Laptops

[kosydar 0]

They can, but they usually use different programs. I know my friend who has an Apple uses Poison.

[this guy 0]

I use Limewire.

[Chadd 916]

I use Limewire.

too much crap spyware and adware with it.

[jnicklo 0]

Would you consider a Mac? I got a titanium powerbook for college and it's awesome. No problems at all and I would highly recomend one.

Ditto :)

Except I've got an Aluminum Powerbook :)

[jnicklo 0]

mac's can't download music from a file sharing program can they? How much memory do those suckers have? Any notebook for under $1000 is tempting.

Limewire works great for OSX. NO SPYWARE, NO VIRUSES.

Check this link out, will help you out in deciding between mac or PC.

http://www.apple.com/switch/

[kosydar 0]

Stupid Apple question- what is the difference between a Combo Drive and a Super Drive, and is the Super worth $200 more?

[mik3 1]

combo drive = cdwriter + dvd reader

superdrive = cdwriter + dvd writer

[Vapor 0]

The reason there is no spyware or viruses for macs are because macs make up about 1% (its been disputed anywhere from 1-5%) of the computer users of the world. Why would a virus writter write a virus for 1%?

[LegoDoom 0]

Why would a virus writter write a virus for 1%?

I might do it just so people with macs can stop saying that there's no viruses or spyware on macs.

[fatwabbit 93]

Toshiba...

bought one for college way back in '98.... its a pentium 266mhz with only 3GB harddrive... it still works!!!

HP is pretty expensive on the service support... my wife had one, and she had some problems with it.. brought it back to service, and they told her she needed to change the hard disk... the cost for repairs was estimated at HALF the price of the whole notebook... needless to say, we bought another brand after that...

[jnicklo 0]

Why would a virus writter write a virus for 1%?

I might do it just so people with macs can stop saying that there's no viruses or spyware on macs.

Right....

For the record, Macs make up MUCH more then 1% of computers used worldwide.

Either way, Macs aren't just less prone to viruses and spyware they're also built much better then PC's. The manufacturing that goes into Apple's laptops are just incredible.

[Fletch 219]

Yes, I have a router right next to me. How will I be able to access tee internet from the laptop and a wirelsess card. Can anyone explain that? I was thinking either Toshiba or Compaq for brands. Not sure where I'll get it yet. eBay has some killer prices, and some have some sort of guarantees or security with waranties.

Yes to Toshiba, no to Compaq.

Compaq -

Computers

Often

Manufactured

Poorly

And

Questionably

[Fletch 219]

I use Limewire.

too much crap spyware and adware with it.

If you want peer-to-peer and don't want Spyware/Adware, use WinMX. Works like a charm :)

www.winmx.com

[jay 1]

I use Limewire.

too much crap spyware and adware with it.

If you want peer-to-peer and don't want Spyware/Adware, use WinMX. Works like a charm :)

www.winmx.com

The only problem is your about the only person using it anymore. I've had the best luck lately with Usenet. Try it, you'll be suprised what's there.

As for mac's they are built to much stiffer specifications. Unfortunately, they're not perfect either. No spyware or viruses is a major plus and the OS is a bit less obtrusive then XP but managing fonts has been a nightmare and there are a few bits of software I really miss.

As to laptops, if you're a student and your budget is high enough, the Toshiba Portege M200 Tablet PC is the fricken coolest computer on the face of the earth. My GF bought one last fall and there isn't a thing I don't love about it other then the fact it's not a mac. She takes notes on it like she's writing on a piece of paper and then just prints them out. You can even convert it all to text with one click (provided your writing is reasoanbly legible of course). It got approximately a 1400 x 1000 resoltuion on a fab 12" screen and it's really light and compact. Even holds a charge for a good 3.5 hours of normal use.

[jnicklo 0]

Managing fonts on Mac a nightmare? You still using OS9 or somethin? ;) I find it to be a total breeze organizing my fonts w/ Fontbook (native OSX Panther app).

What software do you miss btw?

[jay 1]

Managing fonts on Mac a nightmare? You still using OS9 or somethin? ;) I find it to be a total breeze organizing my fonts w/ Fontbook (native OSX Panther app).

What software do you miss btw?

This is getting way off topic but Font Book is an absolute POS. If you load any significant amount of fonts into it, it chokes like a cat on a hairball. I've demo'd FontBook pro and Suitcase and Suitcase seems to be doing a little better job but it's still giving me some headaches. I jsut want Adobe Type Manager 4 back. It ran in the background (didn't have to load it every time I booted) and worked perfectly. Oh, another thing is Apple's mouse drivers are garbage. I had to install the microsoft intellimouse driver to get reasonably smooth tracking.

[biff44 0]

RE HP Service contract: you have to read the fine print. They will only service your computer back to the software level you had on the day you bought the machine. In my case, I would have lost a gazillion programs, including my USB internet cable modem, many of which I do not really have backups! It was a complete waste of cash!

[bdj 0]

Ok, just thought I would add that there IS viruses and Spyware for mac, just not as much. They are few and far on mac but the more people who decide to use mac the more viruses will be made. You guys are making it sound like there is absolutly no way anything along the lines of a virus can into a mac.

Back on topic, A powerbook or ibook will be just fine for you, I'm saving to get a powerbook.

[mack 44]

Still looking to pick one up, but I can't equate a Mac's power to a PC's power since the Mac seems to run more efficient. I don't know if they've come down in price like the iPods, but I'm tempted by a Power Book.

[freq019 0]

I've had 3 ibm's at work and they have all been champs. I've worked them hard too. they are on the pricey side but I've had one problem in over 6years and they fixed it in two days at no cost to me. We've got some dell's here too but we've had a lot of problems with them, one of my co-workers has gone through 3 hard disks in about a week.

[Vapor 0]

Ok, just thought I would add that there IS viruses and Spyware for mac, just not as much. They are few and far on mac but the more people who decide to use mac the more viruses will be made. You guys are making it sound like there is absolutly no way anything along the lines of a virus can into a mac.

Back on topic, A powerbook or ibook will be just fine for you, I'm saving to get a powerbook.

Btw, its are not is :). Secondly, in the 4 years that OSX has been out can anybody tell me how many security holes (which have been exploited that is) have been found in the OS? Okay, I will tell you, ONE. One hole in four years? Windows has had literally THOUSANDS.

I would love to say that it is because OSX is based on Unix and has a strong backbone, and great coding, but I cant, just for the simple fact that I dont knwo if the roles were reveresed (windows and OSX) what would happean.

About how many people use macs... Apple can twist the numbers howerver they want, they count servers as computers when these numbers are compiled. I am a diehard mac guy, but Apple does not have 5% of the market.

http://news.com.com/2100-1040-943519.html?tag=fd_top

According to this article less than 5% of people use macs. Who knows the real number, alls I know is I am ordering abeautiful 23" cinema Display, which will bne mounted right below my TV on my wall, and its going to be a thing of beuaty. I am going to get a KVM switch, so I can switch between my Mac and my PC seemlessly, all on this beuatiful monitor.

[turcotte44 0]

*drools*

Damn, I wish I had the money for a cinema display.

My Mac Mini Ships in a week, I'm looking forward to that.

I am actually looking at an Flat Panel possibly 17" or 19" decent price and a vga connector for my iBook. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[vivaotravez12 0]

I'm strongly leaning towards a Mac now, even if there are viruses and spyware outhere, it will be far less then for a regular computer. New question, say I get an Ibook, or Powerbook, or whatnot. How will a Mac work with the internet wirelessly at home as opposed to a wireless card and everything with say a Dell.

Thanks

[Vapor 0]

I have had a mac for three years and never used protection (im crazy), and have never had a problem. I dl a lot form P2P and IRC also. Powerbooks and iBooks come with built in Airport Extreme cards. It took about 5 minutes from out of the box to on the internet for me with my powerbook, to set up my name, password, and tell it that I wanted to use a wireless network.