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Trooper_IHB

Trooper_IHB

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My 5 yr old Sony Vaio laptop is on it's last legs, the CD Rom drive works when it feels like it....and, well...It's just time to buy a new one ! I've got to start thinking about which laptop to buy next and am asking for input.

I've had a PC my entire life, but I'm curious about the MacBook The Apple Store (U.S.) - MacBook VS. the MacBook Pro The Apple Store (U.S.) - MacBook Pro The price difference is obvious...and I wouldn't mind the 17" screen. ** edit...it appears the links are dead, sorry. www.apple.com , click "store", click "macbook" or "macbook pro"

This is what I plan to do with the computer: Mainly internet, photography and eventually edit my own videos for uploading (no, eff...not those kind of videos.... ) I've heard the Mac and programs are far superior for video purposes. Everyone keeps talking about how much easier everything is to do with a Mac, and since I currently know nothing of video and editing, that would be a huge plus.

Also, if anyone out there has made the switch from a PC to a Mac, how did it go ? Do you think you made the right choice ?

Can anyone recommend a PC that is just as good as the Mac for video editing purposes ?

Thanks.
 
Software should drive your choice, not hardware.

Not only ease of use/functionality of the video editing software that you mentioned, but also any other software you use. Though you mentioned internet, photography, and videos as being your main usage, what about word processors, spread sheets, financial software (Quicker of MS Money), or other applications? Are you prepared to buy new copies if you make the switch?
 
Trooper, you have to go with the Mac. They do all the work for you with respect to converting all your files, right in the store, and then when you join the ProCare thing, for like a hundred bucks for the whole year, you get one hour every week of personal, one on one training and assistance in any area you want.

Plus, you don't have to worry about buying and keeping up anti-virus programs.
 
I made the switch a little over a year ago.

You'll be frustrated at first but gradually you'll get adjusted and when you have to use a PC at work (as I do) you'll find yourself being frustrated by having to do things the "wrong" (i.e., non-Mac) way.

You may also find that you can't do some things on your Mac at all. I have a Sony digital voice recorder that works only with Windows. And my Dell DJ MP3 player's software is available only on Windows. For those things I use Parallels so I can use Windows. I've bought an iPhone now so I don't even need the Dell DJ anymore, so it's really just the digital voice recorder that is an issue. If you use a lot of hardware that will work only with Windows you might be unhappy. Or you can just use Parallels.

Oh, one other frustration. WordPerfect is not available for the Mac and I am a diehard WordPerfect person. I can use it through Parallels but I really don't like the way it works over there for some reason. Fortunately, I still have my Alienware laptop so if I'm desperate, I can use WordPerfect at home on it. Otherwise I just don't bring any work home with me that needs WordPerfect. If you're happy with Word, this won't be a problem for you. And there are some word processors just for the Mac.

I'm not crazy about iTunes. I'd rather be able to use WinAmp like on my PC, but I've learned to adjust. I hated iPhoto so I removed it and use a shareware program.

I think it's much easier to make the adjustment to Mac if you have a Mac friend who can help you. I don't have anyone so I've had to just figure out things as I go along.

It's frustrating not being able to walk into Best Buy or other stores and look at rows of interesting software. They just don't have any. But there's lots of relatively affordable stuff available from individual developers online.

I'm rambling, but I thought you might be interested in some of these things because I am like you and just made the switch recently after being crashed just one too many times by Windows. I would do it again. And my next purchase is going to be a desktop iMac. The MacBook is great for travel but just not powerful enough for most of my needs. Maybe the MacBook Pro would be, but it's too big for the amount of traveling I do.

Terry
 
Given the choice between a MAC and a laptop saddled with Vista, I'd probably go MAC. I'm hoping my current laptop survives another year or two for VISTA to stabalize and the vendors to figure out how to actually get it to work on their machines. Most implementations I've seen are doggy.

I'm playing with the idea of buying a el cheapo corporate refurb and stripping it, loading linux with the FSF GNU project imaging and video stuff. GIMP, Gnash, Inkscape, KompoZer, Jahshaka, etc. To make a video workstation.
 
Disclaimer: I invest in Apple stocks

Unless if you're using some really exotic operating system, you should install a virus scanner regardless of Mac, Windows, or Linux.

At one time Macs were really great for its simplicity. However feature crawl has made many of its applications, and possibly the OS itself (depending on your point of view) just as complicated as PC/Windows world. I still remember when a classmate sat her husband, who had never used a computer before, in front of a Mac Plus. Within minuets he was happily clicking away. IMO windows never gave new users the same level of warm and fuzzyness.

Now, let's compare Mac vs. Windows laptop.

If you buy a Mac laptop, the quality is more consistent, and you can drive to the local apple store for service and goodies. Considering Apple's recent success with consumer electronics, I doubt Apple stores will go belly up like Egghead software any time soon. However Mac laptops are more expensive, and your selection of hardware and software is more limited.

If you buy a Windows laptop, depending on the brand, it may be difficult to get local service. They're cheaper, but quality is not always very consistent. Software and hardware selection is broader, and often a little cheaper than Mac. But you face a lot more viruses in the Windows world.

My $0.02 is that if you want to buy a Mac laptop, buy new with service contract and treat it nicely. If you want to buy a Windows laptop, go to sites like tigerdirect and look for an used or refurb with 17" screen for around ~$600, pre-loaded with Windows XP Pro (not Vista). My doctor bought a Gateway laptop with 17" wide screen from them and it's really nice. Make sure you upgrade the RAM to 2 GB because memory have high impact on laptop performance. Treat the cheaper windows laptop as disposable -- use it for couple of years and replace. The cost of repair is usually not worth it.

If you need to run Windows software on the Mac, there are software emulators. I've been out of the Mac scene for a while (pre-intel switch) so am not sure if Virtual PC still runs on newest models, I'm sure someone here can give a better detailed response.

On Windows based systems, you can install VMWare and use virtual machine sessions to browse the web and test new (downloaded) software to reduce virus risk. You can also dual boot Linux, I use Unbuntu and like it a lot, but commercial apps on linux is lacking. On some machines, Windows seem to run slower after you install Microsoft Office, so consider using OpenOffice instead (or install MS office into a virtual machine session). However the performance of Openoffice apps itself is slower than MS Office, so there is a trade-off, but OpenOffice is freeware so you don't have to pay for it. Get OxyenOffice (openoffice variant) if you want a lot of free fonts and cliparts.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://www.openoffice.org/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ooop/

http://www.vmware.com/
 
what about word processors, spread sheets, financial software (Quicker of MS Money), or other applications? Are you prepared to buy new copies if you make the switch

The only program I use is Word. I have Microsoft Office Suite....yes, PC version...but I so rarely use it, it wouldn't be missed. Whatever I can't do at home, I could do at work on the PC. Like I said, I really don't do much with computer...it's strictly for personal use.

Sweetbriar...thanks for the input. I just bought an iPhone too, and I'm so amazed by it, it's making me think about Apple in a whole new way.

NSR, I have never heard of any of those programs...do you currently make your own vids ?
 
If you don't do much work with Word, you might find Open Office to be a suitable replacement. My own experience with OO is that it is worth the price ( free ), but that if you work with large documents, forget it. It just takes too long to open large documents written in Word.

As others have mentioned, look at the availability of software before making your choice. Software really should drive the decision.
 
ugh, I wish I could answer this, we have both Mac and PC at Home now and each is just as good for different reasons....

For Photo's, Videos's, iPod/iTunes, iPhone it has to be Mac.

For surfing the web, watching WMV files, Blackberry Syncing pc is better.

You can buy Office in Mac or PC so that's no problem.

My wife has the 14" Mac and I now have a 17" PC "Laptop", it's awesome to have the larger Screen but it's cumbersome and heavy, it's more of a stay at home machine...which is fine..I have it on my Lap right now and it gets uncomfortable after a while.....

Trooper, my advice is to go into an Apple Store and use one, the kids in there are very knowledgable.
 
Well, it sounds like the Mac wins for ease in video editing, but PeterUK...why is the PC better at web surfing ? Is it slower than a PC or something ? That would drive me crazy...pages that load slowly. 'splain please.

And Prof. I'm totally going to hit you up for editing lessons !
 
I have an Intel Mac Mini and for the most part web surfing is about the same as a pc. Some stuff don't work as well, like if a site has a video file that's asf or something. Flash stuff works the same. IHB looks the same.

Since you want to do video editing, I'd suggest going to an Apple store and play with one. The macbook pros they have their usually have Final Cut Pro loaded with a video for you to chop up. You can have one of their guys walk you through what you can do with it.

There are some software that are windows only, but you can always run windows on the mac either through Boot Camp or Parallels. I have yet to try those out but eventually will probably run Parallels.

Macworld 2008 is happening on Tuesday and there should be some announcements on new hardware/software so I'd wait until after that to go check out stuff.
 
MAC

MAC

MAC

10 years ago i swear that I will never buy a MAC..Two years ago I switched to MAC, What a difference! As a starter, i don't need to talk to someone half way around the global when I have a technical question.
 
PC at work. MAC at home, except for taxes. Prefer the MAC because the screen is clearer and we have never gotten a virus or worm or whatever.
 
I have used and written software on Macs since 1994 and have never used virus protection software. I haven't had anyone I know actually get a virus on the Mac either. Viruses are written for Windows. Yes, occasionally a Mac exploit gets publicized, but they almost never result in an actual virus, trojan horse, etc.
 
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