Is the extra 500 dollars worth a MacBook?

Question

I wanna get a MacBook [cheapest], but its $1100 with just the bare components, whereas other laptops for much cheaper have 3Ghz instead of 2 and the same processor and twice as much harddrive. I want my computer basically for photoshop, flash, movie editing and the internet. Is it worth the extra money? Is 2Ghz enough for large programs like Flash Pro to run smoothly? If its worth it, what are the benefits of an Apple computer?

Answer 1

Apple's range of notebooks are expensive than a PC laptop with comparable hardware specifications. But still they sell in huge droves and not without a reason. MacBooks are beautiful !

That might sound like an absurd reason but these machines are designed beautifully with a lot of emphasis on classy looks, good build quality, excellent hardware and software and out of the box computing. Macs are excellent machines for multimedia work like Photo editing, making movies and podcasts (iLife) and is pretty good for internet too. Most modern Macs come with Intel dual core processors and clock speed is seldom a true indicator of a machine's speed.

A 2 GHz machine is more than sufficient to run Flash Pro. If you are circumspect, invest more in memory (2 Gigs or more of RAM) and you will find your machine chugging along efficiently.

Of course, comparing a MacBook and a PC notebook face to face is kind of futile. The choice should depend entirely on what you want to do with your notebook. Read the Apple website and search for reviews on some MacBooks and PC laptops as well and that should help you make an informed choice.

In my opinion, MacBooks are worth every penny (that's my 0.02) ... All the best !!

Answer 2

If you want to go by the cheapest computer that can do the job well, I advise you to go with Windows, or Linux PC. MAC is more expensive, while it has some benefits, like:
Since there are not many MAC users, and also MAC is not in important and worldwide companies, there is less chance that someone bother to write a virus for it. So it's safe, also it looks good. But as you found out cheap MAC are not good in comparison with Windows based PC.
Also upgrading a MAC is much more expensive than a Windows PC. If you are going for graphics and animation edits, it's better that you get a computer with dedicated graphic card (GPU) and also good amount of RAM.
Also don't fall for the windows on MAC, cause it makes no sense that you pay extra for MAC, then you go and buy $200 Windows OS, and install it on a MAC. While you can get a Windows, with less amount of money and same specification of hardware, and add up a free Linux OS for searching the net, and doing the stuff that they claim it needs more security!
But still i say, you get a MAC for a day or two from a friend and play with it, see if you like it, and then check the Windows based computers, and see which one is better for you, also it's not bad to see if all the programs that you need, is available for MAC, cause not every program available on windows is available for MAC, specially professional programs.

Answer 3

A Mac is by far worth the extra $500. Come on, what kind of question is this? Let Dad educate you, boy.

With a Mac, you get a massive CPU. Yes, that's right. Your eyes can't believe it It's called a Mac. What do do you expect?

So the PC boyz keep saying their PCs don't lack nothing. Pssh, Mac doesn't lack nothing, either, because you can install Windows on a Mac, too. You have best of both world.

Have you heard of the latest Macbook Pro? Visit here to learn more. http://www.apple.com/

The new Mac has a very, very, very powerful GPU that nothing can't stop.

Virus? Every time you download something you got to scan for virsues. You got to reformat. You got to cry, because your 10.000 songs are automatically deleted by virsues... This doesn't happen with a Mac. Once you go Mac, it watches your Back.

Get your Mac now and stop thinking which is better.

You just heard from Dad

Answer 4

I have a macbook and a dell laptop. I love them both, but I'd probably recommend the macbook over the dell. I've just had much less problems. Apple computers are very stable. I've found all the software I need. I always end up using the macbook and leaving the dell for my little sister to use.

Answer 5

in common terms a coarse theory how Apple rips off the top consumer: issues i will fit in for $500 : AMD x2 4000+ Brisbane = $60 ECS 690G motherboard = $30 (MIR) Hitachi Deskstar a hundred and sixty GB HDD =$40 9 DVD Burner = $25 Eathwatts 380W = $35 Rosewill Casing = $30 a know-how ddr2 800 RAMs 2 x 1GB = $34 (MIR) Hanns G 17" liquid crystal exhibit = $one hundred fifty living house windows XP living house = $ninety entire = $503, expenses from Newegg

Answer 6

Gigahertz is NOT the way to judge the quality of a notebook. If youre doing pic and vid editing, macs are a gerat choice.

But remember the good thing about macs is also the bad thing about macs. Because they have a monopoly, they keep standards of manufacturing very high and software is very compatible. But that causes VERY high prices and limited selection. PC's vary greatly in quality of mfgr and software may not work well and play well with others.

Answer 7

no its not worth it and macs have bad innovation because Macintosh is getting bankrupt there raising prices so no its not worth extra money i would get a PC with windows XP Professional with service pack 2 it has windows movie makerso get the other laptops they are much better macs are low grade and 2ghz is good enough to run flash pro so no its not worth the extra money

Answer 8

Well,. go ahead with the Mac. You can also get education discounts which will lower the price by $100, College students and k-college teachers only. And on account that you will be using it for editing pics, etc. Mac comes with softwares, (not trial versions) in all their computers. all Macs come with iLife '06 installed in them. And you can get a variety of softwares from Apple and get awesome discounts.

Answer 9

Don't buy the cheapest version since it doesn't even have a DVD burner. Try the better versions :)

Click here to compare:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=D2D493CA&node=home/macbook/macbook_pro

I have a PowerBook G4 and for me, it's still better than the MacBook since it has a DVD burner, which is very useful.

Answer 10

My laptop has 1.6GHz it should be enough. I wouldn't mind getting a Macbook, but more apps/programs are and always will be for Windows.