October 23rd, 2007 by The Bosphorus
I’ve got the gadget bug for a laptop.
I’ve wanted one for a little while, but the bug bit down hard the other day. The thing is I’m cheap, don’t have a lot of money anyway and I like saving a buck. I also like the idea of getting only what I need and then suffering for it, consider my truck w/ no air=conditioning.
Now what I’ve always wanted is a Mac. I know they’re not cheap, but it’s what I want, so there. I’m also not silly enough to always give my heart what it wants, otherwise who’d be the boss around here– me or my heart?
Which leads me to three options:
- a brand-new PC, like this,
- a refurbished Dell for around the same price ($640)
- or a used Mac iBook, like this.
I’ve seen iBook G4s a hundred bucks cheaper than the example I linked to. That $350 - $450 price range is what I’m looking for. I don’t know if it’s realistic though. Are machines in that price range pieces of crap? Usually they’re at least 15 months old, maybe two years, and I wouldn’t touch a similarly aged pc. But are macs different?
Which leads me to another question. How does Vista look? I’ve heard it’s worthless, although cnet says it’s ok and not much better. If I get a pc, should I get one with XP, or just not worry with it?
Keep in mind that all I want is a machine I can type up posts, check my email, keep all my music files on, etc. Really heavy duty stuff.
Thoughts?
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Mac Mac Mac Mac Mac Mac Mac :)
October 24th, 2007 at 6:36 am
When I was in the market for a laptop I really, really wanted a Mac. Techie geek SO thought I was just buying into an “image” and reacting to marketing. I bought Smith (my Mac Powerbook) earlier this year. I don’t think SO has turned his super-charged up PC on in months. He’s thinking of selling said PC and buying a…. brand new iMac.
New or used, you can’t go wrong. this thing kicks ass.
October 24th, 2007 at 7:11 am
I replaced my desktop in my office with a Powermac G4 three or four years ago. I love it. Got the 17″ monitor, which is also nice on the eyes.
However, I’ll admit that macs ain’t cheap. I just love how easy to use and reliable they are. And they are more intuitive for me than PCs. If I actually knew (and cared) about how my computer actually works, maybe I’d feel differently, but I feel about my computer like I do about my car–I just use them both to solve certain life problems. I have other hobbies. Your mileage may vary.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:38 am
The jury’s still out in terms of my feelings about Vista. I bought a Dell laptop 3 weeks ago and I just haven’t gotten used to it yet.
I used a Mac desktop and laptop at my old job. I hated them, but that was prior to 2003 and have heard nothing but glowing reports from Mac-heads since then. Still, my experience was such that I wouldn’t go through it again. They were each 2 years old.
I like my Dell. Plus it’s pink. But for your needs, this could be an apples-to-oranges thing.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:06 am
I bought a used iBook about five years ago, and the motherboard failed almost immediately thereafter. So, unless you get some kind of warranty, I’d go for a new one. Why don’t you wait until you’re enrolled in grad school, and then you can use the discount offered through UTK? Software is also discounted substantially.
(Oh, yeah… forgot to mention that I bought a new iBook after the used one died… which I love!)
October 24th, 2007 at 9:14 am
If all you want to do is check e-mail, post, surf, and store music and pics, it’s probably just a matter of what you LIKE the most. The iBooks, new, have phenomenal battery life, are very lightweight and durable. I don’t know how long the battery lasts; I replaced my laptop battery after only one year.
Steer clear of Toshiba (just trust me on that one — the whole “learn from mistakes of others” thing).
Unlike Joel, I do actually know and care how my computer works, which is why I prefer my Dell. However, for what you want to be able to do, either one will work. Mac software is also more expensive, but there’s a lot of good open source stuff out there that will run on anything, so that’s probably not an issue.
Do what will make you happy.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:25 am
It seems to me, to carry on Joel’s automotive analogy, PC vs Mac is like Chevy vs Ford. Both are going to get you where you want to go and for the avg user the distinctions are really superficial.
I haven’t run across a PC that I wished was more plug-and-play. I think the days when mac could claim that are over. PC’s are pretty user friendly, in my opinion.
So, let me put this another way. Is a used laptop as good a value as a used car?
October 24th, 2007 at 9:35 am
I usually don’t post long responses here, but I think I’ll throw in on this one.
I wouldn’t get the Mac. I use them here at work (running OS X) sometimes, and I honestly haven’t been impressed by them at all (we all actually kind of cringe whenever we have to use one). People claim they’re more intuitive, easier to use, etc. etc. — I don’t buy it. The only thing they might be is more stable. Maybe I’m just biased, but here are some things to think about:
1. There is a well-known logic board issue with the iBook that can cause display problems.
2. The iBook’s casing is made from a certain (cheap?) plastic that, in my experience, stinks to high heavens just like body odor, whenever the space it’s occupying gets over about 80 degrees. This past summer, every classroom I walked into that contained an iBook absolutely reeked of body odor (we call it the iBook stench).
3. The Toshiba has twice the memory, over 5 times the hard drive space, 4-10 times as much graphics memory, twice as many USB ports, a faster processor speed, and a 3 inch larger display over the iBook. In its defense, the iBook is about three quarters of a pound lighter.
4. If I found a laptop for $350-$450, I would be pretty suspicious of it being a piece of crap. If you can find an iBook G4 in that price range, with the same specs as the one in your link, and they’re willing to give you a refund or replace it if something goes wrong, it might be a pretty good deal.
5. I don’t think Vista is worthless, but I don’t think it’s great either. I’ll have to agree with CNet on this one: it’s just OK. If I got the choice, I’d go with XP.
I’m cheap too, and I totally get not wanting to throw down a chunk that size all at once, but I’d still choose the Toshiba (but then, I’d probably be using it to play games).
Do you have the specs on the Dell?
October 24th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Suzanne, waiting is an excellent and very prudent suggestion. Waiting is hard. urrggg.
Thanks, Summers. Here’s the Dell link. Set the filter to search for model inspiron 1501.
Netmom, this is interesting in showing up how desire and opinion plays in consumerism.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am
That $569 Dell Inspiron looks good. It’s comparable to the Toshiba (video card isn’t quite as good, but that wouldn’t be a problem unless you’re gonna be playing a lot of WoW or something), and it’s almost a hundred bucks cheaper. Since it’s certified by Dell, they’ll surely back it up if something goes wrong. Seems like a good deal overall.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:20 am
You know me, I’m all about the Dell refurbished junk. I got my 1705 for half price last year, and its been going strong, other than that I need a new battery now.
If I may be so bold, I question what you would be using a laptop for? Are you going to be taking it out often? Is there a needful? Or do you just want gadgets?
October 24th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Acute gadgetwantatitis.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Acute gadgetwantawabby…hmmmph
I’ll be forwarding you chain emails from my gadget, bold AT.
October 24th, 2007 at 11:16 am
My guy gave me a 12″ iBook 3 years ago and I am still obsessed with the boy and the laptop. Nothing has ever broken on it and I have dropped it countless times. Power management is GREAT..it comes to life so quickly when I open it up and never has issues. Everything always works and is always fast - no random restarts.
I was a previous non-mac person and am now completely converted. I got some of the family to convert too which has been great. I never have to fix their computers anymore. They can’t break them!
October 24th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Hey Bos — for some reason, I totally overlooked the part in your post where you said about the Mac, “…but it’s what I want, so there.” So now I change my vote:
You already summed it up; you’ve been wanting one, so get the Mac and be happayyy!!
October 25th, 2007 at 6:34 am
“I question what you would be using a laptop for? Are you going to be taking it out often? Is there a needful? “
All my computer needs. It is my work *and* home computer, so it goes to work with me in the morning and comes home in the evening. I work at home in the early morning (like now) and on weekends, so I can just open it up and resume whatever I stopped working on. I write and review manuscripts and grant proposals. I use photoshop to prepare figures for publications and for lectures. I create spreadsheets for data and for grades. I download papers to read instead of shlepping to the library.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
My Powerbook G4 is over two years old and it’s still going strong. I’m not sure if I’m going to upgrade to Leopard (gonna wait to hear the reviews), but I could.
I suppose the real issue is whether you want a pre- or post-intel computer. Apple will only maintain backwards compatibility for the powerpc for so long and then we’ll no longer be able to upgrade.
But for what you need to do, you should be fine. Hell, I still take this little powerbook to work with me, and use it at the office…
October 28th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
“…then we’ll no longer be able to upgrade.”
Yep, Alice, that happens to the best of us at some point.
I’ve decided that I’m going to save my pennies and get a laptop sometime soon. Just don’t know if it will be a mac or a pc, though.