Failed miserably in converting another to the Apple cult....

[zippy]

I come from Windows 8, android, apple background so my fault there, only now am I actually seeing that sticking to one brand is the best option.
I think windows/microsoft etc are only now doing what apple have been achieving for ages?

Apple stuff is definitely a niche and expensive environment to be in.
But over the last 4 weeks I have begun to appreciate why people use their products.

I use a MacBook Pro , windows desktop, unix and occasionally Linux. I don't have any real issues with any of them. I have no inclination to buy a mac desktop or replace my MacBook Pro with any other brand.

 

[w1z4rd]

I use a MacBook Pro , windows desktop, unix and occasionally Linux. I don't have any real issues with any of them. I have no inclination to buy a mac desktop or replace my MacBook Pro with any other brand.

Totally makes sense you are a Mac user. I wouldnt expect anything else.

Just a FYI, there has not been a Unix release in a long time. There is Solaris (which was based on Unix V) and there are Unix like systems such as BSD and Linux.

 

[Polymathic]

Jobs was a marketing genius he knew full well how to take advantage of the flock mentality of humans

 

[ponder]

Why do people try and convert others to a OS? I'm a linux user but I will never try and convert people to it.

 

[shogun]

Problem comes with security, one compromise and they have access to everything.

I keep my Work email on outlook.com, Home mail on Gmail, Work files on Box.com, Home on Dropbox, Pictures on Picasa and so on.

On my PC/Mobile phone and Tablet everything is running just as if its all coming from a single integrated provider, its just separated by different authentications and not a single point of failure so to speak.

PC = Ubuntu
Mobile = Android
Tablet = iPad

This has been on my mind lately. If I remember correctly a journalist on the apple ecosystem had has machine and cloud account wiped after someone did some social engineering on the apple call centre. If someone did get my account details, they could do some damage.

Not to mention the frikkin NSA / Skype / Skydrive / Outlook.com interception bullsh*t! Not sure what to make of all that yet.

 

[Way69]

Jobs was a marketing genius he knew full well how to take advantage of the flock mentality of humans

yeah which is why windows runs on the majority of machines out there. maybe you should think about what you say before speaking.

 

[Polymathic]

yeah which is why windows runs on the majority of machines out there. maybe you should think about what you say before speaking.

speak for yourself, ever heard of the iphone?

 

[Dean]

You are annoying

Totally makes sense you are a Mac user. I wouldnt expect anything else.

Just a FYI, there has not been a Unix release in a long time. There is Solaris (which was based on Unix V) and there are Unix like systems such as BSD and Linux.

yeah which is why windows runs on the majority of machines out there. maybe you should think about what you say before speaking.

speak for yourself, ever heard of the iphone?

Could all of you please shurrup? I'm subscribed to this thread to HELP the OP. Not to hear your incessant fanboyism and b1tching.

Take this elsewhere - and this is to all of you.

 

[w1z4rd]

Could all of you please shurrup? I'm subscribed to this thread to HELP the OP. Not to hear your incessant fanboyism and b1tching.

Take this elsewhere - and this is to all of you.

No. You do not own this forum, you dont get to call the shots. Learn to deal with many different peoples, views and topics of conversation.

 

[Dean]

No. You do not own this forum, you dont get to call the shots. Learn to deal with many different peoples, views and topics of conversation.

You're 100% correct, I do not own the forum. However, as a user I feel the need to uphold the rules, as well as stick on topic in threads.
While this thread's subject mentions the 'Apple cult', the actual post has nothing to do with it - it's about finding the right laptop for the OP's wife.

You're debating a completely different (off-)topic, which is why I'm asking you to take it elsewhere.. far from an unreasonable request I imagine.

Should you wish to discuss something which doesn't relate to the OP, as always, you're welcome to create another thread

 

[w1z4rd]

You're 100% correct, I do not own the forum. However, as a user I feel the need to uphold the rules, as well as stick on topic in threads.
While this thread's subject mentions the 'Apple cult', the actual post has nothing to do with it - it's about finding the right laptop for the OP's wife.

You're debating a completely different (off-)topic, which is why I'm asking you to take it elsewhere.. far from an unreasonable request I imagine.

Should you wish to discuss something which doesn't relate to the OP, as always, you're welcome to create another thread

Im sure people will take your opinion into consideration

 

[OGroteKoning]

/a bit late to this party, but I brought popcorn

 

[Cassady]

Thanks for all those who have been trying to keep things constructive.

I'm only looking at Wootware - not being a massive fan of IC - I have purchased things from the former before, and would rather go with what I know, even if it means a might end up paying a little bit more...

If anyone has the time or inclination to have a look at the following two laptops, I would be really appreciative of opinions...

From what I can gather - the Vostro fits between Inspiron and Lattitude - and is more of a "workhorse" professional/business laptop. Some older posts on the web, suggest that since it doesn't come with all the home-entertainment features of the Inspiron, it has less crapware on it - more of a bare-bones machine, meant for the cubicle salesforce masses... Which is more of what I have in mind, having been burnt with the crapware on a HP, also aimed at the home-user-multimedia-experience level of laptop.

http://www.wootware.co.za/dell-v356...d-1366x768-windows-8-pro-64-bit-notebook.html

I don't know if this makes any sort of sense, and please correct me if I'm barking up all sorts of wrong trees - but would rather get a upper-range Vostro (+/-R10k) than a entry-level Lattitude - which appear to start in the mid to high R10k level...

Regardless - were I to go for a Latitude, then I presume this one could work:

http://www.wootware.co.za/dell-lati...3-500gb-hdd-15-6-led-ivy-bridge-notebook.html

Specs differences as follows:

CPU:
Both i5
Vostro = i5-3210M 2.50 Ghz
Latitude = i5-3320M 2.6 Ghz
The Latitude is described as a Ivy Bridge processor, and nothing is mentioned for the Vostro - but presumably it's also Ivy Bridge?

RAM:
Vostro = 6GB 1600mhz DDR3
Latitude = 4GB 1600mhz DDR3

Screen:
Vostro = 15.6" HD 1366x768
Latitude = 15.6" FHD 1920x1080 LED
Not sure if this is a big difference?

HDD:
Vostro = 750GB 7,200rpm
Latitude = 500GB 7,200rpm

GPU:
Vostro = AMD Radeon HD 7670M 1GB Discrete
Latitude = Intel HD Graphics 4000

OS:
Vostro = Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
Latitude = Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
[Think the wife would prefer Win 7]

Battery:
Vostro = 6 Cell 48W/HR Li-Ion
Latitude = 6 Cell 60W/HR Li-Ion

Anything else?

The way I see the above :-

Vostro wins RAM; HDD; GPU;
Latitude wins CPU; Screen; OS(??); Battery

Prices are sufficiently close to one another, not to be a factor... [as an aside - Wootware has the Vostro 3460, which is a 14", with the same specs - for a couple a hundred more expensive, which makes the 15.6" Vostro a good price... I think!]

What you all think? Vostro or Latitude?



Many thanks!

 

[GreGorGy]

Mmmm - RBP time. Relax, Buy Popcorn.

Look everyone, another round of the OS wars. Raged for time eternal.

 

[shogun]

Of those two, spec wise I'd probably tend towards the Vostro.

I started looking around at the XPS's, and I was rather surprised at how much the new XPS's go for!

This XPS though is not at a bad price (not the latest model, but similar specs to the machines you are posting). Not sure who else stocks it, but something like this might be worth it to consider. I have one in this generation and it's a solid machine (also looks way better than a Vostro). Upgrade it to Windows 8, and it really flies. The only reason i'm pointing it out is that it has an i7 instead of an i5. If you aren't worried about super dooper battery life, it really does crunch better (comparing mine to other i5's in the office).

http://www.ishoponline.co.za/p/2678...220ghz-6gb-ddr3-750gb-hdd-156-wled-win7-hp-3g

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I have Parallels running on my machine - and can appreciate that as a possibility... Would it be as straight forward for her IT to set up everything in Windows? Guess this remains something to explore...

It depends on whether they run an AD domain or not, if they do and its a company requirement then that rules apple out.

 

[Cassady]

Of those two, spec wise I'd probably tend towards the Vostro.

I started looking around at the XPS's, and I was rather surprised at how much the new XPS's go for!

This XPS though is not at a bad price (not the latest model, but similar specs to the machines you are posting). Not sure who else stocks it, but something like this might be worth it to consider. I have one in this generation and it's a solid machine (also looks way better than a Vostro). Upgrade it to Windows 8, and it really flies. The only reason i'm pointing it out is that it has an i7 instead of an i5. If you aren't worried about super dooper battery life, it really does crunch better (comparing mine to other i5's in the office).

http://www.ishoponline.co.za/p/2678...220ghz-6gb-ddr3-750gb-hdd-156-wled-win7-hp-3g

Many thanks... Whereas that XPS is tempting, with her IT (correctly) pointing out that she would be just fine with a R9k machine - anything going into the R12k area is probably a bit too rich...

 

[Cassady]

It depends on whether they run an AD domain or not, if they do and its a company requirement then that rules apple out.

IT confirmed they have people running Macs - takes a bit longer to set up, but they work fine. As mentioned a bit later on(?) - she's too nervous about the OS - too much to have re-learn. So Windows it is!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all those who have been trying to keep things constructive.

Specs differences as follows:

CPU:
Both i5
Vostro = i5-3210M 2.50 Ghz
Latitude = i5-3320M 2.6 Ghz
The Latitude is described as a Ivy Bridge processor, and nothing is mentioned for the Vostro - but presumably it's also Ivy Bridge?

RAM:
Vostro = 6GB 1600mhz DDR3
Latitude = 4GB 1600mhz DDR3

Screen:
Vostro = 15.6" HD 1366x768
Latitude = 15.6" FHD 1920x1080 LED
Not sure if this is a big difference?

HDD:
Vostro = 750GB 7,200rpm
Latitude = 500GB 7,200rpm

GPU:
Vostro = AMD Radeon HD 7670M 1GB Discrete
Latitude = Intel HD Graphics 4000

OS:
Vostro = Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
Latitude = Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
[Think the wife would prefer Win 7]

Battery:
Vostro = 6 Cell 48W/HR Li-Ion
Latitude = 6 Cell 60W/HR Li-Ion

Anything else?

The way I see the above :-

Vostro wins RAM; HDD; GPU;
Latitude wins CPU; Screen; OS(??); Battery

Prices are sufficiently close to one another, not to be a factor... [as an aside - Wootware has the Vostro 3460, which is a 14", with the same specs - for a couple a hundred more expensive, which makes the 15.6" Vostro a good price... I think!]

What you all think? Vostro or Latitude?

View attachment 59325

Many thanks!

Great, so you've got it down to two options - at this stage though, it comes down completely to personal preference.

The Vostro "Pros" ie. RAM HDD GPU vs the Latitude Pros ie. CPU Screen and Battery (though Battery is actually the same, 6-cell)

Vostro:
RAM - an extra 2GB always goes a long way, though upgrading RAM is a cheap and quick process, so I never use this as the determining factor in choosing a machine.

HDD - 750 vs 500 ... that's 50% extra which is definitely nothing to sneeze at. That is only if she uses that kind of space. Worthwhile considering. For me, I'd use a 2.5 portable drive to make up any shortfalls in space but you did mention she would prefer not to.

GPU - from what you've described, probably isn't an issue at all for your wife, as its a work-horse/station machine.. unless she'll be doing design/gaming, she won't benefit much, or at all, from the discrete card. I am in this position too.

Latitude:
CPU - again, for the average user, noticing the subtle difference between one i5 and another will be too close to call. So again, in my opinion, I wouldn't sweat that at all.

Screen - the difference here is Full HD vs whats commonly referred to as "HD Ready". 1080p vs 720p.. it's the difference between DSTV HD quality, and Blu-ray movie quality. Or the Samsung Galaxy S3 screen vs the Galaxy S4. There's a difference, but not too much for work stuff.

OS - this is probably the biggest factor so far - she's comfortable with 7, so that's a plus for the Latitude.

Battery - same old, same old.

At the end of the day, I would pick the Latitude for a different reason - build quality. This you can only realise by holding them both in your hands and using them, though it's something you can tell instantly once you do.
While the Vostros are definitely tougher than the Inspirons, the Latitudes are as much tougher (in terms of feeling) than the Vostros.

That, coupled with the preferable OS and superior screen resolution, is why I would undoubtedly go with the Latitude.

 

[abandonallhope]

Latitude has a docking port, Vostro does not. Once you start using a docking station, you won't want go back.