I agonized over the exact same decision a year ago for precisely the same reasons and finally went with a Windows 7, Core i7 based Acer. At the time, Apple was playing it close to the vest in terms of when the Core i5/i7 chips would be making it into the MacBook lineup, so it was more a matter of timing for me. I think I'd still have gotten the Acer had the new MacBooks been out or at least announced, but it would have been a tougher choice. Macbooks are very nice but you can find decent i5 15" laptops for $600 these days. It's hard to justify 3x the price for a 15" Macbook Pro.
If you'd like to get a Windows laptop and still dabble in OS X, there are ways to run OS X under Windows using virtualization. Any such virtualization on a non-Mac OS is against the Apple's acceptable use for OS X, but it is technically possible. Lifehacker has a guide for doing this using VirtualBox:
http://lifehacker.com/#!5583650/run-mac-os-x-in-virtualbox-on-windows
I haven't personally tried the VirtualBox solution, but it sounds better than the old method using VMware.
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-Removed-If you have a good reason to want an Apple specifically - for example, if you want to do serious graphical work - go with Apple, every time. I presume this isn't the case for you, or you would've known it already.
For the normal user, it depends, but mostly I'd say go with an IBM-compatible. Apples are pretty, Apples are user-friendly, and Apples are - even these days - less likely to crash. The downside, apart from the price, is that IME when they do crash, they crash hard.
And that used to be an even bigger problem back before OSX, because when MacOS went wrong, you, the plebeian, uninitiated end user, were not allowed inside the OS to fix it. Windows crashed a lot more, but at least it usually let you (try to) solve the problem. Unixoids crash less, and also let you handle everything you think you can handle yourself, even more so than Windows.
This is not quite as bad a problem these days as it used to be, since OSX is based on a Unixoid, but it's still an Apple product, and there are still some... shall we say, idiosyncracies? OSX is a good product, and if you want it, I wouldn't disagree with you, but for the normal user, I still say, get an IBM-compatible. And at least consider Linux. It's not nearly as scary as its reputation, even less so nowadays.
Richard
Originally posted by Shallow Bluein the 80's and up to mid 90's that was true, after desktop publishing came to be. not really much after that. no serious graphics work is done on mac these days. it's all windows and linux now. (there used to be a high-end sgi-base as well, but even that's practically died out almost a decade ago. mac as the dominant graphics platform is just another old myth perpetuated by the tech-illiterate iPeople.
If you have a good reason to want an Apple specifically - for example, if you want to do serious graphical work
not that it really matters to the average user, who'll never do any serious graphics anyway. ANY platform will do just fine, even a mac.
-Removed-I seriously considered getting a Mac when I purchased my last PC. In the end, cost and comfort and skill with Windows OSes and Software led me to go with a PC again. For me, it has proven to be 100% the right decision.
One of the main selling points for Macs (aside from the media editing advantage) is their ease of use. I can't say I've seen the evidence for this as I've watched a number of different people really struggle with the easiest of tasks on their Macs at my local camera club.
D
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-Removed-Get an IBM-compatible. Get a higher-end one; don't go Dell or Acer. I haven't seen a new HP-was-Compaq for a year or two, but they used to be good for quite a few years. In fact, my current computer is a Compaq, and that's lasted for at least as long as Compaq hasn't been Compaq. It's now nearing its end, but it's served its time. Mind you, Compaqs could be quite as idiosyncratic as Apples, at times. Always had a love-hate relationship with them. But once you have them tamed, they do their jobs well.
Richard
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Originally posted by wormwoodMy experience (years working for a newspaper publisher), is different. Layout grumbled when they had to move from Apples to IBMoids (and Adobe programs are still not a perfect match with MS Windows, although that's been much, much worse), and when I left, which was only three years ago, the more complex pages were still being done on Apples.
in the 80's and up to mid 90's that was true, after desktop publishing came to be. not really much after that. no serious graphics work is done on mac these days. it's all windows and linux now. (there used to be a high-end sgi-base as well, but even that's practically died out almost a decade ago. mac as the dominant graphics platform is just another old myth perpetuated by the tech-illiterate iPeople.
Ordinary page layout has been moved to Windows, and then to the journalists/editors themselves, who understand jack about either Apple or typography, and little about computers in general. It shows.
Richard
What do you want to do with this contraption? If you don't need the newest most super duper fast machine (if you do, why aren't you looking at a dual 12 core opteron machine and why do you want it in laptop form?) then trot on over to eBay. You are bound to be able to pick up a reasonably priced Macbook Pro there. Even then you are likely to find a nice PC machine for very much less than the Apples.
If you want to be running chess stuff on it you'd be better with a PC type contraption. Even with Bootcamp my Mac Mini doesn't do really well with Windows so I suspect the new Apple contraptions will also be "fixed" to discourage use of Windows. There is some nice chess software for Mac but it is limited compared to what is available on a PC - no Rybka, Chessbase, Aquarium etc. Even good free engines don't run on Mac with the lone exception of Stockfish.
To be honest, if you have no other reason to buy an Apple than "they look cool" you should buy a PC. OS X is a pretty OS but no more functional than Windows 7 and you can always have some nice form of Linux if you must have that Unixy feel. You can even install OS X on a modern PC (Google hackintosh for details) but don't try that if you fear Apple's legal department.
-Removed-I hate Acer. I've had 3 of them and something ALWAYS breaks. But hey, I never look a gift laptop in the mouth...
Saying that though, laptops in general are a pain in the ass for me, as you can't easily fix/change/upgrade components.
Look at Asus and the HP Envy line. I'd get the HP Envy 17 now (if I was buying). Nice specs, pretty future proof at the moment and a great screen and graphics card.
I have a few clients who swear by their MacBooks, especially for the great battery life. I rarely need 2+ hours from a laptop, so for me the Apples are just too expensive.
-Removed-I always recommend the Bauhaus mantra: "function over form". As far as graphics studios and printshops go it's always been apple all the way - and though I can testify that Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Quark Xpress, etc... are much nicer on apples I think that has more to do with these software giants pandering to the niche market.
If you don't work in the creative industry, then unless you hafta, gotta, absolutely on pain of death have a machine that looks awesome then with respect to value for money + performance, I'd recommend a PC.