LK23
Colorado
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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Your time is worth something!! I got so frustrated with my IBM laptop that I was ready to trash it and quit computing forever. It kept crashing and every time I called Tech Support some idiot in India told me to re-install the operating system - primarily because he could not determine the cause.
In 2006, following the advice from my son, I purchased a MacBook Pro 17. I have been delighted ever since. No problems, no crashes, it just WORKS. Yea!!!!!!!
I recently sold my older MacBook Pro 17 on eBay and purchased the new, faster version. It is great. Get a Mac and start to enjoy computing without the frustration.
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AZPops
Southwest
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Joined: 07/13/2006
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I purchased this Toshiba Satellite Laptop, great value for the bucks (screen, battery and battery life (?), speakers, etc., etc.).
I purchased this Laptop prior to W7 and am waiting for Toshiba to send me my free W7 upgrade, but not worried since the installed Vista Home Premium is working well.
Best Buy Toshiba Satellite Link
Pops
PS I believe this model is only available through Best Buy.
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robsouth
Near Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 06/20/2004
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years ago I had so many problems with an Apple III, that I have never looked their way again. I know a lot use Apple products, but I think a very small percentage compared to PC users. I don't even know of a place around here that sells Apple products. Choose based on your preferences (cost, use, etc) and you can never say that someone steered you wrong.
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2008
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According to Walt Mossburg in the Wall Street Journal, Windows 7 is good enough to replace XP, and even good enough to offer Apple some competition, unlike Vista.
Your needs may well be met by a low end laptop running 7. And Apple does not offer laptop Macs that compete down there in the very low end of the price range. The lowest priced Macs are the Mini, at around $600, and that is a desktop.
If you've been happy with XP, and your complaint with the current machine is simply that it is old and slow, you might be better served with 7. There will certainly be a learning curve issue whichever way you go.
I think I'd go visit The Big City somewhere and spend an afternoon hanging out in a Windows PC store followed by an afternoon hanging out in a Mac Store. I would look for an actual Apple Store, btw, rather than a Mac department in a Windows store simply because I've been in such stores and heard employees doing their best to convince someone who came in to look at the Macs that they really needed some Windows machine instead. Their loyalties are, uh, compromised.
At the Windows store, you should be able to "pot around" with a couple likely candidate machines to get a feel for them, and to get some answers. Ditto at the Mac store. And for me, perhaps as well for you, it's all about the feel. There's a limit to how much I'm willing to pay, and there's a limit to how much I'm willing to compromise on what I get for my hard earned money.
And I'm a Mac guy.
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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robsouth wrote:years ago I had so many problems with an Apple III, that I have never looked their way again. I know a lot use Apple products, but I think a very small percentage compared to PC users. I don't even know of a place around here that sells Apple products. Choose based on your preferences (cost, use, etc) and you can never say that someone steered you wrong.
Good advice there, Rob about choosing.
I remember the Apple III. I ran my business on one from 82 to 96, when I bought my first Mac. I'm sorry to hear that you were one of those folks who had trouble with 'em. Remind me never to get you mad, though: that's holding a grudge, guy!
But you are right about Macs being a minority compared to Windows. The folks who track such things say the current market is about 8% Macs, while the installed user base is around 15%, give or take a few. (The discrepancy is due to the fact that Mac owners keep their machines longer, on average about 8 years compared to around 3 years for Windows machines.)
As for not knowing where one even buys Macs "near Atlanta," I'd suggest that is because you haven't looked for places to buy one, not because they aren't there.
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8.1 Van
Millstone NJ
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Joined: 03/20/2008
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ramblemutt wrote:Polishnurse wrote:If all your doing is email, and a little surfing, I saw at Wal-marts the small note book for about $200.
Good suggestion, but a LOT of my work is receiving, downloading, and printing photos (by Email) and like a fair sized monitor for this...notebooks are a little small. Also like the CD/DVD options with normal laptops.
$598 Walmart
For mobile computing at blazing speeds, look no further than the CR700-012US 17.3" notebook from MSI. Featuring a 17.3" crystal-clear widescreen display, an Intel Pentium dual-core T4200 processor and 4GB of system memory, this laptop will keep up with even the most difficult tasks at speeds that will surely impress you. Plus, with 320GB of hard disk space, you'll have plenty of room for all your music, movies and favorite photos.
* 17.3" diagonal LCD widescreen LCD
Delivers 1600 x 900 resolution (WXGA++)
* NVIDIA GeForce 8200M with shared graphics memory
* Intel Pentium dual-core T4200 processor
Rated at 2.0GHz to keep your notebook running fast and smooth
* 4GB system memory
Provides enough memory to handle today's most memory-hungry applications
* 320GB SATA hard drive
Stores up to 90,000 photos, or up to 79,000 songs, or up to 38 hours of HD video and more
* SuperMulti DVD optical drive
Plays and creates CDs and DVDs in a variety of formats
* Wireless Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet
Connect to a broadband modem (cable or DSL) wirelessly or using the wired Gigabit LAN Ethernet port
* Can also wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal/hotspot with built-in MS-6891 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN
Additional Features
* Black finish with gray trim
* Three USB 2.0 ports
* VGA video output
* HDMI port
* 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery
* Built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam
* 4-in-1 digital media card reader (SD, MS, MMC, xD Picture Card)
Software
* Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
This product qualifies for the Microsoft Windows 7 Tech Guarantee. Purchase this PC today and upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium Edition for free (Shipping and handling fees may apply. Product to ship in late October). To learn more about the upgrade instructions and fees, Click here. To learn more about Microsoft Windows 7, Click here.
Support and Warranty
* 3-year limited warranty, 1-year global
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lwmuddy
Wallingford,PA
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Ditto on the Toshiba. I have a Toshiba A75 series laptop running XP SP3.
Heavy, battery life? I use it as a desktop machine. In 2004 it was around $1100, I don't know the current price. You want better, you pay a little more.
Biggest all-round complaint was the battery life.
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dfb
gardnerville
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Joined: 09/29/2005
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If you don't mind fixing things with your computer's operating system, doing Defrags, Disk Cleanups, Freezes, lost dll files, Registry issues and hardware that stops working, then go with a 200.00 to 600.00 PC... If you would rather spend your time Surfing the Net, emails, etc and don't want issues, then the choice is MAC.. My brother just bought a new laptop running Windows 7, and two days after using it, it won't connect to the wireless network he has.. He has tried everything and is so frustrated.. It shows the connection, the signal strength but just won't connect..Windows 7 is STILL BASED ON BUGGY MS-DOS~~~ I have Built 3 PCS and go back to MS-Dos.. After getting a virus and doing a Reformat, a week later my desktop said, "PTAWIA" failing to respond, when I did a shutdown>>> That did it, that was the end, no more Windows, no more servicepacks, no more trojans or Virus's, no more issues... it was BY BY BILLY, and Hello Mac... This was 4 years ago and the longer I have used a Mac, the more and more I LOVE IT~~~ Just an opinion... But the facts are, I had too many issues with MS... Microsofts new operating systems are like a Car Dealer selling you the SAME CAR, only in a different Color...Good luck in what ever you choose...
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angler
WI
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Joined: 08/21/2002
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I just was going through the same decision after my 6 year old laptop bit the dust. I was all set to purchase a Macbook pro, but after I thought about it I deceided to go to a pc instead. However I also bought a IMAC for a desktop machine(well I have a linux netbook too. I have a problem). I could buy both machines for about the price of a macbook pro. Since I use a laptop for mostly surfing the net and reading email didn't need a macbook pro to do that. If you have only one machine though I would consider a mac. They have a lot of cool software for manageing pictures and they are pretty foolproof.
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joraz
Tucson
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Joined: 08/16/2008
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I prefer and recommend Mac but I don't think it really makes much difference for your intended use. I hear that Windows 7 is very stable and as good as or better than Mac's OSX. I just like my Mac better than the PC because I don't have to deal with all the virus BS. Sounds like Windows 7 is better at fending them off. Good luck.
jor
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