The "Hi... I'm a Mac" thread

[henno]

I need something that will run Photoshop (cs4), Indesign, 3dmax, archicad and revit.

Come on. Those programs alone are going to set you back the best part of $5k or so, and your worried about a few hundred dollars?

Your requirements are at the upper-end of necessary hardware, and unfortunately for you, simple economics dictates that such a computer will also be at the upper-end of the pricing scale.

Unless you are just mucking around with the programs above, you will need a butt-load of memory and a decent CPU to boot. In my opinion, looking at a laptop is just a silly idea. Buy the best desktop you can afford.

[kpac]

you donkey,

a) i've got the programs, and 5k isn't even close, but even so i wouldn't pay it!
b) laptops can/should handle each of those programs on their own no worries.
c) i've got the desktop that is top end, i need a laptop due to transport/ interstate transfers.

Come on. Those programs alone are going to set you back the best part of $5k or so, and your worried about a few hundred dollars?

Your requirements are at the upper-end of necessary hardware, and unfortunately for you, simple economics dictates that such a computer will also be at the upper-end of the pricing scale.

Unless you are just mucking around with the programs above, you will need a butt-load of memory and a decent CPU to boot. In my opinion, looking at a laptop is just a silly idea. Buy the best desktop you can afford.

[billybaub]

There are a few good asus laptops out there that will handle those programs...
i use all those bar revit...only problem is most laptops now are full of vista rubbish and even a laptop that is half the spec again on the macbook seems to run slower

Ive just got myself the stock macbook and im having no issues...the downfall of a crappy OS i guess

[markTHEblake]

oh, and i looked at the dell site. little confused, inspiron i thought use to be there good line, now seems to been recommended for browsing only. Studio seems to have taken over. .

Sounds like you need to look at Dells XPS range for that kind of thing.

[virge666]

If I say anything about how good Macs are, I'll start a jihad in this thread. All I'll say is that I changed over & haven't looked back. Good luck.

I have both and really cannot see a difference. It is the exactly same hardware underneath, and I mean exactly! Why does this cause such a zealotish response. it is like PS3 vs XBox.

You are running the same software, you are surfing the same web pages, you are printing the same printer, looking at the same porn and typing out the same emails.

With the exception of good games - there is no difference.

[henno]

you donkey,

Thanks.

a) i've got the programs, and 5k isn't even close, but even so i wouldn't pay it!

Didn't you say you are looking to switch? Therefore I assumed you would have had to repurchase them. And for what it's worth, $5k is very much on the low side. 3ds Max alone has an RRP of over $5k, Photoshop is $1500-ish, InDesign $1500-ish, need I go on?

b) laptops can/should handle each of those programs on their own no worries.

Of course laptops can/should handle it. But if price is an issue, and you are really using this thing for mission-critical tasks, then you will get by far more bang-for-your-buck with a desktop. If money is no object, then yeah, get a laptop.

c) i've got the desktop that is top end, i need a laptop due to transport/ interstate transfers.

I did not know that. Regardless, laptops are always a compromise of grunt for convenience. If you need a workhorse that is also portable, then suck it up and fork out a wad of the folding stuff and buy something decent. Not some shitty Dell.

[Fishman Dan]

Check out the refurbished macs on the Apple website. Some massive bargains there. Otherwise the new range is spectacular - I took Mum to the Apple store the other day, she's getting a new MacBook for her occasional use. Very, very jealous.

[kpac]

Thanks.

sorry

Didn't you say you are looking to switch? Therefore I assumed you would have had to repurchase them. And for what it's worth, $5k is very much on the low side. 3ds Max alone has an RRP of over $5k, Photoshop is $1500-ish, InDesign $1500-ish, need I go on?

work related software, company forks out for that and happy to foot the tab for it to be installed on a laptop, i want to have the laptop myself though, ie not through the company.

[/quote]

Of course laptops can/should handle it. But if price is an issue, and you are really using this thing for mission-critical tasks, then you will get by far more bang-for-your-buck with a desktop. If money is no object, then yeah, get a laptop.

yeah def dont need a desktop mate, just going to use it to work on particular jobs while im away from the base. ie looking for a laptop....

I did not know that. Regardless, laptops are always a compromise of grunt for convenience. If you need a workhorse that is also portable, then suck it up and fork out a wad of the folding stuff and buy something decent. Not some shitty Dell.

touche, dont want to fork out loads of cash as i've got the workhorse..... just want a machine to do the job whilst the 'workhorse can not be used.

ok now we're getting somewhere.... dell = shit? true false?
Asus BB? got a price point?

[markTHEblake]

Macbooks are pretty, but they dont strike me as being particularly durable if you are a frequent traveller, the ones i have seen are looking pretty flimsy after a while.

[markTHEblake]

ok now we're getting somewhere.... dell = shit? true false?

I have a Dell XPS notebook (you have seen it i think) , very happy with it, and I have a Dell server as well, their service is very good, and I doubt i will buy anything else in the future.

I would recommend IBM(Lenovo?) X series if you are a traveller, small enough to carry around, designed to be thrown around. Virge might be able to get you a good deal, he resells IBM if i remember correctly.

[Bruce]

Or an IBM employee can get 20% off the web price.

[kpac]

Or an IBM employee can get 20% off the web price.

can you link me to anything decent in the IBM range...

[AndyP]

Seriously poor form asking for PC purchasing advice in a Mac thread.

[kpac]

T series Bruce? bloody confusing rage of computers over there in IBM world

[henno]

+1 for Lenovo laptops.

Dell can be very good. I was just saying that if you need a reliable workhorse, don't get a shitty Dell, get a good one.

I always refer to Dell as the Hyundai of computers. They sell millions of them, they are a bargain for what you get, and 90% of the time run fine without issue for most purposes. however, just like a Hyundai don't go buying a dodgy one.

[Bruce]

T for workhorse
X for portability.
R for value.

I've been using a T60 for 2 years now and it has been bulletproof. I have the big battery and get 6 hours of juice. I would go the T400 personally of the current range.
Looks like the IBM staff rate is about $1600 for that one.

(This opinion is that of the authors and should not be considered official IBM sales policy).

[Courty]

All you PC heathens get out of my Mac thread!

[kpac]

All you PC heathens get out of my Mac thread!

Well righto Courty (and others) what about running the programs on a macbook/pro through parrallels? Anyone think this will compromise performance a great deal by running windows through OSX. I dont have all these programs for mac unfortunatelly otherwise it'd be a no-brainer. However there is a need in this instance to rely on windows for some programs (revit,3dsmax)

[Courty]

If you're concerned about performance through parallels (which is pretty good anyway) then set up boot camp and run Windows natively.

[TheTrueReview]

Well righto Courty (and others) what about running the programs on a macbook/pro through parrallels? Anyone think this will compromise performance a great deal by running windows through OSX. I dont have all these programs for mac unfortunatelly otherwise it'd be a no-brainer. However there is a need in this instance to rely on windows for some programs (revit,3dsmax)

Precisely Kpac. That's the way to go. Plenty of others do the same.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, if up front funds are tight at the moment, get yourself to JB Hi Fi. They sell macs and do deals. They won't let themselves be beaten by Harvey Norman. Also, they do interest free deals through HSBC. I did a 19 month interest free deal with them and different to the GE card there are no payments due for the entire interest free period. The usual considerations apply about ensuring it's paid off before the interest free period is finished. Hope this helps.

[kpac]

I think this is the way to go. Just cant justify (currently) the very comparitive cost between the 2 computers. When i started to look i thought id save $500 or so. Look like i'd actually be paying about the same to get a computer with an inferior (my opinion) operating system, one that has all sorts of problems running 64bit, chews up all the memory and asks for updates, virus check, spywares, spy bot, popup authorisation, plugin update, security checks, allow/disallow..... ahhh, bugger it. Of to JB's for lunch.

Looked at teh MAC1 website and they had some good clearance priced stock, anyone else no of any online stores that deal on clearance apple products...

Thanks all.

Precisely Kpac. That's the way to go. Plenty of others do the same.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, if up front funds are tight at the moment, get yourself to JB Hi Fi. They sell macs and do deals. They won't let themselves be beaten by Harvey Norman. Also, they do interest free deals through HSBC. I did a 19 month interest free deal with them and different to the GE card there are no payments due for the entire interest free period. The usual considerations apply about ensuring it's paid off before the interest free period is finished. Hope this helps.

[AndyP]

Well righto Courty (and others) what about running the programs on a macbook/pro through parrallels? Anyone think this will compromise performance a great deal by running windows through OSX. I dont have all these programs for mac unfortunatelly otherwise it'd be a no-brainer. However there is a need in this instance to rely on windows for some programs (revit,3dsmax)

I use Parallels on my standard Macbook and it definitely slows down any other applications running. The new version of Parallels is even worse.

A Macbook Pro might handle it fine though.

[AndyP]

I don't know if they have clearance items, but Courty quite often provides me links to the Streetwise site.

[adlo]

Just took delivery of a 24" iMac, 2.93GHz, 4GB Ram, 640GB HD and NVIDIA GeForce GT120.

Precious Venus...

And an side order of an iPod for $20....

[TheTrueReview]

Just took delivery of a 24" iMac, 2.93GHz, 4GB Ram, 640GB HD and NVIDIA GeForce GT120.
....

You'll be happy with that Adlo. My sister & my g.f each have a 24 inch mac & love it.

Just to round things off, picked up the 16gig iphone today. Happy chappy.