Poll: Alienware m17x or Macbook pro?

[shannon.archer]

After many hard and grueling hours of work i have saved up the amount of $4000. Now i am set the difficult task of choosing a laptop which i'm actually quite excited about . I was just wondering are the personal opinions of many escapists out there.

EDIT: I am a programmer and plan on getting into C++ however i currently only use Flash atm. However i would also like to begin playing games such as WoW and have something that i would be able to play latest gen games availible on consoles as well. So basically 50/50 work and recreation.

EDIT: Couldn't add a poll to the last one however i appreciate everybodies replies on the original :]

EDIT: Thank you very much to all those out there for helping me avoid a horrific mistake. most of your very passionate rants about the downsides of both brands have turned me towards the exciting prospect of building my own high powered rig and then having a cheap but capable work laptop ^_^. Thanks again.

 

[Jadak]

You're on a Gaming site asking if you should get a Mac or a real computer? Wonder how this will turn out

Edit: OT: I'm not sure about the m17x, as far as I can tell the starting model price is only around $1800, so you'll have to be more specific as to exactly where you'd plan to put that $4,000 on it

In any case, if you're willing to spend $4,000 on a new laptop, it's hard to go wrong, just don't get a Mac.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I honestly doubt that your gaming needs can be satisfied by the Mac's gaming library. Take from that what you will.

 

[Arcticflame]

Don't waste your money, don't get either.

Macbook's are expensive, and irritating for gaming. (Dual booting? or VM's? No thanks)
Alienwares are just plain overpriced, you are buying for the tag basically.

I'm not being helpful I suppose in that I don't know what else to reccomend, (I build my PC's, and usually get a custom built laptop), but I do know both those options you like are just throwing away money needlessly.

 

[shannon.archer]

You're on a Gaming site asking if you should get a Mac or a real computer? Wonder how this will turn out

Haha eh you never know how many apple fanboys are on here.

Edit: OT: I'm not sure about the m17x, as far as I can tell the starting model price is only around $1800, so you'll have to be more specific as to exactly where you'd plan to put that $4,000 on it

Unfortunately in Australia the asking price is $3000 :S. Its a bit unfortunate. I think that if i can find the same performance or better for = or < price then ill just go with that.

 

[TZer0]

For that kind of money you can get a stationary gaming-PC as well as an OK gaming-laptop. And still have more than enough dollars left!

Btw, stop using flash. Who the hell wants triple variable declaration?
Also: usually you don't need performance for programming, but compatibility, which means, never get a mac

 

[geon106]

If your even asking that question I don't think your at the stage to start using a computer.

If your gaming, stay away from Apple and Alienware is the best computers on the market for gaming however i personally prefer to custom build them myself as its far cheaper. But if you can't, then Alienware or PC Specialist is better

If your looking for something just for videos and photos, then Alienware, unless you like Apple for some goodness knows reason.

You'll get more spec for your money if you avoid Apple.

Edit: And better compatability too

 

[shannon.archer]

PC or Mac?

Why thats like asking the difference between playing a game or complaining about a those who play the game.

I hate people who do this. What I am asking is considering the range of things i wish to do with this COMPUTER. Which one would give me the most of both sides as each is known for excelling in each field that being ALIENWARE for gaming and MAC for design/programming. I want to get the COMPUTER that best supports both needs and only wish for a detailed discussion not for somebody to tell me some illegible shite about how nonsensical my question is.

 

[Jirlond]

Mac's can't play 80% of games - its really more of a designers ensemble.

Alienware is good for gaming and programming doesnt need the latest specced pc or laptop.

Also flash is NOT programming - it's scripting.

 

[Smudge91]

Hmm i think a DIY computer maybe best as you can design it so it does everything you want.

 

[geon106]

I'd stick to a Windows based computer. It can do both games and productivity including scripting and programming.

I'm currently doing Java Object-Orientated Programming at uni and we HAVE to use a Windows based PC

 

[pixelbob]

>>macbook pro
hahahahahahahaha

no seriously get a alienwarem17x. they are amazing, i just got one recently

 

[Sebenko]

Since you're considering an Alienware, and you're asking on the Escapist, I presume it's a gaming laptop. Don't go for the Mac. Gaming on Mac= A failure of this magnitude...

And don't go for DIY. DIY is fantastic for desktops, but for laptops it's pointless. If I remember rightly, you either end up with the same thing as whatever you would have got it you just bought a whole one, or a laptop shaped brick.

 

[Random Argument Man]

Play games? PC or get bootcamp with mac. (Although, I would recommend the former).

I use my Mac for movies/music/work. That's why I'm satisfied with it. However, asking it here is like asking PETA to choose meat or a salad. (Meat=Mac, Salad=PC).

 

[fix-the-spade]

After many hard and grueling hours of work i have saved up the amount of $4000.

First up, no Alienware. They suck, their build quality sucks, their warranty support sucks and their price/performance sucks*. Don't buy one, you'll end up in a world of disappointment. It's just a brand name for Dell these days.


Anyway.

The Mac isn't really a gaming machine, if you're intending to use it for design suites like Adobe or Maya then it's great, but not really for gaming. Macs are work centric machines regardless of the advertising blurb on them.

PC, with $4k to spend you should be looking at proper custom builder. It's more effort and marginally more cost but it should be worth it. You will be able to get something properly tailored to you instead of an off the peg. Most custom builder's pricing is comparable to brands like Alienware too.

If you have a proper computer shop nearby (as in, not chain store) go in and talk to them. There's fair number do custom laptops and they might know who to call.

*unless something has changed in the last couple of years since I used one

 

[shannon.archer]

>>macbook pro
hahahahahahahaha

no seriously get a alienwarem17x. they are amazing, i just got one recently

Thanks

 

[Thaius]

Well Mac beats Windows any day, for any reason: it wasn't until I got Windows on my Macbook and contrasted the two OSes side-by-side that I realized just how clunky, convoluted, and ugly Windows really is (but at least I can play games now). But Alienware computers tend to be pretty hardcore, so if you're looking for good hardware, it would probably be the way to go.