I am old school PC guy. I still run Windows XP Pro, but like all good things that must come to an end I believe it is time to upgrade.
Windows 7 or Mac box is the question.
This is for my wife who will be doing photo editing, graphic design, document creation for pretty things.
I was recently given an iPhone 3G for her and we have been reasonably impressed.
What we are looking for is
thin,
long battery life
run programs that do above
would like a front and rear facing camera
Why the front and rear facing cameras on a laptop (I'm assuming that's what you're describing)?
A recent Mac will run both Windows 7 and Mac OS, as will a carefully put together Hackintosh, but getting the latter as a laptop might be an issue.
For the creative stuff, you might be better off with the Mac - most of the creative types still seem to use them. From a software perspective you're able to get the required software for either so that's not a major deciding point these days.
From the thin and long battery life, you might have just described a Macbook Air, but cheap they aren't. I'd also look into a second hand or Apple Store outlet refurbished Mac Pro, those might be a better bet.
My guess is that if she does graphics stuff you have already invested in graphics software for the PC platform for your previous machines. I would stick with PC if that is the case, as replacing those programs with the Apple equivalent will get expensive.
Some companies like Adobe allow "crossgrades" between Mac OS and Windows platforms.
Just getting back to updated graphics stuff, so either way. Right now we GIMP it most of the time.
I want something reliable, I guess that is big thing I left out. I like my work lenovo but it isn't something that is very "pretty"
Being a creative that is very important to her.
Oh, she wants to have a back up camera for her work, doesn't make sense to me but I have learned what issues not to push on. Not worth the fight.
Do they even make laptops with rear facing cameras?
GRM answer is PC- because you can do precisely whatever the hell you want with it. However, Apple...it just works. NOT GRM friendly pricing though.
A refurb 27" iMac Core 5 mwill set you back about $1450, same as a refurb Core 5 17" Macbook Pro. Apple refurb store
Having been a lifelong PC guy, I've recently been converted after getting a MacBook for work - to the point of just buying my own.
While I can't speak about longevity, it is fast & works very well. They hold their value too, as even 4-5 year old Macs are still $700 or more around here.
I can testify that an average PC laptop only seems to survive about 3 or 4 years before a major failure, at which point they generally aren't worth fixing.
And while Mac pricing may not be GRM-friendly, their long-term value certainly fits in.
While four of the computers in my house are PCs, I have recently happened upon a MacBook Pro and I love it. I haven't had it long enough to attest to the longevity, and I haven't had the cash to buy any graphics software for it or upgrade it from Tiger. Still, it's fast and has not let me down or hung up on anything while browsing the web or using iWorks.
I will point out that Apple did fiddle with Final Cut Pro X to the point of driving many people into the PC/Avid camp. I don't know if that affects you, but do remember AppleCare doesn't.
A 13" MBP is really a pretty good deal if you take into account the features that are built-in that you would pay extra for on a "consumer grade" low-end laptop. You can get one for under a grand on the Apple refurb store. If you need more horsepower, go for the 15" quad-core i7. That thing is major fast, even without an SSD. I have a 13" Corei7 Air w/SSD and it rocks for my everyday use, but I don't do any graphics work.
If you're against getting a Mac, check out Dell's Alienware lineup for high graphics horsepower laptops.
No dell, I know dell, so no dell. They have wen't down faster than a 13b with 27 psi boost.
DoctorBlade wrote: I will point out that Apple did fiddle with Final Cut Pro X to the point of driving many people into the PC/Avid camp. I don't know if that affects you, but do remember AppleCare doesn't.
Apple quietly re-released the "old" version of FCP after all the hubub. Regardless, Adobe Premiere is a superior program, I don't care what anyone says.
If you do go Apple, go with a refurb. The warranty is the same as the new stuff, and the price is sometime much better. You have to check the refurb store OFTEN as deals can come and go in a matter of minutes.
I'd sat away from hackintoshes unless you have some compu-tinkering experience. While I've found mine to be rock solid, there are some peculiarities that you have to workaround occasionally.
If you go with a MacBook Pro, bite the extra bullet and go with a 15 or 17 inch with the high-resolution display. My 17" MBP outputs beautiful 1920 x 1080 HD to our big screen, and has practically replaced the PS3 as our go-to media machine.
jg
I have a 13" MacBook Pro. I kind of wish I'd bought one with a larger screen, but it works seamlessly with a separate monitor (and I've hooked it up to my 42" TV with good results as well.)
I say, get her what she wants, and what interface she is most comfortable with. What other tool will she use for hours every day? Yes, it is a matter of hundreds of dollars, but if she is making money from this venture, productivity is time, and time is money.
CLH wrote: A 13" MBP is really a pretty good deal if you take into account the features that are built-in that you would pay extra for on a "consumer grade" low-end laptop. You can get one for under a grand on the Apple refurb store. If you need more horsepower, go for the 15" quad-core i7. That thing is major fast, even without an SSD. I have a 13" Corei7 Air w/SSD and it rocks for my everyday use, but I don't do any graphics work. If you're against getting a Mac, check out Dell's Alienware lineup for high graphics horsepower laptops.
If you want a pile of graphics power in a laptop, you'd do well to check out ASUS's gamer line as well. I have a 17" g73- and it's STILL wicked fast almost two years later. It's handled anything I can throw at it so far.
Coming from a PC guy, I don't think you'll find a better overall value for a graphics and video editing rig than a refurb Mac. If you're not concerned about warranty, you can probably find a pretty good deal on a used Mac.
The one thing I'm thinking is that she might be served best by 2 machines, an iPad and an iMac or similar. Apple tends to have far better integration than you'd find in a Windows environment, unless you spend time getting everything talking in Windows or using external programs. i-anything devices are meant to be companions with every other i-device out there.
I hate Macs. They are a pain to use and they cost a ton of money and I can't figure out why.
We have 2 Macs and a Hackintosh in our household (I've also got a G5 powered iMac that needs a little fixing). I use PCs at work for Adobe Creative Suite and SolidWorks.
I find I like Macs more, and they seem to require less upkeep on my part than any PC I've had.
For a high powered laptop, refurb Macs tend to offer good value.
MitchellC wrote: I say, get her what she wants, and what interface she is most comfortable with. What other tool will she use for hours every day? Yes, it is a matter of hundreds of dollars, but if she is happy, not blaming you for the computer problems and your marriage is working then buy it
fixed that for you.
I am traditionally a PC guy, but I know Windows 8 is a completely different animal and will have nothing, and I mean nothing, in common with the current stuff. If I am going to jump ship, now is a good time.
I will keep my PC for my copies of Matlab, Solidworks, Catia and ProE, but this is hers.
this is what I am truely concerned with.
In a very GRM explanation
If you buy a Mac, you'll need to grow a beard and get the birkenstocks that go with it.
FlightService wrote:MitchellC wrote: I say, get her what she wants, and what interface she is most comfortable with. What other tool will she use for hours every day? Yes, it is a matter of hundreds of dollars, but if she is happy, not blaming you for the computer problems and your marriage is working then buy itfixed that for you. I am traditionally a PC guy, but I know Windows 8 is a completely different animal and will have nothing, and I mean nothing, in common with the current stuff. If I am going to jump ship, now is a good time. I will keep my PC for my copies of Matlab, Solidworks, Catia and ProE, but this is hers. this is what I am truely concerned with. In a very GRM explanation
I have never paid for any repair on any of my macs.
My power adapter cable frayed. I walked into an apple store and they gave me a new one (~$80 msrp) without blinking.
Had a hard drive crap the bed about 6 months outside of warranty. They sent me a box overnight to ship the computer. I had it back, fixed, with the latest release of OS X in four days, with a brand new hard drive. They extended my warranty another six months. For free.
I bought a used iPod touch. It turned on, then bricked. Completely dead. They sent me a box, I sent the iPod in it. Two days later I had a brand new, in box, iPod touch.
I find the analogy is more like:
PC: you buy a sweet mustang that's carbureted and you spend multiple random minutes every day rejetting the thing
Mac: you buy a lambo (or w/e) and.. yeah. that's it.
How heavy of graphics processing is she planning to do? Is she doing something that will require a real, dedicated GPU? That is something that can very strongly dictate what she needs.
When I got my laptop, a decent GPU was a high priority to me. I found out that meant I was not going to get an Apple laptop unless I went for one of their very top end business models for like $3k. A good GPU uses a lot of energy, produces a lot of heat, and takes up a lot of space, all of which are kind of anathema to the Apple aesthetic for their laptops.
That said, if you can get by with onboard graphics, it looks like Apple's onboard laptop graphics is slightly better to the standard onboard system on PC's, although nowhere near the capability of a dedicated card.
Mac's work for the long-term and need nothing. No updates (as opposed to manditory updates that make features stop working correctly) needed, no mods needed. Just turn it on the day you buy it, and 10 years later start shopping for a new one and pass that one on to the kids.
And how on earth are macs "a pain to use". I find it harder to keep up with the latest release of windows, different service pacs, and the latest itteration of Office. If you had a mac 10 years ago, they work the same way today, and the biggest difference between how a mac works and a windows machine is that the windows machine doesn't.
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