i want a mac but not sure i need one.

i'm looking for a laptop, i want it to have a good battery life (3-5 hours) and that would do all i need it to do.

i know i should post the "what should i get" threads elsewhere.. but i think the issue really concerns "apple users".


i use my computer for watching movies, the web, word processing, some light gaming (football manager). so that might work with either Operating systems.

but do i really need mac OSX? .. well it's better looking than windows. they have umm better keyboards?.

but when i compare the Macbook with the Sony SZ (even though the SZ costs more) i do get alot. the DL DVD-RW, a webcam that works with msn (stupid reason), an nvidia graphix card with dedicated 128mb.

windows is also compatible with most of the software around the world, if not all. but even mac osx is compatible with alot of common softwares, it has no virus threats.

i thought that i might have a macbook, with windows installed if i needed it. but the problem is that Sony (or any other manufacturer) provide more options.

maybe the Sony SZ should be compared with a 13" MBP (if it exists), but not comparing both doesnt mean that the sony's hardware isnt better.



one more thing, if i wanted to buy a laptop right now, the sony SZ is available with the core2duo, which i really want for a "future proof" laptop.

if i wanted a macbook with core2duo, i need to wait for atleast a month or two, then they might only be MBP's with core2duo, no DL superdrive.




what do u all think?

 

I would only go with sony because it is more future proof in the sense of the processor. But if you buy an extended battery the sony should last the time you needed.

 

I am in the exact same boat as you are right now. But I'm leaning towards the macbook little by little each day.

 

well, i saw in a review that the sony battery lasts for almost 4 hours with the integrated graphix card, webcam disabled, no bluetooth, less brightness. with the large battery, it might even reach 5 hours.


if i'm going to wait for the macbook, it'll be available in the same time the santa rosa is available (intel's new platform, with 802.11n). so it will be better if i waited till that too.

yeah i shouldnt wait alot, but i'm looking into my options too.

 

note sonys battery times are un accurate, my friends sony is clocked to get 2.5hours on his battery and he gets 5 hours, if battery life is important the sony should last longer than the mac book battery life wise...

 

The MB can last 6+ hours with low brightness.
Several people who I know that own them constantly get around 6 hours on theirs. Not too bad. Buy a 2nd battery (yeah, not as convenient since it doesn't attach to it) and you're up to 12 hours.
It's hard to really put software compatability in the list. OS X can do something windows can't. It can run OS X AND Windows at the same time. And very fast at that.
Or dual boot into any OS.

As far as what you need it for, both OS's have several apps to fit your needs. You could even use Linux if you wanted to, and you'd still have all that functionality.

As has been stated many times, C2D really isn't much of a future proof. It really only adds 64 bit and a small speed increase. While OS X has supported 64 bit since Tiger has been released (not in graphical apps though) and Windows has had XP-64 out for a while, precious few consumer apps take advantage of 64 bit processing.

We won't see a huge shift for a number of years to 64 bit computing. By that time, you won't really see a difference between Yonah and Merom.

But as far as Santa Rose... Well, were probably 6 months away from seeing it in MB/MBP. Maybe even longer for the MB. Maybe shorter.
MB is pretty much the last in the line to get the upgrade.

Not having DL does suck... but oh well. I plan to still use my desktop to burn DVD's and DL-DVD's (when they really become affordable).

 

To be honest you have to weigh the pluses and minuses of each and see what is more important to you. Some hold security very high others know they can protect themselves and value a dedicated video card. So try to make a list of what you need and then what you want all in order of importance. Get the one that best fits that.

 

Well for someone who does light gaming, a dedicated card won't mean a thing.

i guess apple might release the Core2duo early november. with the santa rosa platform shipped after 6 months with leopard.

in my point of view, Macbook has a better keyboard, better OS, gives u the choice between Mac and windows, it's cheaper, looks better.

Sony has a webcam that works with MSN, has a dedicated card, can be bought right away.

 

So know you have to decide which of those are most important to you. For many of us here Windows is the deal breaker, but it may not be important to you. Or a dedicated card may not matter. Good luck!