how's this sound for a laptop?

I looked at Macs and was really toying with the idea of crossing over, but they are very expensive!!

True. I mortgaged my soul to my sister to pay for my 12 inch Powerbook ($2800 with the AppleCare added in). However, I've never had a single problem with it, and the same goes for the iBook I used to have, and the G4 Desktop I had before that. I would say that the laptops are very expensive, but if you're ever in the market for a desktop, the Mac Mini will rock your socks off for only $500. And no, you don't have to buy a $XXXX mac display to go with it. You can hook it up to any monitor you like, even one that you think is only for PCs (monitors are really just universal). I can't wait for the release of OSX 10.5 this October!

*glee!*

 

okay I'm done geeking out now 

So far, so good, I really like it. The only issues I have had has been with Norton screwing up (even messed up my sound which was extremely frustrating). I haven't been using a lot of other software yet though, but as far as all the usual Windows stuff, works a treat. The new Outlook (called Windows Mail) has a fantastic spam filter.

If you are transfering from an XP computer to a Vista computer, there is this cable you can get that does the transfer for you and I HIGHLY recommend using it, as it makes everything SOOO easy and it's all done in like, 5 minutes. It imports all your bookmarks, contacts, settings, everything you can imagine, and you don't have to hunt around and do it yourself for every program.

Thanks, I'll look into it. Otherwise, it'll be lot's of trips between the two with a flash drive!!

I looked at Macs and was really toying with the idea of crossing over, but they are very expensive!!

I'm afraid I won't go near Macs - I don't really have a problem with them per se, as they are pretty good in general, but we have a 'Mac worshipper' in our uni department who likes to shove his love of Macs down our throats at every opportunity (he won't willingly help you with computer problems unless you have a Mac)!

While I have to use a Mac on a daily basis for my research project (my programs will only run through UNIX), I find PC's much easier to navigate and use for basic tasks (e.g. the Word program on the Mac won't print symbols - it just comes up with an empty box, and since I use equations and Greek letters regularly, it gets very annoying)!

ksand, I totally understand what you mean about psycho-mac-lovers. I only got into macs because they're great for graphics, so it's just really my OS of choice now. I have known, however, people who just utterly shove mac down your throat. Every five seconds it's "well it wouldn't be broke if it was a mac" or "you wouldn't have to fix it if it was a mac." Some people are just lame. Windows isn't for everyone just like Macs are not for everyone.

And I think your problem with the symbols may be some kind of postscript problem... I can use symbols of all types and print without the blank boxes. Maybe it's a font issue? Who knows!

Oh, and those transfer cables work wonders!

ksand, I totally understand what you mean about psycho-mac-lovers. I only got into macs because they're great for graphics, so it's just really my OS of choice now. I have known, however, people who just utterly shove mac down your throat. Every five seconds it's "well it wouldn't be broke if it was a mac" or "you wouldn't have to fix it if it was a mac." Some people are just lame. Windows isn't for everyone just like Macs are not for everyone.

Yeah, we get that all the time - especially in the 'Scientific Communications' lectures he gave!!

And I think your problem with the symbols may be some kind of postscript problem... I can use symbols of all types and print without the blank boxes. Maybe it's a font issue? Who knows!

Oh, and those transfer cables work wonders!

The problem is that the symbol function wasn't fully installed when the computer arrived (it's only a few months old) and at the moment I have no way to get it working. What's annoying is that if I load a document written on any other computer, all my previously added symbols disappear!! I have an awful feeling I'm going to have to print my thesis at home instead of using the free printer credits I have with the Mac .