To Mac or not to Mac (again)
I have an amazing headache after spending the afternoon looking for a new computer. I had pretty much decided to go with a cheap pc and install Linux / Windows XP. The Mac Powerbooks are just too expensive.
I found a little Sotec with a 12.1 inch screen weighing in at 1.9 kg for around 100,000 yen. I would have to buy a second battery (8,000 yen) because it only lasts 2-3 hours.
Then I decided to just check the macs to make sure. The Powerbooks are still just too expensive. The iBook, with G4 / 800 was 124,000 yen, and light enough, with a 6 hour battery. I am very tempted once again to get the Mac. I was warned that the G4 iBook was a consumer computer, and too slow, but checking it out in the store with the new OS, it was fast. Maybe it's enough. Probably it's enough. I think I want it... ?
Anyone know where I can get it cheaper?
This time the biggest minus was that if I want to use it with my bigger monitor at home, I have to keep the iBook open. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but my birds will just love the chance to poop all over it if it's open. I also wonder how much a keyboard costs... I hate notebook keyboards. I have a nice full-sized keyboard that I use with my current notebook, and I really don't want to have to use the iBook keyboard while I am working on it at home.
I really should just quit worrying about all this, buy a computer, and spend the time doing something that will make me the same about of money I didn't save by not shopping around.
Comments
So, it seems that it all comes down to 16,000 yen. That may seem like a lot of money to a high school kid, but it really is not a big difference. Why not buy the Mac on the Apple Japan website and use their instant loan offer. Spread the payments out a bit, make it an easier decision. I think that you will not regret moving to the Mac.
Reading your entries on this whole decision process, it seems to me that you really want the Mac, go for it!
Posted by: Steve | October 28, 2003 01:16 AM
The education price from the Apple Store is ¥121,056 for the iBook G4. Good luck!
Posted by: Jim | October 28, 2003 03:35 AM
The best time to buy a computer is yesterday, so you're already getting the most out of it, or tomorrow, as you will undoubtedly get it cheaper ;)
(Personally I'd stick with PC's, shiny as iBooks are, they just don't have the breadth of range of applications that PC's have)
Posted by: Jon | October 28, 2003 01:11 PM
I'm not really worried about the range of applications. I already know my own usage habits and needs, and with the exception of my favorite text editor, there are no softwares that I need and can't get for the Mac or use a Unix utility for.
I'm not impressed by the shiny-ness, but I guess with everything else changing in my life, I'm feeling in a changing mood.
If I'm going to buy a new computer, the Mac is attractive simply because it's not what I have been using for the past three years.
In the same way I was tempted to just get a cheap PC and install Linux, but then I really would be without some important applications. I really eralized it when I was looking for some free fonts for a friends web-site, and realized that none of the font's I was seeing were for Linux.
So, if only for a change of pace, and to gain a little knowledge of "the other side", I'm going to go with a Mac this time around.
Besides, someone has told me that if I wasn't satisfied, they would consider working a trade-back for a PC laptop he owns now.
Posted by: kevin | October 28, 2003 01:36 PM
Kevin,
don't buy anything until you've looked at this site:
http://www.kakaku.com/
It compares prices on an incredible range of electronic stuff, and can tell you where the cheapest shop is. For example, the G5 Mac I want is 30man from the Apple store, and about 5man cheaper + double the RAM via kakaku.com. I also got a Sharp electronic dictionary for about 30% cheaper than I could find in local big electronics shops recently. It can really save your cash (although normally the cheapest store has an ugly, hard-to-use website, and only takes furikomi ;-)
Good luck!
Posted by: oli | October 29, 2003 02:59 AM
Oh crap.
It looks like those ibooks just got released (check out the date near the top), so everyone is offering them at the same price as Apple:
http://kakaku.com/prdsearch/detail.asp?ProductID=00209011756
In that case Apple's shop would be the best because they'll give you a dscount on extra RAM (40%?). Getting the International version of Mac OS X 10.3 doesn't seem to be so important - the Japanese version's installer has English as an installer language, and can install an English ver of the OS no probs.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me
Posted by: oli | October 29, 2003 04:15 AM
At any rate the international English version is available from the Apple Store. I have found that the Apple Store is usually the same price as the stores (for some reason Macs don't vary much in price from place to place) I will almost surely makw the laptop trade with you if you are unhappy so go for it. The laptop I have is probably faster, but I would prefer to have consistency on the computers I use. Hell, maybe I'll auction off this laptop and buy a mac laptop too.
Anyway Kevin, I've been through most of what you will go through switching, though it seems like you will probably go a little more hardcore on the unix side of things, so we can trade advice. Just go get the Mac and stop worrying about it.
That is of course, unless you develop with Borland Delphi which is not available for the Mac.
Posted by: UltraBob | October 29, 2003 05:43 AM
Well, all the best in your purchase. I'm sorely tempted by the new iBooks, but unfortunately already have too much computer hardware. I think Jon is a little off the mark with the lack of application claims. I run Mac, Windows and Linux, and have found virtually nothing I can't do on all 3 platforms, with varying degrees of friendliness.
Posted by: graham | October 30, 2003 02:20 AM