That is the question..
My trusty Sony Vaio laptop is 2.5 years old and has had its fair share of use and abuse even though I don't use it on a daily basis and I sometimes go for weeks without touching it. I'm not about to ditch it just yet, and I plan to give it one last round of heavy abuse when I take it with me on vacation.
But I walked into the new Mac shop at Marina Mall last week and instantly fell in love with the new 13" Apple MacBook, especially the white version that looks like an iPod on steroids. It just looked so cool!
I have to admit I've been a Windows/PC guy my whole (computer-using) life and moving to the Mac O/S leaves me a little unsettled.
The next question is.. MacBook or MacBook Pro? I'm not a graphic designer/architect/artist or anything. All I want is a reliable machine for surfing the net, email, photos and music. And blogging of course. But then maybe my limited scope of usage was only because a PC just isn't as versatile as a Mac, so I never felt inspired to do more. And now Apple says the new Intel-based Macs can run both Windows and Mac on the same machine!
What will I gain and what will I lose if I switch to a Mac? Of course I could research all this myself but posting queries here is more fun..
Take it away bloggers!
I'm not an expert but I never liked MAC even though alot of people praise it, Apple designs are awesome without a doubt but I dont know about the line of applications it supports. I am sure windows has a wider range of applications to support just about anything you can think of.
ReplyDeleteAnd Apple's major selling point lately is that it can run windows... doesnt that say something??
to MAAAAC all the way.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteGo for it Mr. Z. If all you need is a 13?, get the MacBook. Both MacBook Pros (15? & 17?) have dedicated graphics cards (and more capable DVD writers), but if you are not dealing heavily in videos and hardcore photo editing, you?ll do fine with the MacBook which sells for roughly half the price of a 15? Pro.
ReplyDeleteIntel capability is just the icing on the cake if you have a piece of software that runs only on the PC :-/
I must say this: if you need Microsoft Office, then MS Office 2004 rocks PROVIDED you don?t need to use it for Arabic. I use Nisus Writer for my ? infrequent - Arabic word-processing needs
It might be prudent to wait a little while: Apple on August 7th, and new machines might be announced ? MacPros and MacBook Pros with faster chips, maybe??
Ooops! That is this years WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference). Apple showcases its upcoming technology ? and sometimes release new products ? on that occasion.
ReplyDeletei would push for the macbook also. i have the low end one cuz its more then enough for my needs but if you want more u can get the 2ghz one with dvd writer.
ReplyDeletei wouldnt go for the macbook pro because other then the fact it costs nearly double there are a lot of rumors about it getting fully redesigned. its like buying a car the year before the new model comes out, not a good thing.
finally although the macbooks can boot up in either XP or OSX, after using OSX for 5 minutes you would never want to boot up in XP again :)
oracle..
ReplyDeleteأحلى تعليق، الله يغربلك... بعد تو الناس، ليلحين قلاعد أمخمخ السالفة
About Arabic support: How good is it? Is MS Office for Mac any good?
اترك عنك التجارب الي تعرفه احسن من الي ما تعرفه
ReplyDeleteوبعدين شوف من ربعك من يستخدم ماك وجم واحد ؟
elmayadehna
ReplyDeleteخطاك السو
nice
أكيد ما تعرف ربعي
My brother has an iMac that I will practice on before deciding
WE JUST MACD AND WE LUUUUV IT. NO REGRETS! but you have to delete Word's fonts cuz they mess up mac's arabic fonts. it'll get you a week before you get the hang of it. (it took me a bit more than that and i had my MACwizz friend help me out)
ReplyDeleteZaydoun: M$ tests new Office features on the Mac version first. But like I said earlier, for whatever reason M$ does not wish to support right?to?left scripts on the Mac :-/
ReplyDeleteTake it from me: Go Mac and don?t look back. Personally, I use 3 portables and all of them are Macs. The same is true for the desktops ? except for the dog I have at work :-<
"Cry Macintosh, and unleash the dogs of Windoze!"
A3sab: turning off the Arial & Times New Roman fonts in the Font Book application usually solves the Arabic fonts problem - which is prevalent on Safari only and not Firefox for some reason, and it is not even a problem on some machines :-/
ReplyDeleteZ
ReplyDeleteI just got 1 I'm trying to get use to it.. it gets really frustrating .. so if get one you have to have someone to call anytime for support
MAC ROCKS.
ReplyDeleteGO FOR IT.
mosan... Didnt you buy your Mac over a year ago?
ReplyDeleteOk Apple makes Cool Laptops, but they've decided to have laptops with Dual O.S Tiger & Windows.
ReplyDeletei recommend to squeeze the last bit outta your Vaio, wait until next christmas, the New windows Vista will be released, you can then by a Mac with Tiger O.S & Win Vista Preloaded.
Sony still makes the best user friendly Laptops, especially the Ultra-Portable ones with 11.1" screens with a battery life of 5 hours or more.
you should first think or determine what you need out of your new laptop, if you want it for maximum Portability, and you stated that you dont want it for graphics, then aim for a laptop with light weight, long bettery life. currently, Sony laptops are the best, but Fujitsu Seimens makes a line that support 2 batteries, boasting the battery life to upto 11 hours. thats if you're planning to take a long flight :)
just wait few months, many newer models coming out
More confusion!
ReplyDeleteZaydoun: La confusion wa la Confucius, just do it and you?ll thank us later. As for the quality and user experience of Mac vs PC portables, you said it yourself: how do you compare the iPod to brand ?X? MP3 player? Exactly!
ReplyDeleteIf you are worried about battery life, with iGo and Xantrex I stopped packing extra batteries with me on long flights - some airlines even provide a standard AC outlet.
Yalla, twakkal 3ala Allah :-D
Zaydoun,
ReplyDeleteno confusion :)
Macs are cool, given that you have a backup laptop, just wait a while :)
ana weyak neshteri Macs from the states after christmas, much cheaper :)
6ab3an To Mac!
ReplyDeleteMS Office works beautifully on it but only for english. I called both Microsoft and Apple, and it turns out that the porblem is with Microsoft. I asked them when do you expect to solve it. They said our developers only act when there are enough complaints, and given that MAC is spreading around the world, that should speed it up. Actually, in Israel there's a pressure group of Mac users that's pressuring Microsoft to incorporate right-to-left script into it's MS Office for Mac.
If you only need word for simple arabic documents, then you'll find alternatives for the time being.
Overall, I switched to Mac last year, and hasn't regretted it at all!
7asafa they stopped sellting the 12" powerbook. But those machines are beautiful.
Go For it.
One last thing .. My Mac was 200KD cheaper in the US than in Kuwait. If you want, I can buy you one from here and ship it to you.
نصيحتي يود مينونك لا اييك اللي اين منه ..... ويندوز على طووووول .... و على طاري صورة البنك (بواق) نفس السؤال طرى على بالي يوم كنت رايح فيينا و سلملي على الكارتنر و سالزبورج :)
ReplyDeleteI will not read the post or the comments but I will say if you take a Mac, I will personally come and smash it.
ReplyDeletejandeef... how's the Arabic? Do you face problems blogging in Arabic or viewing Arabic websites?
ReplyDeleteFuzzy... will it have Arabic support if I buy it in the States?
purg.. so lovely to see you as always :-P
I blog using it. I do everything now using it.
ReplyDeleteMac's arabic capability comes built-in with it.
Zaydoun: Whenever possible, I purchase directly from the US Apple store. If you purchase the computer from the US, Arabic has nothing to do with the hardware but with a couple of exceptions.The first has to do with the Latin keyboard [Dah!], but that is easily fixed; you can take the computer to a number of printshop and they?ll Arabize it for you. Also, Apple hardware sold in Kuwait - and the middle east - is European rather than US. This means the keyboard will have a long left "shift" key (boy was that a mouthful!), and the return key will be long and straight rather than resemble an inverted "L". The OS installation fixes teh required language.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I use Nisus Express for Arabic word processing, and for what little DP and layout needs I use the ME version of InDesign. Blogging and web surfing in Arabic requires no special software other than the occasional text encoding (Arabic Windoze/ ISO 88xx vs Unicode, for example).
From the States, it will come with an English Keyboard, bs ma7loola, 3 K.d Laser Print Arabic Alphabets in Hawali Silicon Valley.
ReplyDeleteSoftware Arabic Support can be Configured.
the only problem you will face is if you're used to using certain programs, you might not find the Mac version. also, many parts you own already wouldnt be supported by Mac.
To Mac :)
ReplyDeleteand get the Macbook, I don't want to confuse you.. but Apple releases new updates on their produts everynow & then.
you asked about office:
I use MS office for mac
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/
but I don't use Arabic in it, instead I use an opensource prog called AbiWord
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiword
but after all I only need MS Office progs in Arabic at work.
Just think about it, I have a Mac desktop (iMac) and a Dell Laptop, and I prefer to use the desktop, coz mobility with a PC is nothing compared to using a mac.
Go Mac
و لا تنسانا بالدعاء
Thanks everyone, and like I said.. I will give my Sony one last round of heavy duty abuse over the next 3 weeks and research the MacBook in person at any number of ultra-hip Apple stores!
ReplyDeleteZaydoun I?m gonna start a new campaign:
ReplyDelete"Nabeeha Macintosh for Zaydoun!"
وعقبها راح نقوم بإنشاء المجلس التدويني لمستخدمي الماكينتوش. وفي الجلسة الأولى والتي سينتخب رئيسها من أقدم مستخدمي الماك في الكويت - أنا مرشح روحي من الآن بإعتباري من مستخدمي كمبيوترات الأبل منذ نعومة أناملي الرقيقة - سنقوم بالتصويت على مشروع قانون تعسفي يلزم المدونين والمدونات بالإلتزام بالسواك، وكذلك قانون يجرم إستخدام البلوتوث في الأعمال البريئة وقصر إستخدامه في أعمال الفندقة والزندقة، ها شقلت؟
-
بالعكس يازيدون , لي كم يوم أفكر أجرب ماك .. أعتقد أنه مميز
ReplyDeleteوالتعامل معه أرقى .. وفيه خصائص أحسن من الويندوز , لكن المشكلة أغلبية الناس ما تعودت عليه
يمكن ينفع للأخاص اللي يتعاملون مع الكمبيوتر كثير
جرب وعلمنا وش إنطباعاتك
:)
zaydoun,
ReplyDeletemac is beautiful, light, great graphics, but sony vaio is just as good lately.
Go for MAC coz it's different. 3aib u never had one! it's a great experience.
Applications all run great on it, just make sure Arabic support is available.
purg
ReplyDeleteIf you need help smashing it, call me.
Zaydoun,
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for interface then check out the new Windows Vista first. But if you're looking for how the pc actually looks like, nothing beats a MAC i think.
I had the same questions ur raising last year before leaving the US. Walked into a MAC store and played around with them, asked some questions. They had a problem with Arabic, some Arabic websites couldnt be viewed (alqabas at the time) and writting was messed up.
They told me that there's a patch that would solve all this. Didnt pursue the issue, got a Toshiba when I got back.
I had a friend buy one 3ashan ajarib feeh. He likes it, has the Arabic problem and too lasy to fix it.
Intel can run Windows and MAC on the same computer, but I dont think you want that. Ya3ny performance wont be as good as if you're running one OS only.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteZ
ReplyDeleteya I did have 1 more than a year ago but it got stolen from my car infront of a fiends house in jabriya
Rasheed: The messed up Arabic problem doesn?t need a patch, its due to the fonts installed by MS Office and disabling them solves the problem.
ReplyDeleteAs for running MS Windows ? or other Intel OS' ? applications, its nothing new. VirtualPC and SoftWindows emulators have been around for many years. Emulators *are* slow, but the thing nowadays is that the Macintosh runs on Intel, meaning that it indeed a PC and operating systems like Windoze, Linux or whatever will run *natively*. When hackers began to circulate methods for running Windoze Apple released BootCamp. There are other solutions that require no dual booting like Parallels and the announced CrossOver from CodeWeavers.
May I suggest you follow me into FujitsuSiemens laptops especially the light-weight models.
ReplyDeleteCheck them out! light, sleek and Powerful without the Arabic problems of the MAC.
One thing about the one I'm using: Speakers are not strong but nothing a head-phone would not solve.
IBM
ReplyDeleteزيدزن
ReplyDeleteاختيار اكثر من موفق قو فور انت بعد استعمال الماك لفتره لن تستطيع الرجوع للوندوز
اسرع و اكثر استقرار بالاضافه الى انك تستطيع عمل كل ما تعمله في نظام الوندوز ولكن بشكل اجمل
قد تلاقي بعض الصعوبات في البداية بخصوص البرامج ولكن في النهايه ستجد ما تريد
عن العربي في نظام الماكنتوش
فهو يتعامل معه بشكل طبيعي مع اختلاف في الكيبرود فقط لا غير و هذي محلوله بانك تنزل كيبورد الويندوز على الماك
وبخصوص البرامج المشابه للأوفس
فهناك مايكروسوفت اوفس ولكنه لا يدعم العربي ولكن البرامج التي تدعم العربي كثيره و منها بيجز، ملل ، نيو اوفس
وانصحب في البراوزر استخدام سفاري للتصفح العادي
و فاير فوكس للتصفح العربي
و لا استفسارات انا موجود ابن العم و بالخدمه
mac software websites
ReplyDelete------------------
http://www.macupdate.com/
http://www.macmusic.org/home/?lang=EN
http://www.mac4arabs.com
http://www.ifixit.com/cart/catalog/
http://www.macosxhints.com/
http://www.macworld.com/forums/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0&C=3
http://www.tucows.com/
http://www.pure-mac.com/
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/
http://www.betanews.com/
http://www.macarabia.net
heheehhe Zaydoun after reading all the comments, the thing is, keep the Vaio and buy a MAC
ReplyDeleteخل عندك خط رجعه اذا توهقت بالماك
Hahahahahahaha
in my case, ill buy a MAC after a Christmas just " Dala3 " to try it. but nothing beats an IBM Compatible PC/Laptop, not even Apple :P
zaydoun. I was seduced by the beautiful charming attractive mac 3 years ago (or was it 4!!). I loved how it looks. And I know that it's more reliable for the few softwares that it runs. But if you're used to your sony then it'd mean having to learn your way around the mac to get the hang of it. My guess is that's just too much unnecessary work. I know I am bound to come across little programs that I have installed here that won't work on the mac. I am also assuming that sharing files, programs, even simply a word document, would be problematic. Regardless of the great renown apple is now having, people still mostly use windows. So I'd second those who say:
ReplyDeleteاقضب مينونك لاييك اين منة
زيدون
ReplyDeleteماك ولا مو ماك
الغاية تبرر الوسيلة
لا .. انا ماني اخونجي
:)
دودهتوني
ReplyDelete:) get a BigMac meal meanwhile :)
ReplyDeleteZaydoun:
ReplyDeleteNo need to get confused, simply ask yourself: what do you want? If you are worried about the so called lack of software on the Mac: keep a sheet of paper handy and whenever you use a computer, make a note of the software you use. Lets say you keep on doing this until the end of the week. Go over the list and chances are all your computer needs are Mac-ready.
I'm a hardcore Mac user for both business and pleasure. I've been using Apple computers from the days when RAM capacities were measured in kilobytes. The only person I know of who's been fanatic about Apple for a longer period is blogger Anti-Reason (who maintains that to this day he?s yet to even touch a PC).
Don't let the luddites fool you. You can buy Dell, IBM, HP, Acer, ... etc. At the end it will run Windoze (or maybe Linux if you are the adventurous type). Big deal; boring - snoring - Zzzzzzz. Or, you can buy a MacBook which runs the MacOS, the operating system with the greatest user experience, EVER!
"Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to change the world?"- Steve Jobs to John Sculley
Get a MacBook. Although I use a MacBookPro, I think the MacBook size gives better mobility. I started using Mac a month ago and now I HATE Microsoft for wasting my time all these years with viruses, bugs, stalls all kinds of stupid time-wasting nuisances.
ReplyDeletezaidoun
ReplyDeleteDid you see q80_demon's comments??? do you see the un-neccessary question marks??
are you telling me that's not a MAC defect??
Think again before you make that change from windows to MAC.
Purg & Pepsi-Guy:
ReplyDeleteNever thought there were Windows fans. You give me hope and encourage us all to keep believing.
I think i'm getting sentimental here.
Zaidoun, just got mine yesterday and I am REFUSING to sleep for 4 days while I continuously tinker with the blasted thing because it's so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt's worth it. And your use profile looks very similar to mine, so a MacBook (or the black "DarthBook") should be more than enough.
Goog luck!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteZaidon:
ReplyDeleteGo for it. I've been using macs since 1992. The only problem is MS Office. They just don't want to implement Arabic in their suite. There are very good - and free - alternatives: Open Office, Neo Ofiice.
Apple's iWork (79$) is good but it's not very compatible with arabic and there are some rumors about a Spreadsheet application soon from Apple to complete the Apple iWork Suite.
If you - or anybody else - need any help about using a Mac, feel free to call me:
luai at mac dot com
BTW Mac users: Why don't we all set up a Mac user group in Kuwait?
http://www.apple.com/usergroups/
I always felt Mac is "taqleed" windows.. people who go for Mac are Photoshop nerds and graphic designers.. But for everything else go for Windows all the way.
ReplyDeleteEverything out there is compatiable with Windows ..and not Mac. So you will face a few problems if you Mac it. And if you are looking for a sleek cool design ...now all companies are working on the outter designs. If I were you I would get the newest vaio TRX. It's an art piece.
What could you possibly like about a computer company its logo is a .. bitten apple!! :P
I was about to buy one until I read more than 100 reviews and several forums that changed my mind ppl complaining from it .. heat issues, random shutdowns, weird sounds and the list goes on .. so my advice to you is wait for revisions b
ReplyDeleteMr.Z, go for MAC and never look back, believe me you will not regret it. By the way I always read your blog but this is the first time I post a comment. Don't listen to pepsi-guy :-)
ReplyDeleteMAC ALL THE WAY AND 15" MAC BOOK PRO
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteJust found the page! Get a Mac is my advice, you get a great computer with the best OS around.
By the way, we're just starting a User Group in the Emirates. Check us out at www.emiratesmac.com.
Perhaps we can keep in touch to share experience and ideas.
Yeah well my brother's Mac just sits there looking pretty
ReplyDeleteSorry, I am going off at a tangent here but maybe it's because it's the holiday season: people act funny on holidays.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you did this summer and I still don't know what you did last summer but trust me, I know what you will want to do next summer.
Take a virtual tour of the Osho International Meditation Resort @(www.osho.com)
Osho Calling,
TUB
I WAS a Windows guy before, i was surprised with a 13" MacBook. Believe me, transition is EASY !
ReplyDeleteAll u need is transfer ur files, & u r ready 2 go !
WITH MACS ALL THE WAAY
#1 AMERICAN ICON !
I have been using PC for over 20 years now. However, last week I have decided to move over to Mac. I have bought a Macbook Pro 13" from US. My company has currently given me a Sony Vaio Z26 with Windows& but I plan to use this Mac in the office as well. My work revolves around using the MS Office. Lets see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I have spend over $2,000 (Macbook, Softwares, Accessories,etc) is because I spend around 8 hours every working day infront of my computer. This means that the time I spend with my computer is more than everything else combined (barring sleeping). People say Mac brings out your creative soul. Lets see :)
I have been using PC for over 20 years now. However, last week I have decided to move over to Mac. I have bought a Macbook Pro 13" from US. My company has currently given me a Sony Vaio Z26 with Windows& but I plan to use this Mac in the office as well. My work revolves around using the MS Office. Lets see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I have spend over $2,000 (Macbook, Softwares, Accessories,etc) is because I spend around 8 hours every working day infront of my computer. This means that the time I spend with my computer is more than everything else combined (barring sleeping). People say Mac brings out your creative soul. Lets see :)