I could decide between

Dude, you’re a homo.

and

Dude, get arrested.

Mike, please don’t post nonsense here.

Mentally retarded Mac people. I say

Eugenia keep up the good work.

Well, that’s the Dell dude. You mentioned “dude” first.

Yeah, but this is not the topic.

I was just pricing out a Dell laptop versus a MacBook and to my shock, the mac is actually cheaper when you figure in: the better processor (the core duo is available only on Dell’s XPS) and that amazon sells the Macbooks (sales tax free) with a 150 dollar discount.

Wow.

But apple also runs windows concurrently and comes with, to my surprise, functional software right out of the box.

If I can run Vegas on the Mac – why not go with the macbook?

Not to long ago, the price was like the desktop situation is now. I bought a loaded dell for 1200 bucks (2ghz centrino) when the likewise Mac was over 3000 dollars. If I were in the market for a desktop, the dell is a no-brainer.

I would like to upgrade my laptop,but I’m holding off to see what Apple does next. Or Dell.

>If I can run Vegas on the Mac – why not go with the macbook?

Because the macbook is not as fast/extendable as a desktop PC. Video stations require some extendability (e.g. second drives, HDMI cards, more RAM, more monitors etc). Besides, a Macbook with enough RAM to run Vegas will cost $1500. Also, the Macbook does not have a high-enough resolution for HDV editing. If the Macbook was an acceptable purchase, then it’s acceptable to buy FCP for $1200 instead for his current Mac. But it’s not, because getting a DEDICATED video station, is preferable.

So for a video station in particular, getting a Dell PC is always a better idea than getting a laptop — Macbook or not.

Can you post this configuration, optimized for Vegas, of course?
My experience with Dell(Europe)is that they advertise cheap systems, but once you start configuring on their site, the price skyrockets to ‘rather expensive’. Just look at their harddrive prices. Upgrade from 320 gb to 500 gb adds 121 euros to the price. :-((

Ivan,
I configured at DELL under “Small Business” this cheap “Vostro” model:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4400 (2.0GHz, 2M, 800MHz FSB)
Windows XP Home Edition,SP2, with Media, English
2.0GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM, 667MHz, (2DIMM)
160GB SATA 3.0Gb/s and 8MB DataBurst Cache
16X DVD+/-RW, Roxio Creator Dell Edition
ATI Radeon X300 Integrated Graphics
No Monitor

Price: $514. Add a PCI firewire card for another $10.

I don’t like Dell, Eugenia, because they are very expensive for what is a nobrainer (fireware 18 euros, wireless connectivity 25 euro) and put things in for ‘free’ (like ms works) you can’t leave out (and they charge it of course anyhow). Also warranty is an issue. Standard Dell waranty is one year, while they will charge you for extended period. In Belgium, we have a legally enforced free 2 year warranty. International companies like Dell will give you a very hard time when ask about this, while others will go much further than the legal minimum. One shop here – but they don’t sell computers – has a 2 year “if broke trade in for new’ warranty. Dell still states a ‘1 year basic warranty’ on their Belgian site, and with that they break the law. I don’t like doing business with a company that overtly brakes the law. So you’ll never hear me say ‘Buy a Dell, dude’!

I don’t know how it is in Belgium, but over here Dell has very good service and support, and very good prices. My PC and my PC laptop are both a DELL, never had problems with them.