So, I’ve been considering switching to a Macbook.
I built this PC almost 5 (or is it 6?) years ago. It’s been very good to me, as I dropped quite a bit of money in to it when it was new. However, it’s starting to revolt. For example, this is what it looks like when I try to play a game:
(click to enlarge)
Terrible, right? It’s not just limited to games. It was at first, but now it’s on the desktop, as well. Sure enough, I can barely even read what I’m typing right now. It’s terrible.
As far as my laptop goes, I have an old Dell Inspiron that never really got much use. It’s a bit too big to be convenient in a portable sense, and I’ve got my desktop here, so it never found a good, productive place to work.
Which leaves me to the future. I’m considering getting a Macbook. I haven’t really used macs in years, but I hear it’s worth a shot. I’d love some feedback in the comments if you think it’s worth the switch.
10 responses so far ↓
1 sTEVE z // Dec 18, 2007 at 4:34 am
sTOP overclocking your video card,,,, else see that the fan is working and the heatsink of the vid card is not clogged with crap. No point of buying and Mac and regressing into nOObdom
2 sTEVE z // Dec 18, 2007 at 4:35 am
seems like an overheating/overclocking issue
3 xyzzy // Dec 18, 2007 at 1:51 pm
a) It’s your video card having a faulty RAM.
b) Or it’s your computer with a faulty RAM.
In either case, just get that fixed.
4 Rich // Dec 20, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I agree with both of these assesments. It’s most likely a heat problem or bad NVRAM on your graphics card or bad system RAM. Can you post some of your systems specs?
5 Ehdom // Dec 21, 2007 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the replies.
As far as heat goes, I’ve been keeping the side panel of the case off with a full fan blowing into it–doesn’t seem to help (though I’m not sure if that would be enough).
I can grab more specific system specs later, but I’m currently not home, and it’s been a few years since I first built the system.
Off the top of my head:
Radeon 9700 Pro
Two 512 sticks of Corsair XMS PC3200
Athlon 3200+
I’d also just like to make a side note that this isn’t the *reason* I’m switching, but only a tipping point. I need a nice portable laptop either way. I’m also not in any way interested into dumping any more money into this current system. If there’s anything I can do with what already have–if not, I’d rather not waste more time and money on it.
6 Eric Bunde // Dec 29, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I saw your brakes went out on Twitter, bummer. In light of this, I think you should scrap the mac book idea. If you had 1500 for the mac book and used up 500 for new brakes, you can still get a VERY decent laptop with Vista installed for right at or less than 1000. Especially right now after Christmas with returns/discounts. Then later make the mac switch.
7 Ercle // Feb 15, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Im guessing your running windows on your current machine? If you have the disks (and the time) formating the computer and completely reinstalling windows could help a lot. Windows slows down over time, and gives people that strange feeling their computer is going really slow while doing things that were lightning fast a year or so before.
mind you, if it is that old you probably should get something new
i never was a fan of macs though, you pay LOTS more money for similar hardware should you buy a pc. My recomendation is to get a pc and dual boot ubuntu on it ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) That way you get all the addvantages of windows compatability, and could even make ubuntu appear identical to a mac should you feel the need.
8 David Gibbons // Feb 21, 2008 at 3:13 am
I switched from running windows/linux to a macbook (pro). It’s been perfect for me.
I loved linux for it’s strong terminal access. I can pop into konsole/xterm run a quick shell script or connect to a remote server and transfer files but it never quite had the usability down gui wise.
Getting a mac bridged that, I can run most programs I did on a pc, adium (gaim/pidgen for osx), firefox,itunes, warcraft as well as have the same terminal feel as linux, and even run X11 to display applications from my linux system on my mac. If I really have to run windows, you can with bootcamp or parallels if it’s not a directx program.
I love it, the hardware is fast and comparable to what a pc will get you. It’s light weigh, and you WANT to carry it around in a way I never did with my HP laptop.
9 dan // Feb 21, 2008 at 3:35 am
No. PC ftw. dell is the best i think. ubuntu is nice and all but its kind of hard to get used to. xp can be skinned for anything. if you want a beautiful(free) skin with EVERYTHING macs have just email me.
10 Jenjira // Feb 21, 2008 at 6:27 am
I agree with the ubuntu proposal, but i have to admit that i have a mac and love it dearly. I’ve had my MacBook Pro for almost 2 years… It’s definitely better than my dad’s new laptop outfitted with vista. This having been my first mac ever (for school) i’d say the switch was rather graceful. I had anticipated some major buyer’s remorse, but i’ve been more than satisfied from the start. I’ve ruined a battery AND a harddrive, both my own fault, and Apple has gone ahead and replaced them free of charge. That’s nice of them. I also dropped a dinner plate on my laptop and left a huge dent in the casing, they also replaced that…. and my cracked screen. So uhh if you do get a Mac, i strongly suggest the Apple Protection Plan. Unless you’re not as accident prone as myself, which is understandable.
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