I wanted to take this conversation into comparing Apple laptops and PC laptops. And the reason why not to buy a PC laptop.
Jared asks this question:
So you don’t have anything against Dells specifically, just all non-Apple laptops?
To be honest, yes, most PC laptops I’ve seen are not designed well. Their too big, bulky, and lack default hardware features that can only be upgraded later for an additional charge; screens and Bluetooth to name a couple. Yes, dell and other manufacturers have the price benefit over Apple but after the upgrades, support amongst others you’re looking at a price comparable to Apple notebooks. One example is the Dell XPS M140 compared to the iBook 12â€? both the same price but after the screen upgrade and Bluetooth the two things the Dell is $200 more. Is the $200 worth the widescreen and DVD burner? Maybe but keep in mind the user that would want this isn’t buying for performance they want the laptop for average use; web browsing, photos and the like. And if you want a performance laptop PC the prices soar, they soar as high as the top of the line powerbooks; the only reason I hear people not wanting to buy a Mac is the price but honestly I don’t see many people wanting to carry around their budget brick of a laptop. And if you are Wal-Mart is selling a sub $300 laptop this Christmas.
I do want to say that PC laptops have far superior CPUs (Intel’s mobile line) and in a year Apple will too, so not a big deal. iBooks will also be widescreen so whoopee.
So to answer the question, it’s not that there aren’t some great PC laptops out there; I’ve just never seen any that stood out. Sony and IBM had some really good ones but recently they seem to be lacking. Alienware has some good ones right now but then you might as well buy a PB because they are so expensive, unless you need Windows, but who can’t live without Windows on a laptop? Users tend not to do there processor intensive and software dependant projects on their desktop anyways.
They tend to do their life on a laptop, photos, music, movies, and web. And the software on OS X including iLife makes life easier. I don’t see an iLife style suite for Windows. Most importantly you know that stupid ass Windows term going around since its inception, SECURITY, there isn’t a need to worry. Yes, for the average user there isn’t a need to worry on OS X about slave machines, viruses, trojans, or even spyware. The average uses should never have to worry about security.
So why not OS X? If it makes your experience that much easier in all those facets then why not? Price? There is a refurb iBook 12â€? for $699 right now in the apple store. And after you pay for your yearly Norton security license amongst other software license including Adobe Photo Album to replace iPhoto you’re not paying a cent less.
Sorry I did go off on a tangent about OS X and we were talking about hardware but laptop comparisons between Apple have a very simple conclusion. Design. Apple designs the best laptops and IMHO that is the key criteria for all laptops because you not only carry the thing around everywhere but you use ever piece of it.
