| Author | Message | ||
     mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 366 Registered: 3-2001 |
I have an aging Mac Performa (6 years old) on which I do mostly word processing for home business. It is acting demented at times lately. I also have a 3 year old IMac which I use for the internet, photos, etc. etc. - fun stuff. Question: Would a laptop make sense as a replacement for the IMac which I would shift over to take over the Performa's duties? I don't travel places that requires my taking along a laptop, but would that flexibility make sense just within the house? Or do I just upgrade to another Mac desktop? Is that smaller screen, crammed keyboard and stupid ball mouse worth the switch? | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 417 Registered: 10-2001 |
I recently purchased a new Sony laptop when faced with a similar decision. The reason was that my wife and I often do work at night after our son goes to bed and we installed a wireless network in our house. We now have the ability to take that laptop wherever we want including on our deck. The laptop may not have the same amount of storage but we kept our desktop and use its larger hard drive as a repository of sorts. | ||
| jbirchby Citizen Username: Jbirchby Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2001 |
I am a graphic designer that does a lot of on-site freelance. Last year I decided to ditch the desktop all together and go to the laptop. I bought a powerbook titanium G4 800, and I love it. I can work virtually anywhere and have not missed anything about my old desktop (teal G3 550). I had a 17" monitor, and really I don't miss the 2 inches. However, the only big office purchase I plan on making this year is a 20" LCD, so that when I am home I can set it up as dual monitors (it's easier to have two monitors with the design programs, one for the documents, one for all the palettes). I also have a wireless network set up so I can work and be online anywhere in my house. I don't know about the PC's but the mac laptops come with 40 gig+ harddrives which is a pretty substancial amount of space... and you can always get an external drive for storage. Ok, enough computer babble for me, whatever decision you make, good luck! | ||
| flugermongers Citizen Username: Flugermongers Post Number: 20 Registered: 5-2001 |
Well, I assume you're talking about getting a Mac laptop? I don't know much about Macs these days, but I do know that laptops are getting bigger and better each year. I mean, you can get a teeny Sony Vaio, but since it sounds like you're not looking for something pocketsize - there are plenty of nice laptops these days. My screen is 16.1", and I think my keys may be bigger than the Mac keys computer's I've used. I believe I've got 30 gigs, and extra cache. Though, I've had problems with Sony. I had a laptop, and it gave me shocks (ironically, on my lap) and it was all screwed up. I have felt little things from this one, sometimes on my wrist, but I don't know if they were shocks. I have also heard (from a sony representative, which other higher powers of course, later refuted) that this has happened elsewhere and they've gotten complaints about it. I wouldn't mention it if it had just been the one computer. I had to argue and fight with Sony until I got to the president's office, and finally (after a year) got sent a new computer. On a similar thread, you're not supposed to leave a laptop just anywhere, not supposed to be on a carpet, bed, ironically not a lap either. Hard places, like a desk. It's a risk/fire hazard etc.. to be elsewhere. Though you usually only have a desktop on one desk anyway. I like it that I can take a laptop anywhere, and just set it up. It's an ordeal to set up a desktop. I have pets, and you cannot clean pet hair out of the bottom part of your laptop, like you can easily clean the keyboard of a desktop. I really don't know what kind of a hazard it is. When taking apart the old computer, there was fur all in it. It was frightening. It also depends on your needs. I think for some things, artwork, computer graphics, music & video needs (making, or listening), one may be better than the other? I don't know. Laptop speakers usually suck, but you can plug in new ones. You can plug anything into a laptop. Just decide what you need, research features (cd, dvd, screen, cache, ram, internet capabilities, etc)with someone who knows about it, and see what you come up with! =) One very important note. Make sure there's a good guarantee, or take that insurance plan, or whatever. Just protect yourself, so you don't have to argue with some big capitalist b**** for a year if something goes awry. Good luck!  | ||
| mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 369 Registered: 3-2001 |
Thanks all! I have this decision on hold for awhile. I wouldn't get anything except a Mac though. Hope to coax a few more months out of my aging Performa. It is scary that a purchase of $2K or so can become obsolete so quickly! | ||
| monster Citizen Username: Monster Post Number: 27 Registered: 7-2002 |
Don't buy anything until after the 970 chip Mac models are released. This is bound to bring down prices. I assume since you will be doing graphics work you will get a Powerbook, even though iBooks are quite capable of this. On the subject of dual monitors, the iBook can only mirror what is already on the iBooks screen, there is a hack that will allow you to use monitor spanning (workspace on one monitor, tools on another) but it will void your warranty. Applecare is a must for a laptop, Smalldog.com sometimes has Applecare cheaper than you can buy it from Apple. As a matter of fact, they have good deals on Macs period, especially the refub ones. |
