now known as “The Pixie”) have had serious (SERIOUS) hardware defects, and both of them have been a pita to try and fix.
I live near a Mac Store.
I can physically take a Mac to the store, talk to a human being, who will stop right there and do their utmost to fix my computer. I can buy the AppleCare to extend such red-carpet treatment another two years past the FREE 1 year warranty that comes just for buying the machine.
Add to that the fact that I do NOT want XP or Vista (and thus would need to wait until July at the earliest to purchase a Windows machine that would give me a free upgrade to the upcoming Windows 7. The new OS is getting a lot of great reviews…but it’s still an unknown.
Also, and this was a minor (but very real) concern, Mac software is just COOL.
Finalizing the Decision
I signed up for an hour of personal one-on-one shopping help for this morning, and the lovely woman who helped me gave a lovely tour of all the software. There are a few things that the Mac can do that a Windows would not do out of the box which are like…getting unexpected sprinkles on your cupcake. Being able to burn dvd photographs with neat transitions for my mother and grandmother, for example. Necessity? Not even close. But very, very cool.
Finally, I walked through the Dell website for a similar laptop, and although the starting prices were VERY different ($500 for the windows and $1200 for the Mac) the ENDING prices after getting software and whatnot were shockingly similar. It was still cheaper to get the windows machine, but I was surprised at just how quickly that gap was scaled.
I also have a theory that the aluminum body of this MacBook will protect it from…well…me. It seems very light and sturdy, whereas some windows laptop casing seem brittle and cheap.
Mac Wins!
So…I’m getting a Macbook.
I signed up for another hour of personal service after work on Tuesday, where they will transfer all of my songs and data for free to my laptop, install everything for me, and generally make me a very very lucky laptop owner.
<3
Congratulations! (You have now been, or are about to be, assimilated. *grin*)
I know you’ll be very happy with the Mac; when I took the plunge several months ago it was not without trepidation. Now? You couldn’t trade me any Windows laptop for my Mac.
And should my (newly upgraded) PC desktop suddenly blow up tomorrow, I know I’d be getting an iMac the next day. :)
@Steve
*laughs* I think I will be one very happy macborg.
Hi Tami. I was one of the chatters on the PC/MAC SMACKDOWN. Great show.
I’m sure you’re going to enjoy your Mac. The kind of person who can put together their own website and is a gamer will be fine in any OS they chose. I am a switch-hitter. I’ve been using both platforms since the mid-80s, but I usually recommend Windows machines for most people because they usually don’t have a $2,000 budget. As a matter of fact, the sales pitch (comparing the cost of a custom Windows machine) you got at the Apple store must be part of their training because I’ve heard it from so many salespersons. It’s also a ridiculous premise for most users. I can explain, if you’re interested.
I am a scientist and a professional writer. My wife is a professional artist. She is a devoted Mac user, but recently took the plunge on a Vista machine because of cost. We’re making plans to blog/podcast on her experience. She doesn’t have a geeky bone in her body so the transition is going to be doubly hard on her. We will probably get her a Macbook as a second, more portable machine to replace her Powerbook G4.
If you need any pointers or just want to commiserate, let us know.
Macs ROCK. You won’t be disappointed! :)
@Mark
*laughs* Actually, the “compare the price” thing I did on my own – nobody at the apple store mentioned it. Depending on what features and applications and support are chosen, you can still get out VERY close to the original $500 starting price on the box I looked at. And even adding everything in, it was still cheaper than the Mac. Even without knowing your reasoning (though I’d love to hear it) I agree with you on the fact that it’s a ridiculous premise for most users.
I would definitely be interested in such a blog or podcast – please send me a link when you get it set up! As to needing pointers – yes, always! *laughs* I have about ten mac books that are being shipped to my local library so I can evaluate them (Love inter-library-loan SO much) but in the meantime I’m just trying to remember what swiping upwards with three fingers means as opposed to four!!
@Softi
*laughs* I don’t think I will, either! I love to research things, and although I don’t always get the choice right on the first pass (see the Eee) I do always get a step closer to knowing what tools I need. I’m VERY excited to learn the mac!
I think you made the right call. I love my MacBook. :)
@Seri
Wootwoot! I doubt I’ll be sorry (unless for some reason the banks collapse and I REALLY wish I had that cash back). What do you use yours for?
I think you’re on top of the price comparisons. It comes down to the Mac having few configurations, and having more power than the average user needs. As I told Cal, I’d be more than happy to pay Apple $1,500 for a stripped down Macbook Pro. Just remove the ibloatware that I won’t use.
I’ll keep you posted on the blog/podcast. We’re already getting a lot of material with my wife’s adventures with Vista.
@Mark
*laughs* Adventures with Vista. Sounds like a National Geographic Special!
Congrats on your Mac purchase! I’m glad it worked out for you, I was a little uneasy with the first gentleman you met with at the Apple store, so I’m thrilled that you went back to speak with someone who knew a bit more.
It’ll be a bit of an adjustment moving between your PC and Mac, but I’m eager to see how this works out for you. It’ll be a much less compact surface and screen to write with as well, which I suspect will be a nice improvement from your Eee.
They’re so purty too, which never hurts. ;) Don’t mind me too much if I can’t help but drool over it. Lol
@BadKitteh
As was I. He seemed very new, and I didn’t want to judge the entire store based on just him, especially since he admitted he wasn’t very familiar with the MacBooks.
Also, drooling is encouraged. I fully intend to steal you for some Saturday when you’re not househunting and get your help learning it!
Whenever you have a question, feel free to ask. Granted, my exposure to Macs is somewhat limited with only being able to customize and play around with my work machine so much before the IT guys get cranky. Lol
@Badkitteh
They’re always cranky!
I keed, I keed!