Macs Options

[Mommy]

no shit... my roommate spent over 3k on her mac laptop. I can buy a top of the line windows laptop for half that.

[pebkac]

no shit... my roommate spent over 3k on her mac laptop. I can buy a top of the line windows laptop for half that.

MacBook Pro ($2799)

* Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor with 800MHz frontside bus, 4MB shared L2 cache and 2.4GHz processor speed
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 4GB (2 SoDIMM slots)
* Slot-loading DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 5 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media

* The next-generation Intel® Core™2 Duo processor is based on the innovative Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, so it runs faster and is more energy-efficient for cooler, quieter operation
* 17" TFT-LCD widescreen display with 1680 x 1050 resolution
* 160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm); Sudden Motion Sensor helps protect your data in case of a drop or fall
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB video GDDR3 SDRAM; dual display and video mirroring capabilities; DVI and VGA outputs (DVI-to-VGA adapter included)
* Built-in iSight Web camera and microphone; Apple remote included
* 2 FireWire ports (one 800 Mbps and one 400 Mbps) and 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports; built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) wireless interface
* Built-in AirPort Extreme Card for wireless networking (draft-802.11n, 802.11a/b/g-compliant); 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet with RJ-45 connector

Dell XPS M1730 ($2659)

My Components
Smoke Grey
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7700 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Speed: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor
CD / DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
NVIDIA®GeForce®8700M GT graphics
Intel® PRO/Wireless 4965a/g/n Mini Card
85 WHr Lithium Ion Battery (9-cell)
High Definition Audio 2.0

Admittedly the Dell is a better a deal in terms of raw specifications, but that's hardly what I would call getting a top of the line Windows computer at half the price. In fact, you can probably spend twice the cost of the MBP to get a REAL top of the line windows computer.

[cmac]

http://lifehacker.com/software/hack-attack...-800-321913.php

[impala454]

MacBook Pro ($2799)

* Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor with 800MHz frontside bus, 4MB shared L2 cache and 2.4GHz processor speed
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 4GB (2 SoDIMM slots)
* Slot-loading DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive with double-layer support records up to 8.5GB of data or 5 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media

* The next-generation Intel® Core™2 Duo processor is based on the innovative Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, so it runs faster and is more energy-efficient for cooler, quieter operation
* 17" TFT-LCD widescreen display with 1680 x 1050 resolution
* 160GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm); Sudden Motion Sensor helps protect your data in case of a drop or fall
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB video GDDR3 SDRAM; dual display and video mirroring capabilities; DVI and VGA outputs (DVI-to-VGA adapter included)
* Built-in iSight Web camera and microphone; Apple remote included
* 2 FireWire ports (one 800 Mbps and one 400 Mbps) and 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports; built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) wireless interface
* Built-in AirPort Extreme Card for wireless networking (draft-802.11n, 802.11a/b/g-compliant); 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet with RJ-45 connector

Dell XPS M1730 ($2659)

My Components
Smoke Grey
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7700 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Professional - English
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
Speed: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) Free Fall Sensor
CD / DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)
NVIDIA®GeForce®8700M GT graphics
Intel® PRO/Wireless 4965a/g/n Mini Card
85 WHr Lithium Ion Battery (9-cell)
High Definition Audio 2.0

Admittedly the Dell is a better a deal in terms of raw specifications, but that's hardly what I would call getting a top of the line Windows computer at half the price. In fact, you can probably spend twice the cost of the MBP to get a REAL top of the line windows computer.

Yeah, make sure you get some help if you ever purchase a computer, because you'll configure it very badly and pay way too much. Especially if you choose XPS when you don't need it. How about this bud, it is much more comparable to the Mac:

Dell Inspiron 1720 ($1,669):
2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo (exactly the same as the Mac)
17" Display (1440x900, +$150 for 1920x1200)
256MB NVidia GeForce 8600M GT (exactly the same as the Mac)
2 GB DDR2 @ 667MHz (exactly the same as the Mac)
250GB SATA HD (90 GB more than the Mac)
Integrated webcam
Built-in Bluetooth
85 Whr battery
intel 3945 802.11a/g wireless + standard NIC
high def audio 2.0 (whatever high def means)
STANDARD 1 YEAR IN HOME SERVICE

This laptop is virtually identical to the Mac in terms of hardware, if not a little better. +- $150 depending on what resolution you want your screen to be (some actually don't want 1920x1200 on a laptop). Make sure you include the fact that the Dell comes with a standard 1 year, which is extendable to 2 years for $100, 3 years for $190, or 4 years for $270, where with Apple your only choice is a 3 year plan for $350.

[impala454]

http://lifehacker.com/software/hack-attack...-800-321913.php

I tried this a while back and got OSX to install and work, but I think the some of the drivers were still pretty "beta" and it crashed a lot. The hacked versions might be better now though.