Mac or Windows?

[RavenSword]

Right now I'm trying to decide on a laptop. For desktop, I like PCs if only for the better game availability. Also, I'd like to swap our parts.

However, for a laptop the choice isn't so clear for me. I really like the macbooks build quality and everyone says there pretty much the best laptops unless you have specific needs like touchscreens, but how well do they work with non apple devices? I don't want to feel like I need to buy all apple if I dont want to. How does android work with it?

I've always had a windows desktop PC at home, but I don't have experience with the laptops running windows. Actually, since I've never owned a laptop, I don't have any OS experience with either on laptop. So I'm not sure how it'll stack up to macbook. I do find the surface pro 3 rather interesting. Its at least something new. But other than that I wouldn't know what to look at for windows laptops. I also see a lot more people with macbooks than windows laptops. Does that mean something.

Appreciate your feedvack

 

[Rukbat]

There are two problems with a Macbook. First, you're paying a LOT of money for that apple on the cover. Acer makes pretty good builds. Second, depending on your phone, the manufacturer might not make a Mac version of their program used to do things you need to do to the phone. Adb is available for Mac, but some of the manufacturers' programs may not be. (Then you'll be dual-booting the Mac into Windows - which will cost you even more). Personally I prefer an Acer or Gateway running Linux, with a small partition for Windows for those programs I can't get in Linux or get to run in Wine. (My old Gateway laptop is about 8 years old and it's still running fine. That's not bad build quality.)

 

[Carlo Villa]

Get a surface pro 3 made by Microsoft

 

[RavenSword]

Get a surface pro 3 made by Microsoft

I was thinking of that too. Seems like a cool device

 

[GadgetGator]

I have had both Windows and Macs in my life, but my answer largely depends on what you want a laptop for.

As for Android, Google has a file transfer program...just plug and go. It's pretty basic, but it works.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dhsoft23]

a macbook is recommended. and have a experience on mac os yosemiti.

 

[seagames]

For me Macbook is not comparable to any other device in terms of stability and reliability. That's my experience.

 

[Mooncatt]

I haven't had experience with Apple, but most people that like them tout that they seem to be durable products that are more stable due to Apple controlling pretty much everything about it.

I've only used Windows laptops, a basic Toshiba, a Gateway off the shelf gamer, and Pro-Star custom built gamer. All three are pretty durable and the Pro-Star was the only one that gave me problems. That was due to an Nvidia design flaw that plagued a line of graphics cards across several laptop brands, not the laptop itself. You can get them pretty cheap if you just plan to do basic stuff like browsing and watching videos.

If you plan to game, do video production/editing, or other intensive programs, then be prepared to invest some money. Technology advances pretty quick in them and aftermarket upgrading options are slim. My Pro-Star rivaled most desktops when I bought it, but it came at a price (disregarding the graphics problem). It'd still be a reasonably fast computer today, but I think I over spec'd it and that's the other thing to look out for. If it were still working, I wouldn't be able to take advantage of new hardware programming because it doesn't understand the language.

For basic stuff, US$700-1000 should last you years without worrying about complete obsolescence. If you want a gaming machine, you definitely need a dedicated graphics card or two. $1500-2000 should get you a decent machine unless you want to go absolute high end. Just for giggles, I looked at http://pro-star.com/index.php?r=product/configure&model=P379SM-AS and was able to spec it out over $4k without even trying. They also still Acer, MSI and Lenovo, and some you can still get with Windows 7 if you're not a fan of W8.

 

[enigmax]

If you get s laptop, get a decent one.. If you buy the cheapest one, you will get the cheap quality too... Notebookreviews/check -sites are pretty good to check before getting that thing. I prefer high end Zenbook (asus). My two years old zenbook is still like a new one. Have had budget priced laptops (e.g. acer) and those are horrible. At first they sre good but suddenly they become slower and slower... And you need to do a factory reset... Just check that it has a good graphic card and a good display (with good angles... Ips panels!), enough memory (8gb min) and ssd.

Surely you can buy MBPr but... It is waste of money. With the same amount of money, you get better high end win laptop, but it is your choice... I do have mbpr too but im mostly using my zenbook... World is still built to work with windows and win-related stuff...


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[RavenSword]

If I do get a MacBook is that weird if I'm using a android? It just feel like a weird disconnect. Like, if I'm happy with Mac OS, why aren't I ok with iOS? There made by the same company. Shouldnt I like both?

 

[enigmax]

If I do get a MacBook is that weird if I'm using a android? It just feel like a weird disconnect. Like, if I'm happy with Mac OS, why aren't I ok with iOS? There made by the same company. Shouldnt I like both?

there is nothing odd.. why should it be wierd? should i have wp if i have windows? many people have osx but they still rather use android than ios. or they have windows and prefer ios... or any other combinations like me having win/osx/android/ios...


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[GadgetGator]

If I do get a MacBook is that weird if I'm using a android? It just feel like a weird disconnect. Like, if I'm happy with Mac OS, why aren't I ok with iOS? There made by the same company. Shouldnt I like both?

Not really. I have had a Mac for years, an iPad since the first one, but only an Android will do for a phone.

OSX and iOS are very different user experiences anyway. So it's understandable to like one and not the other.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[stanny]

Macs are great for a simple nice clean experience. For playing PC games, not so much although its getting better.

 

[valnation]

Another factor to take into mind is the weight.
Make sure if you're going to carry that thing around it doesn't feel like a drag when you carry it to and from work/school.

 

[anon8380037]

I will have a big mac through the window if I have the car and am in a hurry, but I generally like to eat it at a table.

 

[anon(631531)]

If I do get a MacBook is that weird if I'm using a android? It just feel like a weird disconnect. Like, if I'm happy with Mac OS, why aren't I ok with iOS? There made by the same company. Shouldnt I like both?

I've been using a MacBook Pro(2010) with all my Android phones, with no problems. Even for rooting an Android phone, just go to xda-devs., and you can find a Mac solution for rooting. Do research on how to use the "terminal" app. That's the key, plus you download Android File Transfer, and you're good to go. If you feel like it, partition your hard drive with "boot camp"(it's in the Mac), and add Windows 7 or 8. Mac and Android are compatible, no matter what Apple says. Good luck.

 

[soundmaven]

Have to agree with the above poster. I've been a MacBook Pro user for over six years, and have had no problems connecting or even rooting Android devices. I'm a developer so I pretty much always have some phone attached and being actively tested on. I've had more problems with Ubuntu then with MacOS, to be honest. For common usage, Android File Transfer is a little rough around the edges, but still gets its job done. So yeah, MacBook is the way to go.

 

[Nophix]

If I do get a MacBook is that weird if I'm using a android? It just feel like a weird disconnect. Like, if I'm happy with Mac OS, why aren't I ok with iOS? There made by the same company. Shouldnt I like both?

I use both Windows and Mac. My MacBook is my goto.

I also bounce between Android and iOS.

Here's what I'll say: pay the same as you would for a MacBook on a Windows machine, and you'll get comparable quality. If you're heavy into photo, audio, and video editing, Mac has the edge. That's why I use it. If you game a lot, Windows is the choice. I have a huge Steam library, and almost none of it is Mac compatable.

 

[Carrtman]

The MBPr is the only Apple product (nice build quality, good specs and awesome display) I would have been interested in but then I've found out that even if you run Windows 7 on it it won't be the same experience and battery life will take a hit, so I've started looking for alternatives:

1. Surface Pro 3 honestly at first I've thought MS created a "designer" product with this line till the pro 3 came out they've pretty much nailed it but - for whatever reason - forgot a very important part: upgradeability if I'm paying well over $ 1.000 (i5, 256 gb, keyboard) for a product I expect some serious upgrade options and not something like "if you want more RAM you need to buy more internal storage too. .ifyou want more internal storage you need to buy..." also the physical keyboard looks cheap and not very premium like. Personally I'd suggest waiting for the Pro 4 the worst thing that can happen is the pro 3 is dropping in price and if the rumors are true the Pro 4 will only have the core M cpu which isn't very powerful and designed to save battery life by giving up performance.

2. Dell XPS 13 Full HD or QHD - this beauty here XPS 13 Laptop with infinity display | Dell
It's almost as thin as the MBP but it offers a much higher resolution, 4 - 8 gig of ram, new i5 generation, backlit keyboard and at least an upgradeable ssd. However the QHD version has a huge downside - despite the heavy pricetag - the battery only lasts 7 hours and the QHD Version is combined with a touchscreen which in my mind is a stupid decision it's just driving the price way up for no real reason.

If you're heavy into photo, audio, and video editing, Mac has the edge.

I think in terms of photo and audio editing Win has the edge, thanks to the Adobe offerings (I'm not talking about their ripoff CC here) but when it comes to video editing I fully agree unless someone is willing to really step to dedicated video editing cards..which obviously no laptop can handle.

 

[Nophix]

My wife uses a Windows machine to edit her photography. It was a Win 8 machine, had to roll it back to 7 to make it useable. She's using Adobe.

I run Adobe on my MBPr, and it just seems to work better. Granted, we're both on CC, but it's full versions of Photoshop and Lightroom.

It's not a huge difference but noticeable. She has a pretty high specs Asus.