Oscraps

Mac desktop vs. Mac Book

Mac Desktop vs. Mac Book

  • Total voters
    10
clarabear

clarabear

always chatty at the O!!
So, I have recently noticed that my computer is kinda crappy. Very slow and a pain in the butt. All we now use our computer for is my photoshop stuff and getting online. So, I was talking to my husband about our tax return and I was talking about getting a new computer. He suggested instead of getting a new computer, keep the one we have and get a mac book that I can use in the living room, bedroom, work etc. I hadn't even considered that as an option. But now that it is on the table...

The problem is that I know nothing about Macs. People either love them or hate them. I have figured that since all of you are the ones whose opions really matter since you use yours for the same thing I would you are the ones to ask.

Here's the one other thing...I have never ever bought a computer in my life and don't even know where to start to get one or what a good price is for it. My dad is a computer geek so either I have received a rebuilt one or one that he purchased for me. I am amazed that I have no idea where to start. So, I need all information you can give me. Help me!!
 
i voted for the mac book - that's what i use and i ALWAYS have it on my lap! ahhah! i got the little 13" one for the same reason - portability!

other than having to buy the obvious programs, they come pretty well equipped. i don't think you need much "add-on" stuff at all. (from what i remember)
 
Well - I have both! And I always, always reach for my desktop. The laptop works as a backup, and a way to download & store (and scrap!) photos whilst on holiday. But I find the screen irritatingly small and don't even get me started on stupid laptop mice (granted, not a solely Mac problem - but once you plug in a real mouse, you need a real table, so you might as well have a real computer!) I wish I'd had extra ram put in my laptop as it runs so slowly that scrapping on it is a very drawn out affair. Battery life is about 2 hours - I've never had a PC laptop so I don't know if this is good or bad.

Love, love, LOVE my iMac desktop. It's largely stable (OK, so the motherboard blew up after 5 wks but was replaced f.o.c.) - usually it's software that crashes, but even then the crashes seem to be much smaller and less dangerous/fatal than PC crashes. Adobe software really does work a treat on a Mac. Macs open & shut down much faster than PCs - OK, I know that's a really silly reason to get a Mac but it's symptomatic of having less componets to go wrong compared to a PC.

I was very resistant to changing to a Mac - for no reason other than I knew PCs, not Macs. But when my PC died, my DH bought me a Mac and now I can't imagine going back to a PC. Learning curve really was very short, especially given that as digi scrappers we're pretty computer savvy.

Final silly reason - Macs are MUCH better looking than PCs!

Good luck in your decision.
 
I adore my Mac. Right now all I have is the laptop, and am saving up for the desktop. I think if you're going to do any sort of editing/scrapbooking, I'd go for the desktop. I scrapped on my 12" laptop, and it hurts my eyes after a while. I like the larger monitor.

The transition from Windows to Mac OS will be easier than you think. :)
 
I had to make it even. *lol* ;)

But seriously....I've used both. I prefer my pc. I'd put mine up against the macbook pro any day. And mine was cheaper. ;) But really, its what you prefer...you can go to an Apple store and try one out. You could also look at the components and see what you can get in a pc for the same price. Dell allows you to build your own laptop so you can do a component-by-component comparison if you want.

And Selena...I'd LOVE to know what mac you have that shuts on and off so quickly! *lol* Didn't we already talk about this in another thread here? My mac mini at school is still a pain in the butt. I hate it hate it hate it! I keep getting that stupid colored spinny wheel of frozen torture any time I try and shut the darned thing down, no matter what way I try it! I hate mac minis! My macbook pro is a little better...it at least doesn't give me that stupid spinny wheel.
 
I'm very versatile. I have a desktop PC, I have a Macbook Pro, I have Mac desktops at school....

I love Macs for their ease of use and simple creativity. Most everything is plug and play, no drivers. Updates are usually easy, very little viruses. I got used to PSE on my Mac and CS3 pretty quickly. My PC did download faster than my laptop, but once I upgraded to the latest Firefox, that seems to have changed for the better. I love being able to use my laptop anywhere and often scrap on the living room couch now. The only thing that I wish is a bigger hard drive. I did buy an external drive that I used a lot but seeing as how I scrap on the couch, it fell down and broke and I lost a bunch of stuff. I've just bought another one as I haven't gotten videos of Ben off and have lots of scrapping stuff and my HD is getting a little full. That's the only downside for me with my laptop. So....I love my Mac. I sitll occasionally use my PC though.
 
i voted PC cause i like that they are inexpensive and deal with most any program out there without problems...i hate incompatibility. Haven't been in the mac world for 9 years!! so really, i'm just here talkin'!! LOL!! we also know how to work a pc better, even tho we had a mac for a long time. AND...mr gorgeous said, you get more for your money in PCworld!! that's for sure!! :)

And I vote for LAPTOP, whichever you do!!! OMGosh...it is the coolest thing to sit down in the living room and scrap every night and be comfy and then if I'm sick, to sit in bed...*sigh* i love my laptop!!
 
I used to think that you get more for your money with a PC, but seeing as how you've got most of your creativity products built in...except for something to scrap with....and a camera built in, and speakers built-in, etc....I think that all adds up. Plus, the plug and play ness of everthing is great. No drivers!
 
I didn't vote because I'm in between! I have a Dell laptop right now--love that it's a laptop, SICK TO DEATH OF WINDOWS VISTA. Seriously, Vista CRASHED my computer AGAIN this past weekend. That makes TWICE in the 8 months I've had the thing, and because my business depends entirely on my computer working, it's kind of a REALLY big deal when it crashes. Like heart attack city!

I've been looking at Macs for a while now, and when I get my next computer (won't be for a couple more years, since this stupid thing is brand new), it will be a mac. I'll probably go for the desktop since they're a bit more affordable (I really only want a laptop if I can have a 17", and the 17" mac book pros are $2700--OUCH!). ;)
 
petey111 said:
I used to think that you get more for your money with a PC, but seeing as how you've got most of your creativity products built in...except for something to scrap with....and a camera built in, and speakers built-in, etc....I think that all adds up. Plus, the plug and play ness of everthing is great. No drivers!
Click to expand...

I got all that with my Dell M4400. ;) And cheaper than a mac.

Gen...windows 7 is almost here!
 
Clara I would really think about how you are going to use a computer. If you'll mostly be using it in one place, go with a desktop. Heck, if you get an iMac you can even move it around quite easily. Desktops cost less and have much bigger screens. If you need something portable, then a laptop is the way to go. I'm like Selena, I use my desktop almost all the time. I only use my laptop occasionally.
 
Hello - me again.

Waving the Mac desktop flag again... Donna's right, with a 20" iMac desktop you could actually move it around location wise as there's no processor unit, everything is in the screen. Of course, I don't move mine, but if pushed, it wouldn't be a problem. Hubby's PC weighs so much I can't even lift the tower.

Another thing I would add....as mentioned, mine is 20" iMac G5 and I now wish I'd taken my DH's advise and got the 24" instead. I was worried about sitting so close to something that big (and in the shop it really did look HUGE), but actually having more room on screen, especially given our want to flip between stash store and sbing software, would have been really useful.
 
I am thinking I'm pretty convinced about a mac. I also think a laptop would be awesome for me. Right now it is just a cost issue. I'm fine with the smaller screen, the big screens kinda freak me out. I need to go up to BestBuy in Tacoma and see how I like the feel of it and stuff. The one I want will add up quite a bit since I want the extra ram, very large hard drive and a warranty. I'm thinking I'd get the white one since it is a little cheaper and all. That is just so much money. Hmmmm...still considering.
 
MommySpice said:
I got all that with my Dell M4400. ;) And cheaper than a mac.
Click to expand...

Even a desktop? And you have video editing, DVD creation, photo management all built in? That's cool. I guess being techy geeks, my husband and I are always looking at the expensive crap. =)
 
Off topic, but just to show you how techie geeky we are. This is the new washer/dryer my hubby went and bought. Nope, no plain old washing machine for us. Nope. It wirelessly speaks to the dryer and everything.

Incidentally, he hates my Mac. Won't touch it if he doesn't have to. =)
 
clarabear said:
I am thinking I'm pretty convinced about a mac. I also think a laptop would be awesome for me. Right now it is just a cost issue. I'm fine with the smaller screen, the big screens kinda freak me out. I need to go up to BestBuy in Tacoma and see how I like the feel of it and stuff. The one I want will add up quite a bit since I want the extra ram, very large hard drive and a warranty. I'm thinking I'd get the white one since it is a little cheaper and all. That is just so much money. Hmmmm...still considering.
Click to expand...


Clara I don't know about the laptops, but I installed RAM in my iMac myself. It was so easy! The hardest thing was clearing off a place to flip the computer over... oh and finding a screwdriver. You also don't have to buy the AppleCare warranty when you get your computer. It doesn't matter where you get it from and you can find it online for less.

If you really want to save some money, go through ebates and order your computer. If you order from MacMall you'll get 2% back. If you order from Apple, you'll get 1% back. You can even order from Best Buy and pick it up in the store (if they have it in stock) and still get 1% back. Also you may want to check out the refurbished laptops at Apple. Sometimes you can get a good deal there.
 
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