Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Help me buy laptop - mac vs pc

profile picture
shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
No Macs, I just did that as an attention grabber. I need a laptop for mostly internet browsing, document processing for work and school and some multimedia and gaming on the side. If you have any suggestions let me know but for now it's between these two.

Sony VAIO E Series
Intel® Core™ i5-450M processor (2.40GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 3.33GHz
4GB (4GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1066
500GB Hard Disk Drive (7200rpm)
DVD, no Blu-ray
TI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5470

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/sony-vaio-e-series/4505-3121_7-33968347.html

Or

Gateway ID Series

4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory
500GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Chassis with NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 330M with NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology up to 4091MB of TurboCache™ supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 and Mobile Intel® HM55 Express Chipset
Intel® Core™ i5-450M Processor1 2.4GHz with Turbo Boost2 Technology up to 2.66GHz (3MB L3 Cache)
DVD, no Blu-ray


And when talking about memory is it better to have one 4 GB or two 2GB? I don't know much about graphics either, stay away from Intel if I want dedicated right? Thanks.
Aug 3 2010 10:39PM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
inb4 people still suggesting macs
Aug 3 2010 10:40PM
0 0
profile picture
Chompo.
Posts: 4952 - Karma: 88
well i would get a mac. Because i herd if you become like me you might get to suck steve's dick.
Aug 3 2010 10:45PM
0 0
profile picture
shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
Bump.
Aug 4 2010 1:16AM
0 0
profile picture
Heinzler
Posts: 1931 - Karma: 125
get the highest amount of memory you can afford. it helps keep the computer running faster as it gets older and you can run more programs at once with the higher the memory you have. overall, it makes your comp faster
Aug 4 2010 1:19AM
0 0
profile picture
pelle_munch
Posts: 4110 - Karma: 502
OMGZ LYKE MACZ R SOOOO AWSUM!!!!!!!!11!1!!!!
Aug 4 2010 1:21AM
0 0
profile picture
technique.
Posts: 1538 - Karma: 308
been PC all my life. just bought a macbook pro for school. love it. id go mac
one mans opinion
Aug 4 2010 1:22AM
0 0
profile picture
Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,012
i'd go with the E series. both computers are very similar, it comes down to what you like more in looks really
Aug 4 2010 1:23AM
0 0
profile picture
r0dubs
Posts: 1764 - Karma: 19
im using a mac





i want a pc
Aug 4 2010 1:25AM
0 0
profile picture
drumbumocdp
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 1,078
I watched a friend of mine go through 3 of the sonys in a year at school. Maybe he looked at too much porn but i think there is something fucked up with those computers.
Aug 4 2010 1:26AM
0 0
profile picture
Oh_So_Hyphy
Posts: 870 - Karma: 15
basically what he said
Aug 4 2010 1:28AM
0 0
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Im a mac, but I would go with sony over gateway
Aug 4 2010 1:32AM
0 0
profile picture
geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
make sure the windows they give you is 64bit or else your 4gb of ram is useless.

also for spyware and shit,

get avg free
malwarebytes
superantispyware

then you won't have any problems.

its the computer illiterate that act like drunk drivers infront of a pc that get themselves into trouble. if they knew the preventative measures they wouldn't be up on apples dong.

ergo, apple is for computer illiterate retards.
Aug 4 2010 1:37AM
0 0
profile picture
Caspian
Posts: 1475 - Karma: 25
Look:

As a media artist, i would take a mac over a pc for its editing power and the stability.

PC is better for work and gaming.

Macs and PCs are probably about even for music/movies but id go pc.

So in the end it comes down to what you want to do.
Aug 4 2010 1:41AM
0 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,002
>implying everyone that has a mac is computer illiterate and retarded
Aug 4 2010 1:46AM
0 0
profile picture
geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
deal with it.

Click for larger image
Aug 4 2010 1:48AM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
mac vs pc debates are always a good time...
Aug 4 2010 1:50AM
0 0
profile picture
585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77
im a pc and windows 7 was my idea... no really i created that shit
Aug 4 2010 1:54AM
0 0
profile picture
Panda-Please.
Posts: 179 - Karma: 18
first one
Aug 4 2010 1:56AM
0 0
profile picture
kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
Seriously, im not trying to go against your decision but i would definitely dropp the extra money on a mac.
Aug 4 2010 2:00AM
0 0
profile picture
cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
why?
Aug 4 2010 6:41AM
0 0
profile picture
kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
Because it is seriously the better system. I have a macbook for university and my parent have a pc at home. The mac is faster, its applications run far more better than the ones on a pc, and along with an awesome computer you get a bunch of awesome applications JUST FROM out of the box (iMovie, etc.)
Aug 4 2010 8:21AM
0 0
profile picture
Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,168
What reason would you not buy a mac? They are clearly the far superior computer. It is litterally impossible to get a virus with a mac and I'm not even going to go into how much more powerful they are.
Aug 4 2010 8:30AM
0 0
profile picture
gaddafski
Posts: 165 - Karma: 111
MAC.
Aug 4 2010 9:53AM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344

Aug 4 2010 11:25AM
0 0
profile picture
Mooserz
Posts: 2945 - Karma: 32
Well either way the first thing your gonna want to do is get a new intake and exhaust
Aug 4 2010 11:49AM
0 0
profile picture
.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
What really annoys me about these Mac vs. Windows threads is that people compare their new macbooks and macbook pros to older, not as high end windows computers at home. of course it is going to be nicer than your old one; that is because it is newer and in a different class. In an industry like the computer industry, technology is improving large amounts each year. Just my two sense and I hope everyone can realize this.
Aug 4 2010 12:03PM
0 0
profile picture
steve0
Posts: 1119 - Karma: 1,036
Our Neanderthal weld inspector at work uses a sony vaio and I hate him so don't get one.
Aug 4 2010 12:20PM
0 0
profile picture
chapz
Posts: 10182 - Karma: 66
fucking fanboys.


get the sony, i have a fw and it still runs beautifully. ive never trusted gateway, but thats just me. plus the vaio has a faster hard-drive, which is key. i prefer ATI over intel, and the vaio has a faster processor.
Aug 4 2010 12:22PM
0 0
profile picture
cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
I've also heard the PC is a better system, it runs faster and runs applications better. I don't remember where I read that and I can't provide a source so take it for what you will (I guess that goes both ways here).

The computers he listed are around $800-$850. To get a Macbook with the same specs you would pay $1250. Are the extra applications really worth paying an extra $450 for the Macbook? Is it noticeably that much faster?

I imagine if the OP was looking for something that needed serious computing power he would not be looking at such a low price point. I know that extra $450 would be a dealbreaker for me anyways.
Aug 4 2010 12:24PM
0 0
profile picture
cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
It is not "literally impossible" for a Mac to get a virus. I'd accept "nearly impossible", but "literally" is a bit of a stretch. This somewhat discredits any other claims you made here about the Mac's performance.
Aug 4 2010 12:28PM
0 0
profile picture
chapz
Posts: 10182 - Karma: 66
this.


obviously it's hard to get a virus on a mac since it owns a little over 5% of the market share... who in their right mind would spend time working on a bug that would affect that tiny percent of compueter users?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/02/os_market_share_stats/


also, it's funny because Secunia has ranked Apple and their software as the most vulnerable when it comes to insecurity...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/secunia-ranks-apple-first-in-software-insecurity-safari-said-to/

Aug 4 2010 12:52PM
0 0
profile picture
wameron
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 1,220
get a real company, sony and gateways computers are shit. go with toshiba
Aug 4 2010 1:13PM
0 0
profile picture
.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
or an hp
Aug 4 2010 1:15PM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
thats only what n00bs say
I know someone with an incredible gaming PC that can run crysis like its no big deal, and he also has an old white macbook. His lil white Macbook handles his footage just as good the PC.

PCs =/= Mac performance.....
Aug 4 2010 1:16PM
0 0
profile picture
corona
Posts: 12751 - Karma: 32,244
SERIOUS ANSWER FOR YOU:

I have never used either, but I have also never hear anything good about Sony Vaio's. I heard they do fall apart fairly easily and have mediocre hardware. But looking at that list it does look like it has the slight edge (although I may be wrong but I think the video card in the Gateway might be just a tiny step up) but the Vaio does have 7200rpm hard drive which is really awesome.

Considering the actual performance looks similar, I'd go with whichever one has a tougher body/better designed body/more useful inputs for what you may use (like HDMI and Firewire are useful). and just compare reviews of the two for which holds up better etc.

and NO, it is not worth an extra $450 to get a similar performance Mac. If you really want Mac, just reformat you hard drive, get a few partitions going, and install Mac + Windows so you can boot to whatever one is better for what you need. But really Windows + Ubuntu is the better combination.
Aug 4 2010 1:19PM
0 0
profile picture
.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
i didnt mean on all occosions just in general. how old is his pc though?
Aug 4 2010 1:22PM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
less then a year
only stats I know are 16 gb of ram and liquid cooling
Aug 4 2010 1:26PM
0 0
profile picture
.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
he could have a bad processor.Whatever doesnt matter.
Aug 4 2010 1:41PM
0 0
profile picture
IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9926 - Karma: 9,344
just asked him, its a i7
Aug 4 2010 1:42PM
0 0
profile picture
tomahawk
Posts: 2006 - Karma: 53

Go for the sony over gateway. But if youre able to find an HP Dv6 quad core theyre siiick

Aug 4 2010 1:54PM
0 0
profile picture
shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/asus-ul30jc-1a.aspx?mode=specs

I've been looking at that ASUS as well. I haven't seen anything in the HP's or Toshiba's that have really stood out compared to the other two I posted, especially when I factor in the price. Bump for more replies, thanks so far. I'm leaning towards the Gateway, it seems sturdier and has a better price point for the almost identical specs.
Aug 4 2010 10:33PM
0 0
profile picture
.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Whoops I guess that one slipped past me. I thought I would have noticed that. Oh well..
Aug 4 2010 10:45PM
0 0
profile picture
eastside
Posts: 1744 - Karma: 167
I enjoy how the first two words are "no macs" and yet everyone still suggests macs.
Aug 4 2010 11:09PM
0 0
profile picture
dan.b
Posts: 866 - Karma: 10

porn site look so much better on a mac.

and ms word run way smoother.

Aug 4 2010 11:12PM
0 0
profile picture
shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/webca/LenovoPortal/en_CA/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=2DB8EEEA593F4DFBA5967766A18798A5

I'm going with this one, the Lenovo Ideapad Y460. The only thing I wish it had was a 7200rpm drive and Optimus graphics. But if the perfect ~1000$ laptop existed everyone would have it. Thanks for the help guys.
Aug 7 2010 1:53AM
0 0
profile picture
123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
Grammar like this causes me to view your opinion as invalid.
Aug 14 2010 2:58PM
0 0
profile picture
frp1080
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 10
i thought gateway went out of business
Aug 14 2010 3:02PM
0 0
profile picture
Scrambles
Posts: 2270 - Karma: 63
because it has a cute little fruit on the back, obviously.
Aug 14 2010 3:12PM
0 0
profile picture
lahnabonny
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 35
I've had my MBP for over a year now and it still runs like the day I got it. Sadly, I had to put Windows on it for some of the software i need for school. I went with XP cause Vista is horrendous and Windows 7 isn't much better. ANYWAYS, I did this through an application called virtual box. Turns out windows on a mac runs better than windows on a PC, so I suggest dropping the extra cash to get a mac, far worth it in my opinion, and if you really miss windows you can still have it installed on your mac - either through bootcamp (kind of a pain in the ass) or how I did it through Virtual Box where you can run Windows and OS X simultaneously. Make sure to get a decent amount of memory though because you have to split some of your hard drive for the Windows part if you choose to do that.

Hope this helps !
Aug 14 2010 3:14PM
0 0
profile picture
epain.
Posts: 107 - Karma: 15
are you on drugs?
Aug 14 2010 5:15PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)