Mac vs. PC

[fishpatrol]

I've had my lovely Toshiba Satellite (named Juggie) since I first started university. It has, thus far, withstood the wear and tear of being dragged to classes and libraries. It died once and only once in my first year, but was recovered by a friend, no harm done. I love it like a second brain, but it is slowing down in its old age. I'm looking to get a new laptop as a reward for surviving the past four years of torture school and signing myself up for five more years of torture school.

So, the age old question: should I get a Mac or a PC?

I've never been big on Apple products (I don't like the idea of paying 40% more just for the brand). I've never had major issues with this Toshiba laptop or my previous one -- my main quibble with Toshiba laptops is that their battery life is too short. But I've heard the horror stories of people losing their data from hardware crashes and whatnot and I fear my luck with Toshiba laptops may one day run out. So if it is true that Apple laptops rarely ever crash (assuming that it's not, y'know, the result of reporting bias -- since more people own non-Apple computers, more non-Apple owners will report crashes, thus making it seem as if Apple computers crash less. Also, HP computers are probably driving up the crash rate. :P) and are mostly free from spyware and viruses, then I think it's worth spending the extra couple hundred bucks. I'm hoping to get a model that'll last me until the end of grad school without me having to reformat or, y'know, weep in despair as I lose all my precious data due to a hardware crash.

But on the flip side, there's no right-click button on the laptop. D: I really, really like the right-click function, okay? Also, all of the computers on campus, including the one in my office, are Dells, which raises compatibility issues.

But on the flip flip side, if I buy a Macbook through the school's Apple store, I can get a free iPod Touch -- I don't really like iPods as mp3 players, but the WiFi capability calls to me. XD

So, what kind of laptops do you guys have? And what kind would you suggest I buy?

Comments

[illuminations.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think that with how much technology has progressed in the last couple of years, Apple's products aren't really standing out that much. I guess the software that comes bundled with is more useful than the junk PCs come with, but still.

The switching-to-Windows thing on the Mac works only if you shut down the computer and reboot, apparently.
Yeah, pretty much. So you might as well not bother at all with a Mac if you think you might use Windows-only software frequently enough.

y'know, the blue screen of doom and all that.
I have actually never had that happen to me. The only time a laptop died on me was when I was using my dad's old IBM laptop that he gave to me only because his company gave THEM new Dells and it was like, 7-8 years old or something. Also probably half my fault since I wasn't that careful lugging it around.

I roll my eyes a lot at all the people who talk about computer crashes and crap like that 'cause my family's owned a lot of computers over the years and I don't think we've ever had a computer crash. A machine's a machine; it's not going to mess up unless you do something that tells it to mess up.

[fishpatrol]

But you can find more useful free-ware for Windows online, so it balances out. ;)

My current one has given me the blue screen a few times in the past couple of months, but a quick restart fixed problems. The only time restart didn't work was back in first year, when I've had the laptop for just a couple of months and calling the tech support was no help at all. Thankfully, my friend did some googling and fixed it in an hour. It just sounds as if PCs are more prone to random errors -- but, as I said, I could just be getting that impression because of reporting bias.

Out of curiousity, how long does the battery on your HP last? Toshiba laptops seem to be stuck around three hours -- and after four years of use, mine has died down to 1-1.5 hours.

[illuminations.livejournal.com]

Haha true, although for some things (like Office) I just need the real thing. Lucky for me, my school had a bunch of licenses so I got software for $5-$10. :D

Blah, that sucks. I dunno, maybe it's just Toshiba? I've never used that brand so I don't know how reliable it is. IBM/Lenovo is actually my preferred brand, but they tend to be a bit pricey. Though as far as I know, they get the least complaints regarding crashes and the like.

Sobbing my battery life is HORRIBLE. Even on the power-saver setting, it only lasts like, 2hrs tops. It could just be this model though, and as always, you can get the super duper battery pack instead, though it'll make your laptop look chunky. :(