please help

[RustProofCorn]

Hello, I'm new to the forums here because i dont own a mac. But i accually am thinking of buying one which i thought would be a clear cut purchase. however it seems i can get any strait answers. so please help. if i ask pc users they say that mac sucks because the hardware is so out dated if you talk to mac users mac runs better than pcs even though the lack of hardware specs. currently i own a hp with a core 2 duo and a 9600gt and it is 3 years old.. i really need to buy a computer in the next few days because this one went **** up. please any unbias information would be awsome. fyi i know i want to try a mac i just dont know if the hardware is going to make this as slow as my current pc... i mostly use internet. play wow. counterstrike source. render video. convert dvds and so on.. please help

 

[MYmacROX]

Firstly, if you have access to an Apple Store in your area or a Best Buy that sells Macs, then go there and try it out and ask LOTS of questions.
Macs don't require as much RAM and processing power to perform the same functions as a Windows machine because of how efficient and solid the Mac is. "Work smart, not hard."
I don't know how anyone can say a Mac's hardware is out-dated. That's nonsense.

 

[EndlessMac]

If you are buying any current computer whether on PC or Mac it will do just about anything you ask. Most people don't need the fastest computer currently made so the argument which is faster isn't relevant to most buyers. Most geek computer fanboys (PC and Mac) just like comparing specs and then argue which is better rather than think about how someone uses a device in real life.

Since Apple's switch to using Intel chips, Mac and PC computers now basically can use the exact same components. Your choice comes down to which OS you like; Mac or Windows. There are other factors when choosing but the major decision does come down to whether you like one OS or the other.

Your task of rendering videos and converting DVDs seems like it will be your most intensive tasks. You should buy one of the higher end faster Macs and if it's a notebook you want then Apple is rumored to come out with updated faster notebooks sometime soon. If you can't wait and you don't mind getting a desktop then the iMacs have just been updated so they are plenty fast with the latest technology. The current MacBook Pros are fast too and I have one myself...but the newer ones are rumored to come out soon so the choice is yours. If you live close to an Apple store then you can try them out for yourself.

 

[louishen]

If your core 2 duo pc went truly belly up so soon, then you'll find Mac will last years without too much hassle.

That said, find friend, go to a reseller or even better, find an Apple store and test one out before you decide to switch.

Personally I love Apple products, but get a feel for them and decide for yourself if you want to make the switch.

 

[RustProofCorn]

wow i really appriciate yours opinions. unfortunatly i live in Nikiski Alaska more than a click to the nearest apple retailer.. just so you guys know i am looking at the macbook pro 2.8ghz 17inch screen 500 gig with 4gb ram

 

[RustProofCorn]

oh and i thought 3 years was a decent amount of time for a pc to last. do macs last much longer? and keep the opinions coming!

 

[RustProofCorn]

even if they have a hardware update soon would it be that much of a difference?

 

[EndlessMac]

wow i really appriciate yours opinions. unfortunatly i live in Nikiski Alaska more than a click to the nearest apple retailer.. just so you guys know i am looking at the macbook pro 2.8ghz 17inch screen 500 gig with 4gb ram

If you have a Best Buy in your area then they also sell Macs too. As to your computer choice, if money wasn't an obstacle for you then you can upgrade to 3.06 GHz but that's not a dramatic increase in speed from 2.8. You should also get the faster hard drive. Macs come with the slower 5400 RPM as default. You should get at least 7200 RPM or solid state hard drive if you really want to splurge for speed.

The choice between a 15" or 17" screen is up to you. The high end 15" is the same speed as the 17" so you are not getting a faster computer with the 17". The 17" gives you extra stuff such as an Express card slot, larger screen, more USB ports, etc but not faster performance if you compare it to the fastest 15".

oh and i thought 3 years was a decent amount of time for a pc to last. do macs last much longer? and keep the opinions coming!

The length of time you can use a computer depends on how tolerant you are to performance slow downs and what you use your computer for. I still have a 5+ year old Mac laptop that can still be used and my brother also has a 5+ PC that can also be used.

I think the argument is less about Mac or PC and more about whether the computer will be fast enough for your needs in the future because I know people who upgrade their computers every year because they want the fastest thing possible. I personally think the choice comes down to if you like Mac or Windows OS better.

 

[EndlessMac]

even if they have a hardware update soon would it be that much of a difference?

I haven't read all the speed tests on the new Intel processors but in the past new speed upgrades aren't a dramatic leap in speed from the previous processors. Your definition of dramatic leap might be different than mine also.

It is a dramatic jump if your computer is several years old which is why I don't upgrade my computer every year. I only upgrade when the speed increase is dramatic enough to justify buying a new computer.

 

[RustProofCorn]

Any suggestins on antiglare or a glossy screen?

 

[EndlessMac]

Any suggestins on antiglare or a glossy screen?

That really is a personal preference question and you will get all kinds of different opinions. If you do a search on the forums in the Notebook section you will get several discussions about it.

If you don't move your laptop around a lot and use it as a mobile device then most likely you won't have any problems with glare and reflections on a glossy. In my opinion mattes are better for people who move their laptops around a lot in all kinds of different lighting environments rather than using it mostly on their desk.

That glossy surface makes looking at pictures nice but matte will let you actually see the pictures without all that glare/reflections. In other words glossy will be pretty to look at when you can actually see it but matte will let you see the screen more often than not in most conditions. You have to decided which is more important to you.

 

[RustProofCorn]

Well i thank u all for all your help today.. i actually purchased a mac online today it will be here tuesday.. and man am i excited

 

[RustProofCorn]

is there a slot for another hdd in a macbook pro? i am going to use this thread as my own personal question and answer session is that against the forums rules? as illistrated before i have never had a mac before.. if so would a hdd from my old pc work? i have and extra one in it.. would i have to reformatte it for it to work in the mac?

 

[EndlessMac]

Well i thank u all for all your help today.. i actually purchased a mac online today it will be here tuesday.. and man am i excited

What did you end up getting?

is there a slot for another hdd in a macbook pro? i am going to use this thread as my own personal question and answer session is that against the forums rules? as illistrated before i have never had a mac before.. if so would a hdd from my old pc work? i have and extra one in it.. would i have to reformatte it for it to work in the mac?

There is not an official extra slot for another hard drive. Some people have been taking out their optical disc drive in order to install a second hard drive. That will void your warranty though.

You can always connect an external hard drive to your Mac or in the future upgrade the internal hard drive to a bigger one. FYI you can upgrade the hard drive and RAM yourself without voiding the warranty. When upgrading your internal hard drive just make sure it's the right size.

You can use any hard drive for an external because they will work on any platform. You just have to format them but you will lose any data left on your PC hard drive once formatted. If it's an internal hard drive then you can buy an enclosure casing to put it in and then use it as an external hard drive and connect it to your Mac with either USB or Firewire.

 

[RustProofCorn]

i bought a macbook pro 17 with antiglare the 2.8 4gb ram 500gig 7200 rpm hdd and the remote. i also got fusson with windows 7 apple care and a few other programs

 

[6string]

Congrats on your new purchase, and if you need to upgrade Ram or HD, go to OWC and go to My OWC and put in your specs and it will give you available options for your Mac.
4GB is descent and ample, but in the future you may want to allocate more Ram to Windows 7.

 

[RustProofCorn]

anyone know if apple care takes care of accidental damage?

 

[6string]

Don't tell me you've dropped it already!
No, everything except accidental damage, however, anything goes wrong, and the service they provide is superior. Treat it like your baby, and it will give you much love in return.
It is good practice to keep drinks away from it, even better, get a laptop stand.

 

[EndlessMac]

Here is some extra reading for you to pass the time while you wait for your Mac to arrive: Switch 101 & Mac 101

They are very informative for new Mac users.

 

[RustProofCorn]

no i havent dropped it yet.. i dont get it till tuesday.. i havent ever dropped a laptop before so i think ill be safe..