apple or intel lappy? (you cant say that anymore can you? they're both intel based :P

[TdC]

hmm, the gf said to me just now: "we should get a laptop dear, so we can sit on the couch and be all comfy while on the internet". I gather this means "I want a laptop, and you should get me one posthaste" this is good, because her current hand-me-down pootah is slowly but surely starting to come apart at the edges.

now, while on hols I saw a bloke with one of the black macbooks, and I decided it's pretty and that I want one, but I'm thinking about what she would want, and that boils down to a browser , office stuff, and the ability to recklessly install any and everything her myriad friends email her without batting an eyelid while yacking away furiously at the 73 different social networking sites she's subscribed to eek: btw)

now I know nothing about mac stuffs, except that it slowly takes over the people who to use it until they stop drinking beer and start making their own vegan-friendly Daiquiri's (or words to that effect) (I'm joking) (but it's true), so I am wondering if, say I get one, it is worth getting Aperture, iWork, iEtc with it or that I shouldn't (because they're pants perhaps, or other reasons not to)?

-or-

should I go for a (if possible) somewhat female friendly non-apple lappy (if such a thing exists) that I can get ms office for, and make an image of and let her destroy it every so often?

pricewise I realise that an apple lappy will set me back about 1700 European Credits, whereas what some Tosh or Sony or similar would cost leaves me looking somewhat blank. I gather she wants it to be pretty and light. Anyone able to make some educated statements to enlighten me?

 

[Ch3tan]

I'm getting a cheapo macbook from the states this month. I know they cost more and have the same hardware as sub £400 non apple laptops. but the look nicer, and they tend to work as well. The software bundles really do up the price teeds.

 

[Jonty]

Hi TdC

Just a flying visit I'm afraid. Apple aren't daft: the black MacBook also happens to be the highest-end model, all the others are white. The MacBook Pros are more beautiful, and there's a 13.3" ultraportable due in January (rumoured, anyway).

As for Mac software, it's true you need to spend time researching and/or buying some things again, but there's always the virtual PC route if you have a licenced version of Windows lying around. In terms of overall polish, many people who Switch really love the Mac, but of course it's not perfect, nothing is.

With regards non-Apple notebooks, obviously you have more choice and there are plenty of good options out there. I've been tempted to buy a Dell XPS M1330, as it looks a nicely designed and well-built piece of kit, but it'll likely be refreshed in January with Penryn processors, and in May with the next Centrino platform. Certainly you'll save a lot of money compared to a similarly spec'ed Apple system, but that's always been the case.

If you're still not sure and just want something for browsing the web and simple tasks, why not check out the ASUS EeePC? It's crazily cheap, comes with a nice and simple Linux OS (or Windows XP if you prefer), and is fine for casual use. Of course the hardware is basic (including the 2-3hr battery life), and the 7" screen quite small for prolonged use, but for the price it's a really great system (plus it's available in black and (soon) pink, blue, and green shades).

Kind regards

 

[TdC]

Thanks for that Jonty, that Dell certainly is a smashing alternative! The extra plus for the little lady is that it will still be a windows OS allowing her to continue to do whatever she wants. Dell will give me that lappy, with a self chosen faster hard drive, and their highest range selectable wireless printer/scanner/copier thing (in order to do away with two separate machines in our tech room) for 50eur more than the base model black Mac at 1494eur, and once I configure the Mac to my specs, it will cost 1687eur.

so, atm the magic 8ball says "all signs point to Dell"