Mac or PC ?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
<p>As for the mouse. . .I meant the one that comes standard with the Mac. It has one button and that rolling ball thing in the middle. I like my pc mouse with three buttons on top, one roller, and two side buttons for internet surfing. The Mac mouse just feels slower. Also the Mac rolling ball thing does not have any "clicking" so it is too touch sensitive. I can roll to the top and the bottom of a page but getting to the middle is annoying.</p>

<p>As for PC makers, we have a Dell laptop that it barely "portable". 17 inch screen and weighs like 10 lbs. Good speed and screen resolution. It has a dual core processor so it has more processing power than I really need. Recommendation on laptops, get the most powerful one you can for the price. It is a pain to upgrade laptops, especially sound and video cards. Also, check the internet for "coupons" for Dell. You can get a great deal (like 20-30 percent off) if you use the coupon. We got a $1500 laptop for $950 because of a coupon. </p>

<p>Dell is reliable but their customer support is shoddy. If that is a real issue for you, get the upgrade and you will be able to speak to someone in the U.S. 24 hours a day as opposed to someone in a different continent. Sony is good but very expensive. Good reviews for HP but not compaq. Acer makes good computers but they are expensive. They just bought Gateway but I do not know that has had any effects yet.</p>

<p> </p>

<p> </p>
 
>WINEX - I hadn't heard of it before you mentioned it. I would put this in the category of something that is a potential problem, but I haven't met anyone who actually suffered from it. Whether this is because the Mac's software is more secure or because virus writers don't care about the Mac makes no difference to the user. The end result is the same - no worries and no problems. I think the fact that you mention it and that I hadn't heard of it also kind of makes my point. These are so rare on the Mac that users don't know about them.








T!m, actually I think the fact that I mentioned it and you haven't heard of it proves my point.





Rootkits are a serious issue. And WeaponX is a rootkit development kit that is in the wild. Of course, anyone who knows anything about rootkits is going to use them to produce stealth software. The people who use skills to overwrite the boot sector of your hard drive aren't the ones that you REALLY need to worry about. The people who invade your machine in a less obvious way and take data that can be used to steal your identity, drain your bank account, or execute the run-up of a pump-and-dump scheme with your online trading account are the ones you need to worry about.





The fact that someone who doesn't use anti-virus software isn't aware of just how foolish they are is no surprise. But hearing such a person try to establish their own credibility and the recommend that other people act in a similarly foolish manner is disturbing.
 
<p>Troop-</p>

<p>We have a small Dell laptop for emergencies that is seriously underpowered, but only cost $400. However, since it was purchased to provide access to the internet (and our finances, records, etc.) if we have to scram in a hurry and not as a main home computer we are satisfied with it. For my own main PC, I bought a Dell XPS 700 and it hasn't crashed once in the last year. I designed all the IHB logos and T-shirts on it, I edit home video frequently, and use it to edit pictures into art that goes on our walls. Anecdotal evidence, but I can recommend any of the Dell XPS line. My wife had a Gateway for years that was just donated to charity, still running and useable. Their website even has a "factory" outlet where they sometimes have screaming deals on units that were built but the order was cancelled, "certified refurbished" and cosmetic returns. When we get a real laptop for the house, it will most likely be a Dell. Your milage may vary.</p>
 
<p>Has anyone heard anything about the new Mac "Air" notebook/Laptop being announced by Steve Jobs tomorrow? (Tuesday Jan 15th)</p>

<p></p>
 
PeterUK,



I recently read about the new Mac Air laptop annoucement briefly. From my reading, it seems as though they will be focusing on bringing ultra light/portable laptop for Mac fans. To my understanding, it will eliminate the standard harddrive and replace it with Flash memory (similar to the usb flash drive technology you see in the market). This will eliminate the weight and also size...suppposedly by 50% thinner than current iMac laptops. This will make the laptop weigh around 3-4 pounds.



I am interested to see the pricing of the laptop...because I would like to see a more portable laptop within reasonable price. Keep it under $1500 and Apple will have another great year.
 
<p>Thanks iceman, I guess today will be the Day we'll find out...I read a rumor about "Air" refering to the fact that it's wireless as in no Cables?</p>

<p>My Wife was saying she can see the Day when a Laptop is so thin one can roll it up like a newspaper...or maybe a blow-up one so you just inflate it when needed...hmmmm.</p>

<p>Anyway, knowing Apple, it's gonna be really inneresting </p>
 
I've been a Dell kind of guy for a while and so far I love them. I definitely recommend the 3-year support plan - better yet, if you know someone whose company participates in an employee purchase plan (you get premium support as a bonus). After the 2 year mark there might be some sort of hardware failure. In my case, I've seen a busted HDD, busted fans, broken cord on power supply, busted keyboard (I'm a violent typer). As bad as it sounds, Dell got these resolved in a matter of days with on-site support (no mailing in of your laptop and waiting a week) or just sending me a part and letting me replace it.





Don't buy into this virus argument. Just get a good anti-virus (some are free), a good firewall and don't install every little plugin and freeware you find online. There ARE viruses/malware for Mac and with rising popularity there will only be more.





PCs are just way more convenient and peripherals are dirt cheap most of the type. I pretty much boils down to being hip (and paying a premium for it) or being practical .... I guess I'm not hip
 
<p>here's a great find on the Mac Air laptop <a href="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/01/breaking-macboo.html">http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/01/breaking-macboo.html</a> </p>

<p><img alt="" src="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/images/2008/01/14/airbook_side.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="" src="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/images/2008/01/14/airbook.jpg" /></p>

<p>$1799 pre-order today and ships in 2 weeks.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Here are some specs> copied the log from macrumors.com site</p>

<p> </p>

<p>







Pre-orders today, shipping in two weeks





10:24 am

$1799





10:24 am

2 GB Memory standard





10:23 am

5 hours of Battery Life





10:23 am

No optical drive, but a Superdrive accessory is available for $99. Also, software comes with the MacBook Air that allows you to "borrow" a Mac or PCs optical drive.





10:21 am

802.11n + Bluetooth 2.1/EDR





10:20 am

Other features: 45 Watt MagSafe, 1 USB 2.0 port, Micro-DVI, Audio Out





10:19 am

Steve retaking stage





10:19 am

Otellini: The processor is as thick as a nickle and as wide as a dime.





10:18 am

Apple asked Intel to shrink the Core 2 Duo. Intel shrunk the processor by 60%. Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel is taking the stage





10:17 am

1.6 GHz Standard, 1.8 GHz Option -- Intel Core 2 Duo





10:16 am

80 GB hard disk standard, 64 GB SSD as an option. "they're pricy, but they're fast"





10:15 am

1.8" Hard Drive





10:15 am

How did we fit a Mac in here?





10:15 am

Move a window by double-tap and move. Rotate a photo by pivoting your index finger around your thumb. Of course, pinch-zoom.





10:14 am

Multi-touch trackpad





10:13 am

display is LED backlit. iSight is built-in. MacBook-like keyboard, but with an ambient light sensor





10:12 am

Magnetic latch, 13.3" widescreen display





10:12 am

MacBook Air is 0.16" to 0.76". The thickest part of the MacBook Air is thinner than the thinnest part of the Sony. It fits inside a envelope





10:10 am

We thought 3 lbs is a good target weight, but there was too much compromise with the other features





10:10 am

Most people think of Sony TZ series when they think of thin notebooks. Competition specs: 3 lbs, .8-1.2 inches, 11 or 12" display, miniature keyboard, and slower processor.













10:08 am

"The World's Thinnest Notebook"







</p>
 
WINEX - who do you know that has been infected with and damaged by this rootkit? I am not saying there isn't potential. I am saying it is not worth worrying about in practice. You could get struck by lightning in Irvine, but the chance is so small, it isn't worth concerning yourself about it.



I am not stupid. I have developed award-winning software for the Mac. I have friends that work at top companies that make software for the Mac. Apparently you would be surprised at the low amount of concern about viruses, tojan horses, rootkits, and spyware in the Mac world.
 
<p>OMG....drool. <a href="http://www.apple.com/">Apple</a> The new "Air" that Peter was talking about......wow.</p>

<p>How much $$ though ?</p>
 
<p>Trooper,</p>

<p>You can go to the Apple store's website and check it out now. Just keep in mind the screen size is tiny.</p>
 
Don't bother with the Macbook Air. Everything's integrated: hard drive, ram (soldered onto the motherboard), and battery. Batteries are usually the first things to go in a notebook and that's screwed into the chassis. Pricey notebook and pricey repairs..
 
$1800 for a laptop...aren't we in 2008?...that price looks like 1998.





For that price you can buy 2 good HP laptops.





Dell is using very cheap materials to build their PCs, HP has better quality.
 
Several months ago there was a new Apple Product which can be seen at www.glumbert.com/media/irack Thought it would go with this thread ad the Apple product discussion.
 
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