Need a new laptop- PC or Mac? Your recommendations please

[Jemart]

My laptop is officially deceased. Sniff.
Anyway, I haven't bought a computer for several years and tapping away on my iPod touch is starting to get irritating. A shiny new laptop is required, please help me choose one. Will be used for website design and maintenance plus Internet access.

[jace2010]

I would go for a mac i changed last year after having pc's for 16 years best thing i ever done.

Go for a macbook.

[Petal]

I have a friend who has used Macs for years and years. They never go wrong. I have a windows machine and they are a pain in the butt. Always on the blink and we've had loads of PC's in the time said friend has had her one machine!

Good luck with your choice.

[mizgeorge]

I use both, but find website maintenance much easier on PC.

[ps_bond]

Personally, while I like Apple's designs & user interfaces, I've found there to be too many time when the form has taken precedence over the function of the unit - one example being the snazzy power switches the G4 Cubes had, that triggered at random on a number of units. To add to that, I feel that they are overpriced for the hardware.

As for the control freakery on the iPods & iPhones, that is anathema to me - which is a good deal of the reason I've zero interest in developing for them.

Of course, you can always look at using Linux on an Intel laptop - you don't have to be lumbered with Windows. It rather depends on what software you need to run. There are also ways to run Mac OS X on non-Mac hardware, although I don't know of any that are strictly legit.

[Jemart]

As for the control freakery on the iPods & iPhones, that is anathema to me - which is a good deal of the reason I've zero interest in developing for them.

interesting that you feel that way towards the mac Peter, I was under the impression they were something of an industry standard?
They are so much more expensive and I'm only considering getting one because lots of creative people I know rave about them and I like my iPod so much.

[Lou]

My laptop is officially deceased. Sniff.
Anyway, I haven't bought a computer for several years and tapping away on my iPod touch is starting to get irritating. A shiny new laptop is required, please help me choose one. Will be used for website design and maintenance plus Internet access.

Mac all the way for me, never had a problem with mine. I am on my 3rd Macbook now and love it!

[Cathy at the Beach]

Wow! sounds like mac is the overwhelming fav!

Not for me though. I have a Toshiba Tecra notebook and I love it. This is my third Toshiba notebook in the last 18 years. I find the Tecra to be really well made. Very tough. I carry my computer with me on appointments constantly and while I am careful of it, its had a few drops and bumps etc. It is tryly tough. I have never had any trouble with it. Of course this computer is my bread and butter and I use it for at least 4-5 hours a day for work- so it better be good.
Both my children have mac notebooks- they like them. (they were far cheaper than my Tecra though)

[agent_44]

As a total general non tecchy way to sum up the two - you'll get a higher spec model for your money easily with a PC, but Windows can take a bit of looking after to keep it performing well (and sorry, but an external hard drive wont make any difference unless you are short on disc space!). If you opt for a Mac be prepared for extra cost, but a much better behaved baby!

[Jemart]

Lucinda, please could you expand on what it takes to look after Windows to keep it performing well?
I like the idea of a macbook especially the "goes wrong less" aspect but am sorely tempted by the prospect of a higher spec PC.