-- Posted by t5sgurl at 3:31 am on Aug. 29, 2005 i'm having trouble deciding whether i should get an ibook or a windows laptop. is an ibook good for school use? i'd probably only use it for assignments, research, and the occasional msn chat. i want to leave my pc at home for video editing and music use. also, when buying an ibook does it come with an application that will enable me to convert a mac document into a windows readable one? i think that is my main concern. -- Posted by sara jane at 3:34 am on Aug. 29, 2005 ive got a windows laptop and its really good my boyfriend used mac 1s at college an he said they were good for graphics and flash but not for anything else so id say go with windows! -- Posted by bobymuck at 3:35 am on Aug. 29, 2005 i think an i book will be best and it does come with an application that will enable you to convert a mac document into a readable one because i have one. just make sure its insured because there are alot of people who like i books.. lol -- Posted by ajm51987 at 9:33 pm on Aug. 29, 2005 well it depends on what "document" you want to convert, most formats work on both systems, for instance, you can get MS office for Mac, and word docs are saved as .doc files, power point presentations as .ppt, ect. As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple. -- Posted by mephisto mortis at 10:03 pm on Aug. 29, 2005 I would strongly advise a Mac.  However If you really need an x86m go with an IBM. -- Posted by TiMmMeE at 7:50 am on Aug. 30, 2005 Quote: from ajm51987 at 6:33 am on Aug. 30, 2005 As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple. That's possible, but other good Apple+ arguments are some people's preference to OS X and lack of spyware, viruses, etc.  Then there's always the Customer Service issues...personally, I'd hate talking to some guy with a name like "Steve" that can barely speak English when I could just get on the phone with an Apple person or go to the stores. If the stores are in your area, that is.  If they are, that's a huge convenience. -- Posted by pleaseremove at 5:44 pm on Sep. 7, 2005 Quote: from TiMmMeE at 3:50 pm on Aug. 30, 2005 Quote: from ajm51987 at 6:33 am on Aug. 30, 2005 As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple. That's possible, but other good Apple+ arguments are some people's preference to OS X and lack of spyware, viruses, etc.  Then there's always the Customer Service issues...personally, I'd hate talking to some guy with a name like "Steve" that can barely speak English when I could just get on the phone with an Apple person or go to the stores. If the stores are in your area, that is.  If they are, that's a huge convenience. no viruses....hmm, so then do my friend tell me why norton make a version of their anti-virus for the mac? -- Posted by mrfri3drice at 7:07 pm on Sep. 30, 2005 windows its more compatiable with school networks -- Posted by ricerice at 3:38 pm on Mar. 26, 2006 for school use i recommend a windows, just because its easier to transfer files between computers and everyone knows how to use it. windows laptop machines are also cheaper. dell always has great deals every now and then. i think ull save alot of money geting a windows. as long as u dont surf the internet for porn or other suspicious sites then u should be fine with a basic virus software, save that for a desktop. if treated rite, ur laptop will last a long time. -- Posted by espresso8097 at 1:28 pm on Mar. 28, 2006 get a custom gaming type laptop for about 1000$ and run linux on.   new ones have support for many windows type of stuff. you can also get the freeware Openoffice. dont forget, even DAMN SMALL LINUX has this. New versions have full USB support (like WinXP) A good copy on DVD or CD's is about 12$ on ebay -- Posted by Inchoat Redivivus at 7:11 pm on Mar. 29, 2006 Quote: from pleaseremove at 5:44 pm on Sep. 7, 2005 Quote: from TiMmMeE at 3:50 pm on Aug. 30, 2005 Quote: from ajm51987 at 6:33 am on Aug. 30, 2005 As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple.    That's possible, but other good Apple+ arguments are some people's preference to OS X and lack of spyware, viruses, etc.  Then there's always the Customer Service issues...personally, I'd hate talking to some guy with a name like "Steve" that can barely speak English when I could just get on the phone with an Apple person or go to the stores.    If the stores are in your area, that is.  If they are, that's a huge convenience. no viruses....hmm, so then do my friend tell me why norton make a version of their anti-virus for the mac? Lack of viruses and no viruses are two different things. Compared to windows, there is a lack of viruses.  Doesnt mean there aren't any or it isnt as easy for someone to make one, just less people use macs which renders viruses on it almost pointless. -- Posted by BostonDave at 7:29 pm on Mar. 30, 2006 Quote: from pleaseremove at 8:44 pm on Sep. 7, 2005 Quote: from TiMmMeE at 3:50 pm on Aug. 30, 2005 Quote: from ajm51987 at 6:33 am on Aug. 30, 2005 As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple.    That's possible, but other good Apple+ arguments are some people's preference to OS X and lack of spyware, viruses, etc.  Then there's always the Customer Service issues...personally, I'd hate talking to some guy with a name like "Steve" that can barely speak English when I could just get on the phone with an Apple person or go to the stores.    If the stores are in your area, that is.  If they are, that's a huge convenience. no viruses....hmm, so then do my friend tell me why norton make a version of their anti-virus for the mac? Well... they are a company... and they see a market to make money... -- Posted by BostonDave at 7:30 pm on Mar. 30, 2006 Getting a Mac is a great idea. If you wait until the Macbook comes out (which it will shortly), which will be the replacement for the iBook... then you will be able to dual boot Windows XP and OS X. They currently have it working on all of the Intel Macs except for the 20" iMac, but that's just due to the display driver. Give it 6 months and it will be totally smooth. -- Posted by ajm51987 at 11:30 am on April 1, 2006 Quote: from TiMmMeE at 7:50 am on Aug. 30, 2005 Quote: from ajm51987 at 6:33 am on Aug. 30, 2005 As far as I'm concerned, getting apple is more of a statement of wealth than anything else, I mean, they look uber sexy, but you can get more with a windows based laptop for less money then an apple. That's possible, but other good Apple+ arguments are some people's preference to OS X and lack of spyware, viruses, etc.  Then there's always the Customer Service issues...personally, I'd hate talking to some guy with a name like "Steve" that can barely speak English when I could just get on the phone with an Apple person or go to the stores. If the stores are in your area, that is.  If they are, that's a huge convenience. I've never had spyware or a virus on my computer, and I've never purchased any software to protect me, I either don't need it, or it's free. Staying spyware, adware, and virus free on a PC is easy. In any event, I know it's anecdotal, but I didn't have a very good tech support with experience. I needed to check when my thingy to ship my iPod back would arrive because I was going on winter break and didn't want it to come to the dorm when I wasn't here and have to wait, I explained that it hadn't shipped, and if possible, could I change the address: and you know what the guy did, he transfered me to the automated status line, DOH! I was really ticked off, but I called back and after explained what happend and that it's not what I needed, the guy was nice enough. Now it may be true that it's impossible to understand the outsourced tech support people, but I've never had to call them twice and explain what I didn't need them to do. -- Posted by Coolslayr at 9:07 am on April 22, 2006 I strongly suggest getting a Mac......there are programs such as OpenOffice for mac that can read MS Word for windows documents....plus on a Mac you don't have to deal with as many viruses,.......plus now you can get one laptop and run both systems on it. -- Posted by shpadoinkle at 1:23 pm on May 13, 2006 powerbook -- Posted by espresso8097 at 1:45 pm on May 27, 2006 LET THIS POST DIE, LOOK AT AGE   5:31 am on Aug. 29, 2005 -- Posted by Stormblazer at 5:13 pm on May 31, 2006 Quote: from Coolslayr at 10:07 am on April 22, 2006 I strongly suggest getting a Mac......there are programs such as OpenOffice for mac that can read MS Word for windows documents....plus on a Mac you don't have to deal with as many viruses,.......plus now you can get one laptop and run both systems on it. Sigh... typical clueless Mac user. OpenOffice.org is what you're talking about, and it runs on all systems not just Mac. And you don't need to deal with viruses on ANY system (Windows, Linux, or Mac) if you just use common sense and don't click on suspicious links. -- Posted by leahbabea at 9:43 pm on June 15, 2006 ibook better for school work period. -- Posted by The PK at 7:30 am on June 16, 2006 Quote: from leahbabea at 5:43 am on June 16, 2006 ibook better for school work period. Care to explain why? -- Posted by Cingular Wireless at 7:20 pm on June 18, 2006 Quote: from The PK at 9:30 am on June 16, 2006 Quote: from leahbabea at 5:43 am on June 16, 2006 ibook better for school work period. Care to explain why? The OS is built more stable and safer -- Posted by Stormblazer at 7:22 pm on June 21, 2006 Quote: from Cingular Wireless at 8:20 pm on June 18, 2006 Quote: from The PK at 9:30 am on June 16, 2006 Quote: from leahbabea at 5:43 am on June 16, 2006 ibook better for school work period.    Care to explain why? The OS is built more stable and safer Once again, care to explain? Linux is pretty safe too, and so is Windows if you use it right. And I find Macs to be even more restrictive than Windows is, which is really, really, really annoying. -- Posted by ranman at 2:52 am on June 28, 2006 Macs are pretty restrictive on anything you want to do and there are alot of conversion issues if your school is windows based... I would suggest either a windows hp dv4000 (cheap, good, sturdy) or on the mac side a mac book pro and be sure it has an x86 proccessor (that's intel for you non techies) -- Posted by TetraDragoon at 11:21 pm on Aug. 8, 2006 Friend has a MacBook and says he is loving it. The cheapest model works well for any of school needs (Assuming your definition of school needs doesn't include intense gaming like Half-Life 2). The look and feel of the Mac OS is smooth and crisp, with a couple of nice toppings like Widgets (Windows can also have their own version off "widgets", but the DashBoard and Widgets are built into the Mac OS), Expose, and Spotlight. If you get a PC though, have some antivirus software handy if you plan to use any sort of public wi-fi (Which I assume you will).