advantages of mac book over Vaio..?

[LTD]

+1, for the amount of software available for Windows (Y)

Which certainly couldn't keep me in the Windows camp . . . ;)

That whole software availability thing is no longer a real advantage. There's a whole lot of junk out there, and it's growing by the minute.

But if we're talking some sort of specialized, windows-only, industry-specific software, i.,e. ACE, DRS, etc., then you'll need Windows. And you can install Windows on a Mac, no problem and just run that, wipe off OS X completely.

[kaiwai]

My brother has a MacBook - and all the software he needs is available on Mac, the only stuff that isn't available are titles you would never want to run on a laptop (be it Mac or PC); so he uses the quad core workstations with gigabytes of memory in the engineering computer labs.

As for a Sony Vaio; don't wast your money - get a Lenovo or one of the new Dell Studio laptops. Sony laptops are over priced, their BIOS's are as buggy as hell, and their machines are from top to bottom riddled with mountains of crapware.

Of all the things, Sony *face palm*

[dolby71]

about 2 months ago my parents went for a trip in the USA. I told em to get me a blackbook, my brother got himself a Vaio SZ, and wer'e still arguing which is better. The thing is, it's down to OS. nothing else. Hardware is the same, except for the GPU, which is better on the Vaio.

[kaiwai]

about 2 months ago my parents went for a trip in the USA. I told em to get me a blackbook, my brother got himself a Vaio SZ, and wer'e still arguing which is better. The thing is, it's down to OS. nothing else. Hardware is the same, except for the GPU, which is better on the Vaio.

True, but not only the operating system, but how the whole thing works together. There is no use having the worlds fastest computer when the operating system is crap and poorly integrated with the hardware to the point that unreliable and painful to use.

[j.nudd]

I'm not sure where you're going to school, but something to consider is where you'll be doing a lot of your work. For example, I'll be an engineering student at the University of Illinois in the fall and I just bought a macbook pro. Whenever I need to use graphically intense engineering software, I'll be using the engineering labs. Depending on where you go to school and the facilities that they make available to their students, you could certainly go with the macbook for your personal surfing, email, and simple office stuff and use the computer labs for your engineering work. Also remember, the university (depending on size) is unlikely to give you free copies of the software you have to use because they just don't have enough licenses. If you decide not to use computer labs, you may end up spending lots of money just buying programs for your classes.

[Quillz]

My brother has a MacBook - and all the software he needs is available on Mac, the only stuff that isn't available are titles you would never want to run on a laptop (be it Mac or PC); so he uses the quad core workstations with gigabytes of memory in the engineering computer labs.

As for a Sony Vaio; don't wast your money - get a Lenovo or one of the new Dell Studio laptops. Sony laptops are over priced, their BIOS's are as buggy as hell, and their machines are from top to bottom riddled with mountains of crapware.

Of all the things, Sony *face palm*

Crapware is a moot point since most everyone I know does a clean install, anyway.

[kaiwai]

Crapware is a moot point since most everyone I know does a clean install, anyway.

Well *mate* you're shyte out of luck in the case of Sony because you get crappy 'restore DVDs'.

IIRC Dell are one of the few who actually give you a proper Windows Vista DVD.

[Matrix XII]

Which models are you looking at, we don't even know with Macbook or Sony he's looking at. You also have to buy according to price and performance. Also what programs would you be using in specific?

One thing about OS X is it's quite limited in software.

[kaiwai]

Which models are you looking at, we don't even know with Macbook or Sony he's looking at. You also have to buy according to price and performance. Also what programs would you be using in specific?

One thing about OS X is it's quite limited in software.

Limited based on WHOSE criteria?

Windows has alot of programmes - and alot of them are crap.

[Matrix XII]

I knew someone was going to say that. lol

I won't get into your Mac vs. PC argument though.

Everyone knows there are 10 times the software on Windows.

Macs are great too, I hope to get one in the next year or so :)

[kaiwai]

I knew someone was going to say that. lol

I won't get into your Mac vs. PC argument though.

Everyone knows there are 10 times the software on Windows.

Macs are great too, I hope to get one in the next year or so :)

You never addressed the fact that it has 10 times as much software - and much of it completely crap. When you take out all the crap shareware and freeware garbage that exists, there is no more software available on Windows than there is on Mac.

[Quillz]

You never addressed the fact that it has 10 times as much software - and much of it completely crap. When you take out all the crap shareware and freeware garbage that exists, there is no more software available on Windows than there is on Mac.

Somehow I doubt this.

[Cara Veteran]

One thing about OS X is it's quite limited in software.

Very few programs don't have OS X counterparts, and if you consider you can use Parallels Desktop for Mac to run Windows inside of OS X seamlessly, there is no limit to the software you can operate on your Mac. :)

[kaiwai]

Somehow I doubt this.

Like what? Quicken? who the hell uses quicken these days; 90% of NZ and Australian businesses use MYOB which is available for Mac.

[1759]

Limited based on WHOSE criteria?

Windows has alot of programmes - and alot of them are crap.

Well, it might depend on a person's field though.

Before Apple switched to intel, OSX was basically a non-factor. When I did my BSc in electrical engineering, all I used were Windows and Solaris, Macs had absolutely no use to me. Back then, I would have to use AutoCAD from time to time, and now I use Visual Studio quite a bit, as well as Access. I can run Matlab and R on my Mac, but I can run them on Linux and Windows too, and well if I'm at one machine that can run everything, natively, it's usually difficult trying to justify looking for alternatives or running off to a Mac, just so I can say so.

On the other hand, there are apps on OSX, that either don't exist, or more difficult to use on Windows, and in that case, it makes more sense to use a Mac.

In the end, you have to use the tool that gets the job done, regardless of OS.

[kaiwai]

Well, it might depend on a person's field though.

Before Apple switched to intel, OSX was basically a non-factor. When I did my BSc in electrical engineering, all I used were Windows and Solaris, Macs had absolutely no use to me. Back then, I would have to use AutoCAD from time to time, and now I use Visual Studio quite a bit, as well as Access. I can run Matlab and R on my Mac, but I can run them on Linux and Windows too, and well if I'm at one machine that can run everything, natively, it's usually difficult trying to justify looking for alternatives or running off to a Mac, just so I can say so.

On the other hand, there are apps on OSX, that either don't exist, or more difficult to use on Windows, and in that case, it makes more sense to use a Mac.

In the end, you have to use the tool that gets the job done, regardless of OS.

True, but at the end of the day - what you're using it for, is a very niche situation. I'm sure these lazy companies will eventually start supporting Mac. Right now all the engineering lecturers at the university I go to use Macbooks.

[HistoricalNeowin]

True, but not only the operating system, but how the whole thing works together. There is no use having the worlds fastest computer when the operating system is crap and poorly integrated with the hardware to the point that unreliable and painful to use.

So its not the operating system...but it is the operating system? If the hardware is the same then the only difference is software, there is no "magic" inbetween that some people think macbooks have, they're just another laptop.

[kaiwai]

So its not the operating system...but it is the operating system? If the hardware is the same then the only difference is software, there is no "magic" inbetween that some people think macbooks have, they're just another laptop.

The magic is that Apple know what the hell they're righting their software to support - it isn't a random stab in the dark as to whether something works properly. They know that in 2007 they released a MacBook with a xyz specifications, they know that in 2008, the release a MacBook Pro with zyx specifications - therefore, they know what hardware bugs might exist within the cpu, within the supporting hardware - and how to work around them. They know what hardware comes with it by default or what possible variations exist if a custom order.

It reduces the scope of possible issues that could arise.

[Mikee99]

Engineering software can be very processor intensive. Also, would you like working on a 13.3" screen as opposed to a 15.4?

I would try to look at the higher end notebooks, such as the MacBook Pro (for a Mac) and other PC's that are equivalent in specs.

But really, it all depends on what you like.

[HistoricalNeowin]

The magic is that Apple know what the hell they're righting their software to support - it isn't a random stab in the dark as to whether something works properly. They know that in 2007 they released a MacBook with a xyz specifications, they know that in 2008, the release a MacBook Pro with zyx specifications - therefore, they know what hardware bugs might exist within the cpu, within the supporting hardware - and how to work around them. They know what hardware comes with it by default or what possible variations exist if a custom order.

It reduces the scope of possible issues that could arise.

Bugs within the cpu? What the hell :blink:

[markwolfe Veteran]

Bugs within the cpu? What the hell :blink:

Missed the front page news? :p

https://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/07/14/r...for-intel-chips

[kaiwai]

Bugs within the cpu? What the hell :blink:

Welcome to the world of CPU Erratas, and microcode patching which are delivered through BIOS/firmware updates.

http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/specupdt/314079.htm

AMD has their own erratas and microcode updates as well.

Some of the bugs are minor, like the TLB issue which was more a matter of needing to update the documentation. Others require updates.

Engineering software can be very processor intensive. Also, would you like working on a 13.3" screen as opposed to a 15.4?

I would try to look at the higher end notebooks, such as the MacBook Pro (for a Mac) and other PC's that are equivalent in specs.

But really, it all depends on what you like.

For something processor intensive, he is wasting his time with a notebook. Just use the university computers; heck, Canterbury University is hardly rich but they have quad core, multi gigabyte 20+ inch monitors for their engineering workstations. I'm sure the one he's going to will have computers even better.

Btw, you will be writing ALOT of reports. My brother has just finished a 10,000 - 65 page report.

Then again, in New Zealand they compress a course which normally is done in 5 years, down to 3 years. So you should be happy you're over there and not here :p

[dyn]

So its not the operating system...but it is the operating system? If the hardware is the same then the only difference is software, there is no "magic" inbetween that some people think macbooks have, they're just another laptop.

That's actually what he/she meant ;) The OS has to support the hardware, like drivers. You also need to test it on the hardware to make sure it works as it should and doesn't cause any problems that can cause the system to become (nearly) useless. The software needs to fit the hardware and when you're making your own hardware and software it's much easier to do so. Sony, Dell, etc. depend on Microsoft to some extend which makes things a bit harder. It's just some more overhead.

Software is not much of an issue with today's operating systems. They have an equal amount of software in grand total. The differences are in the niche software like CAD or networking or security software. Windows has a lot of software for CAD but not that much for networking & security when compared to Mac. Linux has an equal amount of software for networking & security as OS X (as most UNIX/UNIX-like systems have) but when you need to do some photo/video editing a Mac is a much better idea (more software with a lot more features). As said by many others, the amount of software for any OS really depends on what you're looking for/at. That's why you'll always have to make a list what software you'll be needing and base your OS decision on that.

[Cormier6083]

I'd buy the Vaio if you're going for Windows, and since you're an engineering student, you're going to use Windows.