Is a laptop purchase in your future? Is it time to consider an Apple laptop?
We use both Apple and Windows based laptops. Both have their place in my business.
Let me lay out the basic differences to help you make an informed decision.
- Apple Laptop will cost much more. (Win Tel $550 vs. Apple $1300). UPDATE: Apple announced this week of a drop in pricing for laptops and iPhones. Look for a price decrease of $300 for laptop in the near future.
- You will have to buy/re-buy software for the Apple platform. Adobe PhotoShop that runs on your Windows laptop will not run on your Apple laptop. You need to buy an Apple copy. PhotoShop will look different from one platform to another. It is possible that the Apple version will have less fuctionality than the Windows version. Factor additional software purchases into the equation.
- Microsoft Office for Windows will not run on an Apple. You need to buy Office for Mac. Your other choice is to use the software that comes with Apple (iCal, Address Book, etc.) or buy Apple iWork. I prefer the Microsoft solution for office applications. Please, no hate mail!
- Apple Laptop harder to upgrade/repair. (42 screws to replace keyboard on Mac Pro vs. three screws on Dell laptop. Replacing a hard drive is stripping the Apple laptop down to a basic frame, while the Dell laptop is two screws.) If you are buying an Apple laptop, get the biggest hard drive you can afford when selecting a model.
- Apple memory is expensive. When you buy an Apple laptop, no need to load up on memory. Buy compatible memory at a much cheaper price (www.kingston.com). Note if you are buying an Apple iMac or mini, buy as much memory pre-installed as you can afford. Both of these platforms are hard to install more memory in. Especially the mini!!!! I do not recommend that you buy a mini!!!
- Apple replacement parts are expensive. If the wireless card fails, you can buy a Linksys USB wireless adapter to replace it. You have many cost effective options with the Windows platform.
- Apple operating system will not support some printers connected to a network. HTHC prints to a printer connected to a Windows desktop from an Apple Laptop across a wireless network. We have seen some problems connecting to wireless printers from Apple laptops. Check the website of the printer manufacturer to determine if this is going to be a problem or send HTHC an email (carlthorne@hthcatlanta.com) and we will tell you if your configuration will work.
- Support with the Apple platform can be a problem. Have a problem with your Comcast High Speed Internet Connection? Comcast will probably hang up on you when you tell them you have an Apple laptop.
- Support with the Apple platform can be a dream! Apple online support, built-in help and live support are excellent. Try talking to someone from Microsoft sometime.
- Your iPod will need to be erased and re-formatted to work with the Apple operating system. Your iTunes library will need to be moved/converted to the Apple operating system format. This can be a big pain and very time consuming. HTHC can do this task for you. We have vast experience in this area.
- Apple operating system is more stable and does not freeze or crash. Be prepared to know how to remove the Win Tel battery to reboot a frozen Windows machine.
- Apple operating system, so far, has not been infected with a major virus (knock wood). You better be up to date and running scans for viruses and malware on a weekly basis on the Windows platform or bad things will happen.
- Apple laptop can be configured to run both the Apple and Windows operating systems. A Windows platform cannot. I like some versions of programs better on Windows. My laptop can dual boot to take advantage of both operating systems.
- Apple operating system is very different from Windows. So what!!!! You struggled to learn Vista and Windows 7 is coming out soon and you will have to struggle to learn that operating system. You can learn to use an Apple pretty easy. Books are available (like the Dummies series), or you can schedule one on one training with High Tech House Calls.
