tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987034451869317078.post6663268909530809649..comments2023-06-19T01:42:09.481-07:00Comments on D constructing D: Technology BekonsDaktarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08291715601733518982noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987034451869317078.post-31407929810968979832009-04-27T21:01:00.000-07:002009-04-27T21:01:00.000-07:00Trail Blazer,I'm not familar enough with Apple...Trail Blazer,<br><br>I'm not familar enough with Apple or Sony (<i>i.e., never owned one</i>) to discuss their merits. I have a Dell Inspiron which I rarely use because I'm non-existent in my office until my presence is summoned.<br><br>My purchasing habits have never strayed far from refurbished PCs and notebooks. My philosophy is that:<br>1. It's not the hardware advances that make a computer obsolete, it's the changes in software (<i>which occur on average, every three years</i>).<br>2. A hard drive or power supply will eventually fail due to the amount of heat generated within the enclosure of the desktop or notebook.<br>3. No extended warranty pays for parts after 90 days (to my knowledge). What you pay for is phone, email and online (chat) diagnostic support. If they identify the problem as "<b>Hardware-related</b>", you ship it to them (<i>shipping is free for many</i>). They replace the defective part which you pay for and ship it back to you. An upgrade to this approach is "<b>In-home service</b>".<br><br>If the problem is "<b>Software-related</b>" they will normally advise you to "<b>re-install the application or use your restore DVD to start from scratch</b>" (<i>again</i>).<br><br>4. A notebook undermines the very nature of a hard drive because of vibrations; failure is inevitable at some point.<br><br>5. A refurb is certified because it must undergo rigorous testing after undergoing a period of customer use.<br><br>I have one Gateway and several HP's which were all refurb's and I have no regrets with the purchases.<br><br>Best wishes with your decision.<br><br><a href="http://underovr.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">U</a>underOvr (aka The U)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09241293702725984736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987034451869317078.post-59465420229167136692009-04-27T18:28:00.000-07:002009-04-27T18:28:00.000-07:00Well Josh, I have to agree with you that the mac i...Well Josh, I have to agree with you that the mac is probably a superior product, but I just can't afford a $1000+ setup right now.Daktarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08291715601733518982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987034451869317078.post-81260682387200716582009-04-27T11:31:00.000-07:002009-04-27T11:31:00.000-07:00Here's the argument for Apple. You've said...Here's the argument for Apple. You've said yourself that they have good customer service. I'll vouch for that. For a laptop with a hardware problem, you call on day 1 and they ship a box to you, you ship and they fix it on day 2, you get it back on day 3, all for free, including shipping. 1 year of service comes standard, 3 years of peace-of-mind comes for another $183. That's pretty sweet. If you take service out of the equation, sure, don't go with Apple, especially with the price... But you pay for a lot in addition to service when you buy an Apple. Things just work, and they last. With the Intel machines available now, you can do anything a PC can do, including run windows (though why you would want to is beyond me). If you want disposable, don't go with Apple (3 years is a minimum lifespan). If you want the most horsepower for your buck, a fair comparison, feature-for-feature, will demonstrate that Mac's aren't overpriced. They just aren't bottom of the barrel specs. If the bottom line price is a limiting factor, shop around and take advantage of educational pricing. Even on Apple's website, you can get a like-new Refurbished MacBook 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of memory for $849 with 1 year of Applecare included, add $183 for a 3 year warranty. A new machine will cost another $100, which is still better than the $1299 list price you quoted above. But if service, durability, or performance are of no consequence, and price is your only concern, don't go with a Mac. On the other hand, if you don't want to carry a computer back and forth from school, and you don't want to sit in a coffee shop and work, and if you don't want to blog from a hotel room on a road trip, you can consider a desktop... A desktop will be either more power or less money, or both, and a lot less portable (Mac mini excepted). When my laptop died, I actually chose the latter option. Now I have a desktop at home and school with a lot of power and carry a portable hard drive smaller than a paperback novel with me. Don't forget to back up your data no matter what you choose. P.S. I can hook you up with loads of Mac software.Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245252174464804713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4987034451869317078.post-87440154007281981192009-04-26T15:33:00.000-07:002009-04-26T15:33:00.000-07:00HP Pavilion. I love mine. Its the 'fancy bas...HP Pavilion. I love mine. Its the 'fancy bastards' version, but I have no complaints after beating it up for two years straight. Don't get the finger scanner. Don't get the touchy buttons on the top (if you can help it). Don't get a number pad (overkill). But get more then 1GB of memory. As for the HP battery: my battery held out for 18 months before dying--110 for a new one. Speakers are finally starting to go but other than that its still working great! That's after spilling two beers and some tea on the keyboard, too. Though not all at the same time.Livhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12254687910849042525noreply@blogger.com