What computer would you buy?

[analog.universe]

I think perhaps there are more variables at play than the individual manufacturers, because everyone seems to have different experiences.

Windows I don't dig at all, I gave up on it years ago. Right now my desktop and laptop are both Dells, and each cost me less than $300. They both run Ubuntu and I've never had any problems with either of them. Usually when I'm asked to fix people's computers there is something else at play... A power supply blows but its coolant fan is clogged with pet hair.. A ram stick starts corrupting data, but the machine travelled recently and wasn't properly isolated from static.. All kinds of things can go wrong.

At least we all agree Mac is overpriced :lmao:

 

[SNBniko]

Sony VAIO VPC-F115FM/B Review - Laptops - CNET Reviews

I have this laptop, and I can't complain about it thus far. I've had it for around 9 months, and despite how huge it is, it travels everywhere with me (classes, etc.)

Battery life sucks though, and I'm spoiled by my H/K speakers hooked up to my desktop Mac so I think the speakers suck, too. (laptop, desktop with 3 monitors, tv with wifi... my electric bill is enormous...)

Overall, it's very quick and doesn't run hot. I give it a thumbs up so far.

 

[imagemaker46]

Dell used to be good, now they just produce crap, especially the laptops. I've made the mistake twice, after having a Dell laptop that was great, I decided to go with a new one and within in weeks was having all kinds of issues that finally resulted into a compete breakdown within 16 months. I had the hard drive wiped, it is running again. I use a Samsung laptop for all my work now and am really very happy with it.

If I was to buy a new desktop I would seriously consider Mac. The downside is that all of my sofware is for a PC.

 

[jdag]

I've used, built, repaired, setup, etc. PCs for years. I recently switched to an iMac and will not go back. I have a 21.5" i5 with 12gb of ram I bought via the Apple store as a refurb. With tax and shipping, plus $140 for 8gb RAM from OWC, my bill came in at under $1,800 with tax. The machine is very very fast.

 

[DerekSalem]

I would get whichever Dell I could afford when after I spent what I needed on software. Unless you're really drawn to Mac for whatever reason (i.e. you already have software licenses), I would avoid them. You will pay much more money for the same exact hardware you could get in a Dell. The only reason I choose Dell over other PCs is their legendary warranty and tech support. I'd probably put half the budget into a monitor if this a photo computer, and don't buy the monitor from Dell.

For a little background, I've worked in computers for 15 years, I used to be a software developer, and I've built dozens of computers from the ground up. These days Dell can build a computer for me cheaper than I can build it myself, and if anything goes wrong it's their responsibility.

If you've been building computers for 15 years you are lying to yourself and this forum by saying Dell could build a computer cheaper that will actually last for anything. Dell's track record for computers that work for longer than 2 years is miserable.


Absolutely build it yourself. For $1,200 I could build a top of the line computer that will blow any Mac on the planet away. For $2,000 you can have a dual-screen *MONSTER*. This coming from someone who has about 5 PCs and 2 Macs in the house. Macs are overpriced for their performance level and absolutely can't compete with evenly-priced custom-built rigs.

 

[analog.universe]

I had the hard drive wiped, it is running again.

If wiping the hard drive fixes a computer problem, the problem was in all likelihood not related to the hardware! If it was hardware related the problem would return on the fresh OS install. Anything you can fix with a reformat is either a result of the shortcomings of the Windows OS, or user error.

 

[analog.universe]

I would get whichever Dell I could afford when after I spent what I needed on software. Unless you're really drawn to Mac for whatever reason (i.e. you already have software licenses), I would avoid them. You will pay much more money for the same exact hardware you could get in a Dell. The only reason I choose Dell over other PCs is their legendary warranty and tech support. I'd probably put half the budget into a monitor if this a photo computer, and don't buy the monitor from Dell.

For a little background, I've worked in computers for 15 years, I used to be a software developer, and I've built dozens of computers from the ground up. These days Dell can build a computer for me cheaper than I can build it myself, and if anything goes wrong it's their responsibility.

If you've been building computers for 15 years you are lying to yourself and this forum by saying Dell could build a computer cheaper that will actually last for anything. Dell's track record for computers that work for longer than 2 years is miserable.


Absolutely build it yourself. For $1,200 I could build a top of the line computer that will blow any Mac on the planet away. For $2,000 you can have a dual-screen *MONSTER*. This coming from someone who has about 5 PCs and 2 Macs in the house. Macs are overpriced for their performance level and absolutely can't compete with evenly-priced custom-built rigs.

Lately when I've needed systems, I price the build myself, and then I see what Dell has to offer. Everytime the difference was within 5% one way or the other, and I like that I get a warranty. If I build it and something goes wrong, I have to fix it. That being said I've ended up with 5 or 6 Dell systems in the last 4 or 5 years, between me and my friends. Not a single one has a had a hardware problem.

 

[ArizonaSun]

I can't give business opinion, since I've only worked with customer's home computers. But Asus is stable. Windows 7 is the problem!
I am a MacOS fan. My roomie have a MacBook pro and since january:
Lucas (me)= 6 blue death screen, 5 virus...
Roomie = 0 death screen, no virus...

Just run freebsd or pcbsd on your computer and you will have no viruses either. pcbsd is easier to install though.

Mac os was derived off of freebsd unix.

I have an old laptop that I installed opensuse on. It runs a lot better, its amazing what good programming can do.

The only downfall with linux and freebsd unix is that they are not compatible with windows software by default. You have to download that wine package to get win software to run.

 

[AnthonyRyanPhoto]

You could build your own absolutely beastly computer for $2000. Go to Newegg and check out some of the pre-selected wish lists. You definitely get a better value building on your own, and you can customize it exactly to your needs. Don't go blowing your money on an overpriced Mac!!

Quoted for truth.

You can build an amazing computer for 1500 and pocket 500, to spend on lenses!

Disagree. Windows PC are not stable, and harder to use. Mac is built on Linux, which is more stable. Quoting specs and saying you get more with a PC is like buying a camera just because it has more megapixels.

Spend the money on the Mac, when you factor in the display all macs come with, the difference is not that much. Plus it won't slow down and become unusable after a year like every windows PC I have ever owned.

 

[TheBiles]

You could build your own absolutely beastly computer for $2000. Go to Newegg and check out some of the pre-selected wish lists. You definitely get a better value building on your own, and you can customize it exactly to your needs. Don't go blowing your money on an overpriced Mac!!

Quoted for truth.

You can build an amazing computer for 1500 and pocket 500, to spend on lenses!

Disagree. Windows PC are not stable, and harder to use. Mac is built on Linux, which is more stable. Quoting specs and saying you get more with a PC is like buying a camera just because it has more megapixels.

Spend the money on the Mac, when you factor in the display all macs come with, the difference is not that much. Plus it won't slow down and become unusable after a year like every windows PC I have ever owned.

This is 1000% bull****. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7, and you will ALWAYS get a better computer by building your own as opposed to buying a pre-built Mac. Better specs WILL yield better results in the desktop computer world, and the camera metaphor is absolutely worthless. You're taking to a Computer Engineer who actually knows what he's taking about and not a Mac fanboy who has no idea what he's doing.

Edit: And you won't have to worry about viruses if you use a little bit of common sense when browsing the internet. I've always used a PC, and I've never gotten a virus. I use completely free anti-virus software in case of emergencies, but you shouldn't ever see a virus if you don't click unfamiliar links and don't download illegitimate pornography and programs.

Sent from my HTC Glacier

 

[Gaerek]

You could build your own absolutely beastly computer for $2000. Go to Newegg and check out some of the pre-selected wish lists. You definitely get a better value building on your own, and you can customize it exactly to your needs. Don't go blowing your money on an overpriced Mac!!

Quoted for truth.

You can build an amazing computer for 1500 and pocket 500, to spend on lenses!

Disagree. Windows PC are not stable, and harder to use. Mac is built on Linux, which is more stable. Quoting specs and saying you get more with a PC is like buying a camera just because it has more megapixels.

Spend the money on the Mac, when you factor in the display all macs come with, the difference is not that much. Plus it won't slow down and become unusable after a year like every windows PC I have ever owned.

I have 2 Windows 7 machines currently, and they have given me exactly 0 problems. For the price of both systems, I could buy a Mac that might match the specs of my best system. Win7 is nothing like anything MS has produced in the past. That would be like me saying Macs suck because OS8 from sucked. It's ok, you don't have to justify the money you spent on an inferior system. Truly, I have no problem with Mac, and I actually do like OSX, but then again, I can't justify buying a Lexus, when a Toyota will do everything the Lexus will do (and some, in many cases) for a lot less money.

Having said that, building a system (if you're confident enough to do it, it really isn't that tough) is a good idea. You'll save money, and get exactly what you want, without all the crappy pre-installed trial ware.

By the way, the fact that you're saying Linux is more stable, so Macs are more stable is laughable. OSX is technically a variant of UNIX (which isn't Linux) which uses parts of FreeBSD and OpenBSD. Linux, in it's consumer home computer distros isn't nearly as stable as it's reputation says it should be. OSX was more stable than older versions of Windows. But Windows 7 is nearly as, if not more stable than OSX now.

 

[KevinPutman]

Macs are hugely overpriced. Convenience sure, but for the same amount of money you could spend on a Mac, you could be rocking an amazingly built PC.

Great read vvvvv
www.3nglish.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/1283525187943.jpg

 

[adversus]

This is 1000% bull****. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7, and you will ALWAYS get a better computer by building your own as opposed to buying a pre-built Mac. Better specs WILL yield better results in the desktop computer world, and the camera metaphor is absolutely worthless. You're taking to a Computer Engineer who actually knows what he's taking about and not a Mac fanboy who has no idea what he's doing.

Edit: And you won't have to worry about viruses if you use a little bit of common sense when browsing the internet. I've always used a PC, and I've never gotten a virus. I use completely free anti-virus software in case of emergencies, but you shouldn't ever see a virus if you don't click unfamiliar links and don't download illegitimate pornography and programs.

Sent from my HTC Glacier

Saying you've never gotten a virus on Windows, assuming you've used everything from at least Win XP up, is just a fallacious statement. Just because you haven't DETECTED a virus, doesn't mean you've never gotten one.

I used Windows from 1996 (Win 95) through today (Win 7). I now use Macs, and have been for the last three years as my primary computing environment. I also do Windows development and dev management for my professional career. I can say, without a doubt, that for the average user who does average things (web browsing, email, online shopping), the Mac OS is the most secure platform between the two.

I have Win 7 on my Mac Pro and it runs really, really, REALLY fast. It's also much more secure than prior Windows versions. Windows 7 is a fine OS, but for any media work, I'd choose a Mac, and for any secure browsing, I trust my personal info to Mac OS much more than Windows.

 

[Nirvalica]

Build it yourself. $2000 is kind of a lot for a desktop unless it's a mac. Point is, macs are kind of overpriced. Their laptops are really nice and would recommend those over just about any windows laptop. For desktops, though, I don't think macs are worth it unless you just want OS X. Put together a nice desktop on Newegg or Tigerdirect and throw some windows 7 64 bit on it.

 

[TheBiles]

This is 1000% bull****. There's nothing wrong with Windows 7, and you will ALWAYS get a better computer by building your own as opposed to buying a pre-built Mac. Better specs WILL yield better results in the desktop computer world, and the camera metaphor is absolutely worthless. You're taking to a Computer Engineer who actually knows what he's taking about and not a Mac fanboy who has no idea what he's doing.

Edit: And you won't have to worry about viruses if you use a little bit of common sense when browsing the internet. I've always used a PC, and I've never gotten a virus. I use completely free anti-virus software in case of emergencies, but you shouldn't ever see a virus if you don't click unfamiliar links and don't download illegitimate pornography and programs.

Sent from my HTC Glacier

Saying you've never gotten a virus on Windows, assuming you've used everything from at least Win XP up, is just a fallacious statement. Just because you haven't DETECTED a virus, doesn't mean you've never gotten one.

I used Windows from 1996 (Win 95) through today (Win 7). I now use Macs, and have been for the last three years as my primary computing environment. I also do Windows development and dev management for my professional career. I can say, without a doubt, that for the average user who does average things (web browsing, email, online shopping), the Mac OS is the most secure platform between the two.

I have Win 7 on my Mac Pro and it runs really, really, REALLY fast. It's also much more secure than prior Windows versions. Windows 7 is a fine OS, but for any media work, I'd choose a Mac, and for any secure browsing, I trust my personal info to Mac OS much more than Windows.

Never, on my own personal laptops, have I gotten a virus, and I run regular scans with Avast! and MalwareBytes to see if I have any potential threats. Nada. It is not hard to protect yourself from viruses with even the most basic anti-virus software and just a hint of common sense. Not to say that I haven't cleaned my fair share of them off family/friends' computers, but I don't use those.

Oh, and what was that you said about Macs being secure? I sure hope you aren't using Safari for your "secure browsing!"

Two separate links, by the way.