Laptop Opinions Needed

[K12MacTech]

I work for a public school district. The superintendent wants to purchase a Mac laptop for his wife, and I’ve been asked for input. She will be using it for word processing, internet, and will probably also be using iLife (primarily iPhoto). He will use it also for web-based email and word processing. He uses Windows at his office, and our director of technology is also primarily a Windows user, so the decision has been delegated down to my department. The his wife definitely prefers and wants a Mac. Of course asking our Apple sales rep generated a quote for the new 2.0GHz MacBook. The cost itself is not an issue, but neither the superintendent nor his wife will be very tolerable of technical issues, so I hesitate to give the go-ahead on the MacBook considering that it is new hardware that has not yet been proven or had the glitches worked out. But I also hesitate to tell them to get a G4 Powerbook, although if I did I would suggest the 17". This is one of those situations where they impulsively have decided they need it, so they want it now. I don’t think they would be willing to wait a month or so to see how the MacBooks fare in the real world. It is bascially impossible to talk to either of them directly about what their real-world requirements are, so I have to do a bit of mind-reading here. I should be able to find out some details like whether or not a modem is needed, but bascially my specs I have to go on are "a Mac laptop."


Opinions? Suggestions? Thanks.

 

[T-Stex]

I'd suggest the PowerBook, either 15" or 17". It doesn't sound like either of the two users will be doing anything too intensive on the computer. In their situation, it sounds like they'll want something that just works, and that they don't have to worry about. As far as they're concerned, I don't know if I'd expect them to even notice the difference between the PowerBook G4 and the MacBook Pro. As you've said, they're not going to want to wait a month for a computer, and deal with any problems. The PowerBook is a great computer, and will serve their needs very well.

 

[crazzyeddie]

Definitely go for the Macbook Pro with AppleCare. That way if something does go wrong, they can fix it easily and for free (with phone and local support at any Apple Authorized repair center or Apple Store).

You wouldn't want to sell them arguably outdated technology, would you? I should would be pissed if I figured out I had just dropped over $2000 on a computer that isn't even the most recent technology.

 

[godbout]

As far as components the MBP is the Intel iMac (essentially) so you will at least have an idea about how it should perform. Also, They kept most of the PBs styling and many external components (keyboard etc). I am pretty confident that the MBP will not have many (any) problems so I say go with that. Of course there goes your get one NOW! because it will probably be about a month until you can get your hands on it. Anyway for thier needs a 17" PB might even be better because they would want the screen realestate etc? I am not sure...

 

[spercharged69]

You will look like a complete moron if you tell them to buy anything that doesn't have an Intel chip in it as soon as they show off their "new" computer off to a friend who tells them it's a generation old technology.

 

[zap2]

MacBook Pro

, alothough my iMac G5 Rev A has had to problems were it had to go into the shop(for about a week each time) still it was worth it

 

[TaKashMoney]

As great as recommending new technology is, paying 2 grand for word processing and iphoto seems... well... like bad advice. Regardless if money is no issue, dual cores to open safari? Come on people, even if I were the King of Babylon I would love to know if I could get two computers that would serve my uses for the price of one I would never fully utilize.

If they really wanna drop $2000, I recommend an Intel iMac and an iBook instead of a MBP. Speed, reliability, and two machines for the price of one.