Are there any real advantages for a web developer to get a Macbook? Thoughts??? I am currently using ubuntu on my HP Probook and am quite satisfied. I want to get something for christmas, and am thinking of going Mac
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Highend Notebook vs medium spec Macbook for dev
- Thread starter debonair
- Start date
Mac is useful if you end up wanting to build iOS based apps (iPad / iPhone). You can't do this without mac OS, and because the mac OS is not licensed to be virtualised, you cannot develop iOS apps on non mac hardware.
For everything else, there's the Dell XPS. Cheaper / faster / better than any mac from what i've seen in reviews. I have one and it's a fantastic machine.
For everything else, there's the Dell XPS. Cheaper / faster / better than any mac from what i've seen in reviews. I have one and it's a fantastic machine.
bullzeye.za
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If you want the absolute best machine, get a mac - I hate them to the bone, but this macbook pro that I am sitting behind is a thing of elegance.
I am running windows on it via boot camp, and it's completely silent except when I seriously overload it. - There's a Dell XPS with similar specs in the office, and it's like a leaf blower compared to this.
If you want the best bang for the buck, grab a netbook, attach a nice big external monitor and load ubuntu. then you can work from anywhere that you have a screen for it, and in all honesty, most development doesn't need much power
I am running windows on it via boot camp, and it's completely silent except when I seriously overload it. - There's a Dell XPS with similar specs in the office, and it's like a leaf blower compared to this.
If you want the best bang for the buck, grab a netbook, attach a nice big external monitor and load ubuntu. then you can work from anywhere that you have a screen for it, and in all honesty, most development doesn't need much power
Do you mean a web developer or a web designer? Web developers write real code and will be happiest on a real PC. Designers design, and may need to use Mac software. Find out from the person himself what is most useful. I do web development, however a Mac is completely and utterly useless to me because Visual Studio does not run on MacOS. Neither does the .Net framework, for that matter. However, if I was a Java or Php web developer, I could potentially use a Mac, if I had. I'd still prefer a PC.
Bottom line - just ask him. Dont buy it first!
Bottom line - just ask him. Dont buy it first!
He is him. And if he's using Ubuntu he's probably not developing in ASP.NET.
Macs have great screens.
lol @Dm7 yes I am me and to clarify i want the mac for me haha. I am a python/php/java dev. I also dabble in some front-end development as well using jquery/html5 etc...
Thanks for your input, I think I will go Mac after all, coz I want to run OmniGraffle - great wireframing software. I also want to be able to run adobe cs5 gimp is cool but not that cool lol. I also get to keep the familiar commandline from *nix so i guess I will be sorted. will leave ubuntu for the production servers or run in on a vm if i need to
Thanks for your input, I think I will go Mac after all, coz I want to run OmniGraffle - great wireframing software. I also want to be able to run adobe cs5 gimp is cool but not that cool lol. I also get to keep the familiar commandline from *nix so i guess I will be sorted. will leave ubuntu for the production servers or run in on a vm if i need to
CS5 is available on PC too, and the PC laptop you will get for the same price as the Macbook will perform far better.
Someone mentioned getting a netbook - not a good idea. Those atom CPU's are pretty slow.
stevenv
Expert Member
This is not a troll but ...
If the CPU is made by Intel, the hard disk by Seagate (a guess), the memory by some random Chinese company, you're just paying extra for MacOS and a fancy case.
If the CPU is made by Intel, the hard disk by Seagate (a guess), the memory by some random Chinese company, you're just paying extra for MacOS and a fancy case.
@roguemat I hear you, but i want things that I like from the *nix environment present and the great programs that are not supported on linux, like CS5 without having to switch between environments. I can do that with mac os x.
stevenv
Expert Member
Or buy a PC, copy of MacOS and create your own Hackintosh.
The old small black XPS... or the new ones (i7)? The old core2 XPS's run hot, and had a firmware update to make the fans run faster and pretty much all the time. Mine I can't hear, unless doing some really GPU intensive stuff, then I can hear the fan. From what i've read online it out performs the mac's with i7's as well.
If the op isn't going to run windows, and needs cs5 and omnizebra or whatever, then me thinks mac will be the only option. At least in a mac you can run a windows VM if needed (IParallels or VMWare or or or). In windows you can't run mac as a VM.
A friend just did this and the system runs lightning fast, and for half the price
superkew
Active Member
I got a PC and run Mac on a VM for IOS development.
You need a powerful PC for dev and for design. Especially as a developer you usually have your own database engines running, as well as web services. No ways a netbook can run that.
A Mac is pretty, but unless you NEED the Mac software, there is no point.
That is my opinion. Still wouldn't mind a macbook though...
You need a powerful PC for dev and for design. Especially as a developer you usually have your own database engines running, as well as web services. No ways a netbook can run that.
A Mac is pretty, but unless you NEED the Mac software, there is no point.
That is my opinion. Still wouldn't mind a macbook though...
Jarvis88
Member
I have a MBP (oh how I'm going to be flamed for this...), and I won't ever look back!
If you're doing any design work (and it sounds like you do), I would say hell yes! Go for the Mac! I run the entire CS5 suite, and never have I ever had any problems. Often have Photoshop, IA, flash, and DW open at the same time, with barely any drop in performance... That would've crashed my Dell any day!
All that BS about it only being good for design only though, is exactly that, BS! Everyday use is awesome! In under 45sec I can start my Mac, open a Photoshop file, Outlook, a twitter app, and Firefox! That's usually my morning routine... No click wait a gazillion years etc.
And the statement of, it just works, holds absolutely true! Also, I have yet to find a laptop that can beat its battery life while doing some hectic work, that's also not double its size!
Programming isn't really a problem, besides, most of my buddies in the US and UK all use Mac, and those are some hardcore programmers for you!
My final opinion... Different strokes for different folks! I've had bad experiences with windows, and windows related machines, and Mac hasn't given me a minute of headaches! Not everyone has had the same experiences! Mac won't be a perfect fit for everyone.
Those arguing on price, are just simple. You could buy a BMW that will outperform a Ferrari, but you will never have the feel of a Ferrari! That quality and elegance...
Anyone who hates Mac, has either never used one in their daily routine, or are just purists who aren't interested. Any windows lover whose thoroughly used Mac will be able to agree it's awesome, maybe not in every aspect, but in many! I'll refrain from stating the last reason why most people don't like Mac's, as I'd prefer not to sound like a snob! In the end, it all comes down to preference!
Good luck on your choice!
If you're doing any design work (and it sounds like you do), I would say hell yes! Go for the Mac! I run the entire CS5 suite, and never have I ever had any problems. Often have Photoshop, IA, flash, and DW open at the same time, with barely any drop in performance... That would've crashed my Dell any day!
All that BS about it only being good for design only though, is exactly that, BS! Everyday use is awesome! In under 45sec I can start my Mac, open a Photoshop file, Outlook, a twitter app, and Firefox! That's usually my morning routine... No click wait a gazillion years etc.
And the statement of, it just works, holds absolutely true! Also, I have yet to find a laptop that can beat its battery life while doing some hectic work, that's also not double its size!
Programming isn't really a problem, besides, most of my buddies in the US and UK all use Mac, and those are some hardcore programmers for you!
My final opinion... Different strokes for different folks! I've had bad experiences with windows, and windows related machines, and Mac hasn't given me a minute of headaches! Not everyone has had the same experiences! Mac won't be a perfect fit for everyone.
Those arguing on price, are just simple. You could buy a BMW that will outperform a Ferrari, but you will never have the feel of a Ferrari! That quality and elegance...
Anyone who hates Mac, has either never used one in their daily routine, or are just purists who aren't interested. Any windows lover whose thoroughly used Mac will be able to agree it's awesome, maybe not in every aspect, but in many! I'll refrain from stating the last reason why most people don't like Mac's, as I'd prefer not to sound like a snob! In the end, it all comes down to preference!
Good luck on your choice!
You never got flamed
LOOOOOOL.
IMO get a laptop with 2 hard drives, i7, decent gfx card, 8gigs of ram, then u can load a "Hackintosh" VM the 2nd HDD and it will probably run better than MPB anyways.. It just won't be as elegant as Javis88 mentioned, but it will rape face!
If you need to use photoshop or dreamweaver I would recommend a Mac (design work), if you are going to be doing development (coding work) and use stuff like bluefish rather spend the money on better hardware than a Mac. Ubuntu will fly like lightning on better hardware.
riverdusty
Senior Member
Get a Sun Microsystems Workstation. No, I am kidding. I have one and when I turn it on it sounds like a jet starting up and I can almost watch the electricity units disappearing.
True processing power will not be found in any x86/i386 architecture. You'll have to look at Sparc or something for 'real' power.
Other than that, get a mac. Its not about the Mac itself, its about what you get once you've got a mac. The iStore and the entire iCommunity is why a mac is worth it.
True processing power will not be found in any x86/i386 architecture. You'll have to look at Sparc or something for 'real' power.
Other than that, get a mac. Its not about the Mac itself, its about what you get once you've got a mac. The iStore and the entire iCommunity is why a mac is worth it.
riverdusty
Senior Member
also... iCloud <3