Go for a macbook or ...

So, I have to buy a new laptop because my old one died this week. (Promedion M400) = EUROCOM M400A
specs:
-15.1-inch SXGA+ 1400-by-1050 pixels
- Processor: Intel Pentium M Processor 1,7 ghz
- Memory: 1 GB of DDR333/400
- Video: ATi Mobility x700; 256 MB GDDR memory; 16x PCI Express

At the time it was a very powerful notebook. But it got very hot, noisy, was heavy and was not very well built.

So now I'm in the market for a new one. My parents are willing to spend 1250 € on a new one.
The new one has to be lighter, more compact, cooler and more silent.
I really love the design of the new alu macbooks. But I never owned an apple before.
So the basic macbook is a possibility. But my father is kinda afraid of apple. He thinks it will cause compability problems with the other (all windows) computers.
Other options are the
HP compaq 8510w
HP compaq 6730b
the vaio BZ series
asus M51VR
asus N50VN

What would you recommend? Go for a macbook or stick with windows?

Oh, I rarely game on my laptop. Mostly for surfing, office, photoshop, sometimes movie editing,...

 

the macbook will not cause incompatibility with the network, period. It depends whether you're getting the aluminum macbook or the white macbook, as the white one won't be able to run photoshop enjoyably. If you're getting the aluminum, then that's the one for you.

 

seems like that macbook is good for you!

It won't,but can you please explain a little better what do you mean by "compability problems"

 

Dont get a mac if u use it like me

i do boot camp and my macbook pro gets so hot i could fry a dozen eggs with it.

There is no place for the heat to escape the unibody is fully closed off no air flow what so ever.

However when i am in Mac OS it doesn't get hot if u watch movies and stuff.

I have not played games with it yet so i dont know if it does get hot under a mac os.

The new macbook or macbook pro is horrible when used with Vista - there is a huge concern with heating problems for me. I have never seen any laptop that get's so darn hot like the macbook pro under vista before.

 

By compability problems I mean when I transfer files eg word, exell, powerpoint documents, there will be layout changes etc.
Another question, if I install windows on the macbook, will it run any pc software? (By this I mean there is no difference at all between a windows laptop or an apple with windows on bootcamp?)
This question because I sometimes have to use a vpn connection with a program that is pc only.

 

1)they ll be the same,since m$ has mac version of office
2)if you install windows on it,it will perform the same as any PC

well,the reviews are saying that new ones are cooler then old ones,and I kinda trust them.Maybe your unit is defective?

 

There is a vent under the display, so it's not COMPLETELY AND FULLY CLOSED OFF.

And yes, my new MBP runs considerably cooler than my old one.

 

gonna have to suggest the new mac here. mine idles around 40C, and i use it for basically the same things you will be using it for.

for photo and movie editing, the mac is what you'll want.

 

the review has not used vista underboot camp

 

Christalic, I would definitely suggest the MacBook.

If you aren't going to game, you've ruled out the need to virtualize or dual-boot Windows on the machine. The new unibody machines are whisper-quiet and run far cooler than the older models (I moved from an early C2D MBP to the newest unibody and it's way, way cooler).

In terms of incompatibilities the machine will present on the network, it will be none. Your father is completely mistaken. OS X includes drivers for a plethora of printers you can access over the network and share files without any difficulty.

I would say it's worth it just for OS X. I don't want to get into an OS debate, but it just works better and I think that makes the decision for you.