Considering trading in my m1330 for a macbook

I'm mostly starting this thread because I think that typing this out for myself will help me to make my decision, plus all of your comments are very welcome. I'm going to college next year and I need a reliable yet fast computer to get me through at least 4 years, and hopefully another 4 years of dental school Sorry about the long post, but I would appreciate it if you bare with me and possibly give me some advice.

First of all, I'm not all that impressed with my m1330. Most of the features on it are nice, but I'm not so sure that it was worth the $2000 price tag that it came with partly because I'm not so sure I really need it to be that nice. I'm probably not going to be doing any gaming and I will be using this laptop for writing essays, taking notes, and doing research such for college and will be doing any gaming on my xbox 360. So, I don't think I'll really have much use for the dedicated graphics card.

I'm considering returning the $2000 m1330 (2.4 gHz, 4 GB memory, 200 GB @ 7200 RPM, LED display) for a cheaper (and lower spec'd) macbook for $1199 through my college (2.4 gHz, 2 GB memory, etc.). Also, I don't really care all that much for windows vista, it just seems very hectic and disorganized compared to XP, and from what I've been told OS X is an awesome operating system.

I also want a portable computer that will be easy to bring to class and transport in a backpack. The extra pound of weight on the macbook doesn't seem like that big of a deal since it had about the same dimensions (a little bit smaller?). Also, I think I like the look of the macbook a little bit more.

I'm worried, however, that I might run into problems with X being compatible with everything I will need to do in college. I'm going to be a Biology and Spanish double major. So as far as I know all I'll really be doing is word processing so I shouldn't have any problems just using iWork, right?

I feel that the macbook will last longer than the m1330 due in part to the vista operating system and the tendency of dell's products to not last so long and be less reliable. I have already encountered several problems and annoyances with my m1330 and I am afraid that there will be many more to come. I DEFINATELY do not want to be in the putting the finishing touches on huge paper that is due the next for one of my classes and then lose it all as my laptop crashes causing me to fail a class and resulting in my not getting into a decent dental school.

I like to "Hope for the best, yet plan for the worst".

Also, if I decide to return the m1330, theres always the possibility that dell will fail to credit my account and I may lose the $2000 altogether. However, if my account does get credited, I plan to put that $2000 towards a $1199 macbook, a 500 GB $300 Time Capsule, and $600 Vizio VX32L. This is because I will need a nice tv for my dorm room and one that will be big enough to be useful in the future, and with the Time Capsule I won't have to worry about losing any important documents that could ruin my life, and I still will not be spending much more than $2000.

Do you all think that this would be too much of a downgrade, or see any problems with my possibility of returning?

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't think its too much of a downgrade...as you said, you won't really use the graphics card so the $2000 spent on the M1330 might be unnecessary spending. For just word processing, the MacBook won't have any problem; Mac OS X has a few choices in terms of word processors, including Microsoft Office for Mac for full compatibility with Windows Office.

Everything sounds pretty good . You will definitely want to try out Mac OS X first in an Apple Store or something if you can. Otherwise, its really up to you, you can stick with the M1330, or get the MacBook and other accessories, both work pretty much!

 

You'll probably really like OS X (I do, I'd use it if was more for gamers). I'm not going to lie, though, the white MacBook looks really childish, especially if you see one in the Apple Store. I'd reccomend shelling out $1500 for the higher-specced (though these specs are more than for your needs) black MacBook, which looks much nicer.

 

Isn't the black machook the same as the white just $200 more expensive? By the way the highest specs I can get through my school are 2.4 gHz, 2 GB memory, 160 GB HDD @ 5400 RPM, and its 1199 plus tax. The black macbook doesn't seem to be an option according to the apple website.

 

You might also want to install XP on your Macbook via BootCamp, just in case some of the software that you'll be using in college isn't available for macs - you know, like a safety net. Other than that, a Macbook (or any other notebook with similar specs) is all you need to get you through college.

@Stephen: Yeah Apple charges like $150-$200 just for a different color . Higher end Macbook (white) is teh same as teh Macbook (black) - it might be clocked slightly higher, and probably give you a bit more storage space but I don't think it's worth the extra cost.

 

I'll start by saying that I'm actually pretty impressed with the m1330 - I helped spec one out for a friend, and he's really pleased with it. Also, XPS tech support rocks pretty frickin' hard, so if you're running into problems with the 1330 give them a shout. You don't deal with Dell general support, but with XPS support, which is heads above regular support.

Now, on to your questions *grin*

I'm going into my PhD and just moved from an XPS m1210 to a macbook, and I'm really, really happy with my decision. I enjoy pretty much everything about the macbook, from the keyboard, to the battery life, to the screen, to the OS. I'm also a major fan of the software options that are available to academics on the mac. Referencing software, in particular, at least seems to be heads above what I was used to using in both XP and Vista.

That said, I would encourage you to do a few things before moving to a mac, if you're intent is to use it for school.

(1) Determine whether or not you really want to be taking whatever you own to class. In my experience as someone who teaches, the best way to use a notebook in class is either (a) not to bring it, and just use pen and paper because you're less likely to distract yourself or others, because you can't surf the net, play games, etc; (b) get a tablet PC. If you're going to be drawing diagrams, or making arrows in your notes, or building lists on the fly, etc (which I can almost guarentee that you will be) a regular notebook just isn't going to meet your expectations.

(2) I've worked in college IT for 7 years, doing everything from student desktop support, to staff support, to network admin, to lab management. I would *highly* recommend that you contact the departments that you think you will be working in and ask what software they expect that you will be using, and whether it is mac compatible/Vista compatible/XP compatible (yes - some software profs use may not play nice in XP. It's a massive pain in the ass!).

(3) As for macs being more or less reliable, they are less prone to be infected with malware, etc. That said: they can crash at inopportune times. I crash my macbook once or twice a week, though I tend to do a lot on it at once, and put it to sleep with those applications running while some are displayed on a second monitor

(4) Before deploying Time Capsule, check with the local IT on campus and see if they care that you may be broadcasting a wireless signal. It's been my experience that we tend to get pretty pissy when finding wireless connections that aren't authorized because (a) they can interfere with college networks; (b) they are in violation of the license agreement we sign with out ISP.

Anyhow, these are just a few things to think about. I love my macbook, and don't imagine that I'll go back to Windows anytime soon. Also, you can run Windows on a mac, but if you're going to have to do that on a regular basis because of the software requirements of your programs just get a windows notebook and make your life a bit simpler. Believe me, when you just want to write a paper while drawing statistical software from another program, you really don't want to have to deal with switching between Operating Systems

Hope this helps some!

 

So based on you're experience with the m1210, are you glad that you had the itfor undergraduate and do ya think you would have run into problems with a macbook? As I think about this more, i'm beginning to think that it might be in my best interest to just keep my m1330 since i purchased the 4 years of complete coverage with LoJack (as long as I don't have dell keeping my laptop for several weeks while they try to fix it when something goes wrong).

 

I loved the XPS 1210. It was an excellent computer and I bought it for a small, ultra portable computer; I was on the road multiple times through the week, plus running to meetings all the time, and its power/weight/battery ratio was amazing. My girlfriend is now using it, and she loves it.

I would say that the XPS 1330 LED screen is better than the one on the macbook, and is (as I understand it) better for battery life. I can't think of any reason to switch from a brand new 1330 to a macbook, truth be told, unless there is something that you're absolutely despising about it. The macbook rocks hard, but I would say that it's probably about comparable (at the very least) to a desked out 1330, which it sounds like you have.

Now, concerning Vista, I can appreciate if you have issues/dislikes with it. Don't let that lead you to return your machine! Just find an OEM copy of Windows XP off newegg/canada computers/large cheap national computer retailer that is appropriate for your location and install it. Just make sure that you've backed up your drivers and (if you've never installed an OS before) printed out a manual/guide to walk you through the process.

Again, I would stress the value and importance of contacting the departments that you're going to be in. It might be that they require a lot of OSX software (though I would find that highly dubious). Before bringing technology to campus, make sure that what you're bringing fits for the program - we see hundreds of students make poor computer decisions based on what they've seen on TV, and it hurts their's and their parents' pocketbooks.

With all that said, you're likely to love university - soak up all the experiences that you can, but never forget: your job while there is to get a scholastic education, not a 4000 degree in partying

 

I went from an M1330 to a MacBook (Pro), and wouldn't go back for anything..

 

Really?

Could you elaborate for me? What were the circumstances and what do you use it for?

 

I also went from an m1330 to a macbook pro. The XPS is really nice, but seeing as how I am an engineering student, I need something that is a little bit more powerful graphics wise. I've only had my MBP for a couple of days but I am really liking OS X. I will be dual booting with Windows XP just because I prefer AutoCAD over anything else out there. If you are having problems with Vista, I would try and get XP and then you shouldn't have any problems. Another thing to think about is if you got a Dell printer with your m1330, because I don't think Apple has drivers for Dell printers, although I may be wrong.

 

Yes, really! You can check my post history to see all the issues I had with my M1330. Even when it was working, Vista is just the worst OS I've ever used. In many ways it's even worse than Windows ME, which is a scary thought.

The MBP is built better, doesn't crash on me (yet), doesn't make any nasty high-pitched noises (CPU whining), and most importantly, and is just a better all round system than the M1330. That said, the M1330 was definitely smaller and lighter, so I gave that up to have a more solid system.

I use my MBP for surfing, word processing, powerpointing, LightRooming, Photoshopping, e-mailing, movie-watching, you name it. I don't really game very much, but when I NEED to (Titan Quest owns my soul), I reboot into Windows XP and enjoy a rock solid Windows environment. Win-win situation! If you're really desperate to run Windows apps, you can even run them from within OS X using VMWare which rocks! So I really have the best of both worlds.

FYI, I had a similar spec to your M1330, except mine was the 2.0Ghz model, but still - 4GB DDR-2 and a 200GB 7200rpm drive, 8400GS. My MBP runs circles around it, performance (and not crashing)-wise.

 

Amen to letter (a). I teach some undergrad psych courses and I suspect that a number of students using their laptops in class are surfing, checking email etc. It interesting to see how much typing is going on after I've finished with presentation and am moving on to the next one. If you don't want a tablet PC you might look into one of those USB tablet accessories - that may make taking notes a bit easier.

Not a bad suggestion. If you're sure you'll stick with bio as a major, some upper level classes may have specific software they use for labs (stats analysis, lab software most likely). It's unlikely that you wouldn't be able to run it if you choose to dual boot (I second the recommendations to consider doing this), but anything is possible.

That's just my 2¢. Let us know what you decide.