I've completely lost track of this argument. Can we switch to arguing over which car is better, a well sorted 944, a Bullitt Mustang, or a 178mph Targa...

I agree with the sentiment behind the post completely. Here is why I don't think it is a smart move for Sidney. First, he clearly doesn't need the extra capabilities if the Mac. Everything he talks about doing, I do from my $600 refurb Dell. I got 4 years out of the last one, I will get the same out of this one. The other side of the equation is that he can't afford it. If you can't pay cash for a laptop, you can't afford it.

If he NEEDED it or he could afford it, the purchase might make sense. It might not be something I would buy, but I could certainly understand the decision. However, here we are 0-2. It doesn't make a lot of sense to spend money you don't yet have on something you don't truly need.

In the end, you can rationalize anything. In this case, I think he is kidding himself. I would encourage the purchase more if came out and admitted it wasn't the most practical decision, but screw, it's what he wanted and he's going to work hard to make the situation work. Heck, that's the reason I just bought an E39 when an accord would have gotten me to work just as well.

It was a 165 MPH '72 911S Targa....please try to keep up. :rolleyes:

which Kia is that?

Jeff, the rugged packaging of the Mac is good, only when compared to the some PC's.

There are all kinds of ruggedized PC's with much better IP ratings than any Mac.

Sorry, I meant Buick.:D

fwiw, I paid cash for both the 180hp 911, and the 340hp pepperwagon. ..I've never bought a Buick.

. . .and I've never financed a frick'en computer.

They didn't have computers when YOU were 18, Glen.

I am going to have too agree with Garrett. We are just about the same and have almost identical laptop purchases. I "bought" a $550 laptop from dell.com/outlet my freshmen year of college. That computer just bit the dust two weeks ago. After a little more then 5 years. Ya want to know what I did? Started looking right back on dell.com/outlet. I don't buy top of the line machines and I will probably spend the same amount as I did originally. That machine never told me not to buy another dell again.

Don't buy the mac Sid. Ya just don't need that kind of frivolous spending at your age.SmileWavy

Absolutely... never said (or meant to imply) otherwise. I've just found, anecdotally, that the Macbook Pro seems to be better than most when considering boxes around the same price point.

Again, it's about what he's looking for, and wants, and his justification of waiting to pay cash or finance it now.

He's the only one that can make a decision about that, and he's obviously got a bunch of different points of view to consider in his decision.

Funnily enough, I've actually done the 0% credit card finance thing with Apple in the past, and it worked out really well. It was a little different in my case, though, in that it was almost $100k for about 10 machines, and was used to set up a software product startup of mine. (Cheapest 6 month financing I've ever had).

Regardless of his decision, I hope it works out well for him.

The Macs certainly are good (machined Aluminum) but there are quite a few mag bodied machines out there w/ similar build strength. -maybe better strength to weight.

...and what is up with the macbook and SD cards that sit as little dive boards, sticking out of the box? --that can't be good for anything. ...not even quick pull out (as macs need the "eject/wait" command)

You're getting closer to getting my name right, Jeronimo. ;)

Yeah, I suppose I'm old, but not that old. The first computer I bought was a video game console (first w/ game cartridges) back in the 70's . . . on lay-away :eek: ...with paper-route money. (such crazy times when a 12 y/o couldn't just whine for tech stuff)

Anyway, $1600 could buy him a decent notebook AND a nice $1000 monitor/HDTV.

Heck, $1200 could do that, Glenn!

I'll just keep trying with the name thing.

Sidney, do you see what happens when you ask a bunch of geezers for their OPINION?

You will get a lot of different opinions, and you still will have the same decision to make after all the opinions. At least ya can't say you did not have any input.

Don't know if you're talking only about my post(s), but it seems like it. I've owned Apple stuff. I've integrated Apple stuff. I have a degree is Business Management with a Management Information Systems (MIS) minor. I ran a business as a Value Added Reseller and Integrator for computer hardware and software. We built and resold our own computers and servers from open architecture components. We supplied small business to medium enterprises, did a lot of schools, and some government agencies. We also designed, integrated, and administered their networks. We were also an ISP with several leased OC3 lines, and a few thousand subscribers.

One of my jobs was to source the components. I was in charge of what we bought, with input from my staff. I worked with various suppliers to consider the cost/benefit analysis, and it changed frequently. We built hundreds of machines each month, so I think I knew the difference between good quality hardware and junk that is all about low price. When we supplied laptops, we obviously did not build those machines. So if a client requested, say, 50 laptops, it was my job to decide which brand and model fit their criteria and budget. Many of our clients were schools, so for many reasons they were pre-disposed to Apple. We purchased, supplied, and supported hundreds of Apple laptops and desktops.

I've had them, used them, and compared them.

Brands have an image. Apple played on it with the Mac versus PC ads. Apples are cool, hip, and intellectual..... like a coffee house tries to be. I'm not the one who made it up. But it fits.

I used the diesel dually versus small car analogy because it's about the work it can do, similar to a high-powered computer of any brand. If you're not utilizing its capabilities, then it's a waste.

If you didn't 'get it', my hope is that others did

That's a solid reason. Bet mom and dad are proud.

Yep, I know. But you'll race the Miata when it's all you can afford. And you may never GET to afford a DP935 if you keep blowing your wad on dumb things along the way.

Young people like Sid will learn the lesson some day, or maybe never, that little expenses -- little decisions -- impact your ability to enjoy your passions. Defer your short-term gratifications, make prudent decisions DAILY about balancing WANTS versus NEEDS. Not getting a $4 coffee today, but making one at home for $1. Not buying the computer you want for $1600, but a $600 model that will do just fine. Not buying a new car on payments after graduation, but a used one that you can pay cash for. Etc, etc, et al. It all adds up.

If you could only SEE now the impact it has and how it DIRECTLY correlates to enjoying a hobby or passion, you'd likely make different decisons. I know people that race that do so on a shoestring budget. They sacrifice many other luxuries to afford a season on the track. But it's what they love, so they gladly do without. If they didn't figure it out, they'd still be enjoying that Starbuck's, buying that Mac, paying on that new(ish) Civic, and watching the racing action on their financed 60" 3D HDTV and WISHING they could afford to be on the track.

Or for some others, it might be the difference between running a Miata or a DP-935. Or for some others a 911GT3 when they really wanted a vintage 917. It's all relative.

EDIT: It's important to add that for some the computer itself IS the passion. So Jeff is spot on: if it makes YOU happy, go for it. Just understand spending your money there takes it away from something else. Only you can decide where to spend your money, just make sure you're clear on NEED versus WANT.

My advice: Never finance WANT when you can afford NEED.

Cheers

E

Yes.... A TV is what I really need, something that will cost me more money every month. I don't have cable at my apartment. I have an old CRT for watching the occasional movie...

Oh and my dell holds SD cards in the Diving board style. Never been a problem in 3yrs.

Humor me who is building the well built strong laptops that aren't huge(panasonic toughbook). I was looking at Toshiba, but they are still lots of plastic.

I'm willing to pay more to not be swapping laptops in a few years again. I really, really hate swapping.

Everyone seems to assume that a cheap windows laptop will be fine because he only does basic stuff. I've known people who actually got into editing video, photos, and/or music when they switched to a Mac (due to software that comes with it - iMovie, iPhoto, GarageBand). Yes, you can do those things on a windows laptop, but it can be more of a PITA, and a cheapo laptop won't really cut it for some of those tasks.

you should Definitely take-on $1600 debt for the Apple. Clearly you are painted into a corner on this one, and no other solution exists.

oh, and just to show-off your non-lemming wisdom, make sure you get a silver one.

Seriously iLand. Show me some links. I'm still not 100% sold on a Mac honestly. I just have found a Mac that has everything I want in a small package. You tell me that others make it, put your money where your mouth is. I will entertain other ideas. Oh ya, make sure it's under an inch thick, and has 8-9hrs of battery life.



Go!


Edit... Truth be told, I hate silver. I much prefer a black laptop, but... I can cope with color.


Oh and i told my folks you guys thought I wanted a mac to impress my friends. They laughed at yall, Ive never been a go with the flow type, really dont care what my peers think of me. Those of you that *actually* know me understand this.

I've used a MB Pro enough to know that its battery life is nowhere near 8-9 hours.

btw you have obviously convinced yourself that the only solution is the Mac. and if you don't start fulfilling your "wants" with debt now.... you will be a week older when you do.

I mean really; having to contemplate the possibility of having to swap one $400 Cmptr for another, a few years down the road sounds completely horrifying, for a champagne guy like you.. and don't worry, once you have the new shiny silver book you won't want any new technology. That will be IT ...it won't get stolen.it won't get a Mocha frappacino spilled on it. They are too tough and dependable. It will be super. ...and, damn it, you deserve it!

You've got a LONG, hateful life in front of ya Sidney :). This thread has never been about PC vs Mac (virtually all are cheap, disposable machines with relatively short lifespans (just like most $250K servers and the $10 Million mainframes I spent my career working on) BY DESIGN. I can't afford racecars, but I know "instant gratifaction" and "rationalization of borrowing" when I see it, along with a college kid's perspective of fiscal responsibility. Sidney, seriously, get the Mac and enjoy it...you've got a lot "on the ball", and this is a non-issue in terms of actual $, as you're not required to live within your means (yet). You mentioned wanting a Boxter (on another thread) soon...$1600 would be a nice start towards that goal, or will you rationalize borrowing 10K in a couple of years? If you talked to your parents about the Mac vs PC thing (irrelevant imo), you missed the relevant points of a thread YOU started, asking for advice on whether to finance something you don't actually "need" (and could save up for in a few months). "The Bank of MOM & DAD" are still financing your lifestyle imo (as did mine when I was your age), "have your back if the SHTF" and if they are "good", why did you even start this thread? Be well Sidney...you've got a lot going for you and are lightyears ahead of many...

I have to question why you don't have $1600 in the bank to begin with. Your parents are clearly financing all of the basics (clothes, food, rent, tuition) so one would think that you could have a little scratch together by now. I had over $15k in the bank a couple of years ago when I was your age and had the same type of parental support. If you can't afford a laptop, you are in for a rude awakening when you are on your own in a couple of years. Unless you still plan on utilizing the bank of DAD, which is great if you can, but let me tell you, it becomes pretty unsatisfying to be relying on mommy and daddy when youre 22 years old