Dell or Macbook?

Question

I am getting a laptop soon and I wasnt sure whether to get an dell inspiron or a white macbook. I would use it for college work, music, and just general use. Good points and bad points ?

Price is a factor but i think that they are both around £700.

I would also use it to download msn messenger etc.. does mac accept these?

Answer 1

For best deal, visit Dell Outlet. Note that state sales tax and I believe shipping is additional. Dells are quality built and can last a long time! FYI I own 3 DELL Notebook PCs: Inspiron E1505/6400, Latitude D620 and Latitude D800 (little too big to carry around) compared to other two DELL Notebook PCs.

Some Lessons Learned: (1) MEMORY at a minimum you want is 512MB and 1GB is better and 2GB even nicer. I paid over $1000 for my 1st Gateway Pentium IV Notebook and for the longest time was unhappy bec I never realized 256MB was reason why so slow on internet. Luckily I found the compatible 256MB to upgrade. (2) Size of BATTERY can be key esp when taking to lecture classes etc or in bookstore/library. (3) Wireless WiFi Internal Card is absolute must and may I recommend Intel ProSet WiFi either the expensive Draft N 4965 or 3945 bec the software is fantastic and much better than Dell Broadcom 1390, 1490 etc; (4) Get the biggest Hard Disk you can afford and don't settle for anything smaller than 60GB. (4) CPU if buying new Intel Duo Core should be fast enough but if buying used, then I would recommend Pentium M Centrino as your minimum and never waste your money on Pentium III no matter how cheap bec you will be disappointed buying something worthless that might give you trouble trying to unload.

Best of Luck!

Answer 2

The Mac is more expensive for what you get. I was considering the same recently and priced out a Macbook Pro because I wanted a 17" screen. The Mac was close to $3K, a comparable Dell was under $2K, and the Dell included MS Office standard (including Outlook).

IMHO, the Mac is the better machine, but it isn't cheap in the long run. The Macbook has a very small screen. The other issue with a Mac is that most new software comes out for Windows first. Mac versions take for ever to hit the market if at all. The other potential issue with a Mac is finding help if you have an issue. It's not so hard to find someone familiar with Windows, Mac is a different animal.

Answer 3

In the past 2 years, laptops have improved a lot. They last much longer and have much better quality hardware. I say a new dell is as good as a macbook these days quality-wise. Me and a ot of my friends have had absolutely no problems with our dell inspirons for 2 years now. For the same specs, macbooks are quite more expensive. You can get a lot more for your money with a dell inspiron. When you buy a laptop, make sure you have a core 2 duo processor and 2GB RAM for optimal performance.

Answer 4

I would highly recommend the MacBook. You'll love it. There are several ways to connect to MSN on a Mac. You can use the official Mac version, or you can use something like Adium X, which connects to a number of different IM services, such as MSN, Yahoo, AIM, MySpace and ICQ. Adium X is my personal favorite.

MacBooks have great battery life. They're very thin and lightweight, making them perfect for hauling around. You can't beat a Mac when it comes to music and general use. iTunes is great. It's even better on a Mac. There's a Mac equivalent for any PC application. Usually, the Mac version is better. There's no viruses, no spyware and no adware. You won't be nagged with constant security warnings or errors. If you need Windows, you can run Windows on your Mac using BootCamp to dual-boot with Windows XP or Vista or run Windows in a virtual machine right inside of Mac OS X using Parallels. No matter what you need, the MacBook has you covered. It may seem a little more expensive up front, but you'll actually spend less money in the long run. There's less software to buy, you're less likely to have to pay for any repairs and OS upgrades are cheaper. There's plenty of great reasons to get a Mac. If you have any specific questions, you can send me a message. I'll be glad to help you out. Get a Mac, you'll love it.

Answer 5

I think you are going to be much happier with the Macbook. While they are a touch more expensive, like a previous poster says, "they are solid". I have both and I would recommend that everybody use a mac. They are powerful, easy, and stable. There are LOT's of cool applications that you can use.

checkout www.versiontracker.com . You can get lots of cool programs for free. www.slashdot.org will show you lots of information specifically about your mac.

Answer 6

I'd side with a Macbook. Not because they are pretty, but because they are solid, quality machines.

Also, Macbooks enjoy a six hour battery life. Not many PC laptops can claim that (in the real world.) It comes with Bluetooth, wireless capabilities, and generous external monitor hook up capabilities. If you need to use Office for school, it can also be purchased (with three licenses) for quite cheap when you get it.

Answer 7

i would get a mac book...i've had a dell before and it started to die within a year of having it...

you can also get msn messenger for macs

Answer 8

get a dell