March 20th
5:51 PM
43 notes
Reblog

A plea to techie tumblrers

Hi guys. So, I’m about to embark on a big adventure,  a doctorate program, and I am starting to think that I need some new equipment. First thing about me, I am super (impressively) cheap. I have one of the now rare black Macbooks from 2008, and I have done everything in my power to avoid getting a new one. My philosophy is that it works, so why bother getting another one? However, it doesn’t work all that well. The hard drive and most of the other parts have been replaced a few times, but it’s just getting old. Programs tend to crash, it’s generally slow, etc. As much as I don’t want to, I think I may need to invest in a new computer for the next 6-8 years of my education.

However, I really hate the current Apple options. The macbook air doesn’t have a cd drive, and the Macbook pro is big and so expensive. I don’t think I can justify spending that much for a laptop. 

In doing quick math I have deduced that I can buy a desktop IMac (beautiful, massive screen) and a cheaper PC laptop for the same price or less than a Macbook pro. All I really use it for is blogging, Netflix, looking at pictures of cats, word processing, and maybe running statistics programs. My questions to you, Tumblr universe, are thus: is is stupid for a grad student to invest the majority of their computer fund into a desktop? Is a macbook really that much better than it’s much cheaper, equally stylish PC cousins? Have you recently given up Apple?

#personal     
  1. thatfragilecapricorn30 answered: I have an HP laptop and I really like it. I know everyone is obsessed with Apple but I’ve never had one and haven’t had a problem with PCs
  2. mikiwaswong answered: Laptop’s purpose is mainly portability. Your iMac will do the same as your Macbook Pro and you already have a laptop. Get an iMac.
  3. serveonlythyself answered: For your needs anything will be fine. It’s about personal preference (screen size, industrial design, Apple ecosystem). Do you need CD drive?
  4. reluctanthurricane answered: The lowest end MacBook Pros are 13” and if you are buying Apple, you should be able to get $100 off as a student discount.
  5. seansplan answered: as a comp sci guy i’d say go pc if what you listed is all you’re going to be using it for. just be careful what brand of pc you get
  6. unapologetically-abrasive answered: I’d go with a dell. Always worked well for me.
  7. muffinw answered: Get a laptop. PCs are cheaper and just as good, especially for what youre doing. Got mine at Costco.
  8. concerto-fer-a-rainy-day answered: Just stop getting apple. PCs that have WAYY better specs are SO much cheaper. Unless you have money to spare, get a PC.
  9. olycam answered: Go with the iMac and and iPad. You will be set
  10. eriyu answered: I actually have a desktop for most things and a laptop mostly to take notes in class, and it works well. Both PCs, though; I’m not a Mac fan.
  11. supersluttygoat answered: If you like the simplistic Mac OS environment, you could try getting a refurbished Maxbook pro on apple’s website. It’s basically a new unit.
  12. olivertwistherankle answered: macbooks are great for media production but if you don’t need that, then I would go for a pc laptop. It’s portable and powerful.
  13. cptyossarion answered: Get a Windows Machine. Theres nothing OSX can do that Windows can do Better (Because of Market Share)
  14. sumomona answered: new macbook is shit and not worth it. my roommate’s just broke (after 1.5 years!) as she was dissing my “super cheap” pc :)
  15. superhighschoollevelmanchild answered: A good PC will definitely outperform a Mac, and it’ll cost way less. Go for practicality and performance, not shininess.
  16. arppy answered: Mac options are way too overpriced on any sort of budget. Build quality is subpar. Get a PC, self-built desktop has best price/power/use.
  17. jeffmccjeff answered: When was the last time you actually used your CD drive? buy an Air. or wait a few months…the laptop lineup is due for a refresh soon.
  18. lrnhrnndz answered: Please share the results. I have been plagued by the same questions. Oh the confusion!
  19. beating-for-you reblogged this from reallyfoxnews and added:
    So unless you’re making movies, or are a graphic design student, Macs are a waste of money because you’re just paying...
  20. denyinghipster answered: I have the same macbook! I’d go for the desktop as well, and get either a netbook [so it’s light] or a pc laptop otherwise. Also, not stupid.
  21. jeffdowning answered: In the end, it’s all preference. You will probably never achieve maximum output of either machine. Most people don’t.
  22. thats-clever answered: IMHO apple computers that arnt indusry specific, are a joke, if a optic drive is needed check out asus ultrabook, if not the transfomerseries
  23. comedyintrying answered: i have a pc and an old mac i use the mac for my editing and the pc for everything else. i haven’t had problems with either
  24. ohcrapitsandrew answered: I prefer Macs, but Windows is really not that bad. Take care of the software and you’ll save more money with a PC.
  25. jubular answered: PCs are actually great- I know a lot of people say that macs never get viruses, macs are easier, but I’ve always found PCs much better.
  26. middleclasscommunist answered: Depends whether your thinking of the OS or hardware. There are some v. good open source OSs you could look into Might get back to you in morn
  27. jimicowan answered: Fact is macs are more $ b/c they are far superior. I used to hate mac until 3 pc’s in 3 years. Same mac since 07, no A/V and no bullshit.
  28. sumiumoxide answered: If you aren’t going to be an art major or anything, just go with a normal PC. Cheaper, usually better, and will save you more in the long run
  29. hipsterlibertarian answered: Are you doing design work? If not, there’s probably no reason to get a Mac.
  30. theangryinche answered: Macs suck. For the price of a shitty mac, you can get a top of the line PC laptop, that does a lot more than mac.
  31. liyon answered: You really do have to be mobile. If you got a desktop, yes you could carry your old macbook to class/events, but youd h to deal w two seprat
  32. merps answered: In my opinion, (I had this debate in a class), don’t waste your money if you use it for such purposes. It’d be better to buy a PC.
  33. pj-archive answered: if you could get a cheaper pc and save the money for something else, i would, and i have a mac. being poor sucks.
  34. reallyfoxnews posted this