Can anyone recommend a good laptop? I'm in the market for one, and can't decide between a Mac or PC. The new Macs cost a lot, but I like them. However, I might be swayed if someone could convince me how great their PC laptop is.

Ah. We have a Toshiba Tecra (old one) which is nice, and mostly survived a fall down stairs. Do you need the latest model?

Yeah, I'm mainly looking for advice on the latest models. I'm interested in one that's well-equipped to handle video downloads and such. Someone who has a kid that they've purchased a laptop for may be my best bet.

I was staying at a hotel that was having a conference for IBM tech people a few weeks ago. I struck up a conversation with one of the attendee's in the hotel bar. I asked him what laptop he would reccomend now that IBM was out of the laptop business. He said "no question about it- I would buy one of the new Intel Macs."!

Yeah. I'm thinking about getting one of those, but I'm kind of fond of my arm and leg.

watchdog, you might want to check out one of the new MacBooks. They start at around $1099 for 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, all the way up to 1499 for the 2.0 GHz with a bigger hard drive. They're pretty comparable to the similarly-priced/configured Dells.

$1099 for a Macbook at the Apple store. It isn't the cheapest thing out there, but it isn't really an arm and a leg either!

Are you looking for the least expensive, or the best thing for the money?

Wow. I haven't seen this price. I have seached the Internet a few times for Macbooks and I've seen them priced starting at $1,500. I want one with the medium-sized screen. That may be a 17 inch. The next size up is just way too big. But I'm leaning more toward the Macbook than a PC laptop. I'm just on a tight budget.

My Dell has a pretty large screen, but it is like hauling a bag of bricks! My next computer will be that smallest Macbook, probably.

By the way, the reason I didn't mention Dell is because of the problems I've had with this one- so far I've replaced the screen, the keyboard, the motherboard, and the hard drive (all under warranty), and last week had to reload the whole system (not under warranty).

We have a much older Mac Powerbook (Pismo), and have only had to replace the hard drive.

MacBook or MacBook Pro all the way (depending on your budget and needs). Don't waste your time and remaining years of life on a PC. It's simply easier and does what you wnat it to do (or there are scripts and applications that enhance it for your needs).

I'd recommend at least 1gig of memory which you can install yourself or have preinstalled on purchase. If you're a Windows user, you'll have to somewhat relearn everything but the learning curve is NOT steep.

My friend went from a PC notebook and desktop to a MacBook and swears it's the best purchase he's made - ever.

No hassle. No headache. No virii (unless you're extremely careless and the chances are still low). Built-in firewall (can be activated). Encryptable data. Compatible office suites for much less.

Seriously. There's no need to question further unless you've invested serious money in alot of Windows software that's extremely expensive (like Photoshop). Good news -- you can now run Windows on a Mac.

As for the price, don't be mislead. The resell value on a Mac is famous. You can still sell 6-7 year old G3s and G4s (older generation Macs) for $400+ on Ebay if it's in good condition. But, why? My 6yo G4 still purrs like a kitten right beside my iMac Intel.

Once you go Mac, you won't go back. ;-)

If you want to touch and feel one before purchase, I'd recommend going to CompUSA. They have a pretty diverse lineup there. User Friendly has always been less-than user friendly when I've been there but it's also another option with fewer selections.

When buying, you have several options -- The Apple Store or stores like Mac Mall which often have bundled packages that may include a printer or similar peripheral.

Here's two blog entries a friend in Jackson posted after many emails back and forth regarding Macs v. PC. This one before he was a Mac user, this one while determining his next computer purchase and needs, and this one after three months of using a Mac. He mentions some hiccups but he's completely sold on the design, quality and OS Apple continues to make famous.

By the way, I do not work for nor am I under contract with Apple. After reading that last entry, I realize my love for Apple sounded like an advertisement... Or, at the least, obsession.

So if I get a Mac, I'd still be able to install my PC version of Photoshop on it?

Yes. I've read Apple's Boot Camp runs Photoshop and other RAM intensive apps like games better than Parallels. Boot Camp is still in beta but it's a pretty tight beta. It's rumored the feature may be built into the next incarnation of OSX but I can't promise that nor do I know the source of the rumors. Either way, Boot Camp is currently free and worth a try.

There are more emulators on the way from a few diggs I've seen that could be promising and very open source.

Soon, it'll be time for PShop CS3... I'd go with a Mac version if you go the way of CS3. It just feels right in the OSX environment.

Speaking of open source... Another perk of OSX is the Unix underpinnings. You can run *nix programs on your Mac if that's your thing and there are more open source apps out there than you'll know what to do.

Frankly, I'm pretty happy with my core install of OSX and have made only a few major hacks. It's nice to have all the options at your fingertips without having to dig to far. Of course, if you're no hacker, it's still a good OS. ;-)

Know anywhere I could get a refurbished Macbook or Macbook Pro at a good price?

Watchdog...one thing to add to what Knol is saying...you'll need to install *Windows* on the MacBook as well as Photoshop Win. If you've got a copy of Windows around and it'll install on a new "PC" then you should be fine. If you don't have a copy of Windows, you'll need to pay for it and install it before Photoshop will work. You can then use Apple's Boot Camp to boot your MacBook into Windows (you'll have to switch back and forth to use PC vs. Mac applications) or you'll need to buy Parallels in order to run Windows and Mac applications simultaneously.

As for refurbs, go to the Apple Store and scroll down to "Looking For a Great Deal." Click that. That's where Apple's factory refurbs are...they're usually a few hundred bucks cheaper than retail, although you'll get a shorter warranty. (You can buy AppleCare for them, which gives you three years worth of send-it-in-with-whatever-problem coverage...or the ability to, for instance, walk into the Apple Store in Memphis and get stuff fixed/replaced.

They've actually got a ton of models listed right now...hmm...there's the low-end white MacBook for $949. Hmm. :-)

Small Dog Electronics also sells some Refurb Macs although they tend to make Apple's prices look better. (If you shop them carefully, though, sometimes they're offering a tricked out demo model for a good price.

watchdog, you can also watch Apple's "sale" area in the Apple Store for refurb deals... They usually go pretty fast. My iMac is a refurb and I have no complaints. Shaved a few hundred dollars off the price which allowed me to amp the RAM on the beast and still pay less than I would have for a new one with lower specs.

Can anyone offer a comparison of the ibook and the macbook?

Edsel vs Ferarri? :D

Really? I've heard from some there's not that much of a difference.

Well the new MacBook has an all-new processor for Macs, the Intel Core Duo. The Intel ones are in all the models now. The new programs that come out for the Intel ones are much faster. It's also got some neat stuff, like the built-in iSight, a remote control for controlling movies and iTunes. I personally think if you have an iBook, it's not obsolete or anything, but if you're buying new, definitely go for the new generation, because there's a real difference with the new processors.

Go Intel watchdog... You'd think it would be the difference in buying a brand new car vs. a two year old car but the difference is quickly noticed.

Comparing my G4's boot time to my Intel Imac, I can say I'm logged in and checking mail by the time the G4 is finally loaded and ready to go.

There is noticeable difference if you've spent time on both systems for a while. If you barely experience an Intel, it's easier to say there's not much difference. I stare at both on a daily basis and use both on a daily basis... Trust me, the difference between a G4 and an Intel Core Duo are worth the investment.

If you end up going with windows over apple, I recommend a laptop using AMD 64 X2 Dual Core processors! Intel is like Wal-Mart. They only want to crush the other competition and rule the processor market. ;-)

Just remember anything you buy will be considered old within months. Just try to get the most bang and processor/memory for your buck.

I highly recommend that you build your own laptop. It can be very rewarding and allows you to keep crappy 3rd party software off your computer. I hate the logos and add-ons that [insert corporate computer maker giant here] puts all over their systems.

I have only replaced a laptop screen, and it wasn’t hard. This past Fall I built my home system, and had a great time doing it. Got some lighted fans, UV glow cables, cool case - it's pimp'in! It wasn't as easy as plugging in a [insert corporate computer maker giant here] and surfing the internet in 5 minutes. Also, you will not find building your own any less expensive. But, you will probably install parts that are far superior to what you would buy off the shelf in an already built machine. I really enjoyed knowing I built it; and that I unshackled myself from [insert corporate computer maker giant here]. I guess learning Linux should be my next task?

Pike, I used to be into the whole "build your own" adventure and finally figured unless I'm a serious gamer, there's no need to waste my time with wires, screws and headaches. But, that is certainly another viable option... My friend ended up with alot of gray market hardware that wasn't quite up to par with standard market hardware; buy from reliable sources if/when.

I was just giving him some other options just in case. A programmer I know is the same way. Yeah, I can build one; but, I'd rather let someone else and I'll slick the drive and start scratch. I found it to be cathartic for me to build it. I've got two left thumbs with most things!

And, somebody has to represent for AMD!