That is a great printer and I glad to see another one still chugging out pages. After that printer HP went to hell and and I would not recommend ANY of their products to anyone.

Oh and Windows 7 is awesome for a home and business.

I purchased a aluminum iMac 3 months ago and I think its amazing. They are pricey but they are worth it. The computer is absolutely silent and they look great.

I have been using Apple computers for 25 years at home and with having to put up with Windows machines at work I would never buy one for personal use. And like already mentioned if you still need to run the odd windows application you can!

Here's an interesting article to stir up the Mac vs. PC argument http://www.cracked.com/article_18377...red-apple.html

The patent for point #1 is interesting - http://www.patentlyapple.com/patentl...g-program.html

but I can imagine the headlines if someone can't call 911 on their iphone because Apple is forcing you to watch one of their ads and locks up your hardware until you look at it.

I'm happy with my Macs (17" Macbookpro, G5 Tower, G4 Tower, Iphone). My wife has a Sony Vaio and has had no problems with hardware, but the operating system (Vista) crashes every two or three months sometimes more often.

It's possible that Windows 7 will fix these problems, but I don't see what I would gain in switching to a Windows machine.

Vista was a catastrophe but I've been running Windows 7 since Beta and have never crashed and had no problems. It's much improved over Vista and I prefer it over XP even (my favorite OS for many years now).

What I don't understand about Apple is they have no problems with users running Bootcamp, VMware, Parallels, etc.. to be able to install a Windows operating system on an Apple. BUT they are adamantly against anyone installing their OSX on anything but Macs. How is that playing fair?!

I ran a dualboot 'Hackintosh' for a while but always went back to XP since I was a gamer. For a general use (ie- no games!) I think Macs are great though!

Stupid article, sorry. It's kind of biased to make things look bad when they really aren't as the writer describes. Do you really believe Apple would lock you out of calling 911? They tend to be a bit smarter then that :smile: And the article says that other phone makers let you do whatever you want to. Right. Ever had a cell phone with USB connectivity disabled so you couldn't do photo transfers etc. directly to your computers so that the carriers could charge you for sending them etc.?


Steve jobs is a perfectionist and he feels that strictly controlling the hardware and software combination ensures the user experience they want and avoids both the nescesity of supporting umpteen hardware configurations and also the possibility of problems and issues due to strange hardware configurations. For a few peoeple who like to pimp their own computer or fiddle with hardware etc that may be a problem and you may not agree with it but for the vast majority having something that just works without having to worry about whether your hardware is supported or compatible with everything else you want to install is better. I think the only reason they let you run Windows in one way or another is to help convert Windows users over so they can still run Windows apps if they want or need to. Sell more Macs that way. One computer to rule them all:lol:

Bingo. This is what your average everyday non-geek computer user wants - simplicity. And it's the reason why (along with some brilliant marketing) that Apple's market share has grown so much against PCs recently.

Aside from Gaming (which restricts you to PC only if you really want to game), then IMO they are different but equal machines. Each has their own advantages/disadvantages.

PC's are easier to 'screw-up' for the average user/less 'stupid-move' friendly. But if you do use it correctly(Ie: not opening bad mail or visiting unknown sites, other stuff like that) then they operate fantastically. My family has been PC users forever, my Dad always upgrades the lap-top, etc... I have a 4 year old desktop that was $2K on purchase... it still runs like a champ and is still a very good/fast/reliable computer. I do however take moderate care of it (but stupid stuff can still result in problems, I have found PC's are always more vulnerable 'in their daily lives'). I love my PC desktop and would not get rid of it.

In the last few years I've also gotten in to macs. In late november I purchased a macbook pro and I am loving it. The user interface took a slight bit of getting used to but is fantastic. I mean the keyboard and desktop, window buttons, shortcuts, etc.. The computer is incredibly well-built (as mentioned by others), much better than anybody's PC laptops. It is silent, and rarely gets warm (unless I really really really push it). Even when warm, Its never uncomfortable.

The mac has many great programs out of the box and with the Iwork program installed, it is actually just fine for me as a school computer (this was the point of purchasing it, but I've found it to work just as well for my daily life, and it is fast too). Some features PC's have that it doesnt, I miss, but there is little to dislike about it. Also, mine has actually fallen 4' once, and dropped 3' another time, and it was completely unharmed.

I prefer the PC's as desktop, great workhorse, good for 'work' stuff... and the Mac is awesome as a 'daily living' computer, if that makes any sense? I personally dont like desktop macs, and I dont like PC laptops. I find the mac laptop is more convenient and I am never really working 'on the go' so it suits my needs very well.

If there is a store around you available... go get a staff member to take you through a Mac computer, and show you all the stuff about it. Play around with it for a little while. Go to the store and browse canreef on it for an hour or something. Then go check out the PC you are looking at. Using the computers (and getting someone to show you what they can do, particularly for the macs this is helpful) will be the best way to make your choice.

Cheers,

Chris

Fire up a MacPro with a Cinema HD screen and please post back =) Heck even a 24" iMac...great desktop that takes UP very little desktop.

yup, from 11.5% to 15% in 6 years.

Steve

So Doug have we helped or made it harder to decide?

Helping for sure. But no decision. I almost decided to buy the iMac I mentioned for $1299. Now the boss informs me that my aquarium/office room is changing.

Getting rid of all the clutter and my desk on the wall opposite my tank and putting in some kind of couch thingy but I also get a flatscreen, {albeit smaller sized}, for the wall in my little hide-a-way.

So, back to the laptop search. Guess I need a larger screen on it now, if my montitor is gone also. Unless I can hook it to the tv screen. :smile:

Larger screen on a laptop just means more weight, it's all that glass. The trend in our company three years ago was everyone wanted the new wide screen laptops and so we bought a lot. Now a few sore backs later everyone requests light 14" screens and they plug them into external flat screens that sit on their desks.

Trust me even if you have Herculean strength will regret lugging around a heavy laptop.

Agreed 100% I hate having to lug my laptop when I travel. In the office I have a docking station with a large flat screen. Although my docking station probably takes up just as much space a desk-top would, but I'm sure you could find away around that.

I hated my 17" laptop for the first year, as I was traveling and working with it (carrying it) every day. Now that I just use it at home, I enjoy the big screen. I can have a few windows open & viewable at the same time and I can watch movies on it comfortably. I use my tower less often than I would with a 15" screen version.

If I was taking it to work daily, I would definitely go with a 15" model for sure. It is very heavy, off balance and needs two hands even to pick it up off of the floor when it is open. The 15" version of what I have is like cell phone in comparison.

The other problem with a 17" screen is everyone knows you are carrying an expensive computer in your bag. Not so good walking at night in a rough neighbourhood or when you want to leave your bag somewhere.

On another front, the speakers & sound is much better on the Macbook Pro than with my wife's Sony Vaio. I also find the Sony's glossy screen really annoying. You need a mat screen to watch video. I don't know if Sony has this as an upgrade or not. It used to be standard with macbook Pro, but now it's an add on.

now that were on the size topic, the biggest I would recomend is a 15" wide screen. my Dad has the 17" and man is it huge and heavy. I wanted the bigger screen but when I realy thought about it I use my laptop in the truck as my GPS, I take it in the RV on hollidays, when I was in the navy it went with me on the ship to other countries, so it travels a lot.. my old laptop is a 15" normal screen so I opted for the 15" wide screen. just between the standard and wide format is a huge differance, and I am glass I didn't go with the 17" 32" LED TV's have come down so much in price you could always mount on on the wall above your desk and just plug into that..

Steve

I don't think any 17" laptop owner would argue, they are exponentially heavier than 15". I was constantly shifting from arm to arm carrying it long distances. It's even hard to fit under an airplane seat or even on the fold down table. I would have gladly traded mine in for a 15" at the time. I even considered buying the 13" Macbook Air as a second portable laptop. With internal optic or CD drive and a ridiculous price tag, I quickly came to my senses.

The mat screen version of the Macbook has no glass, but it's got lots of metal :) The 15" Macbook Pro seemed much lighter than the Sony Vaio. Maybe it's the lack of glass and smaller profile of the Mac?

Ah yes, however I,m not purchasing for portability. Thats a second feature for me. I want the simlicity of a laptop compared with the junk sitting on my desk now. Thats why I seriously looked at the iMac instead. However if the missis is putting a couch thingy where my desk is, kind of hard to have a desktop or even my current 22in. monitor to hook the laptop to.

All the things I really sit at a desk for Im using PC functions anyways. (like Excel, word, or other PC based school/work related stuff). I just dont like the macs in this scenario. My Ex's family is all macs (Except the father has a bunch of desktop PCs & macs combined for work), I've used the Imacs and MacPro before... just not my style. Plus I HATE HATE HATE the Apple mouse. Lol. But I love love love the trackpad on the new macbooks 10X more than on any PC laptop I've ever seen.

(My desktop doesnt take up ANY desk space anyways... screen is mounted back and hanging upside down, so no desk surface contact, and the tower is town below desk and away). Only things on my desk are my cordless trackball mouse and the keyboard. :razz: ) I do like the display/video quality on the mac desktops though :)

I also wish to eliminate the numerous plug ins and cords.
Agreed, the trackpad is a major attraction on the laptops. The others dont even compare, IMO. You dont like the magic mouse. :smile: I figured it was pretty neat.

This will be my next laptop. Alienware M11x.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/noteb...1x&cs=19&s=dhs

Until now Apple mice have sucked big time. I have never used any of the mice that came with my Macs and have replaced them with Logitech ones right away. However, I recently tried the new magic mouse and I have to say that may be the first Apple mouse I use. It worked really well.

I don't think I will ever buy a mouse for a laptop again.. and for the record I hate the pad on the laptop also. but I found the answer and I am inlove.. it is sooo nice, responcive and versitile.

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php

I am thinking of getting a bigger version for my desktop now.

Steve

Stir Crazy, that looks cool where do you pick one up?

https://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/BAMBOO_C137.cfm
http://www.wacom.com/wheretobuy/

staples has them on sale right now.. just seen it in there flyer.

Steve

Not on a Mac Book. :wink:


Thats looks good though. Showed my wife the video or at leasy my poc computers version. :lol: I wonder if it would be easier on my hand.

I have been doing a lot of photo editing laitly. using the pen is way nicer than using a mouse. it took me a day or two to get used to the set up but now I fly.

I just find the touch pads built into the laptops to small, and some of them are not as sensitive as others. and then some you can customize and some you can't (or I just can't figure out how to)

with the bamboo, if you use it as a touch pad it works like your laptop touch pad just bigger and to me in a more natural position instead of under the key board, but if you use the pen then it is a repesentation of the screen and if you put the pen to the middle it is in the middle of the screen, top left is top left of the screen and so one. one nice thing is the pen has a hover mode.. if you are with in so much of the pad it will show the curser movment on the screen so you can hover then double tap with the pen.

Steve

I got the iMac with wireless keyboard and mouse. Usually, there are only 2 wires on the desk: the iMac power cord and the cable to the printer.

So could someone also write a post here, instead of typing it ?

Yes, forgot the printer cord but was looking at wireless during my laptop hunt. I do have a nice and recently new wired printer sitting here though, so it would be a shame to just chuck it. Mind you Future Shop usually has great deals on wireless when you purchase a laptop or perhaps something like the iMac also.

yup, just click on the post box with the pen and it opens a hadnwriting box . you write your post then click ok and it inserts it.. simple and even reconizes my had writing which I was very impressed with :mrgreen:
I got the smaller one wich I think is a 4X6 writing area, but there is a 8X10 one also.. I just couldn't justifiy the extra money and the smaller on tucks into a pocket in my laptop case as it is about 4mm thick.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I will mention it to my wife. She was asking me after I showed her the device. Did see them on sale today also.

Just came home from FS. They have a Mac Book Pro, open box, sitting there for $1149.

And the 16in. i3, 4g, Toshiba is on sale for $699.


Then I spent some time on the iMac, surfing Canreef. :lol: Gonna drive myself crazy soon. :lol:

The macBook Pro will still be running smoothly and relatively current five years from now. The Toshiba on the other hand will be sitting broken and obsolete on a shelf in your basement :)

My Mac G4 Tower from 1999 still works flawlessly and pretty damn quick for a 400 MHZ processor. My G5 Tower is from 2005 and I have no reason to update it for a few more years. My 17" MacBook Pro is two years old now, and looks like it will be with me for a few more years.

With a replacement track record of every five years, that's a lot better than I was getting with my old PC's.

Wow, your Fish Store sells mac books?!!??

There's actually a Mac dealer right next door to J&L Aquatics so maybe that's what he's referring to? :)

:D I went back and looked at the Pro again. Its still there. :lol:

That doesn't mean it will run todays software. I have an ancient toshiba "laptop" sitting in my basement, it doesn't even have an optical drive... running windows 95. It fires up just fine, all the programs on it still work, but I don't kid myself into thinking that it is an acceptable alternative to anything unless I have a burning desire to run 15 year old programs. My Iphone has more computing power than that thing.

Any computer, whether it be a mac or pc will cease to be current in 6 months and obsolete in two years. If all you want to do is surf the web then yes your 10 year old G4 tower is just fine. However if that's all your doing a $200 netbook will outperform that and be portable.

Doug: I would absolutely suggest that if the Toshiba is almost half the price then that's the way you should go. Unless you NEED a certain program that only runs on one or the other than go with price and $500 buys a lot of other nice things.