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Final thoughts what to get after 10 years with PC

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davidlt

macrumors member
Original poster
May 22, 2007
56
0
Lithuania
Hello,
as you can see I am writing not first time in this forum. I have small problem trying to decide what I should do. I lived with Windows since DOS/3.1 version and it's time to change my old AMD Athlon XP 2000+, it can't handle my work as I would like. Let's talk more about the problem I have.

I became in love with Macs about 1-2 years ago, I just like how the things work in this OS, that concept looks for me really something new and maybe better than Windows have right now. I became staff member of one fans website and for more than a year I was writing new about Macs and other Apple products. I tried every Mac, start Mac mini and finishing Mac Pro. No offense people, but like other OS, Macs are not perfect. Right now reading those forums and remembering everything in those years years while I was writing about Macs. Macs has so many issues, problems, especially related with the hardware and now I even could say that the number of problems is bigger than PC would have. The only thing you can see now in forums is that my DVD drive doesn't work, many problems with screen, fans, temperature and etc.

This year I am going to study Software Engineering, and I need something new. I am going to test almost every programing language which is used widely right now. From Microsoft side I would still like to have access to C# and SilverLight. And with Mono project and SilverLight being cross-platform this is possible. One thing I didn't mention what I feel and I know that I can be productive in every OS, starting UNIX and finishing something I don't know.
In university we are going to use Debian and Solaris and programming mostly will be done in Linux, not Windows.

Few month ago when I started to look at RoR I noticed that it has small programs which makes life/work go easier. I was trying to find the same IDE for RoR on Windows, but as you can image I failed. I even wanted to try to make something for Windows, but I decided that it wouldn't change anything.

I was hunting for refurbished MacBook (middle model) and while I was trying to get money for it people bought every of them. We have Apple Reseller Store in Lithuania only starting from June. Right now it cost 1299$ (I think), new middle model. With the help of mine friend I could get it for 160$ less from storehouse. And in my country I would get back 27% of it's price when I declare it.

So, right now I must get even more money for this expensive toy. After this I started to think. The computer I am going to buy I will be using for 4 or even more years. You can upgrade MacBook very easily and that's just fantastic, bust should I pay such money for this laptop. Just think a bit, 15.4", 120GB (SATA), DL DVD-RW, 2GB 667Mhz, 8600GM 256MB, Intel's SR chip, 802.11n and that already cost, how much? 400$ less + 27% going back and it's a way better then MacBook and it's going versus MBP. On PC laptop I would be using Vista (man... 10 years with this...) and Linux (welcome console...).

I have all software I need for University in Mac version. The question, should I overpay for hardware which I am going to use for 4 or more years? I know that new MacBook line should change things, but I can't wait so long, it's 1.5 month left. And the only hope to get Mac, would be next time...

P.S. I know that the best part of Macs is Mac OS X. And with this kind of hardware, it even would be possible to make it run on this PC laptop (hrr... Sounds strange?).

P.P.S. I have DC++ drafts and I would like to test Mono + Cocoa# one day... :)

P.P.P.S I started to hate Microsoft and it's strategy.
 
I'd say go with the 15'' MBP, its phenomenal. I just got one yesterday after 20 years of Windows usage. Needless to say, its very refreshing to use this computer. When im working on it, it seems like more of a pleasure than a task.
 
Welcome fellow switcher! definitely a brand spanking new MBP... go for the faster hard drive speeds for what you are doing... and don't expect people to see you for a few days after you get your new baby...
 
Vuzie said:
Welcome fellow switcher! definitely a brand spanking new MBP... go for the faster hard drive speeds for what you are doing... and don't expect people to see you for a few days after you get your new baby...
Click to expand...

I just got mine yesterday... I'm afraid I'm going to have to ease myself back into the world. Who knows how long I'll be glued to this thing.
 
Sounds to me, David, as though you've already made this decision in your head. If you're looking for suggestions, 9 times out of 10, we're going to support your MacBook Pro acquisition.

Personally? I've programmed in Windows and Linux for years. A MacBook OR MacBook Pro would make it possible for me to continue programming in those two environments AS WELL AS Mac OSX. The MacBook Pro will have better overall support for both the bootcamp environment (making Windows coding that much more live) and the virtual machines (different distributions of linux, Windows XP, Windows Vista - cheers to debugging!). If you're going to be using this computer for more than 3 years, there's no question. You need only consider the price.
 
Sdao said:
I just got mine yesterday... I'm afraid I'm going to have to ease myself back into the world. Who knows how long I'll be glued to this thing.
Click to expand...

heh... if you can, do what I did--bring the new acquisition with you anywhere you can: work, hanging with friends, etc. That way I got to make my friends jealous.
 
My decision was and still is Mac(?), but a bit going away...

Okay, let's see how much it would cost to me get a MacBook Pro, the data on storehouse:
74282 Apple MacBook Pro MA609, 15.4 WXGA (1440x900), Core2 Duo 2.16GHz/4MB/667FSB, AT 4349 4349 1 5 12 0 0 0

4349Lt, which is about 1700+$, I must add 18% to the price, it's taxes here and we have about 2020$, that's how much it would cost me from friend. While iDeal (Reseller in Lithuania) sets price 2600+$ on this. So I would save ~580$, and I would get back later ~426$. So the whole price of this would be about ~1594$.

Hm... It would be possible, but would require 1-2 month work to get more money. And compared to PC laptop, it would be ~200$ more.
 
davidlt said:
My decision was and still is Mac(?), but a bit going away...

Okay, let's see how much it would cost to me get a MacBook Pro, the data on storehouse:
74282 Apple MacBook Pro MA609, 15.4 WXGA (1440x900), Core2 Duo 2.16GHz/4MB/667FSB, AT 4349 4349 1 5 12 0 0 0

Hm... It would be possible, but would require 1-2 month work to get more money. And compared to PC laptop, it would be ~200$ more.
Click to expand...
You would definitely be going with a refurbished model, yes? No 2.2 GHz?

You should be asking yourself this - Is the $200 premium worth the additional OS X functionality and the smooth silver case?
 
I must keep in mind that I will not be able to get new PC for about 4 years, that means that if hardware is already weak comparing what is on market now, I will have problems after 2-2.5-3 years.

Nope, if I would buy MBP, I would buy the latest model. The USA prices are amazing low comparing to the prices here. This why we have this law, which allows us to get back 27% from max 1600$ and every three year you buy computer.

But our salary comparing to USA is even few times lower. So it makes things a lot difficult here.

I want Mac, I really want for a long time, but I must think about other things two... :( And those things could make me sad for a few years...
 
I have noticed a new upswing in posts (incredibly) like yours; "I would really like a Mac, but I am going with a PC because (insert reasons)". Funny so many start appearing right after the iPhone release.

If you want a PC, just do it. There are many prople who make that choice. I do not think it needs to be posted here. It almost sounds like you are here plugging Brand X.
 
I don't care about the computers Apple is making, I care only about the OS they have made. And if I won't be able to afford Mac, there are only one choice left. That's easy to understand for everyone.
 
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