Help me buy a computer

[owl]

Suppose elerrina_amanya and I were buying a laptop or whatever they're called these days.

[Poll #1047204]


Apparently it is possible to get student discount on a Mac. I was going to say I needed more info on Macs, but I suppose a new Windows machine would have Vista, of which I have heard little and none good. When Microsoft came up with an OS that mostly works, why can't they just stick with it?

Comments

[leeflower.livejournal.com]

Having worked extensively with both PCs and Macs, I've found that a well-built PC beats out Mac every time when it comes to not crashing when you're in the midst of trying to save something important.

Not that I'm any fan of Windows, mind you. I run Ubuntu Linux these days, which I've found gives me the best of both worlds: the stability and end-user serviceability of PCs (cracking a Mac case voids the warranty, at least here in the states) combined with the Linux-brand security that keeps Macs virus-free.

In the end, it's really just a matter of what you prefer. I'm a PC and Linux gal, myself. I like thinkpads because they're really lightweight and easy to lug around, and Ubuntu because it's really user-friendly, stable, and totally free. But if a Mac's going to suit your needs better, get a Mac :).

[tree_and_leaf]

I've found that a well-built PC beats out Mac every time when it comes to not crashing when you're in the midst of trying to save something important.

You know, that's never happened to me when using a Mac? Not that anecdotal evidence proves anything - I'm just a bit surprised.

[leeflower.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean it's anecdotal on my side, too. Suffice to say that having had to deal with Macs at my old school for all my digital art assignments, I developed a deep personal loathing for iMacs and OSX.

My computers have always been homebrew numbers with individually-purchased components, which saves me a bunch of money and means I don't have to worry about voiding the warranty by opening the case. But that's hardly the best solution for everyone. I have the blessing of being surrounded by people who fix computers for a living.

And I wouldn't put money on Vista being any good, having never worked with it. There are definitely still ways to get a hold of XP.

[owl]

I think there's no such thing as an uncrashable OS. I was introduced to RedHat with, 'We need to use the memory for zillions of calculations, not waste half of it on the OS, and BTW you can't crash it', and I'd managed to crash it within four days :)

I crash the browser all the time, not Windows itself so much. elerrina_amanya has it crash on her more, I think, that's why she'd like a different OS.

[leeflower.livejournal.com]

ha, yes. uncrashable OSs are like perpetual motion machines. Best of luck picking a computer that suits your needs :).