Buying a new laptop- Apple?

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by 357

Well, I had to include that line to make sure you guys know that my Windows/Mac rants have to be taken as 50% technical and 50% sarcasm. In reality Microsoft dumped money into Apple years ago to keep them afloat. I assume he did so to prevent the SEC from filing anti-trust litigation.

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-202143.html

For this reason if no other, Apple will be around as long as Microsoft is. While I don't worry myself with Apple users, I occasionally have the misfortune of informing them that the $4,000 iBook they just bought isn't supported for many of our business needs. Big wig doctors in large regional medical groups don't tend to take that kind of news well. Especially when the app they need most (financial) is one of the ones they can't use.

Mike

4000$ iBook?

Is this 2005? And since when did an iBook cost 4000$?

[VirtualSmitty]

Originally Posted by JE3146

4000$ iBook?

Is this 2005? And since when did an iBook cost 4000$?

The macbook pro can easily go over 4k on apples site since they overcharge for parts. King James nailed it, do it yourself and save a ton of money.

[357]

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/...co=MTM3NDcyOTc

Pick your options...17" MacBook Pro start at $2500 and without adding any major software you can easily put them in the $3500-$4000 range.

My point was said doctor was a big shot and wanted the best. He bought the top of the line Apple laptop for about $4000. He brought it to work and expected corporate IT to "make it work" with all of our business applications. He was lucky to get the basics to work. No Citrix (most of the hospital's apps are delivered this way), no VPN, no financial apps = one pissed off doctor. It was his own fault but we had to have a $150K/year security guy waste a ton of his time just to see if he could find a work around for VPN access. The rest they threw at us.

In the business world they are a giant waste of time and money. Personal use we can debate to the end of time. That said, the old Amiga and Atari PCs still have a niche following too.

The bottom line is they overcharge for their hardware. Back in the days where you could only run their OS on their proprietary hardware if you wanted their OS, you didn't have any other option. Now you can run their OS (if you like it so much) and buy (non-Apple) name brand hardware for 1/2 the price and pop in the OS X disk.

Mike

[aich75013]

Originally Posted by 357

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/...co=MTM3NDcyOTc
He was lucky to get the basics to work. No Citrix (most of the hospital's apps are delivered this way), no VPN, no financial apps = one pissed off doctor. It was his own fault but we had to have a $150K/year security guy waste a ton of his time just to see if he could find a work around for VPN access. The rest they threw at us.

We have quite a few Mac users that are able to VPN and use VNC.
I couldn't justify the extra cost of a Mac, although I did consider it.
If I were upgrading on my own terms, rather than replacing a laptop whose motherboard had gane bad, I may have bought a Mac.
$600 versus $2000 made a huge difference. The 13" is just too small for me.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by 357

In the business world they are a giant waste of time and money. Personal use we can debate to the end of time. That said, the old Amiga and Atari PCs still have a niche following too.

"Th-th-the Amiga was v-v-very good to m-my walpaper! Haaa!"