I may need my head read, but...

**dinker** · 16 February 2009, 15:22

I`m running CS4 Master Collection on my self-built PC (Asus P5E-V HDMI,Intel [email protected], G35 graphics, 2GB DDR2, 2x250GB SATA) which cost £280 in total, Macs are for hippies. Oh, and I got CS4 for nothing:

http://apps.katz.cd/download/2745446...on-CS4-6-DVDs/

**realityhack** · 16 February 2009, 15:34

Yikes.

Forgot to mention - must be a laptop.

£280?? Nice one.

**Netraider** · 16 February 2009, 16:03

I've just brought my wife the New Mac Book (Not Pro). She loves it. She's always been a windows user, and has made the move to apple very well.

I'm looking to get a Pro for myself later this year.

**b0redom** · 16 February 2009, 16:10

I bought a MacBook Pro about 2 years ago having always decryed Macs as for non-techies. I wouldn't go back now.

The software which comes built into the OS is pretty comprehensive, and it's based on the BSD kernel, so you can kill -9 programs and you get PERL, PHP, Apache etc built in.

The thing that pursuaded me was I went on a stunt driving course for my birthday, and Mrs B0redom videod it. My folks had a Mac, and just plugged in the camcorder, pressed Go, and a few mins later out popped a fully mastered (including menus etc) DVD which would play in a standalone DVD player.

Since that, I've swapped my normal desktop for an iMac and bought a MacMini for a HTPC (see Plex).

I still keep a Vista install around, and a few linux boxes and VMs, but I really prefer OSX.

Although I have the 17" MBP, I think it's a bit too large to lug around. When it's upgrade time, I'll probably get the 15" and an external monitor.

**NickNick** · 16 February 2009, 16:19

Originally posted by realityhack View Post

I'm seriously considering buying the new MacBook Pro:

2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (8GB max)
320GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB
17" 1920x1200 widescreen antiglare LED display
8hr battery life
£2,193.99 inc VAT

Dell will do you

Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme Quad QX9300 2.53GHz (12MB Cache 1066MHz FSB)
4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1067MHz - 2 x 2048MB
500GB 7200RPM SATA
Dual 512MB ATI® Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870
17-inch WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD (1200p)

For about the same cost.

**Fred Bloggs** · 16 February 2009, 17:58

You have to be off your head paying that for what is, after all's said and done, pretty bog standard wintel type hardware. I've just built a similar but slightly better PC than that with 2x320Gb hard drives for ~£400. Runs CS4, Quark Express etc... really nicely.

**dinker** · 16 February 2009, 18:50

OK it`s got be a laptop, but Apple products are marketed on the basis of their social meaning rather than their utilty. It`s a proprietary platform for a start and I`m sure we all know what happens to people who buy into those.

**Fred Bloggs** · 16 February 2009, 19:02

It`s a proprietary platform

Only the operating system though. This is what I have against apple pc's nowadays. They're packaging bog standard wintel hardware and charging proprietary/designer hardware prices.

**realityhack** · 16 February 2009, 19:22

Ok, let the flaming begin, but although I'm on an IT contractors' site, I'm a user, not an engineer. I wouldn't feel confident enough to build my own system like that. Although if I could, it would be very tempting to get my hands on a sub £400 system that ticks all the boxes.

The laptop prerequisite is important. The system needs to be portable.

Thanks for the responses so far.

I may need my head read, but...