Recently I’ve been asked for my two cents on the matter of selecting a new notebook computer. I am partial to two laptops – Dell for PCs and MacBook Pros from Apple. I don’t tend to care for other manufacturers for a variety of reasons.
Right off the bat you may decide to go with one or the other simply because of the operating system choice of Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X. One advantage with the Mac OS X is that you have the capability of installing Windows on the Mac using VMWare or Parallels. This requires a bit more of technical knowledge in being able to setup but it enables you to run your Windows applications on a Mac. Another main difference between the two of them is their price. Often times, Dell will offer notebooks starting at $499. The starting price point for a Macbook is $999. One can make the argument that the two prices are not comparing apples to apples (no pun intended). Pound for pound, I feel that the Macbook Pro is a better machine (hardware and software).
Dell offers a phenomenal warranty program with next (business) day and onsite repair for hardware issues with your computer. Apple does not offer that, but instead requires that you bring your laptop to an Apple store. Any issues found may be resolved at the Apple store while other repairs could take several weeks to resolve.
- In selecting the specific model I would recommend thinking seriously about which what types of things are most important to you. Some things to consider are:
- Size of screen
- Screen resolution
- Weight
- Ports (DVI / USB / Firewire, etc.)
- CPU speed
- Memory capacity
- Misc. Items (Onboard WWAN / Bluetooth, etc.)
For the Apple products, it is relatively easy to select your choice. You are fairly limited with choices between two models (Macbook and Macbook Pro) both of which come with many items such as wireless, ports, etc. as standard items while they may be considered “add-ons” by other computer makers. The Apple stores are a great place to see and hold the models first hand. The Apple store staff is usually very helpful and knowledgeable. The Dell site offers roughly a dozen models, all of which allow for customizations.
I hope this helps in your notebook search!
Very interesting article. Thank you for the information. Does the same go for the I-Mac? By using VMWare or Parallels would I be able to run Windows based software? I’ve never heard this before but then again I am kind of new in to the Mac World.
Tei,
I have a PC laptop, although it’s not a Dell it’s a Toshiba. It’s been closed for months now. Only opened to remove a few things from it a couple times. I also have a Macbook that I purchased a few months ago, hence the reason for my pc being closed.
My pc has had MANY issues with it’s working reliability, but my desktop iMac has had only one in four years, which is why when I decided to purchase a new notebook I decided to continue with the Apple line.
In my line of work as a Realtor, I’d rather spend a few hundred extra to have a computer that works more than it NEEDS work.
Thanks for the post!
Virginia,
Yes, the same would apply to the iMac. Prior to going out and purchasing the software, I would recommend going into an Apple Store and discussing with them regarding specifications of your specific computer to see that it will work friendly with either of VMWare Fusion or Parallels. Here is an article posted by people at theappleblog.com that discusses the differences between the two programs. In their opinion they favored VMWare Fusion over Parallels.
Tei
Thanks for your input, Randy.
When it comes to business tools (especially when we are talking about computers) I agree that a few hundred dollars is well worth the investment. I have owned Dells for many years and have only the kindest things to say about their reliability and their warranty.
I love the direction that Apple has been going with the quality in material and craftsmanship that goes into their products. I can see slight resemblances in other manufacturers but in my opinion, most have not come close. If only Apple would have a support plan that rivals others, I think they would be even more desirable in the eyes of businesses.
Thank you very much Tei. I’ll read the article and go to an Apple store before I try anything, that is if I do indeed decide to do it. Have a great day!
Sorry… I love my Dell… I can’t go to the “dark side” and get an apple…
Hehe… “the dark side”.
I know what you mean. I loved my Dell laptops and I will continue to recommend Dell to people where their product fits their needs.
I like Apple’s. But I mention that if MLS support Mac.
The MLS website access is a good point to bring up. Some sites are only Internet Explorer compatible. Others are compatible with Firefox which can be used on a Mac. I have found that for business purposes I often times find myself still requiring access to Microsoft Windows to run certain applications and in those instances I use VMWare and I run Microsoft Windows 7. I will be writing an article with more details about Windows 7 and its features later next week