Choosing a laptop: Macbook vs. Sony Vaio

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:13 pm

Macbook.

The best of XP & OSX.

rsagevik · Post by **rsagevik** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:15 pm

I bought my laptop from Zepto, and I`m super happy!
Highly recommended.

evoid · Post by **evoid** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:18 pm

macbook

in OSX you can take advantage of all the good stuff core audio delivers.. and is rock solid.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:18 pm

Scinner wrote:Thx) Yeah, I've read a lot by now. But the damn thing is that I guess lotta people use Mac just coz of it's image and design of gear and OS. I've never used OS, but I don't have lotta time to do it, so many new software around (btw most of it, plug-ins especially, r win only)...I'm pleased by VAIO style, so the greatest deal is perfomance: who's gonna be faster and more stable - Macbook or Vaio with Intel Duo?

P.s: anybody can explain what's the difference between Intel Core Duo and Intel Core 2 Duo? And what type is installed on Macbook?

I don't use Macs because they're pretty. I use them because I like to surf the internet on the same notebook that I make music with. With a Viao you'll be taking a huge risk doing that.

The other reason I switched to Mac is that they are much easier to configure. I was in a situation years ago where I had to set-up 5 DAW workstations in a row with multiple amounts of hardware and software in each system. 3 of the stations were PC and 2 were Mac. Setting up the Mac stations was so utterly painless compared to the PC stations, it was jaw dropping. I was a PC/Sonar user at the time.

As soon as I got my tax return I bought a G5. Been happy ever since.

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:26 pm

If you want PC, get an Alienware.

Cheaper and more powerful than any Apple laptop.

I was just comparing last night.

zappen · Post by **zappen** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:28 pm

Sales Dude McBoob wrote:
I don't use Macs because they're pretty. I use them because I like to surf the internet on the same notebook that I make music with. With a Viao you'll be taking a huge risk doing that.

LOL!

muscleandhate · Post by **muscleandhate** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:17 pm

Stay well clear of Dell. Their inspiron range of laptops feel like they've been made by Fisherprice. Cheap and nasty (though similar price of MacBooks). I had the choice of going with a Inspiron or a MacBook when my insurance paid out, and I'm more than certain I made the correct decision. Poor battery life, heavy, cheaply constructed, awful design and abismal looks (if you care for that sort of thing) are what you can expect from Dell. My Desktop was from Dell and it rattles, shakes and feels as though its going to come apart in your hands when you pick it up. Dell used to be decent, but now they just churn out cheap generic products which lack any solid design or innovation. Throw bad software on top of this (Windows), all the crap Dell's ship with, high risks of viruses, adware, spyware and trojans, you might as well buy a MacBook

That said, just looked at the Alienware, the m5550 had very impressive specs fo the price. Rather take that over a VIAO.

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:20 pm

Get the macbook, it runs XP just fine, and you can use OSX if you like.
I personally like OSX better, but it's nice having the option of XP if I want. Only downfall is that XP is a separate buy, then again from what people are saying about Sony, the OEM version of XP has a bunch of crap installed on it that's a PITA to remove!

Alienware might be faster, but they are notoriously loud desktop replacement machines, so that's a consideration as well. If I was to get a PC laptop it would be a Toshiba. Still, besides the glowing apple logo, the macbooks are really nice looking computers.

kabuki · Post by **kabuki** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:31 pm

I have run both XP and Mac OS. They are both fine, but with Mac (starting to sound like a commercial) there a re FAR fewer security issues than a PC has:(firewalls, virus protection, etc), system issues (driver installations, OS tweeking).

But for you (since you are used to the hassle), the best selling point for a mac is the fact that you can install XP on it if you so choose.

Either way, your stuff will be fast.

If you do get a Mac, ABSOLUTELY get Applecare (Extended Warranty). Even if you don't use it (I haven't on mine), you will make resale value go up double so oyou can get a new one later.

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:32 pm

Machinesworking wrote:Get the macbook, it runs XP just fine, and you can use OSX if you like.
I personally like OSX better, but it's nice having the option of XP if I want. Only downfall is that XP is a separate buy, then again from what people are saying about Sony, the OEM version of XP has a bunch of crap installed on it that's a PITA to remove!
Alienware might be faster, but they are notoriously loud desktop replacement machines, so that's a consideration as well. If I was to get a PC laptop it would be a Toshiba. Still, besides the glowing apple logo, the macbooks are really nice looking computers.

You should look deeper at Alienware. Now that the Core 2 Duo machines are out, it has really changed their laptop lineup. They do still offer P4 desktop-replacement machines, similar to the one I have now.... but they are making smaller Core 2 Duo laptops now. I was comparing them last night and was impressed with the specs vs. $$$.

By the way, if you read my earlier post.... you'll notice that I said "If you get a PC". If you want a Mac, that's great. Just saying, if you want a PC.... take a look at the Alienware stuff. It's pretty nice. My parents have a Sony laptop, and it's a piece of junk. It is a 12" Centrino, but is louder than my 17" P4 desktop replacement.

Here's the Alienware laptop lineup.
http://www.alienware.com/product_pages/ ... fault.aspx

Oh.... and Alienware doesn't install all that junk software you guys are complaining about with Sony.

headquest · Post by **headquest** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:50 pm

muscleandhate wrote:Stay well clear of Dell. Their inspiron range of laptops feel like they've been made by Fisherprice. Cheap and nasty (though similar price of MacBooks). I had the choice of going with a Inspiron or a MacBook when my insurance paid out, and I'm more than certain I made the correct decision. Poor battery life, heavy, cheaply constructed, awful design and abismal looks (if you care for that sort of thing) are what you can expect from Dell. My Desktop was from Dell and it rattles, shakes and feels as though its going to come apart in your hands when you pick it up. Dell used to be decent, but now they just churn out cheap generic products which lack any solid design or innovation. Throw bad software on top of this (Windows), all the crap Dell's ship with, high risks of viruses, adware, spyware and trojans, you might as well buy a MacBook

That said, just looked at the Alienware, the m5550 had very impressive specs fo the price. Rather take that over a VIAO

I don't know what you are talking about... and nor, it seems, do you

The DELL Inspiron 9400 that I have has excellent build quality, better by far than any of the brands I looked at in stores (Sony Vaio, Toshiba, etc). Very solid. Classy to look at too.The one I bought has higher specs than the top MacBook Pro model has... but cost around 60% of the price of the top MacBook, even though it has a faster processor.

In addition to my current machine, I bought 6 DELL inspiron laptops to use for music courses with groups of students. They've had quite a pounding, but we've not had a single problem with any of them. So my experience with them has been very good with these seven machines in all.

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:58 pm

headquest wrote:
muscleandhate wrote:Stay well clear of Dell. Their inspiron range of laptops feel like they've been made by Fisherprice. Cheap and nasty (though similar price of MacBooks). I had the choice of going with a Inspiron or a MacBook when my insurance paid out, and I'm more than certain I made the correct decision. Poor battery life, heavy, cheaply constructed, awful design and abismal looks (if you care for that sort of thing) are what you can expect from Dell. My Desktop was from Dell and it rattles, shakes and feels as though its going to come apart in your hands when you pick it up. Dell used to be decent, but now they just churn out cheap generic products which lack any solid design or innovation. Throw bad software on top of this (Windows), all the crap Dell's ship with, high risks of viruses, adware, spyware and trojans, you might as well buy a MacBook

That said, just looked at the Alienware, the m5550 had very impressive specs fo the price. Rather take that over a VIAO
I don't know what you are talking about... and nor, it seems, do you
The DELL Inspiron 9400 that I have has excellent build quality, better by far than any of the brands I looked at in stores (Sony Vaio, Toshiba, etc). Very solid. Classy to look at too.The one I bought has higher specs than the top MacBook Pro model has... but cost around 60% of the price of the top MacBook, even though it has a faster processor.

In addition to my current machine, I bought 6 DELL inspiron laptops to use for music courses with groups of students. They've had quite a pounding, but we've not had a single problem with any of them. o my experience with them has been very good with these seven machines in all.

I agree. I have had many Dell laptops over the years. And my brother has a current one. They have all been excellent machines. Held up well over the years.

muscleandhate · Post by **muscleandhate** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:00 pm

The DELL Inspiron 9400 that I have has excellent build quality, better by far than any of the brands I looked at in stores (Sony Vaio, Toshiba, etc). Very solid. Classy to look at too.The one I bought has higher specs than the top MacBook Pro model has... but cost around 60% of the price of the top MacBook, even though it has a faster processor.

Well I do know what I'm talking about, because I'm talking from experience. Obviously ours have differed somewhat. I stand by my remarks about Dell, my Dimension looks like it's been put together by Monkeys.

As for the Inspiron line, I've found them bulky, heavy with extremely poor battery life. I used to like my old Inspiron, and similarly I used to rate Dell computers. But their latest lines have just seemed like cheap computers to me. Remember that there is more to a computer than just it's RAM, Processor etc.

And you've an outrageous preference if you think the Inspiron looks 'classy', if you don't mind me saying.

DJ VAKIS · Post by **DJ VAKIS** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:07 pm

Macbook, all the way

headquest · Post by **headquest** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:10 pm

muscleandhate wrote: Well I do know what I'm talking about, because I'm talking from experience. Obviously ours have differed somewhat. I stand by my remarks about Dell, my Dimension looks like it's been put together by Monkeys.

And you've an outrageous preference if you think the Inspiron looks 'classy', if you don't mind me saying.

Are you in the States? DELL computers vary widely depending on where you arein the world it would seem. Im in the UK, and mine doesn't sound like your experience at all...

TO explain further, my 17" DELL weighs less than my previous 15.4" Fujitsu-Siemens did. And it loks like this:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/produ ... l=en&s=dhs

Hard to see colours in picture I know, but it has the white (Apple-like

) trim.