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Thread ID: 60184 2005-07-25 08:55:00 Windows or MAC that is the question Bryce_Beattie (7222) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
375203 2005-07-26 11:44:00 For round a couple grand you can get a laptop running Windows that will play the latest games in there full glory (or close to it) with a widescreen and a DVD-Writer.

For less you can get one that plays many games but will struggle with the newer titles.

If you just want to play Age or empires and other 2D or basic games then any will do.

For 4 grand you could get a mac that isn't capable of running any games and probally has a 1Ghz cpu and a paltry 256mb of ram (Totally unresearched Mac comment btw,but one of the fanatics will correct it Im sure)
fanatic correction coming up here (store.apple.co.nz)
plod (107)
375204 2005-07-26 12:26:00 Nicely put Metla, and good on Plod for the reply.

Safari, try one more smart-assed comment at me and I'll give you 24-48 hours to think about "Was it really worth it?".
Chilling_Silence (9)
375205 2005-07-26 12:49:00 Bryce,

if you want to play games and stuff around, and if portability isn't a big issue, you will get far more bang for your buck by purchasing a desktop PC. More power, better screen, graphics and sound, easier connectivity to more peripherals (although, I concede laptops are much better in this department now), much much easier to upgrade and cheaper to do so.

You'll need an expensive laptop to even approach the ability of an average desktop as a gaming machine.
Murray P (44)
375206 2005-07-26 12:53:00 You can get laptops in NZ without OS's if that is your preference. In answer to Prescott's question about installing Linux on a laptop, you can get them preinstalled overseas. HP did some Linux laptops - see here (news.com.com), and I think Novell in NZ has it's staff using SuSE on laptops which were preinstalled. Overseas resellers also sell a variety of other branded laptops which they offer with Linux preinstalled, unfortunately I don't know of anyone doing them in NZ.

This is all a mote discussion anyway, as the thread starter is interested in laptops running either Windows or OSX. :)

Here is an excellent article (hardware.newsforge.com) on how to go choosing hardware for a laptop to run linux. The hardware is not "specialized", but common, easily available items that are known to be fully linux compatible. From cpu (Intel, Via, AMD etc) to video etc. Looks like a continuing series.
vinref (6194)
375207 2005-07-26 21:14:00 where do you get limited software from?

Plod, maybe there is in fact lots of software for Macs nowadays. But if you go to a freebie site such as CNET Download.com, it is obvious that Mac software is very much in the minority.

I have a friend with a Mac, and she wanted to upload photos for her relatives and friends to see back in Germany. Using Webshots.com, Macs were not supported, and I have seen this repeatedly on various sites.

However, I am not against Macs or have a fanatical preference for PC's. Basically, if a person has the $$ for a Mac and knows that software is available then sure, with the extra protection against viruses etc., a Mac would be a good choice.
Strommer (42)
375208 2005-07-26 21:56:00 Just really stuff around play games ETCYou definately want a Windows based laptop in that case. Games are where macs really loose the plot. Most games get ported to Mac as an afterthought a long time after they were released on PC. There are a few excptions. but the rule stands.

-Qyiet
qyiet (6730)
375209 2005-07-26 22:01:00 I was under the impression they were a fair bit like Linux, where you could run emulation software and have then run mostly fine & dandy?

Im not an expert and could be wrong however...
Chilling_Silence (9)
375210 2005-07-26 22:15:00 I was under the impression they were a fair bit like Linux, where you could run emulation software and have then run mostly fine & dandy?

Im not an expert and could be wrong however...You can run emulation software, but it is really not a good option for anything more complicated than a spreadsheet.

But yes, very linux like (once you get away from the GUI)

-Qyiet
qyiet (6730)
375211 2005-07-26 23:09:00 Plod, maybe there is in fact lots of software for Macs nowadays. But if you go to a freebie site such as CNET Download.com, it is obvious that Mac software is very much in the minority.

I have a friend with a Mac, and she wanted to upload photos for her relatives and friends to see back in Germany. Using Webshots.com, Macs were not supported, and I have seen this repeatedly on various sites.

However, I am not against Macs or have a fanatical preference for PC's. Basically, if a person has the $$ for a Mac and knows that software is available then sure, with the extra protection against viruses etc., a Mac would be a good choice.
I use version tracker or the apple website for free software, price was never a question for me when the benifits of the mac outweighed the price and no I'm not rolling in it, as for what gaming I do I use a xbox for that, I thought about building a gaming box, but the cost was a lot for something just sitting there a lot of the time, plus most mates have a xbox for gaming, and that's the biggest dowfall of the mac....
plod (107)
375212 2005-07-27 02:55:00 Im really taking a liking to Plod..... Xbox :D Chilling_Silence (9)
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