New computer

[sharplittleteeth]

I'm thinking of buying laptop.

Mostly for writing. Something light and rugged and portable. Something I can take out a cafe with me, or perch on my lap while I sit on the couch.

The main criteria: I'm not spending more than $2000 on it.

The two I've been eyeing off are the Dell Inspiron 510m, and the Apple 12" iBook.

The Dell is heavier, and uglier. But it has a larger screen, and a DVD burner.  The iBook is lighter, prettier, and I suspect it's more rugged. But- smaller screen and no DVD burner.

And then there's the Operating System question.

I'm a Windows boy. But I'm not fanatical about it. I use Macs a fair bit at work. There are things I like about them, and things I don't. Fundamentally, they're both computer systems, and they both do more or less the same things. So the decision between them comes down to the small things.

Like keyboard shortcuts. 

I'm fluent at Windows. I know the quirks, I know the keyboard shortcuts, I know how to get things done. And while I can drive a Mac just fine, I always feel like I'm stuck in low gear. I just don't know the shortcuts. I just don't have the familiarity to make them really zing.

That may sound like a reason to buy Windows. But it's not. Because the only way I'll ever get that familiarity is to actually own and use a Mac.

I don't know. What do you people think? Anyone got any stories on either model? Or are there other computers I should be looking at?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

I have a PC laptop, which I bought to replace my wonderful purple iMac.

I still miss the mac, but have grown used to the IBM - I now use PCs at work (whereas I used to only use Mac) and it's just easier - easier for file transfers and the like, and I'm about three operating systems behind on the Mac.

Having said that... I'd probably go back to Mac in a flash if I could get what I wanted at a comparative price, and if all the software I used was available on both platforms (it isn't).

My 2c.

[damien-wise.livejournal.com]

ravan_'s raised some good points re familiarity with O/S and software, so I'll leave that area alone.

I've also been considering the idea of purchasing a laptop. Unfortunately, with so many other business start-up costs, I can't afford one right away. This has led me to consider other options (no, not knocking-off someone else's!), such as renting/leasing one.
After asking a few people, it seems that rough costs are as little as $15 per week. Some schemes let you rent-buy, which is to say that if you like it, you can buy the thing outright after a certain amount of time (effectively, you've paid-off a loan after 12/18/24 months)...or, some say you can cancel the agreement, hand the laptop back and start leasing again, only with the latest and greatest model.
Sounds pretty sweet when you put it that way.

Another consideration for business (not personal use) is the tax side of things. Both an outright purchase and leasing of equipment have good depreciation / Tax Refund implications. If this is something you'll be using for work, the Talk To Your Friendly Accountant. :)

That may sound like a reason to buy Windows. But it's not. Because the only way I'll ever get that familiarity is to actually own and use a Mac.

I'm leaning towards the "try before you buy" option, myself. :)
In the long-run it'd be nice to own my own but I'd like to experiment with a few brands/models before handing-over kilobucks.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Good points.

Something else to look into is the Salary Sacrifice option... I'm considering that myself, in the medium-term. It saves me having to come up with a fuckload of cash, and means I can pay it off interest free, over the specified period.

I have no idea what I'd buy though. You just sent me looking at IBMs (what I have now) and 15" iBooks. Mmmm....

[sharplittlteeth.livejournal.com]

Experimenting sounds nice, but not very practical.

And to be honest, it sounds like far too much work. When I buy computer gear, I spend ages reading reviews, asking opinions, looking at alternatives... and then I get bored and frustrated and just say "fuck it, I'm buying THAT one."

And yeah - I'm vaguely aware of the tax thing. Should really speak to an accountant about it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Why not have a word in Ms Kat's ear :-)

(something I also should do)

[freakflipmonkey.livejournal.com]

hey dude - you know what I am going to say already (so why say it, huh? ;)...
I say that if you are going to use it for writing and carrying around, do you really need the DVD burner? Buy an external dvd burner for your desktop.

MY baby Ibook has been a godsend. The weight is going to be a big factor if you are looking for something easy to carry around with you and wip out on a wim. I have traveled OS about 6+ times now with this little computer as well use it for practically everything everyday (because 1/2 of the time I have to work outta one place or another, its soo nice not feeling like I am lugging around a huge weight everywhere I go). I dont usually treat it rough but just carrying it around daily and with all of the long trips I have taken it on.. its held up quite well!

A nameless >>EX<< of mine bought the bigger weighter PC laptop ages ago when I got mine. It just turned out some what of a hassle to lug around and he really never used all of the bells and whistles in the end. (When I used his computer on my lap it used to make my legs fall asleep!).

[kitling.livejournal.com]

I would go the Dell, Dell have a good reputation and make decent machines. Then I'm not a mac girl. However if you do go Dell, pay the extra for the 3 year complete cover warrenty. Then if you accidently run over your laptop with a car they will replace it. Its a pretty good warrenty - my boy swears by dell - very happy with their customer service.

[andricongirl.livejournal.com]

well I heart my mac.. but your a PC boy.. and i know you really want the dvd burner .. so not helping here, I'll let you decide

[damien6.livejournal.com]

Is it going to be your only computer, or do you have a desktop as well? Because if you do have a desktop you could get a DVD burner for that for about $200, as well as various other bells and whistles at a comparable price, things that make a laptop a lot more expensive.
So if you have a desktop setup to upgrade, and you only use the laptop for writing, get the smallest and lightest model that you can. 12" is perfectly fine for writing (unlike say graphics work). Also it needs practically no memory. In fact you should be able to get a light, robust writing laptop for $400 - $500 from a swapmeet, or www.comtrader.com.au
Now on the other hand if the laptop is your only computer, and besides writing you are going to use it for watching DVDs, and maybe playing games as well, you need a better laptop than the ones you are looking at - a bigger hard drive than 40gig, and 256MB RAM is really quite slow.
Also, I just noticed, but the Dell that you're looking at has no DVD burner, just a DVD player and CD burner.

Okay, so in conclusion: if you can, upgrade your desktop, with a DVD burner, extra memory, better video cards, etc. This should only be about $500 - $800, depending on the kind of stuff you want. AND get a small, light, robust laptop with very little memory, not very fast, with no bells and whistles, because for writing it'll serve perfectly. Macs are very robust, other than that IBMs are very, very good quality.
Or if the laptop is going to be your only computer figure out what else you're going to use it for, even if rarely, and what you need for that. But a laptop with a DVD burner, the kind of speed you need for watching DVDs, and the hardrive to store them, is going to cost you at least $2500-$3500, unless you buy a laptop with no-name parts (and really, really don't).

[sharplittlteeth.livejournal.com]

I have my big, black Windows PC at home. Although part of me suspects that if I did buy a Windows laptop, I'd end up not using it very much.

I'm strangely (perhaps stupidly) adverse to swapmeets and non-Brand name computers, mostly because I've had warranty issues in the past.

And whichever make I do buy, I'll be upping the hard-drive and memory (and optical drive in the Dell) first. Minimum specs are for l4m3rz.

[damien6.livejournal.com]

Definitely do not buy something without a warranty. Computer trader (see link above), often has laptops advertised with the warranty still on them, from people going back overseas and the like.
But even if you get something from a shop, a decent Mac laptop withouth the bells and whistles would be around $1200.