What's a good PC to buy (as if there were one)...

[emeraldknight47]

I don't want a PC! I don't want a PC!!!! I HATE PCs!!!! I'm a MAChead, dammit!!! But, reality is reality and as such, I'm faced with having to buy a PC (a laptop, not a tower Piece'a Crap) so's I can learn me some Microsoft Office nonsense (like Excel and Powerpoint---two programs that are anathema to a longtime Graphic Designer such as myself).


Anyone with insights on what a good PC laptop would be to purchase at a reasonable (under $500) price...?

[Mikey]

Thanks to Chad i'm using a Dell Latitude and I love it

[Iron Mego]

I just got a Dell Inspiron, after ONLY EVER OWNING Macs before, and I like it. Has more memory and speed than the new iMac we just got. I think it was $549, but you can get them cheaper at CostCo.

[Zemo]

So, you post about loathing pc's and then you want help getting one. Ok, buy a used refurb about 4 years old, with a cracked screen on ebay. rotfl.

[Hector]

My Mac Pro can operate on Windows as well.

[megoapesnut]

Don't do it!!!! Either get a Mac and install windows with boot camp or just get Microsoft Office for Mac. Once you start down the path to the Dark Side, it will forever control your destiny!!! Consume you, it will!!!!

[Hector]

Yup, that's what I have, Windows with Boot Camp installed in my Mac.

[emeraldknight47]

Boot Camp heard of I have. Try this I will...

[rche]

bootcamp or Office for Mac if you just have to deal with Excel and Powerpoint.
Other than that, I'll vouch for Dell as he is local to me and supports a bunch of kids programs and such in the area.

[sauce]

yeah, Mac is the way to go . . I've been a heavy user since 1979

however, as my son is getting to be that age where he wants to use our single computer as much as I do. . . .and since the entry point for the delicious Mac is $1200 plus plus plus, I've considered a basic Dell laptop for his #MinecraftAddiction. At $600 or so, it's solid. You gotta figure that the BOTTOM of the line PC laptop produced in the year 2012 is oodles better than something comparable 10 years ago. . . . .

[noelani72]

Thanks to Chad i'm using a Dell Latitude and I love it

glad it's working out bro!!

as for the op wanting a pc just for office stuff - as others have said; just bootcamp your mac or install Office for Mac.

I am PC but slowly drinking the Kool-Aid and going MAC.
I just had the boss order me a 27" iMac with all the bells and whistles plus i7 processor...then a 4TB Thunderbolt RAID storage solution

I have a 15" MBP which is an awesome notebook - but heavy.
They ordered a bunch of MBA 13" models for Admins; which they gave me one of those as well -and it is a fantastic little notebook.

Ohh, and I love the ease, weight, and size of my iPad2...

The mini Dell that Mike speaks of is a low-cost, light weight, powerful little guy. Couple gigs of RAM with (if I remember right) a 1.8GHz processor. My idea for Mike was that he'd close it up and just hook up his external mouse, keyboard and monitor - but sounds like he's diggin' it just the way it is

[WannabeMego]

I'm a PC Guy and I try not to bash the Mac as much as Mac User's bash PC's...but...there are benefits and hassles on both sides and they should be weighed with out bias or prejudice towards the other...it's unfair to the buyer to go down this route.

Personally, I love my PC...I can hack the crap out of it and if I REALLY want a sleek OS, I can always install a Linux Distro with my own custom kernal...but that is just me...

If you're already a Mac User, then getting Office for Mac seems the route you want to go, though it is expensive, it sounds like it would cost you the least discomfort.

[emeraldknight47]

I've read some reviews of Office for Mac and various ones have said that it doesn't give you the entire "feel" for Office on PC.

Trust me, the ONLY reason I'm looking at the PC route is to make myself more marketable in the job field because it seems like, no matter WHAT kind of job you apply for, they want you to be able to fly Word, Excel or Publisher on a PC, that's why I was leaning more towards getting a small, inexpensive PC to work with because that way, I'd be familiar with not only MS Office, but also with Windows 7 (which I know NOTHING about currently)....!

[noelani72]

Ahh, prolly just solved all your troubles then....

From my ipad, I had tried a site where you basically remote in to a host and use office products...worked pretty well, and it was free.

Currently, it is only available on iPad and Android..but coming soon for mac.

http://desktop.onlive.com/

[Werewolf]

I'm a PC Guy and I try not to bash the Mac as much as Mac User's bash PC's....

Apple fans do often seem to take the concept of brand loyalty to the unhealthy extreme. I've seen Apple fans make the unhindged rantings of XBOX vs PS3 fanboys seem mild and reasoned in comparison. It comes off almost cult like. Weird. I agree with the mindset that they both have their plusses and minuses and it all boils down to what you are used to.