I’ve had Snow Leopard for about a week, and there’s a few things I’ve noticed with Apple’s recent operating system.
First, there’s a slight focus on security. Outside of the introduced malware scanner in Snow Leopard, removing files from the trash has become more security. The default has been changed to secure delete, a feature in Leopard, but was optional. It’s almost as if Apple is trying to stay a step ahead of the game for a looming attack or marketing towards business use. The downfall, deleting a large amount of files now takes a ridiculous amount of time.
The next change with Snow Leopard relates to my interactions with it. I find myself the Finder more often instead of opening applications. With the new thumbnail abilities and an improved Quick Look, I find myself not having to open applications as often to determine what I may or may not need.
Snow Leopard did not change a lot on the surface. All of my old programs work as anticipated and there are plenty of improvements, but I’ve not used half of them. This is not to say they aren’t welcomed, but Snow Leopard is clearly the groundwork for something’s to come.
I’ve begun the process of purchasing a new laptop, the question is which one? My initial research has lead me to choosing either either the Dell Studio XPS 16 or the MacBook Pro 17”. Windows-based systems tend to be less expensive, but Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc suggests there is a hidden “Apple Tax”, that is in the long term Mac’s are costlier. This suggestion stems from a Microsoft sponsored whitepaper by Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates indicating there is a $3,367 difference of owning a Windows system over five years. There are many issues with the whitepaper (outside of it being sponsored by Microsoft), it reads much like a blog post and includes items that aren’t reflective to either systems (such as the inclusion of Quicken for the Mac only and not the PC, Purchasing Office on the Mac opposed to iLife, and the lack of any Anti-Virus software.)
This notion of an “Apple Tax” does raise an interesting point. When considering the purchase a new system one should look beyond the initial costs to figure out the true value. I wanted to look at the projects costs of purchasing these two laptops over 5 years. Instead of using the metrics in the whitepaper or assumptions of an average user, I wanted to compare both systems based on my needs. I broke these down into two parts, first the initial cost (the system cost and software I would require to accomplish all of the things I want to), and then the maintenance costs over an additional 4 years of each system.
I’ve been considering the purchase of a new laptop over the past few months and have narrowed my decision between the MacBook Pro and the Dell Studio XPS 16. Unlike most people I am a Mac and I am a PC (where’s this commercial?), so I’m not scared of switching to another operating system. My decision stands on the benefits of each computer.
It’s interesting to be purchasing a laptop in this market. Apple is increasing it’s market share and this has been scaring Microsoft, it shows in their recent "I’m a PC" ads featuring "regular people" all purchasing new laptops under $1,500. Advertisements are nice but they do not sway my opinion. Neither does Lauren or Giampaolo (see video after the jump). "This is so sexy, but Macs to me are about aesthetics more than they are about the computing power," Giampaolo says in the new advertisement, and ends up choosing an HP (actually a HP HDX). Prince McLean (Apple Insider) debunks many of the myths presented in the new advertisement by comparing the computer Giampaolo buys and the Mac he was considering. Even with this comparison, PC’s are generally cheaper than Macs, an argument that trumps a lot of reasoning in hard economic times. So how do you choose?
It’s about the features baby!
The decision is going to come down to features. Although I’m definitely spending more than $1,500 on a new computer; the system is going to support a lot of my needs. I need a system that can handle a lot of heavy duty tasks, from web designing and programming to DJ’ing and music editing, to new tools to help feed my social media habits! While software is a concern, a majority of the software I use exists on both Mac’s and PC’s. I need a system that will last for more than a year or two. Mac seems to have PC’s beat in this arena, as much of their offerings are tied into the system such as the iSight camera and included software of iLife. For less than a Mac, I could get a Dell Studio XPS 16 with many features that are similar to the MacBook for less with a larger hard drive.
Dude! You’re getting a…
At this point I’m swaying between both systems. I even asked my friends to help sway my opinion, but they haven’t been helpful. Most of them say there isn’t a difference between Mac and PC’s (where’s peer pressure when you need it?) The MacBook’s are sexy, because they provide a lot of features, computing power and ability. I believe the Mac OS is a better operating system than XP or Vista. However PC’s are cheaper, and may add more value for your dollar and they do come very close. This is a tough choice, I wish there was a way to compare both systems for a month each, and then compare my computing life with each one (if there is a way, I would do it!)
My decision is going to require a deeper investigation.
