Apple or Windows Laptop?

Tricia · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 06:58 PM

My laptop has 1gb memory and 120gb hard drive and I am running out of storage and operating memory so I want another laptop mainly for my photo editing programs, music and stuff like that.

I have always used Windows PCs/laptops. I looked at the Apple laptops but you don't seem to get as much for your money but, maybe I am not comparing like for like?

Do you have a laptop you are happy with - would you recommend it?

I sometimes watch DVD's and Iplayer on the laptop. Not too bothered about screen size.

Any advice please?

badger426 · #2 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 07:21 PM

See my post on your other question.
Cheers, Badger.

eeyore · #3 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 07:36 PM

you get more performance for your money with a desktop - although apple desktops are still more expensive than the comparable pc.

I used to be an apple user but got sick of software being more expensive plus incompatibility with my work places PC based systems. I now run a windows laptop for internet usage and a windows pc for serious photoediting etc and it would take a serious act of god to get me to revert to apple now

If you are after doing mainly photo editing etc with a windows system you will ideally need at least 2GB (4 would be better but probably too expensive tho it could be added later) Graphics card size isnt important for photo editing but is if you want to play games or watch dvds. I would also get a couple of USB powered external hard drives to keep your images on which avoids glogging up the internal drive and also protects your pics if the computer dies. (on a desktop system i would also have a second 40GB hard drive (of the fastest spec available) fitted to use as a scratch disk in photoshop - but on a laptop this isnt feasible for reasons of space.

By the way some apple users will tell you that with apple you dont need anti virus. But this isnt strictly true, while there are a lot less viruses and malwarez for apple systems than for windows there are still some , and it is unwise to be without protection. Another consideration is that if you shop or bank online there is some spyware written for the apple system and if you were caught out your bank/credit card would not reimburse your funds unless you could prove you had taken all reasonable precautions which they would expect to include antviral protection.

mbaldw · #4 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 08:41 PM

Hi Tricia,

are the hard drive and memory the only problem, or is the processor also too slow for what you're trying to achieve? The reason that I ask is memory and hard disk capacity are pretty much the only things you can upgrade on laptops (I've upgraded the optical drive before, but that can be a bit of a nightmare!).

The hard drive in my girlfriend's laptop recently started failing, so we brought a new drive (200gig) more RAM (2 gig) and a new OEM copy of XP and started from scratch. With a clean installation of Windows, more RAM and more HDD space, her laptop is noticeably sprightlier. The only thing I would say is that you need to have a reasonable knowledge of computers to achieve the upgrades. Upgrading RAM is usually pretty simple, but the hard disk can be a little more involved and it can be a little convoluted if installing XP on a SATA drive without a floppy disc.

With regards to the better computer choice, I agree with eeyore; if you plan to do a lot of processor-intensive stuff (i.e. photo and video editing), you're better off with a desktop. As far as brands go, my girlfriend's Dad is a freelance photographer and does a load of video and photo processing - he has a desktop for the bit-crunching and a mac laptop for pretty much everything else (he takes it to showcase his stuff because the battery life is much better than his Windows laptop).

Cheers,
Marc.

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 09:27 PM

Hi Tricia, what is your budget. I replaced my laptop, which was running really slowly for one with 4mb ram and 250gb HDD and Blueray DVD and with Photoshop Element 6 included. The cost is around £550.

Tricia · #6 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

Hi Tricia, what is your budget. I replaced my laptop, which was running really slowly for one with 4mb ram and 250gb HDD and Blueray DVD and with Photoshop Element 6 included. The cost is around £550.

Ron - your new laptop sounds perfect and a bargain at that price - I have been looking at the same sort of spec and they are much more expensive. My budget is around £600. Which laptop do you have?

Thanks everyone for your advice which has been really helpful. Unless you have a lot of technical knowledge (which I don't) choosing a new laptop is a bit daunting so it is great to be able to ask advice from other users.

ron1863 · #7 (**permalink**) 20-08-2008, 10:57 PM

Hi Tricia, I have sent you a PM re the laptop information.

Ron

Tricia · #8 (**permalink**) 21-08-2008, 01:17 PM

Got your message Ron. The laptop sounds just what I am looking for. Many thanks

Tricia · #9 (**permalink**) 21-08-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

Another consideration is that if you shop or bank online there is some spyware written for the apple system and if you were caught out your bank/credit card would not reimburse your funds unless you could prove you had taken all reasonable precautions which they would expect to include antviral protection.

Thanks eeyore - what a good point - I had not thought of that and I know several people with Apple laptops buying online without any virus protection.

Will pass your advice on.