Opinions about Mac (APPLE) ?

[Full Grizzly]

So, I might get a MacBook Pro when I pass my finals.
I've never had a Mac in my entire life so I'm curious what you guys think of it.

Does it run smooth, is it user friendly, etc. Keep in mind, it's mainly meant for producing music and for school.

Are there any noticeable differences between the two different 13" MacBook Pro's?

I value your opinion!

 

[Shaan Gamma]

For the use of multi-media, I think Mac beats Windows (any Windows) hands down. As for it running smoothly. My time using a Mac, I have had only one issue of it locking up on me (it was user error). Overall, it is pretty fast.

As for the differences between the two, I doubt they would me much different. The most common on I could see is the version of OS, but it should say it where ever you are going to buy it. Overall, I just say go for it.

Oh! On a side note, that is fine House music on your Soundcloud page. Going to add that to my TF2 Music playlist!

 

[Full Grizzly]

MacBook it is! I've always loved the design, OS and customer support.

Thank you for the feedback! Feel free to download & share my sets !

 

[Frank Booth]

Macs are okay, overpriced though. You could get a maxed out X1 Carbon touch for that money.

The only reason to ever get a mac is if you have money and don't/are not tech savy to figure out Windows/etc. Or if you work in the industry that uses them as a standard, and even then you can get away with Windows.

http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon-touch/

 

[nielsen]

Im using my second macbook pro right now, and i can only say:
I will never go back to a windows computer, ofc i do need to boot windows for games like Battlefield.

But still.

Overpriced not really, you get what you pay for

Take a look at this: (i know it for Smarthphones but still).

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/22/fixya-study-finds-apple-smartphones-to-be-the-most-reliable/

 

[Snipeye]

Im using my second macbook pro right now, and i can only say:
I will never go back to a windows computer, ofc i do need to boot windows for games like Battlefield.

But still.

Overpriced not really, you get what you pay for

Take a look at this: (i know it for Smarthphones but still).

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/22/fixya-study-finds-apple-smartphones-to-be-the-most-reliable/

I take that with grains of salt. Namely because it's an obvious fan of Apple products. They'd loathe to post any negative news or facts about Apple which would diminish their fan base.

My opinion: Apple is best for multimedia or creative program usage (designs, videos, etc.) I personally find Apple products over-priced (and based on some news articles, the general public is starting to believe so now, at least when it comes to tablets, but depending on your preferences and needs, an Apple computer may satisfy what you want.

Now with that said, they are not the best for gamers since most PC games are made for Windows (and then created to be compatible with OSX or whatever). Second, depending on your profession, using a Mac may actually be a hindrance to your work, especially when you need to use MS Office products. I find what Frank says, on a general level, to be most correct (but forgetting that those need to use them for creative/multimedia purposes would use Macs too).

FYI: I absolutely refuse to buy anything Mac so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. (Yes, no iTunes, no iPhone, iPod, or crApple TV)

 

[nielsen]

I take that with grains of salt. Namely because it's an obvious fan of Apple products. They'd loathe to post any negative news or facts about Apple which would diminish their fan base.

My opinion: Apple is best for multimedia or creative program usage (designs, videos, etc.) I personally find Apple products over-priced (and based on some news articles, the general public is starting to believe so now, at least when it comes to tablets, but depending on your preferences and needs, an Apple computer may satisfy what you want.

Now with that said, they are not the best for gamers since most PC games are made for Windows (and then created to be compatible with OSX or whatever). Second, depending on your profession, using a Mac may actually be a hindrance to your work, especially when you need to use MS Office products. I find what Frank says, on a general level, to be most correct (but forgetting that those need to use them for creative/multimedia purposes would use Macs too).

FYI: I absolutely refuse to buy anything Mac so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. (Yes, no iTunes, no iPhone, iPod, or crApple TV)

http://www.fixya.com aint a Apple fan site, i only found the article on the apple fan site

But yea for hardcore games windows computers, are the best.

And overall it a personal choice

 

[runo]

It's definitely a personal choice -- buy what makes you happy -- but I think you should consider the following:

IMO, the biggest reasons to buy a Mac have long-since passed. Once upon a time, Macs ran on components/technology and software/programs that were native ONLY to Macs, that had no equal, that made them better for multimedia and editing purposes. You'd have been hard-pressed to find programs that matched the performance of GarageBand or their art and design software and interfaces.

Nowadays though, that technology is no longer proprietary or native to Macs -- actually, Macs run off components from Intel and other popular makes of PC tech -- so what you get is a slower, substantially more expensive rig that is lucky to play new and popular games, let alone play them as well as a Windows computer.

It's tough to make the argument that Apple's Mac-only software sells Macs but the problem is, there are programs available that match or outperform what's available on a Mac and it's cheaper or even free, and operates on a Windows/Linux/what have you PC.

Even if you aren't going to game like a hardcore nutcase, you can still buy a Windows notebook/laptop that will be ridiculously less costly than a Mac, but 9/10 times performs better, even for multimedia and editing purposes.

 

[Puke-N-Snot]

So, I might get a MacBook Pro when I pass my finals.
I've never had a Mac in my entire life so I'm curious what you guys think of it.

Does it run smooth, is it user friendly, etc. Keep in mind, it's mainly meant for producing music and for school.

Are there any noticeable differences between the two different 13" MacBook Pro's?

I value your opinion!

For what you state to be your main purpose for this Mac, yes Mac is a very good way to go. They are great for Music/Video producing/editing & excellent for graphics work. And fairly easy to maintain & use.

As for the "noticeable differences" just do a search for "compare macbook pro 13 inch models" or something like that.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/macbook-pro-retina-display-faq/macbook-pro-retina-display-13-late-2012-performance-benchmarks.html

 

[Full Grizzly]

Thanks for your thoughts guys, it's really helping me form a decision.

As for the "noticeable differences" just do a search for "compare macbook pro 13 inch models" or something like that.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/macbook-pro-retina-display-faq/macbook-pro-retina-display-13-late-2012-performance-benchmarks.html

Sorry, I wasn't being clear. I know the difference between the two 13" MacBook Pro's on paper. The differences in GHz, processor, etc. But when comparing both laptops, is it worth spending over $500 more for just a minor upgrade? Look at this : http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

13-inch: 2.5GHz
2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Built-in battery (7 hours)2

In Stock
Free Shipping
$1,199.00

or
13-inch: 2.9GHz
2.9GHz dual-core Intel Core i7
Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
8GB 1600MHz memory
750GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Built-in battery (7 hours)2

In Stock
Free Shipping
$1,499.00

So, once again. Is it worth spending the extra money on the "minor upgrade", do you actually notice the difference when using the laptop?

 

[Full Grizzly]

I take that with grains of salt. Namely because it's an obvious fan of Apple products. They'd loathe to post any negative news or facts about Apple which would diminish their fan base.

My opinion: Apple is best for multimedia or creative program usage (designs, videos, etc.) I personally find Apple products over-priced (and based on some news articles, the general public is starting to believe so now, at least when it comes to tablets, but depending on your preferences and needs, an Apple computer may satisfy what you want.

Now with that said, they are not the best for gamers since most PC games are made for Windows (and then created to be compatible with OSX or whatever). Second, depending on your profession, using a Mac may actually be a hindrance to your work, especially when you need to use MS Office products. I find what Frank says, on a general level, to be most correct (but forgetting that those need to use them for creative/multimedia purposes would use Macs too).

FYI: I absolutely refuse to buy anything Mac so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. (Yes, no iTunes, no iPhone, iPod, or crApple TV)

I respect your opinion about Apple. However, the way that "Apple fan" is praising Apple, you're being negative about Apple. Of course, successful business such as Apple get loads of buyers, but also competition and maybe even haters. The main reason why people "hate" Apple is because of the price. But I do get the feeling people tend to forget what they get in exchange: the best service in the world, World Wide service, in my opinion the best looking items regarding electronics, it's reliable ( I'm not stating Windows isn't ) and most of all, easy to use.

I for one LOVE Apple. I own an iPhone, iPad, I use iTunes every single day. To be honest, I wouldn't know what I'd do without iTunes.
Are Apple products pricey? Hell yes. Is it worth that much? I'm not quite sure since I haven't paid the full price myself for any of the products I own.

You did get me thinking when stating something about MS Office, Excell, etc. For school I'll probably need to use MS Office. I want to study law. Not having MS Word is a disadvantage, I must say.

But Apple has their own software, called Pages. And Nielsen, I come to you for advice. What are your thoughts about Pages?

 

[fetterEsel]

I respect your opinion about Apple. However, the way that "Apple fan" is praising Apple, you're being negative about Apple. Of course, successful business such as Apple get loads of buyers, but also competition and maybe even haters. The main reason why people "hate" Apple is because of the price. But I do get the feeling people tend to forget what they get in exchange: the best service in the world, World Wide service, in my opinion the best looking items regarding electronics, it's reliable ( I'm not stating Windows isn't ) and most of all, easy to use.

I for one LOVE Apple. I own an iPhone, iPad, I use iTunes every single day. To be honest, I wouldn't know what I'd do without iTunes.
Are Apple products pricey? Hell yes. Is it worth that much? I'm not quite sure since I haven't paid the full price myself for any of the products I own.

You did get me thinking when stating something about MS Office, Excell, etc. For school I'll probably need to use MS Office. I want to study law. Not having MS Word is a disadvantage, I must say.

But Apple has their own software, called Pages. And Nielsen, I come to you for advice. What are your thoughts about Pages?

Actually, their has been software that allows Mac's to use MS Word and such. My mom uses it on her macbook. :thumbup:

 

[runo]

Personally it's not a matter of hating Apple... I just personally wouldn't pay $1200-$2000+ of dollars for a computer that performs weaker than a laptop I can get for $650-$900. I can't even argue in the favor of Mac software anymore since there are cheaper or free alternatives that match or outmatch what Apple is putting out nowadays.

Again, that's just my take -- buyer's choice and all, though it just seems like a mistake to me. No one can stop you from laying down the cash to buy it yourself, though. If you wanna, I say go for it. :>

 

[Cloakedsphere]

Really, It doesnt matter. IF you get a mac you can still run windows. Just partition the hard drive and install your lion/w/e OS the mac is on to one partition and the windows to the second partition.

 

[Martyr]

I love my Macbook. It's not a pro, but an air. The rest of my family has pros. I do most of my gaming on my custom built windows 7 rig.

I use my Air for note taking, some gaming, and for general browsing. That may seem like I'm not getting my money's worth out of this computer, but I see the grand scheme of things. My family has been using Macs since the 80s/90s and (since the 90s), the trend has always been that of reliability and long lasting products.

The pro has good CPU speed, bus speed, and depending on the model, GPU speed. If you are able to get it, and you already like mac products, the user friendly-ness of Mac OSX and the ability to dual boot for any games you may want to play that aren't mac-compatible are incredible features.

Yadda yadda yadda. Apple fan boy.

 

[Full Grizzly]

Thank you guys!

Haha Martyr I'm an Apple Fan Boy myself too.

 

[nielsen]

I respect your opinion about Apple. However, the way that "Apple fan" is praising Apple, you're being negative about Apple. Of course, successful business such as Apple get loads of buyers, but also competition and maybe even haters. The main reason why people "hate" Apple is because of the price. But I do get the feeling people tend to forget what they get in exchange: the best service in the world, World Wide service, in my opinion the best looking items regarding electronics, it's reliable ( I'm not stating Windows isn't ) and most of all, easy to use.

I for one LOVE Apple. I own an iPhone, iPad, I use iTunes every single day. To be honest, I wouldn't know what I'd do without iTunes.
Are Apple products pricey? Hell yes. Is it worth that much? I'm not quite sure since I haven't paid the full price myself for any of the products I own.

You did get me thinking when stating something about MS Office, Excell, etc. For school I'll probably need to use MS Office. I want to study law. Not having MS Word is a disadvantage, I must say.

But Apple has their own software, called Pages. And Nielsen, I come to you for advice. What are your thoughts about Pages?

Never really used Pages, the only times i had to do some stuff with documents from a windows computer (word, exel) i did just use Open Office and could open and save without problems.

 

[Puke-N-Snot]

You should be able to get any software apple or MS for Mac, much cheaper & in some cases FREE dependent on your University & their deal with Apple & MS.
So be sure to check into that.

 

[Dr3am]

I personally have a Macbook Pro and I have to say, it's been great so far.
If you take good care of it and know your stuff about macs (like me) then you'll be fine with your new Macbook Pro.

I've played games on it and can run most of the games which are 1 or 2 years old. (CoD4 - 125 Constant, CoD:BO2 - 60 Constant)
It's really nice and have a few nice touches to it.

As Cloaked have said, you can use Bootcamp and install Windows on it if you have a Windows Installation Disc. And after that, you can run even more variety of games because Windows have DirectX and also with the latest drivers.

One downside of Apple is that they don't really update their drivers that often and this is by personal experiences.
I had a Macbook White 2008 which had Intel GMAX3100 graphics card. The only time where they update their graphic drivers is when they have a new version coming up and they merge the updates together.
However, after a while, they don't include them anymore since they look towards the future.

That's my own opinion!
Other than that, feel free to get one because I'm quite an Apple fan boy too!

 

[Full Grizzly]

Sweet, loads of reactions! Thank you very much! I will definitely buy one once I have the money. Or one of my parents, h?h?.