Mac laptop or Dell

[jjskribs]

My son who has just graduated from college is interested in purchasing a laptop computer. Many of his "tech" friends are encouraging him to purchase a Mac. Dell's are quite a bit cheaper and they are what we have always owned. Any opinions as to why the Mac would be a better choice for him? They do have a promotion where you can get a free Ipod with the purchase of a laptop..... Thanks for any imput.

 

[Aimeedyan]

RUN TO THE MAC!!!!!!! Don't pass go, don't collect $200, just run for the Mac!

I have a Dell POS laptop (heavy emphasis on the POS). Never again will I throw money down the drain. I can't wait to buy a Mac and replace this - I have had so many problems I can't even begin to list them all. I have friends IRL who also bought Dells and had huge issues while our classmates (we all got them for graduate school) who bought Macs were sitting pretty.

I have no other reasons other than the Mac obviously being a better built machine in comparison to the POS Dell. The service for a Dell is terrible - they are all outsourced and the average conversation with them to get a warranty issue fixed averaged 3.5-4 hours. Time is money and that ticked me off! I haven't heard much about Mac service because none of the people I know IRL that have Macs ever have to have service calls made! DH declared that we'll never buy Dell anything again after this experience - even though I've heard their desktops are better machines. He doesn't want to risk the headache again, LOL!

Good luck in your decision - I know $ is a big factor. Talk to people IRL and see which they have been happiest with. I like to take into account what people on the internet say but when it comes down to it, real people usually make or break my decision =) I can tell you I have an Inspirion 5100 if that helps any.

 

[Savsmommy]

We have a Dell Inspirion 6000 and love it! We have had no problems with it at all. Our desktop is Dell also. DH swears by Dell I could care less as long as it runs good.

 

[dcentity2000]

Macs run Windows pretty much out of the box, run Mac OS X (a UNIX based operating system, basically Windows only prettier and statistically more stable.

Operating systems wise, Windows has more apps, although most are, well, rubbish ("Clock"... wow). Macs have less apps, only generally they're a little better, quality-wise (Microsoft Office has been shown to perform better on the Mac, media programs (movie players, music players and creative things) are generally more accessible and more powerful for the money (Shake, Final Cut, Keynote, Pages etc).

Personally, having worked with multiple systems (in order, BASIC, DOS, RISC OS 3.11, RISC OS 3.7, Windows 3.1, Mac OS 7.5.1, Windows '95, Windows '98, Mac OS 8, Mac OS 8.5, Windows 2000, Mac OS 9, RISC OS 4, Windows XP, Mac OS X, BeOS 5, IRIX, AtheOS, ReactOS, Sun Solaris (10 I think, the most recent one), Sun Looking Glass (3D operating system, got a preview ), Linux (most of them ), RISC OS 5, Windows Vista (shhhhh...), QNX (Momentix I think) and even Rhapsody(!)

...and although I personally prefer RISC OS and BeOS in terms of fundamental design, I must admit that Mac OS X is by far the best option considering ease of use, aesthetics, stability, software available and so on.

Hardware-wise, many cheaper PC manufacturers actually use the screens and components that Apple chucks out, so yeah...

I'd go Mac without hesitation.

[EDIT] If you have to use Windows, think twice about Dell. For VERY basic use they're great, but if you want to do anything vaguely demanding (such as playing music ) they tend to fall apart pretty quickly.

You get what you pay for.



Rich::

 

[jjskribs]

Thanks Rich............... I'm not sure what you said but it sure sounded good!

 

[Brier Rose]

I got my DD a Mac last year, and we both love it! We fight over it all the time!

I just wanted to say how impressed I have been with Apple's customer service so far.

After about 8 months we had a problem with the power cord. It had a little crack in it, that we didn't even know about until it started sparking!

I called Apple CS at 5:00 in the afternoon, and by 10:00 the very next morning Fed-Ex was at my door with a new one!

 

[dazeddaisy]

Honestly?

The only reason to buy a mac is
1. they will run alot of editing and graphic software that Dell will not be able to run ie Final Cut Pro
2. They can duel boot both windows and OSX legally (its illegal on windows machines)
3. Sadly ... they look better (though not better than AlienWare), and the name.

If you do not see him needing to using any sort of 3D, or video editing software, then go for the Dell. They are cheaper, and you can get more "bang for your buck". If he is only wanting that software to play with, there are plenty of Windows based programs - but not at a professional level. (yes there are some, but there is more on mac)

Lets look at it this way (I am talking £ because I know the price in £, they will not vary that much in the US). If I was to buy a semi decent mac to get my fictious child through the next few years at uni I would be looking at £1000 plus. For dell (or any brand), I would be look at £600 and still get a better computer spec wise. Heck I could even spend £300 and still get a semi-decent laptop.

Now before you shoot me down. I am an Apple person. I use Macs all the time for work and play. Had I not needed an Apple for certain software, and the duel booting capabilities, I would have an AlienWare for their specs. But probably more Dell because its more affordable.

 

[NewJersey]

I've been a pc guy all my life until last August when I bought a mac powerbook g4 and I LOVE IT. I'll never buy another dell or windows based PC again. the Dell I had ALWAYS crashed and I reformatted it about 5 times due to all the viruses and crashes.

the Mac was much more expensive but WORTH IT.

 

[DVC-Don]

Typing this now on a Dell laptop I've have for the past year and a half w/o ANY issues at all.

 

[Louise-Montreal]

Buy a MAC. Dells laptops suck bigtime. Bought mine and less than two years later completely crashed and customer service was terrible. I will NEVER buy a Dell again.
Everyone I know who has had MAC, absolutely loves them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sulleyfan]

Go for the Mac. As someone typing this from a Dell laptop and drooling over the Macs, go for it.

There is less worry about viruses/spyware/etc which from experience can be very prevalent if connecting to a campus network. I was the only "technically" minded person on the top 3 floors of my dorm my last semester at college, I spent approx 10/hours a week fixing computers that had caught a virus from the campus network w/in 10 minutes of connecting to it or that had so much spyware you couldn't access the internet.

Also, if you do have an issue w/ the computer, they're much MUCH MUCH easier to troubleshoot. I work in tech support for an ISP, and I love getting Mac calls because they're so simple to manuever.

Also, with the new ones, if you really need Windows, you can install it and still get the visual appeal of the Mac.

 

[coqui]

Dell makes the 2nd best Windows Laptops out there. Only thing superior to it is the IBM line. I've done troubleshooting with 7 different brands of laptops and Dell and IBM's were the only ones not giving problems. As said, you get what you pay for. However this only works for PC's. At $1700 for a laptop, I better be getting the best laptop on the face of this planet for that price (By the way, that's the average price of a Mac.)

Don't believe all those PC vs Mac ads that have been circulating around they say so many things that are false about PC's.

If you bought a POS Dell, is that really Dell's fault or yours. When it comes to computers, don't just go for the deal. I can build anyone a $300 PC but would you really want to use it for anything other than browsing the Internet? No.

Yes some tech support is outsourced, but it isn't that hard to upgrade your tech support. My current level of support for laptops is answers within 5 minutes of calling and Hardware the next day (with or without a technician to install it) Guess what? It's with Dell Laptops.

For those that say Dell can't handle anything more than simple tasks, I've easily done on an underpowered machine CD Burning while browsing the Internet, talking on IM and converting CD's to Mp3's. Computer never crashed and only slightly slowed down.

Sure OS X looks good but it isn't that hard to get your Windows machine to look the same if you really wanted that appearance.

For those that mention spyware and viruses on the PC's as a reason to get a Mac, maybe you should look at getting spyware removers for your Mac because I can guarantee you it's on there. I can honestly say that my current machine has only had spyware on it twice. Both times I knew exactly when it was installed and it was my stupidity that put it on there in the first place. YOU CAN'T GET A VIRUS OR SPYWARE ON YOUR MACHINE UNLESS YOU DO SOMETHING YOURSELF.

Other than registering your software, I'm curious all this additional stuff everyone mentions you have to do on a PC. I've never seen anything other than filling in your name and giving yourself a password.

That being said, if you want the ability to do graphics processing (which BTW means paying an additional $800 for the software that people use Macs for graphics) then go with the Mac.

If your son has any inkling to playing video games, then go with a PC. You will have to pay a premium for a laptop that can handle it, but they are there. (Look at Dell XPS line)

If it's business related, then nothing, and I mean nothing, beats IBM

Pros for Mac - Sleek exterior design.
Cons for Mac - Very limited in your sfotware, possible incompatibility issues with other people's machines, when they Crash, they crash hard. There is absolutely no recovering from a mac crash.

Pros for PC - Great quality for cheaper price, compatible with just about every business, photographing, and gaming software out there. Cheaper support after warranty is done.
Cons for PC - If you aren't careful, you can kill your own machine.

 

[Kitty 34]

My DS has a Mac Laptop and absolutely loves it. He purchased it for college.

 

[NEM]

Mac's rock...another vote for the apple. I have converted my entire family....

I 2nd...run to the mac....

Michelle

 

[DawnCt1]

Buy a MAC. Dells laptops suck bigtime. Bought mine and less than two years later completely crashed and customer service was terrible. I will NEVER buy a Dell again.
Everyone I know who has had MAC, absolutely loves them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No kidding!~ The darned thing was crashing five times a day. DH bought a Mac Power Book G4 for himself. Left it for me when he went to Iraq and he is DREAMING if he thinks I am going to part with it. Absolutely NO POP UPS! Its great. And I love the widgets, the dashboard, the whole thing!

 

[Galahad]

But it's not the MAC that is preventing the pop-ups it's the software. I don't get pop ups on my Dell. No problems at all and I don't have to translate into "Mac-speak" at work.

 

[Syrreal]

get the Mac. They cause a lot less worry than the regular windows type laptops. Also, make sure to get educational pricing that will get you a discount on it. If you will be buying at the apple store just have your son show his school ID. They also sometimes have deals where you can get refurbished laptops (I just got my macbook pro like that).

 

[becjlek]

DELL seems to have problems with quality control. I have heard they are not very consistant with the parts. That is why some are great and some are total losers. We have a dell desk top but will not get another or a dell lap top.

 

[jjskribs]

Thank you all for your responses. My husband is trying to talk him into the Dell and I am pushing for the Mac. He is no longer a student but I am eligible for the $200.00 educational discount and the free Ipod. He is a writer and may eventually be using it to write stories that he will need to send back to a newspaper. I understand that he can run Windows on it so that compatibility is not a problem ..... is it difficult to run Windows on it? It sure is a lot more money and the additional tech support is quite expensive but I don't want him to have regrets down the road that he didn't go with the Mac. Heck.... what's a couple thousand more when he already has college loans to repay

 

[NewJersey]

No kidding!~ The darned thing was crashing five times a day. DH bought a Mac Power Book G4 for himself. Left it for me when he went to Iraq and he is DREAMING if he thinks I am going to part with it. Absolutely NO POP UPS! Its great. And I love the widgets, the dashboard, the whole thing!

Me too Dawn!! It's such a better laptop. which size do you have? I have the 12 inch. I want to get the macbook pro.