A new laptop is in my future

[shotglass]

With there being four pinstripes now running down the screen of my Gateway, I think I've irritated my wife to the point that we'll be getting a new laptop in the next week or two.

Questions:

1. I'm giving serious thought to going Mac this time around. Is it now at the point where I can transfer a lot of my Windows programs/files over to the Mac?

2. What should I demand in terms of RAM?

Any other advice you can give would be welcomed.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

If it's just the monitor, you may want to get it looked at. My monitor on my laptop went completely to **** once, but a 50 dollar part (honestly, just some sort of ribbon) fixed it and it's worked just fine since then.

 

[HeinekenMan]

If you go Mac, you should be fine moving over most of your stuff. Now, if you're going the other way, that's where you can get an issue. PCs can't read files created on Macs, for the most part. What types of files will be you be moving? I know most of my files are photo and some form of a written document. I guess there are audio files as well.

As for RAM, I think most Macs now come standard with enough RAM to accomplish most tasks. But, if you want to be safe, add a little to the standard allocation.

If you've never used a Mac, you'll want a two-button mouse.

 

[Birdscribe]

Do. Not. Get. A. Dell.

In case I wasn't clear the first time, I'll repeat myself: Do. Not. Get. A. Dell.

Had not one, not two, but THREE Dells (two work laptops and my home computer) take various steaming dumps on me in an eight-month span. That's one crashed hard drive, one burned out CPU and one I-still-don't-know-WTF-happened-but-the-computer-was-toast.

Have a Toshiba now. Love it.

 

[imjustagirl2]

I have a Dell laptop and had a Dell desktop before. Never had a problem with either.

My Mac, however, **** out after three months after four drops of water got on the outside of it. So I now have the world's most expensive paperweight.

So, don't take either statement as an absolute. Dells don't always blow, Macs aren't for everyone.

 

[HeinekenMan]

If you get a Dell, make sure to spend the extra cash for the danged virus protection. If you get a Mac, don't bother.

 

[sportschick]

If you get a Dell, shell out for the extended warranty as well.

And on any PC, get virus protection [/oncelosteverythingincluding100pagesofabooktoavirus]

 

[Jeremy Goodwin]

If it's just the monitor, you may want to get it looked at. My monitor on my laptop went completely to **** once, but a 50 dollar part (honestly, just some sort of ribbon) fixed it and it's worked just fine since then.

I had screen problems with a Gateway. It was cracked and there were black spots covering about 2/3s of the screen. It was going to be $300-500 to replace it. I figured I might as well get a new lappy. I went with a mac. I was used to using them because that's what we used at my office, so it made for an easy switch.

I'm not sure what to suggest for RAM. I went with an ibook, then increased the RAM, but I heard you'd fine without extra. I am pretty sure that it's easy to transfer files from Windows. At least word / excel/ MS Office ones should be.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Neither of us said anything about cracks in the monitor though. That's why a simple little ribbon you can find on ebay might save him a few hundred bucks.

 

[HeinekenMan]

When you get your Mac, get yourself an iPhone. You'll be set for about six years.

 

[slappy4428]

Have a dell laptop and desktop. Hard drive in desktop crash 20 months ago, but since the computer was born in Dec. 2002, that's understandable.
Boosted the ram, added bells and whistles and it's fine.
Next desktop I buy (by the end of the year) it's a dell.

 

[HeinekenMan]

My Dell's hard drive crashed several years ago, and I spent forever and a day talking to people named "Steve" who lived in Ahmedabad, India. When I had an issue with my Mac, I talked to someone in the States who actually helped me. The last time I talked to someone from Apple, though, it was "Steve," so perhaps their customer service has faded.

As far as hard drives go, they get old and crash, and they usually crash most when they're about full. So get a big hard drive, regardless of what kind of computer you buy. You never want that thing to be more than about 25 percent full, maybe 50 percent.

 

[shotglass]

If I go Mac, most of the files I move over will be Office-based files: Excel, Word, etc.

I'm not sure I want to get this one checked out if there's a possibility of getting a new one with a big LCD display and all that. ;)

 

[Mayfly]

If you get a Mac, demand at least one with an Intel chip. They are the way to go these days since computers are cross-basing software now. In terms of RAM, get the most at the price you can spend. In a laptop, get at least 1 GB or more of RAM.

 

[dreunc1542]

Get a Toshiba or HP laptop if you don't go with a Mac. I had my HP stolen about 5 months back and got a new Toshiba with Vista on it and I love it. The HP was amazing, too, for 2 years before it got stolen. What are you going to use your computer for, if its just Word and such then get a PC.

 

[spup1122]

I got a Toshiba. I LOVE IT. It's a Toshiba Satellite and was actually really inexpensive compared to most laptops.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I'm not sure I want to get this one checked out if there's a possibility of getting a new one with a big LCD display and all that. ;)

Well there is THAT.

 

[Theoldbenchwarmer]

When I was in the laptop market I looked at Mac's as well. They were just too expensive for my tastes. So I bought an HP Pavilion and I couldn't be happier. Granted, it had a major crash about 3 months in of owning it and I lost everything, but I sent it in and got a brand new one and haven't had a single problem since.

 

[jgmacg]

Shottie -

I'm a devoted Mac convert. If you're considering a MacBook or MacBook Pro, check here for refurbished models. The warranty is the same as new and you can save some money.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=A35F9A4&nclm=CertifiedMac

 

[BRoth]

I've had a Dell for almost 5 years now and while it's heavy and outdated, it's never given me much trouble aside from some freezes every now and then. I essentially use it for just Internet and word processing, so that makes it easy as well.

I was actually having this conversation with a friend last night because he's getting a new dell at work. Just go with whatever you're comfortable with. I've used both Macs and PCs for years now and don't mind either. But, there is a level of familiarity with using a PC for me, which makes it easier.