I hear they're about the same, the 8600 graphics card is in the macbook pro and the vaio AR series
stats for vaio AR series: intel dual core 2.6 ghz 4 GB ram ddr2 400GB SATA 5400 HD cd/dvd burner/writer (and MAYBE bluray disk burner/reader. Is it worth the extra 200/400 for it?) 17" screen with nvidia 8600 GT graphics card (512 MB) Extended battery life built in camera 8.4 lbs 2.5 hour(s) battery life, with extended battery life: 3.75 hours
Runs total to $2500
Macbook Pro: * 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo * 2GB memory * 250GB hard drive1 * Double-layer SuperDrive * NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB 15" screen battery life is 4.5-5 hours weight 5.4lbs runs to $2500, or with the 17" screen $2800
I really hate Mac OSX so what I'm wondering is if i can completely reformat the HD and get rid of OSX and just install linux ubuntu and XP. The only advantage of a macbook pro over the sony vaio is the battery life. The Vaio is more powerfull than the macbook, and to upgrade the macbook to the same level of the vaio would increase the price to over $3000. Is battery life more important than power? I'll be in college, probably gaming high end games, using sony vegas, 3ds max, photoshop etc...
Registered Member #78 Joined: [ 18:27 ] [ 13 Mar 2004 ]
Theres a huge difference in Dual Core and Core 2 Duo, so if yo are listing specs correctly, MacBook ftw. If you can afford it, why not? You can have the best of both worlds. A virus and crash-free OS for your daily duties, and Winblows for your favourite games
Registered Member #727 Joined: [ 10:25 ] [ 12 Nov 2004 ]
Remove Mac OS X completely? Are you f'in insane? No, I will not allow you to buy a MacBook Pro and remove Mac OS X. Next thing you'll ask about purchasing an Alfa Romeo, but replacing the engine with some japanese crap. No, no, no.
As a purely hypothetical speculation, with a laptop you always have mobility, power and prize, and you can get a good deal on only two of them. At the same prize point, the MacBook Pro wins mobility, the Vaio wins power, and it's your call what is more important. I bought a MacBook Pro, but without ever looking at what other computer manufacturers offer. I mean, there's no Mac OS X in there, so why bother? Anyway, I can tell you for sure that the MacBook Pro doesn't suckâ„¢ when it comes to power. You can upgrade the RAM yourself (I didn't feel the need yet, but I may do so later), and 200 Mhz isn't the difference between life and death.
I consider battery life to be extremely important. I travel by train a lot, and my MacBook Pro lasts the entire distance from Cologne to Hanover and then has still an hour of life in it, which is good because nobody ever actually wants to go to Hanover. I also use the laptop during university lectures to take notes, play video games (I know I shouldn't) and so on. With heavy usage I can, after a few lectures (say, three hours) be left without electricity, which sucks. Your Vaio isn't going to do better there, and I don't consider always looking for a power outlet to be a convenient solution.
Weight and screen size are also not bad. 1.5 kg in favor of the MBP means one bottle of water you can take with you instead without noticing the difference. In university, you want a small screen so you have space to do some on-paper recordings on the same table as your laptop. Frankly, 15.4" is already too large for that in some circumstances. 17" is completely insane.
Notice that this is all completely hypothetical. I will still not recommend you to buy a Mac and use it without any (real) operating system. I'm too well educated for that.
Registered Member #78 Joined: [ 18:27 ] [ 13 Mar 2004 ]
In other words, if you really hate OSX that much, go for the VAIO. But remember, not so many years ago I also hated Macs and thought of them as utter crap which could only be used for graphic work and nothing else, well, that was until I got one and could really learn this OS (Which did not take long), and also learn to love it I'll never go back to Windows, unless someone wants a round of BF2
Registered Member #727 Joined: [ 10:25 ] [ 12 Nov 2004 ]
Damn, forget an important thing: MacBook Pro doesn't have a right mouse (trackpad) button. That's no problem on Mac OS X, but it is one on Windows. I think you can set it to right-click when you hold some fingers on the trackpad or something (no idea if that works in Windows, though), but basically you need a mouse when using it with Windows.