Should I buy an MBP?

[SaltLife]

My wife really wants a mac laptop now for school, as she just enjoys the platform over Windows, including 7. My question to you guys is which would be better at this point, is the case that much nicer?

Macbook 4GB - 1039

MacBook Pro 4GB - 1099

Other than the case, I don't see a reason to go with the Pro model? Those prices are with student discount also, FYI

is it really worth the extra 60 to go Pro?

And yes, I've told her that there are less expensive laptops on the market, but she refuses to own anything else at this point.

I suppose the MBP has the SD card slot too.

[Xtreme $niper]

Well you're just comparing the names of the model and the amount of RAM. What about the CPU speed, screen size, GPU, etc?

If the Macbook at $1039 is maxed out spec wise, but the Macbook Pro at $1099 is the lowest model available, then maybe you'd be better off getting the Macbook.

In any case, chances are if the difference in price is only that much then the Pro is the way to go.

[Great Kobe]

I know many people would strongly disagree with me, but personally I wouldn't buy a MBP even if I had $1,000,000 to burn. I was assigned a 17" MBP at work to create an iPhone app, and I tried for 3 weeks to like it enough to make it my primary notebook, but in the end I went back to my HP. Mac OS X looks pretty, but really ended up being annoying to me (lacking in window management, UI inconsistencies, stability issues - yes, I've had more trouble with my MBP with Snow Leopard than my HP with Windows 7).

[Xtreme $niper]

I know many people would strongly disagree with me, but personally I wouldn't buy a MBP even if I had $1,000,000 to burn. I was assigned a 17" MBP at work to create an iPhone app, and I tried for 3 weeks to like it enough to make it my primary notebook, but in the end I went back to my HP. Mac OS X looks pretty, but really ended up being annoying to me (lacking in window management, UI inconsistencies, stability issues - yes, I've had more trouble with my MBP with Snow Leopard than my HP with Windows 7).

I think that's simply a case of

1. Being far too accustomed of Windows to the point of expecting OS X to be the same as it

and

2. Not being helped by someone who actually uses OS X day in and day out, and is familiar with the interface (not just "barely using it")

As someone who went from being fluent in Windows to fluent in OS X, I don't think OS X is lacking in anything at all. Things are simply not as "up in your face" as it is in Windows. But hey, to each their own. OS X is not for everyone, and if you're happier with Windows then that's great for you (so long as you don't spread false info to justify why you don't like OS X like some people do).

[Rudy]

No, you shouldn't. I bought one apple iphone 4 factory unlocked phone from http://www.topincart.com/new-apple-iphone-4-black-16gb-factory-unlocked-mc603zpa-gsm-cellul-p-490.html in competitive price. It is unlocked ,it can work in any sim card. the function is so powerful.It bring me a lot of fun and convenient,i like it very much. you also can buy one from there.

:spam:

[Hedon]

Yes, buy one. Best notebook on the market IMO

[Rudy]

Yes, buy one. Best notebook on the market IMO

+1

It's hard to describe why it's so good, but I think using one for a week or so would convert a lot of people :p

[kiwi89]

MBPs are awesome. Ive been using one for work the last week or so. I don't think I want to go back to using Windows here at work lol. Its so much nicer to use. The UI makes more sense, apps are nicer and the laptops are built quite nicely.

[Hendrick]

I'm a Computer Science and Engineering Major at school, who has a 13" Macbook Pro (Mid '09 version). I personally love it. The battery is phenomenal, and I don't have to worry about carrying my charger around with my constantly (or even hunting down the nearest outlet, which can be quite a challenge in some older buildings). I never used OSX before the move, but after only a year of owning this computer, I've decided I'll never own another non Apple computer again. (Actually saving up to buy a Mac Mini). I also feel safer carrying an Aluminum computer in my bookbag, as compared to a plastic one.

Good luck at school!

[andrewbares]

I think that's simply a case of

1. Being far too accustomed of Windows to the point of expecting OS X to be the same as it

and

2. Not being helped by someone who actually uses OS X day in and day out, and is familiar with the interface (not just "barely using it")

As someone who went from being fluent in Windows to fluent in OS X, I don't think OS X is lacking in anything at all. Things are simply not as "up in your face" as it is in Windows. But hey, to each their own. OS X is not for everyone, and if you're happier with Windows then that's great for you (so long as you don't spread false info to justify why you don't like OS X like some people do).

I've used OS X and Windows 7 daily (OS X at school and Windows 7 at home), and I know very well what he was complaining about.

UI Inconsistencies - When you close a window, the context menu for it still remains at the top, even though it's relating to nothing at all. That's my major annoyance in that category.

Window Management - If you have three Firefox windows open, the only way to switch through them is to right click the icon on the dock, or use the Expose thingy. Alt+Tab just switches between applications, not windows in applications I believe.

Stability Issues - Beach ball. Nuff said. OS X and Windows both have their stability issues.

Windows 7 is a cleaner, more refined operating system than OS X. If you have 5 windows behind a maximized window, you KNOW that by simply looking at your taskbar, you can SEE what you have open. With OS X, only your minimized windows show on the dock. Switching between open windows is then again a pain to do. It gets in the way of your work flow. And then you close all your windows, and you're staring at your desktop, but the context menu is still showing the iMovie options?? You have to click once again to get to the desktop. Inefficient and confusing to the end user.

[Phixion]

Does OS X really have that many issues?

I was always under the impression it was very clean and gave good work flow as people usually say they are more productive on OS X.

The only time I've used OS X is in PC World messing around on them...

[Xtreme $niper]

I've used OS X and Windows 7 daily (OS X at school and Windows 7 at home), and I know very well what he was complaining about.

UI Inconsistencies - When you close a window, the context menu for it still remains at the top, even though it's relating to nothing at all. That's my major annoyance in that category.

Again, you don't really seem to understand the OS X philosophy. I took an Apple development course at my college and we went through books of documentation (written by Apple, no less) regarding this kind of stuff. All of these "inconsistencies" you note are done on purpose, and again prove to me that you're just expecting everything to work as Windows does.

The contextual menu at the top remains as "Firefox" even after you've closed all the open windows, for example, because the menu is operating at an application level, and the window you just closed was operating at a window level. Notice how when you close System Preferences it disappears from the menu bar and the dock all at once? Because it's not a window based application, meaning, you can't have more than one instance of it open. I forgot the term used for that kind of application now but there is a name for it.

Window based applications are like Firefox or TextEdit where you can technically have more than one instance of a window belonging to that application open at a given moment, so if you've closed all instances of TextEdit, you can press CMD+N to open a new one. In Windows, you close all Notepad windows and now you have to go to the start bar -> run -> notepad just to get one going again.

It's done by design and yes, it works better for those who understand it and embrace it.

Window Management - If you have three Firefox windows open, the only way to switch through them is to right click the icon on the dock, or use the Expose thingy. Alt+Tab just switches between applications, not windows in applications I believe.

This is where I blow your mind. Next time, try using CMD+~. Boom.

Stability Issues - Beach ball. Nuff said. OS X and Windows both have their stability issues.

Windows 7 is a cleaner, more refined operating system than OS X. If you have 5 windows behind a maximized window, you KNOW that by simply looking at your taskbar, you can SEE what you have open. With OS X, only your minimized windows show on the dock. Switching between open windows is then again a pain to do. It gets in the way of your work flow. And then you close all your windows, and you're staring at your desktop, but the context menu is still showing the iMovie options?? You have to click once again to get to the desktop. Inefficient and confusing to the end user.

Again, to each their own.

I disagree with everything you said there but I'm not going to argue with you about it because you expect something specific from your computer and I expect something different. That's why the choice of Windows or Mac exists in the first place. ;)

[andrewbares]

I disagree with everything you said there but I'm not going to argue with you about it because you expect something specific from your computer and I expect something different. That's why the choice of Windows or Mac exists in the first place. ;)

So we disagree, what a surprise hah. That's basically the resolution of each of these arguments. Good waste of time though.

[Xtreme $niper]

So we disagree, what a surprise hah. That's basically the resolution of each of these arguments. Good waste of time though.

Well I explained my reasoning in my post, so at least you know why I disagree. If you think agreeing to disagree is a waste of time, then would you prefer to get into a pointless flame war over something that neither of us are going to change our minds on? ;)

[Rudy]

If you try out OSX thinking it will work like Windows you'll run into a wall pretty quickly... The way things work is different and if you learn to embrace it it will work pretty good (just like when you're used to the way things work in Windows you can get it going pretty good too)

[Lucas]

My whole life I've used Windows and the change to Mac OS X is just amazing. :)