Posted on 12/21/2004 7:32:12 PM PST by shellshocked
I just got screwed by Dell trying to buy one of their laptops. It seems they are out of Pentium M chips and won't tell their customers, so my wife’s Christmas present is doomed.
I am now looking at maybe a 17" wide Apple laptop for the wife. If it can run windows applications, even remotely well, I might just buy one.
This is a Christmas present, so I am REALLY short on time here, and this is a great place to ask. There is also an Apple store near my house. Buying over the Internet from Dell is unreliable. If it isn't in my grubby paws, I don’t believe it will actually show. Dell Hell.
Any thought or suggestions? Thank you. She’ll appreciate it.
Uh, try shopping a bit earlier next time, pal.
After reading these posts it occurs to me that you may want to specify what you need/are looking for.
Isn't FR awesome!!!!
Only if his wife has testicles.
I have a Ti-667 and Virtual PC on it to run TravRoute Co-Pilot (GPS). It runs great. It ran well on my older Ti-500.
With the higher speed CPU on the new PowerBooks and the latest release of Virtual PC you and your wife should be happy with it.
I have an HP zd7010. It is GREAT laptop. I was looking at alternatives and Apple seems appealing.
Apple also offers a wide range of free classes on everything from setting up home wireless networks to getting the most out of iPhoto and iTunes. Here's a class schedule for a random Apple store in CA:
http://www.apple.com/retail/thegrove/week/20041219.html
You can see what your local store offers here:
http://www.apple.com/retail/
" you don't think you're wife would understand a shipping delay?"
Dell ruined a great surprise. They don't deserve any future business due to their lying.
She doesn't mind the wait, but I do. She would like an Apple. They look cool. For her, if she wants cool, she gets cool, now that the surprise is ruined.
"However, only a fool would buy one to run Windows applications."
Well, Microsof oFfice comes for the Apple, but she also has some apps that are Windows.
I bought a Mac laptop a year ago for the same reason you are looking now. I just could not obtain a top of the line Windoze machine anywhere. Walked into an Apple store and walked out with the top of the line Powerbook with EVERYTHING in it. Love it.
A couple months ago my PC desktop crashed. I now have a gleaming dual processor G5 with a knock-your-eyes-out 23" cinema display. This thing hondles 150MB Photoshop files like they were word processor docs.
Forget Windoze. Get new software. You will not be sorry.
Oh, yeah did I mention you no longer have to worry about viri and spyware?
If you have plans for peripherals, plan on paying 3x as much for the Apple-compatible items than PC. Also, if you are going to need ANY software on top of what the Apple comes with, you had better be rich.
That said, if you ARE rich and don't need cheap software or peripherals, GO APPLE! They are far more predictable and simple computers to use.
Here's an Apple class you might find useful (so much for avoiding the hard sell):
Switch at Six Workshop
Learn the basics of the Mac operating system in this hands-on workshop. You'll see how your current Windows environment will look on a Mac. We'll also answer all your questions, dispel common myths, and show you how your applications will look on a Mac. (Workshop)
She'll run Office mostly. I can get the MS version for the Apple. Does Apple have a good mail program or does MS make Outlook for Apple?
The E-mail program I use on the Apple is called Entourage. I really like it.
"Only if his wife has testicles."
Clinical Social Worker, and packs. More balls than any liberal! (haha)
That was true when Apple used proprietary hardware interfaces. Now you can pretty much walk into a CompUSA and pick up any peripheral that supports a laptop and plug it right in: printer, hard drive, you name it. There are exceptions (high-end graphics boards), but few that apply in the case of a laptop. Memory costs about the same.
"the Microsoft Office package that includes the Virtual PC program as one part of it. "
That's what I wanted to hear. I use Virtual PC for software development. It is a bit slow but it does the job fairly well.
Go to your local Apple store. Once you spend a few minutes on a Mac, you'll feel like you've made it through your forty years in the desert and have arrived in the Promised Land.
>>Memory costs about the same.>>
Apple memory is 4x the price in WA state.
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