some impartial advice needed on bying a new laptop.

[fishbowlhead]

Ok guys heres the deal, ive recently converted my home desktop into a business system and its soon due to go down the factory, as such ive decided to go portable and get a laptop.

now heres the thing, as macs can now run office ive been thinking of getting a mac. what i want to know is that would a new macbook be able to run photoshop, quark express, acrobat as well as this laptop ive picked out http://www.morecomputers.co.uk/extra.asp?pn=VGN%2DAR31M%2ECEK and if so what adventages does a mac have nowadays over pc's.
Also, to what extent does office run on macs, i also use publisher alot so can this work for example.
Any advice would be helpfull as im caurght in two minds at the moment.



cheers guys.

[briareos_kerensky]

I wouldn't buy a Vaio, but...back on topic, yes, a Mac will be able to run the programs you listed, however, all CS2 programs aren't compiled to run natively for Intel-based Macs, you'll have to go with the new CS3 to have maximum performance. Not so sure about Xpress, though...never used the program on any platform.
However, if you're running a business and you already have licenses for Windows-based programs it's a waste to buy new Mac licenses, unless it's the very first start of your business. Also, what about other PCs? Do they use Windows or MacOS? Synchronizing the two OS can be quite tricky and I see that Parallel Desktop is far from perfect (I have a couple of co-workers using it on a quite powerful quad Xeon Mac).
Hardware-wise I say Wintel systems are less expensive with the same componets.

[VR46]

The Mac route does seem more hassle - and I guess more expensive, personally for ease would go with a XP/Vista operated lappy.

[fishbowlhead]

im all on windows and have creative suite 2 for windows also. my business machines dont cut it on the performance department anymore hence why there being relegated to invoicing and other boring crap like that.

i want to go portable as i need my system at work and home, hence a laptop, but i also need it to be powerfull enough to do design work like catalogues and the like without falling over and crashing. (i dont need a quad zenon or anything like that standard though as im not that good at design work)

im thinking the vista route at the moment to save hastle but i like to keep my options open hence why i asked you lot.

[briareos_kerensky]

im all on windows and have creative suite 2 for windows also.

The go for a Wintel system, buying a new license for a Mac would be too expensive.
There are some pretty good laptops out there, you just need to decide how much you want to spend on it. Desktop replacements go up to 3000 euros, with good Core 2 Duo systems with discrete graphics up to 1500.

[fishbowlhead]

ok thanks guys.

after listening to you guys and various other people ive decided on the laptop ive linked in my thread. Itle do everything i need it to and is powerfull enough to run everything ive got.



cheers guys.

[CMcK]

Drifting slightly off topic here but I'm curious why you think that Mac's can now run Office?
Office originated on the Mac and has always been available for Mac OS.

[fishbowlhead]

microsoft office i mean, and i didnt know macs could run it until recenly. Doesent matter now though, ive ordered the lappy so im microsofts bitch once again

[briareos_kerensky]

microsoft office i mean, and i didnt know macs could run it until recenly.

MS always had a proper Mac version of Office,probably you're speaking about Parallel Desktop on Mac-Intels...BTW, Open Office is the way

[BaudAttitude]

The go for a Wintel system, buying a new license for a Mac would be too expensive.
There are some pretty good laptops out there, you just need to decide how much you want to spend on it. Desktop replacements go up to 3000 euros, with good Core 2 Duo systems with discrete graphics up to 1500.

Adobe will do a crossgrade from Mac to Windows, or vice versa, for free if you're staying in the same version, or for the cost of an upgrade if you're going up a version. Your old serial number gets retired and you get a new serial number for your new OS version.

So if you have, say, Windows CS2 and wanted to go to Mac CS3, it would be the same price as upgrading to Windows CS3, and you would incidentally get a full version (not an upgrade copy) of Mac CS3 - they can't send you a CS3 upgrade package as you've nothing to upgrade from.

This is all moot now, of course, but I thought someone might find it useful.

[fishbowlhead]

MS always had a proper Mac version of Office,probably you're speaking about Parallel Desktop on Mac-Intels...BTW, Open Office is the way

like i said i didnt know, and not about the parallel thingy either. Its allways good to know these things for the future though. My knowlege on macs is pretty limited as i only found out theve changed to intel today when i went on the website .