[Horts]

Hi I'm Greg
I am a senior in high school and I have begun to look at computers for college, and have decided on a laptop. The problem is I cant decide between a Dell(such as the Inspiron 5150 or 5100) and the Mac iBook G4 14in with maxed ram. I want something that is fast and easy to use because my computer literacy is only average. I was just curious of any information or advice that could be given, or whether there is another company worth looking at. Also only 3 to 4% of College studnets have MACs, so would this be a problem for me.
Thanks Greg

[sniffer]

Well, it's true that only a few people have mac, but personally after about three and a half year on the mac side I have yet to experience it as a disadvantage to be on a minority platform. Especially on my Uni where the platforms used are Linux and Windows in dual boot configurations, I see it as an advantage to be able to run *nix programs side by side with my regular apps without the need for dual boot as everyone else have to coop with.
I don't know anything about 5150 and 5100, but in general the ibook is a really strong competitor in both price and feature compared to PC laptop in the same price segment.
Most noticeable I feel is the battery life, which is sometimes very bad on some of the low end PC laptops.
I am very certain you will be satisfied with an iBook. But than again, I don't know anything about the Inspiron 5150 and 5100.

[CeRtiFiedSkitZo]

I've used both the Dell system you're refering to and I have this iBook. I would choose the iBook, first I think for you as a student you would want something w/ a long battery life since more than likely you'll being taking this computer to classes. Now Apple says that the battery last about 6 hours, but actually it's 5 hours which is not bad when comparing it to the Dell which you would get a good 2 hours if you're lucky.

Now all that aside, this computer is fast and powerful,and you're talking about maxing out the ram. I using this computer w/ stock 256ram and I have yet to run into slow down.

The only draw back is that w/ the Dell you can get some form of Microsoft Office or something w/ word and on the Apple iBook you only get the 30day trail. But since you know someone w/ an Apple I'm pretty sure that they would let you "share" their cd.

[kanker]

On the iBook you get Appleworks, which will handle Office files, plus M$ has deals with many Universities that allow you to get Office for $5. (yes, $5)

[SOLIDAge]

Originally posted by kanker:
On the iBook you get Appleworks, which will handle Office files, plus M$ has deals with many Universities that allow you to get Office for $5. (yes, $5)

or free..FRREEEEE didn't pay a cent for it! just see if your school has a Microsoft alliance thing...mine does..yay free office!

[CeRtiFiedSkitZo]

Another thing I wanted to add, I worked on many laptops prior to this one, and this is by far one of the coolest running laptops around. The first time I got it, I must have had it on for aleast 10 hours and I felt the bottom of the laptop and it only felt warm and not hot.

[webcookie]

I like my iBook a gazillion times better than my Dell laptop.

[Ron Goodman]

If you buy a Dell you have to run Linux or WIndows on it. Buy a Mac and you can run OS X.

[discotronic]

Originally posted by Ron Goodman:
If you buy a Dell you have to run Linux or WIndows on it. Buy a Mac and you can run OS X.

Plus Linux (Yellow Dog) and Windows with Virtual PC. Go for the iBook. You won't be sorry.

[TampaDeveloper]

Well, I've had an inspiron 3800 for about 3 or 4 years... This here is my first post from my new ibook (referbished g3 700 $650, arrived today). I've been a pc guy my whole life. I've worked in pc repair shops and I'm a developer by trade. If you want easy, this is it. It takes nothing to learn. Its quiet and stylish. I haven't had it long enough yet to tell you for sure its great, but I'm impressed by the little extras that I didn't get with the Dell... One example of a little extra is a power meter ON THE BATTERY that tells you if its charged... to do this on the Dell you have to plug the battery in and attempt to boot the computer... If it dies you know you forgot to charge the battery...

The Dell is a Celeron 600 that has been flawless until the last week. Now its acting flakey. The Celeron 600 was cool to the touch, whereas the ibook has a hotspot under my left palm, but its ok. Man is this thing quiet.. I forgot what it was like to sit in silence.

The problem with Dell is their lack of concern for the customer... For example, they supplied a windows 98 disk with the pc that had no autoboot or setup.exe... what this means is that its useless for reinstalling the operating system... The only thing you can do is patch whatever corrupted files are already there (if you can).

Good luck in whatever you get.

[rlane]

I am writing this on a Dell 5100. I have not had any problems with the Dell - but I believe MAC O/S is a much better operating system than Windows XP Pro. My last Mac lasted from 1997 just last month and never had any problems. Get the Mac.....it's the Beechcraft or Mercedes of computers.

[nickgold2012]

I priced out a Dell laptop with the same form factor and specs/extras as the new 12" iBook G4, including their 3 year coverage plan. Bluetooth, firewire, 802.11, same RAM, hard drive, etc. It came to something ridiculous like at least $500 more than the iBook! This laptop is a serious competitor, and I think by far the better value. And can I add that I think the new iBook G4's keyboard is the bee's knees? Go for the Mac!

[bleee]

It depends what kind of work you want to do if you require any Microsoft apps other than MS Office you'll have to use Virtual PC or you'll need a Windows box that supports remote desktop XP Pro and Win2k Server of Windows Server 2003 and you can run all your Windows only apps from there. In terms of surfing the web/email it's fine. The battery last long you'll have to replace it in a few years but thats to be expected with any battery. I came from PC's and I still use them where they are needed mainly for Microsoft apps and Gaming but it's rare.

[ginoledesma]

Hi,

Well, as this is a Mac board, you'd expect that majority, if not all, of the members here will recommend the iBook over the Dell. I'm sure you're surveying other forums as well, so go through your research well.

I went through a University (Computer Science degree) that has an all-PC setup, with very, very few Mac users (you can count them on one hand). I was a Mac user long before going into college and calculated every risk I could think of of being the (extreme) minority. I went through Mac OS 9.x to Mac OS X, and faced the hassles of "incompatibilities."

Macs nowadays can easily coexist with different kinds of computers. Joining a network is pretty much trivial, file compatibilities aren't as problematic as they used to be, and the number of programs for the Mac have increased.

If there isn't anything "specialized" you need to do (say using engineering applications developed specifically/only for Windows, or using 3D apps that aren't as cross platform), then the iBook will be more than capable of being your "buddy" throughout your college life. I know some people who have gone through 4 years of college without upgrading their PowerBooks or iBooks. The current iBooks are capable of doing basic video editing (good enough for school reports), document layout, and the like. Plus, it has a coolness factor to it, too.

In terms of specifications, the Dell Inspiron looks to be a powerful laptop (I've never seen it myself, though), and in terms of hardware it looks very, very capable. However, I prefer Mac OS X over any Windows iteration (Windows 2000 is deserving of my respect, though).

Which major are you pursuing? Maybe you could ask the faculty of the college you're considering about students/faculty who use Macs. It's always nice to get in touch early on with people.

EDIT: I just saw the complete spec page of the Dell Inspiron. 7.2 lbs?!? That's gonna make my arm and back sore. That weighs more (?) than the 17" PowerBook, whereas the iBook G4 is only a light 4.6lbs.

[si_lance]

Originally posted by ginoledesma:

I went through a University (Computer Science degree) that has an all-PC setup

Sorry to hear that ... fortunately nowadays most colleges are accomodating. Open protocols like DHCP and 802.11x often just allow you to "jack-in" anywhere. If not, like the school I went to (CSUSM), they have all different labs. We had an AIX lab full of RS/6000 workstations, a lab full of win2k-loaded Dell PCs, and another lab full of Macs. (Linux lab was on the way.)

I must admit I didn't get on the Mac wagon until OS X, but now that it's got a BSD core, I'm hooked. So for that reason, I'm going to suggest the iBook. If you're going to be a frugal student I say get a used iBook like a 500Mhz "icebook" G3 iBook, and use the student discount to upgrade to Panther for $79. Best bang for the buck, and there are all sorts of upgrades for it too.

p.s. there are a lot of great free open source programs that you can use thanks to things like Fink.

Good luck.

[ginoledesma]

Nah, no need to be sorry. There was some sort of nice feeling deep down about being the "rebel" and trying to establish coexistence.

It's hard being "left out" nowadays, as open standards are embraced more and more. You shouldn't have problems with gaining access to network resources, or sending/receiving files.

Here's a suggestion: go to an Apple Store (if there's one near your area), or a shop that carries an iBook and play with it for a couple of minutes (hours, if possible). Who knows? You might experience the same "love at first sight" feeling a lot of people get. The Dell Inspiron 51xx looks bulky to me (been digging a lot of screenshots, and measurements comparison), and since I (now) value portability, I'd go for the iBook.

[g4baker]

Ugh!! I know this is a Mac site, but I would choose the Dell WAY WAY over the iBook. I've used both (the iBook was a G3 and I have the Inspiron 5100 2.4 GHz P4). The iBook was of great durability, but hardware wise (speed, etc.) it was the slowest computer I've EVER USED. The G4 seems just as slow (and I tested it). This Dell is blazing fast, and it only has 256 MB DDR RAM! Try it, and if you don't like it, return it and get the iBook....but you've been warned

[kanker]

Originally posted by g4baker:
The iBook was of great durability, but hardware wise (speed, etc.) it was the slowest computer I've EVER USED.

How old are you that a G3 was the slowest computer you've ever used? It just goes to show you how spoiled we've become that 6 or 7 year old technology is unacceptable. Going to college means durability to me. YMMV

[discotronic]

Originally posted by g4baker:
Ugh!! I know this is a Mac site, but I would choose the Dell WAY WAY over the iBook. I've used both (the iBook was a G3 and I have the Inspiron 5100 2.4 GHz P4). The iBook was of great durability, but hardware wise (speed, etc.) it was the slowest computer I've EVER USED. The G4 seems just as slow (and I tested it). This Dell is blazing fast, and it only has 256 MB DDR RAM! Try it, and if you don't like it, return it and get the iBook....but you've been warned

You must be 12 years old or just started using a computer no more than a couple years ago.
What kind of programs were you trying to use that made it sooo slow? Let me know so I can try it out with my iBook.

[Hi I'm Ben]

Originally posted by discotronic:
You must be 12 years old or just started using a computer no more than a couple years ago.
What kind of programs were you trying to use that made it sooo slow? Let me know so I can try it out with my iBook.

a 800mhz iBook is undoublty goign to be slower then a 2.4 P4... If you want to disagree you're a fool.

Anyway. I like iBooks. it's my favorite laptop and it's slow.

The only thing I use my iBook is for school. I constantly do homework on my iBook and email to my teachers using windows machines. There is never any problems as far as that goes. Really you shouldn't run into any difficulties. I like the 12inch iBook over the 14 for school because i keep the iBook in my backpack and the 14 would never fit in there with all my books and camera.

If you're interested in pursueing other langauges. For example I take japanese... Mac OS X is 1,000 times better at langauge support compared to windows. Langauge switching is frustrating on PC and doesn't always work the way it should. 90% of Mac OS is seamless with this.

iCal is great for school and comes free with the OS. The free address book is also very easy to use and organize if you want to keep track of your professors and your classes. You'll also find that there are many odd programs made for school uses that can be found for free on the mac. Sure there are some for PC too but I find they are often bloated, cost money and uneffecient.

the only downside is that the dell WILL be faster.

But if your main uses are papers, web surfing, chatting, and pissing off the RIAA then you'll absolutely love your iBook.

I'd sure like a G4 iBook.

[dracoleb]

I agree with ben. Macs are great and beat the pants off of Windows but you are never going to argue that an 800Mhz G4 is faster than a 2.4Ghz P4. While the PPC does more clock for clock I can really pull out my old powerbook 5300 CS at 100Mhz and run it against a 3.2Ghz P4 Extreme edition. Just trying to cut down on the mindless rant. We do have the better system but uneducated responses will not help people see the light.

[CeRtiFiedSkitZo]

Originally posted by dracoleb:
I agree with ben. Macs are great and beat the pants off of Windows but you are never going to argue that an 800Mhz G4 is faster than a 2.4Ghz P4. While the PPC does more clock for clock I can really pull out my old powerbook 5300 CS at 100Mhz and run it against a 3.2Ghz P4 Extreme edition. Just trying to cut down on the mindless rant. We do have the better system but uneducated responses will not help people see the light.

I agree, do these people that say Macs are slow actually use a Mac? I work side by side w/ a Dell PC. which has 2.5 P4 w/ 512 megs ram and 512 megs of ram, and I don't noticed any difference in speed on the normal task that I do. Yes I know I the PC will probably play games better than my Mac, but I didn't buy the Mac to play games and I don't intend on playing games w/ my Mac.

Like someone said before go to a Mac store or a place that sells Macs and try it out for yourself. I can I was a little scared on moving on to the Mac when I first made the switch and when I tried out the iBook I was surprised on how quick responsive the system even w/ stock 256 megs of ram.

[discotronic]

Originally posted by Hi I'm Ben:
a 800mhz iBook is undoublty goign to be slower then a 2.4 P4... If you want to disagree you're a fool.

I don't believe that I said anywhere in my post that the iBook has as much raw speed as a 2.4GHz P4. If a person is ignorant enough to say such a thing they probably don't need to be using a computer anyway.

I am just wondering what kind of programs that a person would have to run to make the iBook such a slow computer. Granted if someone wants to do hard core gaming or edit a feature movie on their iBook, it is going to be slow. If that is what a person is looking for why would they look at an iBook anyway.

I don't understand why people always try to compare the iBook to a laptop with a high end P4 anyway. It is obvious which one has the most speed. People don't buy the iBook for speed. There is more to an iBook than that. You get a Mac for one thing. The style can't be beat. The reliability of a Mac is outstanding. Apple's customer service is among the best (in my experience). Battery life is among the best in the business. It is one of the lightest portables for the price. OSX is the greatest OS on the planet next to my old Atari 800 with Atari BASIC (not the 800XL). I never had to reboot then

[TampaDeveloper]

Originally posted by g4baker:
Ugh!! I know this is a Mac site, but I would choose the Dell WAY WAY over the iBook. I've used both (the iBook was a G3 and I have the Inspiron 5100 2.4 GHz P4). The iBook was of great durability, but hardware wise (speed, etc.) it was the slowest computer I've EVER USED. The G4 seems just as slow (and I tested it). This Dell is blazing fast, and it only has 256 MB DDR RAM! Try it, and if you don't like it, return it and get the iBook....but you've been warned

Wierd, because being a man on a budget, I upgraded from a 600 mhz P3 to a 700 mhz G3 ibook and found the ibook to feel MUCH faster. I can't complain about speed. That 933 ghz G4 with the 14" looks pretty nice... The benchmarks I've seen claim that the G4 is approximately 1.69 times the speed of a similarly clocked P4... So a 933 mhz G4 will run like a 1.6 ghz P4...

[si_lance]

For schoolwork (papers, scheduling, and even programming) the iBook will do just fine. Don't listen to these Mhz-centric people. It's very much like just looking at HP (horsepower) to rate a car. It's not what makes the car. Style, dependability, mileage are also big factors. Just in case you do want to pull a power card, tell them about Big Mac from Virginia Tech. Big Mac is the world's 3rd fastest supercomputer in the world. It was built using 1,100 unmodified G5 Power Macs.

http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,61005,00.html

[radarbob]

Horts / Greg,
Good luck in kolluge!

IMHO you should buy the most computer your finances, credit rating, and cash flow can handle. Think of the computer as an investment in your future, not just a burdensome expense.

You want to buy only one computer over the next four years; if you buy a used 500MZ model for example I think you will have "the burn" for a replacement by your junior year. Further, in the long run upgrading is more expensive than buying up front. And upgrading laptops is more $$ and difficult than with desktops.

I have an original iBook, and it's only 4 years old his December and look at all the changes 300Mhz - 1.0+ GHz, 3.2GB drives - 40GB drives. OS 8.6 - OS 10.3, G3 - G4, 4MB video ram - 32MB video RAM, USB 1.0 - USB 2.0, etc.

I've upgraded memory twice and installed a new hard drive myself. That has allowed me to run OS X but Panther - OS 10.3 - is about pointless on my machine because I don't have the internal hardware to take advantage of significant internal features. My precious is perfectly adequate for me but it is now virtually "frozen in time." Why?

Any new hardware and software will be targeted on the current Macintosh offerings, not a 4yr old iBook. Or even a 2 year old iBook. Yes, a 500MHz iBook will be fine if all you want to do is some word processing. You're gonna discover a wild and wonderful world of computing in the next 4 years. So start out with a machine that is ready for the future, not just adequate for the present.

P.S. Get Applecare for your new computer. I cannot stress this enough. One service call can pay for itself. Applecare extends hardware warranty from 1 to 3 years and extends call in support from 90 days to 3 years. Call in support costs $49 per call!

[polendo]

For what is worth, you might want to check Apple Discussion boards on the Ibook. (Apple/support/discussions).

The Ibook is a bit slow for day to day activities with MS Office. Some Ibooks still have problems of logic boards, though the battery issue was also fixed with Panther.

It is light, very mobile (or portable)and the keyboard feels nice. It connects to wireless nets in a blink of an eye. Hassle free.

Also, you might want to check if there is any kind of software you might need to run on your computer. Some software only runs on PC's (though there is Virtual PC, but I wouldn´t recommend it at all).

If it was my call I would look for a 12" powerbook If I would really like to have a Mac, otherwise I would go for a PC laptop.. mainly an IBM, Fujitsu or even a Dell.

regards

[nobodybutme]

Dell laptops seem really inconsistent. Although I read about people with no problems, I know 3 Dell laptop owners and all have had non-trivial problems with them, mostly with the keyboard and screen. Folks at my last place of employment also had trouble with them. No problems with IBM Thinkpads though. Good stuff.

I had a similar dilemma. It was between an Thinkpad and iBook though. iBook won due to negligible cost differences, what it's going to be used for and ... my wife is a Mac freak for whatever reason. I usually work on the PCs that we have, but I'm pretty excited about the maxed out 933 14" iBook. It seems the best value for Apple portables.

[m3macopc]

Greg,
Enough of this talk about the Mac and PC. All you need is the IPod. For only $300, you can take your whole library of songs with you anywhere you go. That kind of power is truly scary. Well, hope this helped you.

M3

[discotronic]

Originally posted by m3macopc:
Greg,
Enough of this talk about the Mac and PC. All you need is the IPod. For only $300, you can take your whole library of songs with you anywhere you go. That kind of power is truly scary. Well, hope this helped you.

M3

He still needs a computer to put the songs on his iPod.

[Horts]

Originally posted by ginoledesma:
Hi,

Well, as this is a Mac board, you'd expect that majority, if not all, of the members here will recommend the iBook over the Dell. I'm sure you're surveying other forums as well, so go through your research well.

I went through a University (Computer Science degree) that has an all-PC setup, with very, very few Mac users (you can count them on one hand). I was a Mac user long before going into college and calculated every risk I could think of of being the (extreme) minority. I went through Mac OS 9.x to Mac OS X, and faced the hassles of "incompatibilities."

Macs nowadays can easily coexist with different kinds of computers. Joining a network is pretty much trivial, file compatibilities aren't as problematic as they used to be, and the number of programs for the Mac have increased.

If there isn't anything "specialized" you need to do (say using engineering applications developed specifically/only for Windows, or using 3D apps that aren't as cross platform), then the iBook will be more than capable of being your "buddy" throughout your college life. I know some people who have gone through 4 years of college without upgrading their PowerBooks or iBooks. The current iBooks are capable of doing basic video editing (good enough for school reports), document layout, and the like. Plus, it has a coolness factor to it, too.

In terms of specifications, the Dell Inspiron looks to be a powerful laptop (I've never seen it myself, though), and in terms of hardware it looks very, very capable. However, I prefer Mac OS X over any Windows iteration (Windows 2000 is deserving of my respect, though).

Which major are you pursuing? Maybe you could ask the faculty of the college you're considering about students/faculty who use Macs. It's always nice to get in touch early on with people.

EDIT: I just saw the complete spec page of the Dell Inspiron. 7.2 lbs?!? That's gonna make my arm and back sore. That weighs more (?) than the 17" PowerBook, whereas the iBook G4 is only a light 4.6lbs.

Thank you for the information and comments they were very useful. My areas of study in college are going to be a major in biology(either secondary or cognate) and a minor In European History(middle ages). With this in my mind do you think i will have any problems with compatibility. I know for certain one of my college choices had a cable network and the other has a wireless one. Greg

[g4baker]

Actually, I own and operate a computer business, and I'm sure I've used more computers than anyone can count. I was pleased with the MacOS, but I'm in meetings constantly and creating presentations, and I prefer something that is "speedy" over something that looks nice and "attracts people."

I prefer both the MacOS and the Windows platform, so for me it just comes down to speed (and I was just trying to relay my advice to this person). I really like this site, but please-the juvenile responses aren't needed.

[kanker]

I'm sorry, but when you stressed that G3 was the slowest computer you'd ever used, I honestly wondered how old you were. The first computer I ever used was an Apple][+, which was the slowest computer I'd ever used. Considering that that's a point of reference for me, I don't think that it's a juvenile response to just ask your age.

[sniffer]

Originally posted by polendo:
It is light, very mobile (or portable)and the keyboard feels nice. It connects to wireless nets in a blink of an eye. Hassle free.

Exactly. The iBook is just damn practical. It's true with the Dell will out perform the iBook and you can play CS on the Dell. But it can't beat an iBook on being hassle free. That's exactly the first thing I heard from a very computer savvy friend of mine after he purchased an iBook to his personal machine park: "It just works!"
He had no experience with Macs before his purchase, and he was very impressed by it.

But as with all things, it's all a matter of preference.

[g4baker]

Ah it's not a problem. Yeah it is kind of strange about the Dell laptops, I've heard about their inconsistency too. For example, I absolutely love my Inspiron 5100, and have had no problems with it, but I've heard of a few that have. I guess it is a risk....the iBook wins hands down on good looks though

[Hi I'm Ben]

I got one 5100 that won't charge and the HD is bad...

i have another that won't charge..
It's not the batteries and i've updated tbe BIOS on both.

I'm sick of Dell, I like Toshiba. I also like that overpriced sony that is 10.3 inches and white.

Originally posted by g4baker:
Ah it's not a problem. Yeah it is kind of strange about the Dell laptops, I've heard about their inconsistency too. For example, I absolutely love my Inspiron 5100, and have had no problems with it, but I've heard of a few that have. I guess it is a risk....the iBook wins hands down on good looks though

[polendo]

Originally posted by sniffer:
But it can't beat an iBook on being hassle free. That's exactly the first thing I heard from a very computer savvy friend of mine after he purchased an iBook to his personal machine park: "It just works!"
But as with all things, it's all a matter of preference.

I disagree on the hassle free assesment. I actually find the Ibook inconsistent too. Some have problems with logic boards , others with battery charge.

Don't get me wrong, they are great laptop when they perform as they should. Unfortunately, these problems occur consistently on some laptops at certain time after being bought, so in other words if I get the logic board problem I can't be surprised. I knew potentially it could happen. And that would make me loose time, not to mention the hassle it is to prepare everything (erasing sensible data-- backup is a must on any pc) to send the Ibook back to repair.

regards

[Horts]

Originally posted by m3macopc:
Greg,
Enough of this talk about the Mac and PC. All you need is the IPod. For only $300, you can take your whole library of songs with you anywhere you go. That kind of power is truly scary. Well, hope this helped you.

M3

I found you milo you cant fool me. Haha I am in the counseling center right now my friends got me out of class so i could find you, hahahahahah Milo.

[zacharydz]

I bought a 700 Mhz iBook last year for college. Before that, I only used PCs (starting from an old 8 Mhz 8088) and I had no difficulty switching to MacOS. Compared to other laptops, the iBook seems to be built alot better. I have a wireless network at home, and the iBook connects much better than the PCs, which will fairly often lose their connection. The iBook doesnt (and is in the same location). The sleep feature is alot better in MacOS than in windows. Alot of times when put to sleep in windows, it wont load well and I tended to have problems. With the iBook, I rarely turn it off, just unplug, put it to sleep, and use it to take notes for classes all day, and bring it back and plug it in. This really comes in handy in college. For word documents, besides Microsoft Office, you can use OpenOffice 1.0 (or 1.1), which is free and I have found to actually be more stable than Microsoft Office.

[g4baker]

Alright I've taken a reverse turnaround on the iBook, and decided to purchase one of the G4 ones myself...so I'm happy. Now all I have to do is sell the Dell....

[Scarpa]

Originally posted by g4baker:
Alright I've taken a reverse turnaround on the iBook, and decided to purchase one of the G4 ones myself...so I'm happy. Now all I have to do is sell the Dell....

HAHAH I just saw this thread and kept seeing you praise the Dell with a "My Dell is for sale!" signature. Then I got to this post...

I guess it's kind of redundant now but there's two main things that separate a P4 Dell from an old iBook: Battery life and the OS. Yeah, that P4 may scream.. for only an hour or two on battery. And OSX is much more efficient than Win2000 or XP, the simple things like network locations and waking from sleep in half a second get taken for granted until you don't have them.

Oh and for a student the size difference adds up when you lug it around all over the place.

[anaphora68]

Greg,

Having a mac on a PC dominated campus is not a big problem. I have a mac on a campus that is 98% PC and I can still share files using OS X and send attachments.

I also work at a computer help center at my school, and 99.9% of the computers I have worked on have been PCs that have gotten infected with viruses on a network. I can tell you from a convenience standpoint that the mac is better, the OS is easier to jump into, especially if you are not that computer literate. Things just work, and when you're worrying about a paper it's nice to not have to worry about the 69th security update or whether or not you'll be able to connect to your printer the next time you boot up.

Hope this helped.

BTW, I'm a senior in college and i've had a mac all four years.

Originally posted by Horts:
Hi I'm Greg
I am a senior in high school and I have begun to look at computers for college, and have decided on a laptop. The problem is I cant decide between a Dell(such as the Inspiron 5150 or 5100) and the Mac iBook G4 14in with maxed ram. I want something that is fast and easy to use because my computer literacy is only average. I was just curious of any information or advice that could be given, or whether there is another company worth looking at. Also only 3 to 4% of College studnets have MACs, so would this be a problem for me.
Thanks Greg

[Thorts]

G4....another thing that can ease the transition to the Mac side is a jump drive. When I got an iBook for my parents (and for use at work), it is really valuable to be able to trasfer files (like MS office files, or those made in the included Appleworks, music and picture files) from a Mac to a PC and visa versa without any OS-specific interference..just plug it in and swap files. And they are cheap.

Hope that helps.

Sean