Expert: Bobbert - 9/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have been shopping for a new notebook for the past couple of days. I have always wanted a Mac, but have always used a PC. I'm very familiar with computers and I'm not worried about learning a new system, I'm just wondering if the cost and time to switch are worth it.
I am currently a self employed photographer, but beginning to move into the writing field and maybe merging the two together. I have three computers, with my kids using two of them (including my current laptop)and one strictly for business. I'd like a new laptop that is completely my own and that I can use to integrate the old career with the new one. I want it to be able to access the web for research and also work with graphics and text. Will Mac serve that purpose, or should I go with a more economical PC?
Thank you!!

ANSWER: Well, Apple's current systems use Intel processors, just like modern systems running Microsoft software (which will use either Intel or AMD processors, AMD processors are 100% Intel compatable, its just another brand of central processor).

What this means is that Windows and OS X can be run on modern Apple systems, although OS X cannot be (legally) run on HP or Dell or similar computers.

I would consider an Apple, as OS X is very user friendly, however if you don't want to spend a given amount of time (varies user to user, you won't be out in the cold from day one, but you'll need to learn how to do things you may already know 6 ways to do in Windows) learning, then I would suggest looking at a purely Windows based system, I would suggest the Dell Vostro series of notebooks, based on value and features.

I would also suggest Windows XP Professional Edition over Windows Vista, as XP is more mature, more stable, and above all, more compatable with 3rd party software. Honestly, a desktop will provide you more in terms of photographic work, as it can store more files and RAM costs less for a desktop, that isn't to say a laptop has to be the end of the world photography wise. I'd ensure the system has at least 2GB of RAM (regardless of what operating system or platform you decide on), as well as a modern dual-core CPU (Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or AMD Turion64 x2). The graphics card doesn't matter as much, because you aren't doing 3D (at least from what you've said) so there isn't a real need for that (not to mention that notebooks with high end 3D graphics usually clear $3000 rather quickly). I'd also go with a large hard-drive (you probably know your requirements in this area based on your work experience).

A few forseeable problems:
If you have current Adobe software liscenses for PC, such as Creative Suite 2, you'd have to re-purchase it for OS X (to be legal, and to have the OS X version). And you might need to spend some time finding appropriate drivers for whatever hardware you use with photography (I highly doubt this, but it MAY occur).

Price wise, Apple and Dell are very competitive, especially when you consider an Apple can legally run OS X and any other OS on the market, while a non-Apple can't legally run OS X. I hope this answers some of your questions, if you have more I'm happy to answer them as well.

-bob


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much! I've got my heart set on the Mac, thanks for the push in that direction.

Answer
No problem, just ensure you have the correct software licences for the Mac, and know that you can load WindowsXP or Windows Vista onto the Mac if you want full Windows compatability back. Vista (at least when it was in Release Candidate stage) includes a more complex version of NTLDR (Vista's bootloader, the program that tells the computer what operating system to load when it turns on) which makes dual-booting much easier, however Vista is also more resource hungry and so on (as long as the system has 2GB of RAM and a decent amount of storage, you shouldn't have any problems).

I haven't personally setup an Apple to run OS X and Vista, so I would consider checking around on the internet for a more complete guide as to how to do it, Microsoft might even have some literature on the subject.

-bob