Laptop or new PC - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jayems · 08-08-2006, 08:44 PM

Hey guys.. Need some advice here.

I'm returning to school for a 4 year degree. (Journalism).

I have a $1,500 grant that I don't have to pay back that I was planning on using to go towards a new computer (Since my tuition is pretty much paid).

I was thinking that I could use the laptop a great deal at school, and of course I'll be writing a whole bunch. Never had one before.

I wrote to someone at the program regarding my situation and they said that they have tonnes of computers and such, so it may not be worth my while.

To make a long story short, I have a really old (6 years) PC at home that really needs an upgrade. It does what it needs to do, but really sucks at lagging at a lot of things, mostly games.

So, would a new PC or Laptop be a good investment?

Most people tell me that a laptop is good, but becomes obsolete quicker and you don't use it at school as much as you think, and that there are computers at school anyway.

Thanks guys. (And gals).

James.

BlackArcher101 · 08-08-2006, 08:49 PM

A writer? Sounds like you need a laptop. All the writers I knew usually left the house on purpose to write.

Table 5 · 08-08-2006, 08:57 PM

I used to own a desktop and then switched to a laptop a few years ago. Now there is now way i wouldnt get anything but a laptop, they are just so versatile.

Reggie Dunlop · 08-08-2006, 09:06 PM

Going into gerbalism, I'd recommend a laptop.

You never know when those inspired moments strike. Also, they go great with digital cameras for field work.

Jayems · 08-08-2006, 09:09 PM

The only other problem is they use Mac's at school. How much would that screw up getting a laptop?

BTW, thanks for all the input.

Reggie Dunlop · 08-08-2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

The only other problem is they use Mac's at school. How much would that screw up getting a laptop?

BTW, thanks for all the input.

Get a Mac Laptop.

Jayems · 08-08-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Get a Mac Laptop.

But how compatible with every other program are macs? (Plus, i looked at that, they are touted as being better, but much more $$$)

Reggie Dunlop · 08-08-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

But how compatible with every other program are macs?

The news business is almost exclusively Macintosh. Picture browsers, transmission software, desktop publishing suites, workflow utilities, etc.

Might as well get onboard out the get-go.

Bobblehead · 08-08-2006, 09:22 PM

Do you want it for school, or do you want it for games?

For school, Macs make very nice (albeit pricy) notebooks (a few people pn here rave about them). But games are very much a Windows thing. However, that may be a benefit since if you are supposed to be writing.

I'd say get yourself a MacBook (there is a student discount at Apple.ca) and find out what software you will need. School computers can be a pain, especially if the labs close and you have more work to do, or you don't want to trek to school just to do some work.

I know the Windows world a lot better, but it sounds like other than games at Macbook is what you are wanting.

Jayems · 08-08-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Do you want it for school, or do you want it for games?

For school, Macs make very nice (albeit pricy) notebooks (a few people pn here rave about them). But games are very much a Windows thing. However, that may be a benefit since if you are supposed to be writing.

I'd say get yourself a MacBook (there is a student discount at Apple.ca) and find out what software you will need. School computers can be a pain, especially if the labs close and you have more work to do, or you don't want to trek to school just to do some work.

I know the Windows world a lot better, but it sounds like other than games at Macbook is what you are wanting.

Yeah, games are about a 1% priority to me. But I know almost nothing about macs.

Reggie Dunlop · 08-08-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Yeah, games are about a 1% priority to me. But I know almost nothing about macs.

Trust me, bite the bullet and get the proper tool of the trade.

There's not as much differentiating the two platforms as there used to be, but news organizations still continue to use Mac for the simple reason they've already got the infrastructure.

Besides, they have Windows for Mac now.

@theCBE · 08-08-2006, 10:53 PM

Are you staying here for school, if not then definitley a laptop. I lugged my desktop back and forth to school every year for 4 years and it was a huge pain in the ass. Even if you are in Calgary I would still go for the laptop, with all the wireless places all over campus now you almost never need to use a school computer.

I'm heading back to school in september so this time i got a laptop and I LOVE it. I actually read an article on cnet.com a couple weeks ago that was saying laptops are becoming even more upgradable lately. I'll see if I can find the article.

Edit.. So i couldn't find the article but there is tons of good info Here

Bobblehead · 08-08-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @theCBE

Are you staying here for school, if not then definitley a laptop. I lugged my desktop back and forth to school every year for 4 years and it was a huge pain in the ass. Even if you are in Calgary I would still go for the laptop, with all the wireless places all over campus now you almost never need to use a school computer.

I'm heading back to school in september so this time i got a laptop and I LOVE it. I actually read an article on cnet.com a couple weeks ago that was saying laptops are becoming even more upgradable lately. I'll see if I can find the article.

I know on my IBM Thinkpad I can upgrade memory, hard-drive or wireless card very easily, in addition to the PCMCIA slots available. I've read on Macbooks the possibilities vary by model (some you can't do much, others there are more options. Be sure to ask).

RougeUnderoos · 08-08-2006, 11:12 PM

Like Reggie said, the journalism trade is all about the Macs.

If you can run a PC you can run a Mac, and I'm sure you can get one for 15 hundred bucks.

Also, school labs suck.

Hemi-Cuda · 08-09-2006, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Trust me, bite the bullet and get the proper tool of the trade.

There's not as much differentiating the two platforms as there used to be, but news organizations still continue to use Mac for the simple reason they've already got the infrastructure.

Besides, they have Windows for Mac now.

thanks to the new Intel architecture, PC's can run OSX as well if you wanted to. but are macs really that prevalent in the media industry? i know they're supposedly better for picture and video work, but it just seems like it would be so much more expensive for an organization to go Apple over Dell or IBM

jimmy11 · 08-09-2006, 06:03 AM

I agree with most people here, get a Laptop.

On the Mac thing, I have had a 12 inch Powerbook for almost two years and have never had a problem with it. I had a PC laptop before this and had nothing but problems. To me, Apples are worth the extra money (and it is not a tonne extra after student discounts)

The only thing I would say about Apples is that you MUST upgrade the RAM that comes with them. Compatiability has never been an issue with me as word, excell etc all cross over. I think now with the new Macs, compatibility is evven less of an issue. I can't see myself buying a PC for a very long time.

ken0042 · 08-09-2006, 07:16 AM

I am very much anti-laptop unless somebody has a need for a portable computer. Sounds to me like you have a use for one.

Yes, there may be computers everywhere that you can use, but it's nice to have all of your stuff along with you.

Table 5 · 08-09-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

are macs really that prevalent in the media industry?

Absolutely, it's nothing but. I've been an art director at two magazines, and work with many publications.....everybody uses macs. From the art staff to the editorial, it's not even a question.

If you are getting into media or publishing, get a Mac. This is not a "Do you play games? Or how much software does it support?" question. It's a question of what format the industry uses. And the answer is Macs. Buying a PC in this case will only lead to regret.

cheung31 · 08-09-2006, 11:02 AM

Parallels and Boot Camp will allow for Windows to run on the OS X.

Boot Camp allows for Windows to be installed on the hard drive and you choose which OS to start.

Parallels is VMware, I think.

Flames Draft Watcher · 08-09-2006, 12:16 PM

Never thought I'd need a laptop until I forced to use one at SAIT. Now I'd rather have a portable computer. I can take it everywhere around campus including into my classes. Can take it on road trips, to cafes, etc.

I'm a big Mac fan as well. Switched last fall to a Mac laptop and have no regrets about the move. I really prefer the macs to windows pc having developed software on a PC for 5 years.