Apple laptops: recomendations?

[MrTwilliger]

After much consideration of my needs, I've decided to get myself an Apple laptop. I plan on giving my desktop to my brother (to save him buying one, I don't even use it) and my sister just broke her laptop so I was going to give her mine (best brother ever?). Anyway, this lead me to deciding that I'd just upgrade and get a new laptop. Due to wanting to get to know the MAC OS as well as their light-portable design, I've chosen to go with Apple.

Now, here's my problem. I've only ever made my own Linux machines or had my laptop, so I know absolutely nothing about Apple laptops at all. So I need a bit of advice from someone who's used them before. I did a bit of research and found 3 types, the normal Macbook, the Macbook Pro and the Macbook Air. What's the main difference between them? Does anyone recommend one? Or not recommend another?

Basically, it's only going to be used for assignments, general internettimes, music and I plan on ripping my DVD's to it as well. So as such it really doesn't have to be spec'd all that brilliantly. I'd like something pretty lightweight and portable that can comfortably sit on my lap, I'm getting rid of my computer table and plan to use it sitting on my beanbag. Oh, and it needs a wireless N network card. I could settle for G, but N would be great.

Now the killer, price. We all know Apple products are quite expensive. I'm looking to find something between $1200 and $1700, though I would push it to $2000 at an absolute max. I'd usually be willing to spend more but I want to buy a new TV too ><
Which leads me to another question, does anyone know if you can get a TV aerial card installed in a Mac? Even an external one? Does anyone have experience with it? What's the reception like?

With all of this in mind, what am I looking at? Does anyone want to be awesomely nice and give me a bit of advice? I'd appreciate it ever so much.

tl;dr Looking to buy a mac laptop, recommendations kthnx

Oh, just btw, please refrain "oh don't buy a mac" comments. Leave that for an "Apple V Windows V Linux" thread, yeah?

[Key-J]

IT has to be said.

I Strongly, Highly absolutely Recommend you dont buy one. Mac ftl.

[Skyve]

in b4 dom & fugdup promoting Mac

[MrTwilliger]

Everyone has their preferences and personnel uses. It's about matching a product to a need, not going with what everyone else thinks is good based on their own needs. I was a Linux fan boy for a long time, bashing anyone who had any Apple product. After experiencing a lot more of their products, I've never had a single complaint with them.

But regardless,the reasons why are set in stone. Product advice would be more than welcome.

[dom]

I'll post when I get home.

The thread topic being advice on buying a mac, I don't think it will deter people who don't own and have never owned a mac on attempting to contribute to the thread.

[Jstar1]

overpriced and overrated. apple fanboys can bash all the other brands but guess what, I've had a dell laptop for 6 years that still works because I took care of it. Maybe the fanboys who whine about hp/dell/gateway laptops breaking apart in 1 year just mishandle them while treating apple products like princesses. In any case, its personal preference and personal experience that make people want/do not want macs, period.

[VforVendetta]

IT has to be said.

I Strongly, Highly absolutely Recommend you dont buy one. Mac ftl.

[MrTwilliger]

overpriced and overrated. apple fanboys can bash all the other brands but guess what, I've had a dell laptop for 6 years that still works because I took care of it. Maybe the fanboys who whine about hp/dell/gateway laptops breaking apart in 1 year just mishandle them while treating apple products like princesses. In any case, its personal preference and personal experience that make people want/do not want macs, period.

Just to reiterate something here Jstar

Oh, just btw, please refrain "oh don't buy a mac" comments. Leave that for an "Apple V Windows V Linux" thread, yeah?

There's nothing wrong with Window laptops, nor a linux machine nor an Apple product. I've had my Acer laptop for over 2 years now without a single problem, this isn't an argument about brand. I decided I wanted to go with a particular brand and there is no room for change in my decision, it is not to be questioned. I didn't ask for your validation on my choice to purchase a Mac, rather I'm looking for people who have experience using them.

I look forward to your post Dom, I shall read it in the morning.

Just a bit of an update, I had a bit of a look at the basic Macbook (13.3 inch), the 13.3 inch Macbook Pro, the 15 inch Macbook Pro and the Macbook Air. The Macbook is what I was originally looking at, valued around $1300 with an Intel dual core (2.4ghz), 2 Gig DDR3 ram and a 250GB HDD. Spec wise, nothing flash, but better than my current laptop and basically suiting my needs. Small, lightweight and not too expensive.

I'd really like the get the Macbook Air, but I don't think I can justify the price. The weight and size is a lot less and that is one of my main criteria to be honest. But the specs are below the normal 13.3 inch Macbook and for an additional $750, I don't think I can quite justify it. If the specs were better than perhaps, but sadly that's not the case. Also $2000 is the maximum budget and I don't really want to go that high either to be honest.

Now the cheapest Macbook Pro (13.3inch), valued in at $1500, has the exact same specs as the Macbook except it has an additional 2GB RAM for an extra $250. Now correct me if I'm wrong on this but going off the apple website this seems to be the case. Now I could get the Macbook RAM upgrade for an additional $140, making it $100 cheaper than a Macbook Pro. Unless I'm missing something, I don't see what the advantage of the basic Macbook Pro is. The higher end models with the i5 and i7 processors are a bit out of my price range, as much as I'd like them. So I will have to rule them out.

Personally, I'm really leaning towards the Macbook atm. This is where I need a bit of advice though, as I can only base my judgment off pure specs and there may be things I'm just blatantly missing or unaware of. I will visit my local store tomorrow to get a feel for the physical size and weight of a few of the different models, but I'm still quite undecided.

Oh and just to clarify and save confusion, all prices listed are in Australian Dollars.

[maxietheboss]

overpriced and overrated. apple fanboys can bash all the other brands but guess what, I've had a dell laptop for 6 years that still works because I took care of it. Maybe the fanboys who whine about hp/dell/gateway laptops breaking apart in 1 year just mishandle them while treating apple products like princesses. In any case, its personal preference and personal experience that make people want/do not want macs, period.

Just to reiterate something here Jstar

Oh, just btw, please refrain "oh don't buy a mac" comments. Leave that for an "Apple V Windows V Linux" thread, yeah?

There's nothing wrong with Window laptops, nor a linux machine nor an Apple product. I've had my Acer laptop for over 2 years now without a single problem, this isn't an argument about brand. I decided I wanted to go with a particular brand and there is no room for change in my decision, it is not to be questioned. I didn't ask for your validation on my choice to purchase a Mac, rather I'm looking for people who have experience using them.

I look forward to your post Dom, I shall read it in the morning.

Just a bit of an update, I had a bit of a look at the basic Macbook (13.3 inch), the 13.3 inch Macbook Pro, the 15 inch Macbook Pro and the Macbook Air. The Macbook is what I was originally looking at, valued around $1300 with an Intel dual core (2.4ghz), 2 Gig DDR3 ram and a 250GB HDD. Spec wise, nothing flash, but better than my current laptop and basically suiting my needs. Small, lightweight and not too expensive.

I'd really like the get the Macbook Air, but I don't think I can justify the price. The weight and size is a lot less and that is one of my main criteria to be honest. But the specs are below the normal 13.3 inch Macbook and for an additional $750, I don't think I can quite justify it. If the specs were better than perhaps, but sadly that's not the case. Also $2000 is the maximum budget and I don't really want to go that high either to be honest.

Now the cheapest Macbook Pro (13.3inch), valued in at $1500, has the exact same specs as the Macbook except it has an additional 2GB RAM for an extra $250. Now correct me if I'm wrong on this but going off the apple website this seems to be the case. Now I could get the Macbook RAM upgrade for an additional $140, making it $100 cheaper than a Macbook Pro. Unless I'm missing something, I don't see what the advantage of the basic Macbook Pro is. The higher end models with the i5 and i7 processors are a bit out of my price range, as much as I'd like them. So I will have to rule them out.

Personally, I'm really leaning towards the Macbook atm. This is where I need a bit of advice though, as I can only base my judgment off pure specs and there may be things I'm just blatantly missing or unaware of. I will visit my local store tomorrow to get a feel for the physical size and weight of a few of the different models, but I'm still quite undecided.

Oh and just to clarify and save confusion, all prices listed are in Australian Dollars.

well for that 140$ you get the aluminium unibody, and a led backlighted keyboard.
I'd pay the premium alone for those 2 things and i believe there are more bonuses

[woutR]

My dad has had the normal black macbook and now a silver macbook pro. I have used both and I don't think I experienced any differences at all. The Macbook pro has an aluminum casing, and the normal macbook is like plastic/carbon, I don't know what specifically it's just not made out of aluminum.
This means that the normal macbook is a bit lighter (maybe more comfortable for your beanbag?)

The cheapest macbook pro has the same processor and videocard as the normal macbook. All you can possibly get over the normal macbook with a macbook pro is the 2 gig ram. So it's up to you in terms of what kind of performance you want out of your macbook and how much you value a laptop that is a little more sturdier (but also heavier).

oh I just remembered a difference: the macbook pro was faster in converting video files from .avi to .mp4
It wasn't that much of a difference, but it was noticeable. But yeah that's stating the obvious since the pro has better specs. Idk it may be a bit important because of iTunes just supporting .mp4 and iPod as well.

[vietxboy911]

I really dont see why people hate Macs lol
I like them because everything is smooth and simple, like for daily stuff
even though i only have their ipod/touchs
the design of them is also smooth and nice feeing.
haters gunna hate

but ont, I would get the Pro, cause it'll probably last longer depending on how much you use it, but your lucky enough to get any mac laptop :> i want one

[CrimsonNuker]

I remember when Priam used to come here

[MrTwilliger]

Another update here. I was at Tafe today an 2 people in my class have Macbooks, one a 15' Pro and one the standard. I was playing around with both of them, comparing them and just seeing which one I like better. The casing on the Pro was much more solid tbh, I felt like it I could step on it and not even dent it at all. Also the screen size was just that little larger while still not being too big to use. So I've basically decided to go with the 15' Pro, although it's more expensive it does have the i5 processor which seems like a good advantage to me. So now it's back to saving up again before I go out and buy it, thanks for the advice all.

but ont, I would get the Pro, cause it'll probably last longer depending on how much you use it, but your lucky enough to get any mac laptop :> i want one

Haha, it's got nothing to do with luck. I work part time while I'm studying and I just save my money. It's as simple as that really.

[Mirosuke]

I really dont see why people hate Macs lol
I like them because everything is smooth and simple, like for daily stuff
even though i only have their ipod/touchs
the design of them is also smooth and nice feeing.
haters gunna hate

but ont, I would get the Pro, cause it'll probably last longer depending on how much you use it, but your lucky enough to get any mac laptop :> i want one

Its cause not everyone is a rich hoe and spend into a kinda useful for nothing PC.

[strangelove]

in b4 dom & fugdup promoting Mac

Hardly, lol. I just don't appreciate anyone spreading misinformation about anything, whether that be a computer OS or something else. Calling out people on their BS isn't really promoting anything, or at least I don't consider it as such.

OT: I second that choice of a 15-inch MBP. The Macbook Pro line is updated roughly every 200 days or so, and the current ones have been recently updated so I recommend buying one now.

[poehalcho]

moral of the story...
buy a pc and upgrade to mac. don't buy directly from apple.