Laptop Suggestions

[kribensis12]

Well, I am saving up for a laptop ( I have about 550 dollars put away), and I was thinking about getting a mac. I love to edit movies, and at our school we use the iMac to edit , and we use iMovie HD alias to edit the movies. Well, I was thinking that I should get a laptop from apple since I'm used to their programs, but I am always open to a cheaper, or better alternative. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Wills]

You cant beat macs Windows are trying to match them with 7 and its pretty good but after having years of bad PCs and then 5 years of 0 problem *touch wood* with macs no problem. And if you like video editing and doing visual stuff etc Macs are just better in everyway as well. Expensive but it takes a long time for them to go out of date compared to PCs

 

[Darkstar]

You cant beat macs Windows are trying to match them with 7 and its pretty good but after having years of bad PCs and then 5 years of 0 problem *touch wood* with macs no problem. And if you like video editing and doing visual stuff etc Macs are just better in everyway as well. Expensive but it takes a long time for them to go out of date compared to PCs

Not the case, I don't agree with a single thing said here. Windows can do just as much as macs, the whole idea that macs are better at video editing is long gone...and macs are just as much a problem as PCs. The only reason to choose one over the other nowadays, other than software restrictions, is lifestyle choice.

 

[kribensis12]

I like both, and I'm not hating on either, but I just want a fast computer. I know that dell wants me to pay 2000 dollars for a laptop with 2, 1.3 Ghz processors. Umm, no. I can get a mac with 3.06 Ghz processors for the same price. For video editing, I need a fast computer, and one with good RAM so it doesn't freeze up while I am running the internet.

 

[Darkstar]

I like both, and I'm not hating on either, but I just want a fast computer. I know that dell wants me to pay 2000 dollars for a laptop with 2, 1.3 Ghz processors. Umm, no. I can get a mac with 3.06 Ghz processors for the same price. For video editing, I need a fast computer, and one with good RAM so it doesn't freeze up while I am running the internet.

Can you provide links to the ones your looking at?.....
CPU speed isn't everything, even thought the manufacturers would like you to think so.

 

[kribensis12]

I was just looking through my search history and I can't find the laptop that has the 2; 1.3 Ghz processors. So, if CPU isn't everything, then what is? I would just really like a good, fast comnputer that I won't want to replace in 2-3 years because it's a crap computer and everyone elses is 2 times as fast as mine.

 

[keithp]

Alienware computer but you'll be paying a lot for it, but it will last you a long time!

 

[kribensis12]

I looked at alienware, and it doesn't seem like they are good for much else besides gamming. Unless they have a model that I am unaware of.

 

[Darkstar]

I looked at alienware, and it doesn't seem like they are good for much else besides gamming. Unless they have a model that I am unaware of.

They advertise them for gaming as most of their customers buy them for that reason...however they can do most things pretty well. I have an alienware at work and use it for video rendering, running CS4 apps etc....does it fine.

 

[kribensis12]

I think I am going to buy a Mac. Mostly for these reasons:
Long Battery Life
High Customer Satisfaction
Aesthetics
When bought, it comes with iMovie pre-installed, no charge
Virus Security

Now, I realize that Mac's aren't invulnerable to Viruses, but they aren't known for getting them. My Media Internship teacher has probably 25 macs (either Imac's or MacBook's) some of them from 2004 (I believe) that run fine, with no virus software. I find i may actually save money by getting a Mac because I don't have to buy a new Anti-virus software every year( if I had the laptop for 5 years, that would be 450, for the security system I use). For me, I believe that this is the best deal. Now, for the specs. How does this sound?

MacBook
13.3 inch screen
2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1033 MHz DDR3 SDRAM ( 2 seperate 2 GB chips)
320 Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW

It also will have Office 2008 pre-installed. I may also get the printer Canon PIXMA MP490 Photo All-in-One Printer with it. It says it might even be free after my rebate that I send in. Total Price:
$1,378.90

Now, I won't be getting this computer for several months (don't have enough saved up), but I just want to know what I am saving up for. So, what do you think?

 

[Darkstar]

If you want to get a mac then get one, they're fine machines. Don't however get into the whole macs are secure/no viruses compared to pcs. It's a flawed argument made by mac users who have no real understanding and yet spout the same old rhetoric time and time again. The mac o/s is often a number revisions behind the times and is just as unsecure as a windows o/s imo and there certainly are viruses out there for macs...I've had to remove a fair few myself.
Put a virus scanner on it even if you only run it occassionaly, ClamAV is freeware one and is pretty good too.

 

[kribensis12]

I might scan for free, but I don't know if I want to dish out 70 bucks for something I won't really need. I understand that they are not invulnerable, but Apple has it's own anti-virus software installed that constantly searches for them. From their website:


Don’t worry about viruses.
Designed with security in mind, Mac OS X Snow Leopard isn’t plagued by constant attacks from PC viruses and malware. Every Mac is highly secure right out of the box, so you can safely go about your work — or play — without interruption.

On guard.
Innocent-looking files downloaded over the Internet may contain dangerous malware in disguise. That’s why files you download using Safari, Mail, and iChat are screened to determine if they contain applications. If they do, Mac OS X Snow Leopard alerts you, then warns you the first time you open one.

Always up to date.
When a potential security threat arises, Apple responds quickly by providing software updates and security enhancements that can be downloaded automatically and installed with a click.

 

[Darkstar]

Use the one included if you so wish..but never trust statements like 'Every Mac is highly secure right out of the box' it's frankly just not true as much as they would like yout to believe it. Unfortunately and for some strange reason, Apple have never been content with advertising the merits of their own products, instead they spend a massive amount of cash trying to destroy their nearest competitor and always have to bring up the virus topic...macs aren't immune and neither are they totally secure.

 

[kribensis12]

Right now I am looking into refurbished ones from apple.