30 June, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I want to buy a new computer. My current laptop is exactly three years old and it’s starting to slow down. I even get the blue screen of death occasionally and the whole thing shuts down. Being a computer moron, I don’t really know if this is a worrisome development or not. I know it can’t be good. I’ve known so many people whose computers have crashed at the 3-year mark, causing them to lose everything. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. To be honest, I also fancy a newer, faster computer. This one takes ten minutes to boot up! And it’s very heavy and not comfortably portable at all.
The computer I have now is the best I’ve ever owned by far. It’s a Dell Inspiron 6000 and has been utterly fantastic, except for the drawbacks I just mentioned. [I know other people with Dells who have not been so lucky.] But I am seriously thinking of switching to a Mac, something I SWORE I would NEVER do! It’s the end of the world!
One reason I am considering switching from a PC is that I do not want to use Windows Vista. I’ve used it on other people’s computers and in my opinion, it’s horrible. I like Windows XP and I don’t like Microsoft’s arrogant attitude telling Windows XP fans to bugger off. Plus, with PCs there’s always the threat of a virus or worm, which I’ve had problems with. Finally, I just want something fresh and new.
I’ve researched this a bit and played with other people’s computers. I think I would get the MacBook (the higher-end version). As a student, I can get a discount. My big dilemma is that I don’t know if I want to buy a computer in the UK. My first area of anxiety surrounded the keyboard, but I found out I can buy a computer here with an American keyboard. I don’t want a British keyboard because I type super fast and although there are only a few differences between the American and British keyboards, the British one slows me down enough that it’s worth getting the American one. The second reason is the DVD player. Most of my DVDs are American, which means I would not be able to watch them on a British computer. However, I think I might be able to switch the region?
Thirdly, an American computer would be cheaper for me and in the States, you get a free iPod. [Why aren't they offering that here?] But I’d have to find a person in the States with a student or teacher discount to purchase this for me. [Even if I went back to the States I could not qualify for the student discount there.] Logistically, I don’t really know how I’d get an American computer over here. Someone traveling over here would need to bring it to me because I would not want to get nailed on the customs (and mailing a computer makes me nervous anyway). This option of buying an American computer probably won’t work since it’s too complicated, but it would be my preference.
Well, if anyone has any advice on Mac vs. PC, American vs. British or anything else, let me know!
Anglofille said @ 11:19 pm | blogging + technology |
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Silvana Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 2:17 amAs someone who has been using all kinds of Mac computers and laptops since 1992…I say Mac, of course. It’s interesting that one by one, every single one of my friends is going Mac. It was bound to happen. Get one with an American keyboard and you’ll be set. You’ll LOVE it.
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I switched over to Mac four years ago or so. I don’t think i’ve had any major, or even mid-major problems. There are still some program freezes and a once in a blue-moon crash but it’s night and day in terms of being better than windows.
I have an iBook and am thinking of upgrading to a macbook or iMac to get the Core 2 and more hard drive space. If you do decide to get a higher-end macbook and want to save a nice chunk of change, get the base model (also assuming you don’t need a DVD writer) and don’t get the upgrades from apple. The macbook’s hard drive and ram are both easy to upgrade and cheap so long as you don’t buy direct.
But I guess that depends on how much space you need and if you need more than a gig of ram.
You didn’t mention anything about backing up your data so that’s also going to come easier with Time Machine on leopard. And with how much writing material I imagine you have saved, i’d back that thing up like crazy with an external and a portable or thumbdrive for a worst case scenario someone-breaks-into-my-place-and-steals-my-laptop-AND-hard-drive disaster.
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SpliceGirl Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 8:51 amWell. Well. Look whose finally seeing the brilliant perfect light shining from that apple on the screen. Too bad you’ve wasted so many years on the craptastic PC.
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Silvana: A lot of people I know have been switching too, which is why I started to think about it myself. I’m pretty sure I’m going to do it!
Luke: Thanks for these tips! And I’m not good with backing up. I have an external hard-drive…sitting right next to my computer. I’m a disaster waiting to happen. I have to develop a better system because I could very easily lose all of my work, which is a terrifying thought.
SpliceGirl: Blah blah blah!
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Go Mac, girl! And yes you can switch DVD regions about 5 times, so that won’t be a problem. They only offer an iPod touch (or the equivalent price on a Mac card) in the fall, so if you can find someone to buy it and ship it, do it fast!
If you get a Mac, they have a system that automatically backs up your computer to an external hard drive however often you choose.
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Anita Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:46 amInteresting. I didn’t think you could upgrade on a MacBook Pro, which is what I switched to this year from a PC. Glad for the switch. Mac is user friendly, logical in it’s layout so that once you’ve figured out how to use one program you can pretty much figure out all of them. And the service is excellent, including one-on-one lessons. I find the PC cumbersome in comparison. And the Mac is prettier. I encourage all PC users to make the switch.
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Thanks ladies! I’m excited to get the new laptop. I think I’ll go to the Apple Store this week to check things out.
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Hey there, I switched to a MacBook Pro last summer when my laptop died. I couldn’t be happier (well, except for the part where this summer they’re offering a free iPod. I didn’t get a FREE iPOD! Hello!). Anyway, I love my Mac. And, the academic discount is great.
