Tech Dilemma

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

So my currant laptop is about to die, and I need to decide what to do next. I'm an Apple fan. I currently have a computer for work that is only for work, but do some work at home so I need to have some type of computer. Basically this computer would be for sitting on my ass surfing the internet while I watch TV. Its just what I do. My choices are as follows:

Macbook Air: Pros include sweet design, sweet design and sweet design. Free iPod Touch Cons are that it's somewhat impractical, and slower than other computers within that price range. It also hasn't been "refreshed" in a while (more than a year), and I don't know when it will be (damn you Apple, just tell me when the new one is coming out!).

Macbook Pro: Pros: Its an Apple. Faster than an Air. Free iPod Touch. Cons: Just doesn't thrill me. Don't know why. Probably because its practical and makes the most sense.

iPad + $500 PC: Pros: iPads are sweet. Still gives me a computer option as needed. Cons: Don't know what kind kind of quality computer I can get for $500.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

How much will you be traveling with the laptop?

If you will be taking it to class and whatnot, I say get the air and an external hard drive. Unless you want to be watching all sorts of dvds and stuff. then get the pro. The ipad seems a fool's gimmick.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

I thought so too, until I played with one in the mac store. I'm a fan.

savage3221 · Posted: Jun 01, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject:

well, based upon the options you give I would absolutely say the macbook pro. I have one of the slightly older models, the one that doesn't have the black keyboard. Hands down the best computer I have owned in my life. It's dependable, fast, and does whatever I really need it to do. Plus, a free iPod is pretty sick.

The iPad is really just an oversized iPhone. It is totally sweet, but I would never use it as my mainstay computer, even just for traveling. One thing that is AWESOME about it though is that it has ridiculous battery life. My dad has one, and we watched a full-length movie when he drove back from school with me, and it was still at ~80% battery life after that.

I think the Air is a sweet computer, but I feel like I am going to snap it in half just by holding it, and there's just no way that it performs as well as any computer that is just marginally larger.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

Yeah, I have an older macbook pro, which is probably why it isn't all that exciting to me. Part of me wants to try something new.

smokinheels10 · Outlaw Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 100

I would say go with the Macbook Pro. I'm a huge fan of Apple as well. Not a fan of the iPad though, just don't think I would use it that much. If you were to get the Macbook pro, I think it would give you more options in the future (as to what you could use it for) if you decide to use it for something other than what you mentioned. I just think the Air has too many limiting factors.

savage3221 · Posted: Jun 01, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject:

BrentC5Z · Posted: Jun 02, 2010 5:27 am Post subject:

Bought the new MB Pro in March. This is definitely the best & fastest machine I've ever owned. A bit pricey, but limitless.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

After a little searching, it looks like whats-his-name will be unveiling a new Macbook Air at that apple-geek conference next week. Awww yea.

As a sidenote, I'm disappointed that WB.com wasn't able to find that for me.

Slacking.

BurkeViper · Posted: Jun 02, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject:

IMHO, all of your choices are unnecessary for what you're going to be using it for.

If you're just going to be surfing the internet, you don't need the most expensive Apple toys you can buy. An iMac or Mac Book would be simple enough to do that for you and would hurt the wallet a far lot less.

Unless you want portability (which you didn't state anywhere in your post) a simple iMac would be a better buy.

But hey, it's your money, do with it what you want.

Also, I'd hurry up and decide, as AT&T will start making you pay for the amount of data you use on your iPad. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127370262

savage3221 · Posted: Jun 02, 2010 6:37 pm Post subject:

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I don't get the infatuation with mac desktops and laptops. They are kicking ass in the mobile device market but are priced reasonably. Their computers are ridiculous expensive, run fewer programs, are behind in processing technology, less upgradable, and have a smaller user base.

I'd go PC and iPad. The hardware you can get in a PC for $500 will run circles around the hardware you can get in an apple for $1000. Windows 7 is pretty sweet.

J-Ro · Posted: Jun 03, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject:

i believe your free Touch offer is going away June 7th. I know they are refreshing the Air then and I think they are doing the Pros too.

smokinheels10 · Outlaw Joined: 10 Apr 2010 Posts: 100

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jun 03, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject:

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

Its wild, I don't post here much but if I ever need to get an opinion something I typically just do a search and find my answer, along with the alternate viewpoints, discussions, etc. Sort of like wiki, only better. wb.com is the tits.

I'm a big "design" guy, which I think is why I like Apple so much. I think their products look good. Different strokes, etc.

The iPod Touch deal is done in mid-late Sept, per the website.

Not thrilled to hear about the iPad. I'll have to investigate more.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 10:33 am Post subject:

Only blow money on Crapple hardware when there is no reasonable alternative (IPhone, IPad, Touch, etc).

Get yourself a cheap netbook, put a nice SSD in it, Bittorrent OSX, and Hackintosh it. Dual boot Win7 and OSX. All in, $300. Then if you want gadget fun, get the ipad, throw VNC (or the remote of your choice) and have all kinds of computing capability on the couch with your sleek interface.

Crapple laptops are just as good for 3X the price. Do not waste your money on it, esp for couch work. The only time its worth the money is if you plan on sitting out in front of Starbucks alone in your turtleneck and square frame glasses trying to pick up equally bohemian pale skin chicks in floppy hats.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 12:25 pm Post subject:

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

DRAGON88, but the people who buy X-stars aren't as annoying as people who buy apples.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject:

I dont think I was ridiculing anyone. I have an iPhone and a Mini9 Hackintosh. I dont dislike the products, I just dislike the price gouging, and the fanboy. If the capability is the same, I see no reason to pay the premium, whether it be a boat or a laptop. There are reasons people by X-Stars and MBP's, none of which are are wakeboarding ability or computer performance. They are buying a name and asthetics. Name and asthetics dont matter on a couch and matter even less on a budget.

No reason we cant be real about why we pay more. its not ridiculing. In HS I paid more for a Mustang, not because it was the fastest, or the most fuel efficient. Its because its the one I could fit the most subs in the back (thats what we did when I was 16) and chicks liked Mustangs back then.

Hey, you may like coffee shop chicks, and nothing makes a coffee shop table shine like a glowing apple logo. If so, it is money well spent! If you got it to outperform a PC of the same chip, or same price, then not so much.

...oh, and I havent noticed any video issues on youtube or vimeo with the mini9, but I dont really watch much flash stuff on it.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 5:36 pm Post subject:

jason_ssr · Posted: Jun 04, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject:

Of course the experience isnt the same when considering editing video, doing CAD work, or any other processor intensive action, but this guy is couch surfing. The point was that if you need performance, your money goes much farther with a PC, but if you are just couch surfing and want the Mac experience, its cheaper to do as we have a throw OSX on a netbook.

The Mac-nerds themselves kinda give it its stigma around here. Im in IT so maybe Im just particularly sensitive to it, or hear it more than most. Apple themselves add to it with their marketing. They bark when they do innovate (like the iphone) but they also bark when they adopt. The fanboys have the right to wave the innovation towel when they innovate, but when they wave it on the late adoptions it kills their credibility.

Remember when they were above using Intel procs? RISC was the future!!! The switch to Intel chips wasnt a mia culpa, it was "now PCs are in trouble, Macs will be fast, and can run Windows for when you actually have to run a modern business app!"

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

I'm no fanboy, I just like them.

I ended up getting the Macbook Pro. Anyone know of a free program to rip my old music off of an iPod? I used to use iPodAgent, but I guess it doesn't work anymore?