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Aug 07, 11 at 5:57pmVanhishikha

So currently, I'm facing a small conundrum, here's what's happening.

I want to either purchase a:
  • Macbook 13" Unibody

  • Cooler Master HAF X with Coolermaster GX 750W PSU
  • Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard
  • Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB)
  • Razer Sphex Gaming Desktop Mouse Pad
Now, my current specs are as follows:

  • Antec 300
  • Lazer Lycosa
  • 8GB DDR3 RAM
  • No mouse mat
So is it really an upgrade? meh, not really, just more aesthetics really! that's all that I'm really after right now.

Although going to University for my second year come September and buying this Macbook 13" unibody would be quite ideal, so yeah.

The only thing is, I've got limited cash at the moment and I'll be buying the 13" off e-bay, I've already gone ahead and purchased it but just not paid for it yet, he told me and I quote:

quote E-bay Seller
I didn't have any problems using it as my only computer, and would use it for video watching, photo editing, a little video editing, general internet and office type use. I have no reason to suspect it may break any time, it was my only computer for daily use for almost 3 years.
So I'm not exactly sure how much this will benefit me? maybe it'll break within a few months of use? maybe it will not, but I'm not entirely sure whether I'm willing to take that chance.

Here's an image:

Thoughts/opinions guys?

Thread Recap (last 10 posts from newest to oldest)

Nov 21, 13 at 11:52pm

This is one of the most controversial topics when talking about computers.
This may help you decide.

Oct 18, 13 at 8:45am

Once you go Mac, you'll never go back.

Mar 11, 13 at 1:58pm

It involves installing Mac OS X, yes. And it's just as easy as installing Windows.

Now, if you're installing Mac OS X with miss-matched hardware, it's a bit more complicated, but that's the genius of building your Mac with specific pieces of hardware already compatible with Mountain Lion. Here's some news on a new mobo coming out that might interest you all.

Mar 11, 13 at 1:28pm
Duncan Idaho

quote Northern49
Why not both? Here's a guide. If you build a computer with the right parts, it's a Mac. All you need to do is install the operating system. If you still want Windows or Linux, boot camp it. You don't need to buy Apple hardware to get Apple software, Apple just wants you to think that. No matter what they say about Mac OS X, it's still a Unix operating system, and it's still an Intel x86 PC.
doesnt that involves hackintosh?

Mar 11, 13 at 1:26pm


Oct 07, 12 at 8:54am

Depends on what you're wanting to use it for.

I have a retina MacBook Pro and a desktop that I built myself. As an engineering grad student, I tend to use my desktop PC much more than the rMBP. Not only do I game on it, but Microsoft Office owns the shit out of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

PC Pros:
Microsoft Word allows you to easily make an appropriate formal lab report. I can insert tables and figures very easily.
Microsoft Excel makes life so much easier. Instead of having to calculate by hand (using a TI89) necessary data and insert it one cell at a time, I can just type in an equation and it calculates then fills it in for me. All of my buddies that graduated with their engineering degrees (as well as my buddies in med school) use Microsoft Office.
Microsoft PowerPoint is my preferred presentation program because all the classrooms have Windows PC hooked up to the projector thing. When you transfer a presentation from keynote to powerpoint you will lose some of the features and it can cause some embarrassment.

Gaming is important to me. You will have serious issues with gaming on a macbook pro (even if you do bootcamp, the hardware is made to run on the more efficient OSX, therefore you lose performance and could have a less enjoyable gaming experience).

If you use Kaspersky internet security and stay away from porn/torrent sites, you will not get a virus.

You can turn your Desktop into a Mac (someone said it's completely emulated which I think is incorrect) I turned my desktop into a hackintosh on an extra hard drive that I had, but after I did it I never used it again. You have to use the i5 or i7 processors.

As you can see, you can easily upgrade a desktop PC.

The only cons I can think of are attributed to the Windows laptops. The build quality of a Windows laptop is trash. Every laptop I've owned that cost close to $2k became paperweights within a year or 2 (Asus and H P)

As for the rMBP, I mainly use it to surf the internet. It has a 1800p resolution so the screen is even more crisp than my 1080p desktop monitor (can tell a huge difference).

I rarely take it to class since the amount of equations, derivations, and diagrams makes it impossible to take notes on the laptop. If you were an English major or something then I believe it would be ideal.

Realistically, you do not NEED a laptop in college. Although it does make things more convenient some times, it is not a necessity. A desktop really isn't NEEDED either, since university libraries and certain departments have a ton of computers available for use. Those in the industry that need to travel a lot and give presentations to clients actually NEED a laptop.

As for the "Macs can't get viruses argument" please take a look below:

Upgrade your desktop if you are a STEM major and enjoy gaming
Buy the MBP if you are a liberal arts major

Sep 17, 12 at 12:37pm

I would suggest getting the Mac if you can afford it.

However, Linux on a PC is also a viable option.

Jun 29, 12 at 8:53pm

For me, I use mac for school stuffs and all those, as for PC I use them for games, photoshop etc. Mac is great when you get the hang of it. The first time I got it, I still got confused on how to copy and paste stuff using the keyboard, well beginners .

Jun 13, 12 at 6:07pm

quote Lazy
And all the better if you have a creative mind.
More of a marketing thing these days, you can find an assortment of creative apps like Sonar for audio or Cubase and Premiere and After Effects and AVID are huge players for video these days. Photoshop and others deliver the same experience or better depending on your hardware. You also have major tablet companies making hardware for both sides with no differences in delivery.

It was a good run back in the PowerPC days but I wouldn't force someone into the Apple marketing just because they're in a creative industry or field of study. I've killed a good number of Mac Pro systems in my day doing 3D work and video editing :/ spinning wheel of death is no fun in that 11th hour.

Jun 13, 12 at 3:16pm

do you know how to operate a PC very well? (comfortable with bios, freeware, deep level settings, know how to avoid viruses, etc) buy a PC; more bang for your buck.

cant operate a PC too well? (you get viruses you cant get rid of, you have driver conflicts, even control panels get a bit confusing to you, etc) go for the mac.

contrary to popular belief, macs do get viruses (and there is apple developed anti-virus software to combat it), but because *so many more people* own PCs, PCs get many more viruses (the logic is, why write a virus for a computer barely anyone comparatively uses?). as macs become more popular, the number of viruses too will increase. macs are still comparatively safer for the average user.

if you want a laptop and go the windows route, i recommend lenovo's thinkpads.

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