This is very off-topic but I need your advice because I don't know anything about it and I will need a laptop when I go to Türkiye in Sept/October.

My parents seemed to have suggest a bit that they are willing to give me a laptop and a printer because I passed my exams. But they are aware of the fact that I'd rather buy one in Türkiye so that I will have a turkish keyboard and a Turkish windows/driver.

But I've always had a weakness for Apple-laptops. I think they look so compact and stylish and I've heard that their system is faster than the regular Windows. Can somebody tell me a bit more about these and is there any disadvantage in connection to other pc's if you have an Apple instead of normal Microsoft?

Are tehre pc-programmes that don't work on Apple-systems, or are most programmes designed in different kinds so that they are also compatible with Apples?

I know this is VERY off-topic (not general ), but I need to know because if i get positive answers, I will ask if I can get the money they are willing to spend on the laptop and printer.. and then top it up with my own saved money so that I can buy somethign i really like and which will be up to date and working for a loooong time

Thanks in advance.

A PC is a very different thing to a MAC - the first can be made by a number of manafacturers although they were all originally made by IBM. A MAC is always made by Apple I think.

A PC can have a number of different operating systems installed but Windows in the most popular for home users. A MAC can only have Apple's operating system installed.

Very little software can be run on both although some programs (like Internet Explorer for example) have a MAC version available. In reality, most readily available software will only run on a PC running the Windows operating system. Alternatively you might consider getting a PC running Linux which has lots of (legal) free software
available for it but it is also quite a learning curve!

Traditionally MAC's were preferred for intensive graphical design work - and I think this is probably the only reason why they have survived at all. However, with the recent increases in PC performance this is no longer an issue.

In my opinion, you would need to have a very good reason to buy an Apple machine over a PC! And the very fact that you needed to ask the question shows that you would be better off with a PC based laptop.......

Hope that helps!

I have used Mac for the past 15 years (with graphic design just as Bod mentioned) and I can tell you that although I think that Mac still is more user-friendly than is pc I would still recommend a pc for you.
As Bod were saying not all programmes are made for Mac and where there are Mac-versions they are way behind the pc-version since the market is totally - and I do mean totally - dominated by pc. Also it is so much easier to find free versions of pc-programmes compared to Mac. And last but not least...I doubt you would find any Mac-users in Turkey besides some very exclusive designers...which means that it would be really difficult to find support if something goes wrong with your computer in Turkey.
And for the price of a Mac...you can get a really good pc...

...jiiiiz...I never thought I would recommend pc over Mac...really...I am in shock! :-S

...we think different on this one, bod! I think that pc has changed - and improved - a lot and actually "borrowed" many things from Mac...but still I find Mac to be more user-friendly...pc produces extra temp files and confusing stuff on your harddisk that you just don´t find in a Mac.
And another thing I am grateful for is the lack of virus! ...15 years with Mac...most of them without any anti-virus programme...and I have never had any problems with virus...isnt that user-friendly or what? ...show me one
pc user that did not have problems with virus and you will surprise me... ...anyway...I surrender...I still think that deli_kizin should buy a pc... :-S

Thank you both. I was waiting to catch you online Aslan, but as I was out to celebrate I passed (and then got locked outside the house last night ) I didn't have so much time to catch you.

So we can say it's not possible to run Windows on an Apple? There's an Apple-centre in my town, I might pop-in there some day. But from what I've heard I'd better go for a 'normal' laptop then. Though I do love graphical design stuff and used to do it a lot about 3 years ago, I'm afraid it's too much of an amateur hobby to justify an Apple
I was also thinking that if I'm ever gonna be a journalist, I'm gonna need a good lappie. But I guess by that time I can buy a new one

So what kind of systems of normal pcs do you recommend then? I have no idea what things are good. I'd like to have it run fast and a lot of space on the harddisk (without having to have an extra harddisk, maybe only just a small one for important back-ups). It should have bright colors on the screen. And what is a good anti-virus programme?

I just read on the Apple website that it can run Windows. Does this actually mean one can buy an Apple for its design, but have the Windows for the fact that you're used to it?

I'll stick with my 20Gb Sony Walkman MP3 player thanks

Ny Sony is a luffly shade of purple

Deli_kizin, last year there was a revolution in the universe of the Mac-users...Apple decided to change from their own processor to the intel-whateveritiscalled-pc-processor. ...which also made it possible to run windows and pc-programmes on Mac...but...and this is not a small but...are you willing to pay so much money to be able to use what you can get for much less money?

...and be aware that it is possible that not all pc-programmes might be available...I am not sure but there is usually a hook like...if you buy this new computer with the latest of the latest...that means that you have to pay loads of money or wait a year or two to get the programmes that you need...

...Aenigma and Deli_Kizin, I am just like you when it comes to design...I love the Mac-design...I have my iBookG4 at home and my G5 at work and even at my institution at the university we use Mac...and I am happy with it...but I would not recommend it for you to bring to Turkey, Deli_kizin...I think you would waste money without getting what you want from it - besides the best design!

Ok then Thank you! I'll let you know which one I got, tho that will probably wait till I live in Türkiye which is about 3/4 months from now.

...hmmmm...actually I think you should buy your computer before you go to Turkey, dostum. I have heard that computers are more expensive in Turkey than in Europe. I am not sure if that is only used computers or if it is also new ones, but I have a turkish friend that always buy used laptops when he visits Europe and then sell them for good money in Turkey. Might be worth checking.
Good luck with everything!

Ohh can somebody please name some different brands of computers/laptops? First I was thinking of Dell, because they are easy to order online, also in Turkey.. but I never really dare to order from the internet anyway..

You have to be careful where you buy it because the prices of the very same computer change from place to place. (not for only pcs but for every electronique devices) If you fall into the first store without doing any research, you can pay a lot more. If you are going to visit İstanbul, I can give you the name of some of the places to buy.

Mine is Sony VAIO VGN-B1XP and I like it. There're better VAIOs as well. Besides, mine is 2.3 kg which I think is not very heavy. One of the first criteria I was looking for was the weight. Don't buy laptop over 2,5 kg, I advise.

Ahh, and definitely buy a laptop with the turkish keyboard.

...I think you should buy one with your ordinary keyboard and just add a turkish keyboard to the computer when you need it. That way you can have it both ways...and if you take the computer back to Holland you can use it as normal.
Besides that I consider Dell to have good prices and good computers...and excellent support! ...my ex had his pc from Dell. Lot of computer for the price he paid.

hmm... I'm a Mac user after suffering 11 years of PC-Windows migrane No regrets though even there's competition from PC world (even though they claimed to be better than Mac and never admitted copied Apple's idea... )

My investments in Macs are for many reasons... besides work. I do say it's true to my nature of my job, i prefer to use Mac..hassle free, no virus, no hiccups,no reboot the whole system if only one software thinking of spoiling your nice day! Is the stability of the software & hardware. So many softwares are included into the Mac you buy (that you don't even need to buy others) or u can even have 3rd party freewares or sharewares to upload for Macs which are available out there! If u compare the price you going to spend on a Mac laptop and a PC laptop... better to spend on Mac laptops, Why? MacBook has built in iSight/webcam, built-in wireless (which I love.. Free surfing!!!) capability and the works and it's just entry level laptop: http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html

Try to compare the price of what MacBook have to the PC laptop of same hardwares and/ softwares given in the current market. You will be surprise...

Of course, many people said Macs are expensive but i look at it as long time investments... The money i put into Mac just the same as i spend or more on a PC when you need to replace fans, upgrade this and that..motherboard kaput,etc. In the end is just top up almost the price of Mac which has less or no problems at all...

Nevertheless, i'm getting the MacBook 13 inch this month or possible early next month. Yes, Macs with Intel-based can run Window's softwares (thi s method is not applicable to PC users...) Apple released beta software called Boot Camp that lets you run Windows XP natively on an Intel-based Mac but... there are better 3rd party softwares out there which is Free. There are few i had in mind...

At the moment, with my Macs (updated until 10.4.6) I had to use VPC (Virtual PC) IF i have to run WIndows (mind you... VPC makes Windows OS really like Windows! ) That means I can use 2 OS at same time... or more if i want on my Mac. But then Microsoft bought over VPC, so that means monopolisation again (and again) kind of tracking Mac users... Luckily, the VPC i bought is before the bought over by Microsoft!

Hmm... to cut the story short..since TC is not a IT Forum... Deli_kizin, don't rush ..just have a look at Apple authorised resellers in yr area. Ask them questions..blow their mind off if u can (i do that always ) If u can see and touch the Macs..go ahead..thats what showroom pieces are for!

@ Aslan... just like you but I'm on the reverse side I used to be PC user then i switch to Mac. I can tell you my blood pressure reduced and i have extra time for myself instead of wasting time trying to figure out where the heck my data were or rebooting the whole system when one of the software crashed,etc.

So, Deli_Kizin, choose wisely... Don't be a slave to a computer but let it work for you!!! Most importantly, ask yourself what you going to do with the laptop? Is the softwares PLUG & PLAY or is it PLUG & PRAY instead? Think of long term usage.

OH this is best... You can type Turkish in Mac and even Arabic. Mac also supports Chinese, Yiddish, Hindi.... etc. I don't use Turkish keyboard to type but the standard keyboard -QWERTY though

In the International Islamic University in my country, they use Mac..cos it's the only system that can type Arabic.

Have Mac Will Travel!!! © 1998-2006

hmm Linux? I suggest go for UBUNTU...