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MacBook Pro/ Dell / AlienWare...what to do??

ckeck

ckeck

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 29, 2005
722
67
Texas
I have a tough decision to make and I don't know what to do...advice please...

I sold my almost new G4 PowerBook back in January because I new I would want to upgrade to the Intel Macs (first Mac in a long time).

I am about ready to order my new computer, but I find myself missing some things on my Windows box...mainly the gaming capabilities...I travel a lot with my laptops and would really like to play some of my games on it...ugh! Any idea if more game developers will port their games to Macs now that they are running Intel based chips?

I am also getting into real estate and 99% of the real estate/finance software on the market is PC only...especially what most realtor offices use...any thoughts or programs I should know of here??

I also like to dual boot Linux (ubuntu) and I am learning to code C++ and OpenGL. Does anyone have much experience with the PPC versions of linux? How do they work compared to the same distro on a PC? What about C++ compilers, etc??

Also, I know the MacBook Pro's offer the ATI x1600 video card and the higher end model offers the 256MB vRam...is this worth the several hundred dollars extra seeing as how there aren't many high end games for the Mac?? Don't know what else would really take advantage of this...???

I am finding it hard to come up with reasons to purchase the MacBook Pro...and Dell and Alienware running some great deals doesn't make matters any better...

HELP ME COME UP WITH REASONS TO STICK WITH APPLE...I REALLY WANT TO BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW!! :confused: :confused:
 
All I have to say, is if you travel a lot don't get the Alienware. My friend got one of their laptops and it isn't a portable, it's battery life is less than an hour if you are playing a game. Also it is just HUGE. I would personally say to get the MBP, but if there are things you want on Windows, get a Thinkpad IMO. Also I don't really think we will be getting an overload of games, just because we went Intel doesn't mean we will get games.
 
ckeck said:
HELP ME COME UP WITH REASONS TO STICK WITH APPLE...I REALLY WANT TO BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW!! :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...

No crap like Windows registry, user editable configuration files, gg Windowws :p
 
ckeck said:
I am also getting into real estate and 99% of the real estate/finance software on the market is PC only...especially what most realtor offices use...any thoughts or programs I should know of here??
Click to expand...
If it is anything like here, the real estate board and local MLS dictate the exact software you have to use and it only runs on Windows.
Check the requirements out first before deciding. Also, depending on local regulations you may have to lease the computer in order to write it off taxes. Again, fact-check first.
 
IMO the macbook pro is most likely the best valued computer you can buy for your money (thats if your looking at a high end laptop, which it seems like you are).

Heres the breakdown...
1. It has some of the best processors on the market.
2. It has a gorgeous high rez screen.
3. It's screen is as bright as the sun (no joke I saw one at my apple store).
4. It's high end model comes with 1 gig of ram stock.
5. It's only one inch think (remember you're paying for it's form factor also). Nothing on the market is as thin as this laptop with all it's features. Seriously other Dual Core laptops are twice as thick if not thicker.
6. It's getting pretty respectable battery life (on par with a G4 for the most part).
7. Both models have two of the best GPU cards on the market.
8. You'll be able to dual boot soon (having the best of both worlds, using windows and OSX on one machine, now you can play Windows games on your mac and really see how great that GPU really is). Also that GPU is more handy than you'd ever believe a multitude of Pro apps really need a powerful GPU like the MBP's.
9. It comes loaded with almost any kind of software you'll ever need right out of the box (minus pro apps) and you'll be running OSX which is one of the safest operating systems on the market.
10. You get optical ins and outs (same deal with it's analog counterpart). This is a tremendous feature if your into music or into music editing/mixing. I believe currently apple's Powerbooks and MBP are some of the few laptops on the market with this feature. I don't think alienware laptops come with option.

Seriously though Alienware laptops blow. My friend owns own. All I have to say is it's really thick and has pretty crappy battery life. However Alienware has come out with a thiner model this past year. This new model was made to have better battery life and have a better form factor (and it sells for a slight premium, it's mostly targeted for the business world like the MBP). Basicly it's not a desktop replacement laptop like most laptops made by Alienware.
 
sk1985 said:
IMO the macbook pro is most likely the best valued computer you can buy for your money (thats if your looking at a high end laptop, which it seems like you are).

Heres the breakdown...
1. It has some of the best processors on the market.
2. It has a gorgeous high rez screen.
3. It's screen is as bright as the sun (no joke I saw one at my apple store).
4. It's high end model comes with 1 gig of ram stock.
5. It's only one inch think (remember you're paying for it's form factor also). Nothing on the market is as thin as this laptop with all it's features. Seriously other Dual Core laptops are twice as thick if not thicker.
6. It's getting pretty respectable battery life (on par with a G4 for the most part).
7. Both models have two of the best GPU cards on the market.
8. You'll be able to dual boot soon (having the best of both worlds, using windows and OSX on one machine, now you can play Windows games on your mac and really see how great that GPU really is). Also that GPU is more handy than you'd ever believe a multitude of Pro apps really need a powerful GPU like the MBP's.
9. It comes loaded with almost any kind of software you'll ever need right out of the box (minus pro apps) and you'll be running OSX which is one of the safest operating systems on the market.
10. You get optical ins and outs (same deal with it's analog counterpart). This is a tremendous feature if your into music or into music editing/mixing. I believe currently apple's Powerbooks and MBP are some of the few laptops on the market with this feature. I don't think alienware laptops come with option.

Seriously though Alienware laptops blow. My friend owns own. All I have to say is it's really thick and has pretty crappy battery life. However Alienware has come out with a thiner model this past year. This new model was made to have better battery life and have a better form factor (and it sells for a slight premium, it's mostly targeted for the business world like the MBP). Basicly it's not a desktop replacement laptop like most laptops made by Alienware.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the only reason I was considering the Alienware is because of the new model. Its pretty sleek...
 
EricNau said:
Do you really have to ask? You know what our answer is going to be. ;)

...get the MBP! :)
Click to expand...


Yeah, I know...but I am trying to find reasons to stick with the Mac, thats why I asked here...

Almost decision time...kinda leaning towards the MBP...but then I don't know whether to go with the 1.83 or the 2.0...its not the processor speed I am worried about, its the amount of ram on the video card :confused:

Also, does anyone know how the battery life is on the MBP? Thats one of the things I hated most about my Powerbook...the battery life was horrible!
 
Horrible compared to what? The new MBP get about the same battery life as the PBs 3-3.5 hours with max brightness (I think that is about right). This is probably longer than you will see in desktop replacement machines... don't look for the dell or alienware to have better battery life with the specs that you are getting in the MBP. I would pick up an extra battery and throw it in your bag for those times that you really need 7 hours without a plug.
 
all i no is when u serch 4 a good computer u want the best gamin rigg u can find, or as i like to say, good gamin rigg. dell are ok i mean they have xps but srsly where are all the leds? alienware has the light up alien head which i think increases fps a few and enhancez battrey life.

macs totall suk i want to c u try and play some counterstrike on a mac

yeah thats right

oh and 1.6 in software mode through virtualpc dont count

how do u expect to pwn nubs using anything that isn't the most expensive alienware sheesh

(This is the mentality of your average Alienware owner, do you really want to be one of them? Get a Mac Book, it's only a matter of time before someone makes up a WINE wrapper that can turn any windows software in to a .app file.)
 
I don't think it's possible to give a good answer to this without knowing the requirements of your real-estate software. A lot of bespoke industry software actually has very modest hardware needs, and could therefore run on VPC (although there is little info at the moment on how VPC runs on an Intel Mac - presumably Rosetta is involved in this somehow, so it could run like treacle). I'm not a gamer, but surely with the price of computers now you could get a cheap windows box for this, or even an x-box or something. Sounds to me as though you need to buy 2 computers, not one.
 
zap2 said:
You asked about PPC Linuz, however a MacBook Pro, would run x86 Linux


Get a Mac
Click to expand...

Ah, yes...I feel stupid for not noticing this...thanks for calling me on that...
 
ckeck said:
Ah, yes...I feel stupid for not noticing this...thanks for calling me on that...
Click to expand...

Problem is there is NO x86 linux that works NOW! Get something that you need for your SOFTWARE requirements. Pretty soon you will understand that the *real* deal is the software and not the hardware!
 
mvelinder said:
I believe it would be possible to run those Windows real-estate programs through
Wine.
Click to expand...

If you are doing it for a living FORGET EMULATION/WINE OR OTHER NON NATIVE COMEDY. It is not worth the hassle. A small upgrade patch can throw you off and you are out in the cold!
 
budugu said:
If you are doing it for a living FORGET EMULATION/WINE OR OTHER NON NATIVE COMEDY. It is not worth the hassle. A small upgrade patch can throw you off and you are out in the cold!
Click to expand...

Are you joking?

Wine is AWESOME.
 
what about getting a new powerbook/or getting ur old one back and running virtual pc for real estate software on windows?
 
io_burn said:
all i no is when u serch 4 a good computer u want the best gamin rigg u can find, or as i like to say, good gamin rigg. dell are ok i mean they have xps but srsly where are all the leds? alienware has the light up alien head which i think increases fps a few and enhancez battrey life.

macs totall suk i want to c u try and play some counterstrike on a mac

yeah thats right

oh and 1.6 in software mode through virtualpc dont count

how do u expect to pwn nubs using anything that isn't the most expensive alienware sheesh

(This is the mentality of your average Alienware owner, do you really want to be one of them? Get a Mac Book, it's only a matter of time before someone makes up a WINE wrapper that can turn any windows software in to a .app file.)
Click to expand...

sounds like some of the people here discussing their macs. Substituting Mac for Alienware of course. And the light up Apple :)
 
Well I appreciate all the input from everyone...but I still can't make a decision!! :mad:

If I ordered a MBP now, are they not even shipping until April?
 
ckeck said:
Well I appreciate all the input from everyone...but I still can't make a decision!! :mad:
Click to expand...

Have you taken the time to try and find Mac alternatives to this real estate software that is available on Windows machines?
 
Alright, I think I made my decision! I am probably just going to get the MBP 2.0GHz, with the 100GB 7200rpm drive and the 1GB memory...

About to order...anyone have a promo code ur not going to use? Thanks!
 
It has been done...just ordered:

MacBook Pro w/ 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
1GB RAM (x1 stick)
100GB 7,200RPM HDD
iWork '06

Extra battery...

I didn't purchase AppleCare...but you can purchase this at anytime before your original warranty expires, correct?

Thanks everyone!
 
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