Apple or Microsoft?

Hi,

So let's start the battle of the brands.
Apple or Microsoft?

No seriously. I got a question for you guys.
In September I'm going to be an AI (Artificial Intelligence) student.
AI = 'The study and design of intelligent agents', or more easy: The programming of robots. Pretty SiFi maybe, but well.

Anyway, for the study I want to buy a new laptop.
I am not goin to buy a laptop right away, and I will be asking my fellow students what they use, but I was just wondering what you guys would choose.

I am very fond of my iPhone 4. I know, I know, I've never tried another smartphone, so I can't know, bla bla. I like my iPhone period.

Now I'm thinkinh of buying an Apple MacBook Pro.
So first I was like, I'm going to buy the cheapest (13 inch), but after some thoughts, I realised it was to small for me. So I'd have to go for at least the 15 inch one. This one is at it's lowest €1749,-, and that sounds kind of expensive. I could buy it at the Dutch Ebay (Marktplaats) and get it for like €1500,-. Still that's a lot of money, for which you can buy an over the top windows laptop..

I really like the Apple interface and how the system is run. But on the other hand, I have nothing against Microsoft. Am I just nuts to go for an 'overpriced' Apple product. Or is it not overpriced and is it the way to go. Is Apple really thát good?

I just want your opinion, Apple or Microsoft, I'm open for both.
Thanks!

Quack.

 

Windows is better, you can mod it, it's much cheaper, has better specs. Mac is just for rich art/college students. I agree the iPhone is very good, but it stops there.

 

Apple is overpriced and looked upon by so many people, the products are very costly. You can get the same performance out of Windows for less. People must really like the Apple system and buy it a lot, reason why it's so high.

Apple is more professional to me (see, even I am manipulated to it), so go with it if you want to look professional and when someone owns an Apple product, people think as him as rich. Idk... that's how I see it

 

But WHY is it for rich/art college students? Why would you buy a MacBook Pro instead of a Windows Laptop? Something must be better.. Just imagine if you had unlimited money, would you buy an Apple or a Windows laptop?

Well I got an iPhone, and I'm not rich lol, not at all. I just work a lot and I pay my own phone bills.
I agree that with less money you can have the same Windows Laptop instead of an Apple one, but does the interface/elegance stack up against this?

Thanks for the fast replies!

 

When I say Apple Products make one look rich, I'm talking about the Apple laptops as most do not buy those and just buy the Windows. When it comes to phones, people are all over iPhone, and it's not that costly whereas Apple laptops are beyond overpriced. There really isn't a reason why they're up there besides the fact that people like the system. If people like your system and value your products high, you just raise the price. No one will decrease the price of something most of the whole world likes and enjoys. I must admit though, I also like the system Apple has and if I had unlimited money and had the choice, I'd go with Apple. I find it more professional, rich and fun to play with.

 

This. Apple is overpriced garbage.

 

The only macbooks that have good specs are the 17" 2.3GHz ones and those are around $2,000 (BE ADVISED: you don't get the retina/hi-res display unless you choose to pay 100 dollars more on the macbook. Just another way apple bones you) If you have money to blow, get that. Otherwise, look up PC laptops at newegg.com. Easy to repair, easy to upgrade, easy to mod, easy to find games and other applications for it.

 

I love windows, just got my alienware a few weeks ago installed with windows 7 its amazing.

 

Since no one has actually answered your question on why a lot of "artists" use an Apple computer there are a few reasons.

1. Simply put - Mac is extremely easy to navigate. Installing an application takes very little thought process - just drag and drop (most of the time). Also, there is a lack of viruses designed for the Mac OS, where as there are a ton for Windows.

2. Versatility - Apple now has the option of switching between Mac and Windows... This means you can have the simplicity of the Mac (on one side), and still be able to run your Windows programs.

3. Customer Support - I know that everyone I have talked to that owns an Apple product, when they have a problem they can just bring it to the store and have it "diagnosed" immediately. Even when they can't to the store, the customer support is more than willing to help... and actually look for a problem with the computer - if it's under warranty they immediately replace it, next to no questions asked. However... if not under warranty you get BOMBED for whatever they need to replace (a new battery = $100+).

4. The NAME! There is a small bit of psychology that plays into it. Most people think -Wow! If he/she has an apple computer they must be amazing at this!- Mainly because the biggest names (MGM, Fox Television, Warner Brothers, tons of bands) use them for everything graphic/video/audio related.

Apple you pay for the name and the customer support. There is no "true" competition that matches up to them - since Windows has SO many different names (HP, Compaq, Dell, Toshiba, etc.), so many different applications, and products for it... And only one set of computers can run the Mac OS - apple's computers.

 

I agree with you there, alot of artists do use apple for these reasons. I bought an alienware for gaming/school mostly, but i can also download photoshop anyday i want and other graphic design downloads [i know these from graphic design class lol] and still use it for that reason since graphics, etc are amazing. so dont frown on it cuz of that.

 

I myself am a Apple user.

Regardless of the same old Windows VS Mac debate, I prefer Apple just because the machines they have are powerful, but the OS is much much smoother. I was a windows user for many years, but I went Mac and never looked back.

But that's just my opinion.

 

GET AN ASUS.

You can get a beast asus laptop that will run circles around any macbook for less.

Quad core i7, 460m 1.5gb dedicated, 16GB of RAM. 1080p 3D display, blu-ray.
for $1300


Find those specs in a macbook for that price.

And as far as professional looking goes. People will think you're a lot more knowledgeable if you have a beast laptop that you didn't overpay for. People that know about computers see mac users as lazy, just buy what's cool, kind of people that tend to not know shit about their piece of equipment thus can't justify spending 500 grand on it.

 

I'd say PC all the way, with Windows 7

Apple is BS.

 

I think this should have been named Microsoft or Apple. Anyway I have only used Microsoft products so far besides iPhone 3G of Apple and from my experience I think that Microsoft products are better than Apple's.

 

IMO, I choose Windows. Apple is a whole new computer...everything is different and it's too difficult to get used to it. I'm extremely well with Windows..

 

i dont really like macs bcuz for a decent one its gonna cost you $2500 where as a decent laptop would cost 900-1000 bucks.
250% increase for the os i guess

 

Windows.

As you've already stated, Apple is overpriced.

Therefore you're simply purchasing the brand name.

The only positive features of Apple computers/laptops is for graphic designs and its virus protection.

However I personally think Windows has many more functions and features, compatibility and software.

 

Windows

 

Macs(notebooks) have incredibly good battery life, look really sleek(IMO), and MACs in general are better with editing of all kinds.

Windows is more for the casual users, gamers, stuff like that.

 

I love my macbook pro, however if you are going to be using it for your studies and you are in programming, meaning you will have to do a lot of programming on your laptop I don't suggest getting a mac. Programming is a lot more simple on windows.