If you go for the mac don't bother with a 512gb ssd. Just get a 2-3tb usb 3 drive and store your files off that. The 512gb adds SO much to the price.
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MacBook Pro 15 vs. Dell XPS 15
- Thread starter skynidas
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Or run OS X in VMware on your Dell, then you have both.
TheOneWhoKnocks
Member
get a dell xps 15. it's far cheaper and awesome. i have one and i love it.
As long as it works like on a Mac, then yes, that'd be the optimal solution.
I'm running OS X in VMware. My laptop is a dell, core i7, 16gb ram, 256gb SSD hard drive and OS X runs smooth.
KaiserBecks
Member
I'll never buy a windows laptop again, simply because of this little thing:
Yes, a Macbook is an investment, but it's one you won't regret.
Yes, a Macbook is an investment, but it's one you won't regret.
The macbook and it's no contest. Comparing specs when they are pretty similar anyway means fuck all when the macbook runs OS X (so direct spec comparison is a bit pointless) and it can run windows. Macbooks are hands down the perfect laptops, the build quality is second to none, the battery life is great and they have amazing resell value. Please don't buy the XPS OP. Also having both windows 8.1 and mavericks, I still vastly prefer OS X, although when it comes to gaming I have a windows 8.1 machine.
EDIT:^^^above post, how could I forget. Biggest selling point easily is that the trackpad is INCREDIBLE, I detest using windows laptops after using that thing. The macbook trackpad is godly.
EDIT:^^^above post, how could I forget. Biggest selling point easily is that the trackpad is INCREDIBLE, I detest using windows laptops after using that thing. The macbook trackpad is godly.
Don't make the mistake of comparing specs straight across. Macs make much better use of their available resources.
After making a similar decision between a PC and a Mac on specs alone several years ago, thinking that I was getting an equal or better computer out of the PC due to the specs and price, I now have a fairly useless hunk of plastic wedged behind my bed running a server with zero resale value. The MBP I picked up a couple years later is 10x the machine that the PC was, and still has about 70% of its value.
After making a similar decision between a PC and a Mac on specs alone several years ago, thinking that I was getting an equal or better computer out of the PC due to the specs and price, I now have a fairly useless hunk of plastic wedged behind my bed running a server with zero resale value. The MBP I picked up a couple years later is 10x the machine that the PC was, and still has about 70% of its value.
Exactly, people make the same mistake when comparing android and ios, every thread. Guess they can't help it.
TheDrowningMan
Member
Yep.
nhlducks35
Member
Bingo, half the reason I buy Macs are because of the resale value. In 3-4 years or so, that Mac will still be worth a $1000.
Ingueferroque
Banned
Damn, is this the first time Apple has solely had integrated graphics in a Macbook Pro?
My Macbook Pro 15" Retina 2012 has NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024 MB graphics, it's not the best but it actually handles gaming quite nicely! I did get the 16GB Ram option though.
My Macbook Pro 15" Retina 2012 has NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024 MB graphics, it's not the best but it actually handles gaming quite nicely! I did get the 16GB Ram option though.
I'll never buy a windows laptop again, simply because of this little thing:
Yes, a Macbook is an investment, but it's one you won't regret.
I've got to agree.
I got my first Macbook Air 1 month ago. The trackpad is unbelievable. That is no understatement. From scrolling to swiping, it's intuitive plus 100% responsive when you get a hand of the gestures (I managed to properly learn them within a week). Plus with Better Touch Tool you can come up with crazy custom stuff.
My friend at uni has a Sony Vaio Pro 13. Sure, it has the touchscreen functionality which is pretty cool, and the quality of the screen is great (not relevant in the OP's regard) but the trackpad is much worse compared to the MBA one. Productivity is best when you don't have to keep switching from touch to pad imo (I've used my sister's Yoga 13).
Honestly don't have much incentive to get a mouse atm apart from games because of the trackpad, but I'm not going to be doing much of that at uni.
On top of that there is build quality, resale value, OS preference (subjective).
The downsides I've come to learn with OSX is a few programs with compatibility. Since I only have 4GB and 128GB, parallels or virtualization isn't the best option.
Not that Windows 8 is bad, it's actually a pretty cool, speedy OS when touch is implemented, but I wouldn't use Windows 8 without touch and a mouse, it would become a bit too fiddly for me honestly, although multi gesture support is ok.
YuriLowell
Member
2000 dollar laptop with integrated graphics.
Thats laughable.
Thats laughable.
I'll never buy a windows laptop again, simply because of this little thing:
Yes, a Macbook is an investment, but it's one you won't regret.
*internet high five*
I'm with you...I would never buy another windows laptop until they can match this. It works beautifully than any other pad. And the design of their laptops as well. Sleek.
Although it's only integrated it's an Iris Pro 5200 graphics option, meaning it's significantly more powerful than your average integrated graphics and is only slightly below the level of the default Nvidia graphics of the previous generation. It's not as good as the 750M of course, but should be more than enough for most users.
EDIT: Some more information: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-5...s-top-graphics-in-apples-15-inch-macbook-pro/
So the integrated graphics are even enough for gaming (not high end though of course).
Zuhzuhzombie!!
Member
Get the XPS and put Mac OS on it?
entremet
Member
A big plus is its Unix underpinnings, which is why it's so popular with developers.
Macbooks are crazy expensive and the argument could be made that you can build a similar specced device for a fraction of the price but there's just something magical to the build quality, OS X and the overall experience. I've had my 13" Macbook Pro for 2 years now and I've never been happier with a computer. I also got a got a screen hooked up so I can use it as a desktop. It's just great.
I'll never buy a windows laptop again, simply because of this little thing:
I was going to post the same thing with the same exact pic.
For what you have to do maybe the Dell is a better deal though since it's 800$ less... even if it looks hideous as fuck
When you're comparing the Air's to other Ultrabooks, they're actually priced quite competitively now and cheaper in some regions. Pro's are a different story though.
Red Blaster
Member
did apple seriously remove dedicated graphics from all but the most expensive mbp? damn, I love the 650m in my rmbp, nothing fancy but gets the job done.
TheDrowningMan
Member
That's true, but for non-gaming performance they'll still piss all over many Windows machines that, on paper, appear to have the upper-hand. That's the advantage of coding to your own OS & having a relatively small number of configurations. Similarly, with iOS & Android, where you now have devices sporting ridiculous octa-core processors that simply can't offer the same performance as fewer core, lower clock speed Apple chips. Ultimately, you can be confident that you'll have a laptop that won't be a doorstop in less than three years.
Apple would like to get to the point where there is no secondary video.. they have been pushing intel for better iGPU's more so than anyone else.
Barbacoatl
Banned
If you're looking for raw power neither option is viable. Both machines are fantastic for what they are, if I had to pick one for video editing the dell would be the easy choice. Laptops with raw editing power are still in the poor battery ghetto (and can get prettay heavy), but if you can omit that admittedly huge flaw, you can get laptops with gtx 760's (and beyond) and FHD ips matte screens (95% gamut baby!) for way less. Sadly, more often than not, these beasts are equipped with average keyboards and less than desirable trackpads. Still, I'm personally intrigued by Gigabyte's upcoming offerings. If I need my device to last 10 hours for casual use, I already have it in the form of tablets.
Don't know if the OP has decided yet, but as someone who owns a Dell and MBP, I hate the MBP in comparison. Yeah, the screen is better and it pushes a lot higher resolution, but everything else is worse on the MBP. The MBP is heavier, slower (pushing too much resolution bogs stuff down), has those "doing it this way because we're Apple even though it's dumb" quirks, is worse for gaming, and did I mention that it was slower? Yeah, it's way slower.
The hardware on the MBP is definitely nicer in a fit and finish sort of way, but I just don't like the experience of using the laptop overall when compared to the Dell. The Dell just gets things done more quickly and I can flat out do more with it. The bummer of it all is that I have to use the MBP at work, because our work's network only allows Apple devices to connect, so I'm on the thing 8 hours a day and I just can't get over some of it's oddities.
Edit: Both of my laptops are i7s and spec'd decently (not top end, but nice). Also, the MBP was twice the price.
The hardware on the MBP is definitely nicer in a fit and finish sort of way, but I just don't like the experience of using the laptop overall when compared to the Dell. The Dell just gets things done more quickly and I can flat out do more with it. The bummer of it all is that I have to use the MBP at work, because our work's network only allows Apple devices to connect, so I'm on the thing 8 hours a day and I just can't get over some of it's oddities.
Edit: Both of my laptops are i7s and spec'd decently (not top end, but nice). Also, the MBP was twice the price.
for programming? sure if you use objective-c, but not for more broad developers. Thank god for brew which helps getting any libraries you need (even it fails sometimes).
Pagusas
Elden Member
Wait WHAT? No. I've filled up and caused paging just working on 1080/24 AE projects using basic 3D. Ram preview will fill that up extremely quickly. Standard video editing sure, until you start adding plugins like looks into the picture, use some twixtor, rack up several nested sequences. 8gb systems choke and die in our department when working on commercials.
Not in any universe.
Also, I have had issues of not being able to use some web apps, even in Chrome, on my MBP. Several times I've had to leave work to go home and get it done on a PC, simply because it just wouldn't work on the MBP. Just last month I was banging my head on my desk because I couldn't get a Facebook app to publish. I tried repeatedly for 3 hours. I went home, jumped onto my desktop, and did it in 5 minutes. I thought that it was an isolated case, but I've had other issues.
Until they locked non-Apple devices out of the network, I used to bring my other laptop from home to help with these instances. At least once a week I'd have to pull it out and use it to get something done that I couldn't do on the Mac. Now when I have an issue, I just have to wait until I get home.
Until they locked non-Apple devices out of the network, I used to bring my other laptop from home to help with these instances. At least once a week I'd have to pull it out and use it to get something done that I couldn't do on the Mac. Now when I have an issue, I just have to wait until I get home.
I think this Lifehacker article does a good job of summarizing the main pros and cons of both OS environments. I switch to OSX in early 2008 and haven't looked back. I still have that original machine (white plastic MacBook), and it still runs about as well as it did the day I bought it. The stability and performance of OSX has been better for me than Windows has been, but it's not perfect. My biggest gripe about being on OSX is that Excel suuuucks compared to its Windows counterpart. And as previously mentioned the Apple trackpad is unmatched. I know that a lot of the other things I like on OSX, like being able to do stuff with gestures, Spotlight, multiple desktops, etc. can be replicated on Windows, but I don't think it will all tie together quite as well. The notion of OSX being more intuitive than Windows is complete hogwash if you ask me, as it took me a long time to get as proficient as I was with Windows. I only learned this week that you can move files from one directory to another instead of copying, pasting, and then deleting the original file. Had it not been explained to me on GAF, I never would have known, as the option is hidden in a bizarro version of a right-flick menu.
TL;DR - I like OSX better. And please don't take this as Apple fanboyism, because I think iOS is terrible.
Pagusas
Elden Member
Why not use VMware/parallel then?
Not company approved software. I would. Holy jeez, I would.
There is also the misleading belief that you only have to move a program to the bin to uninstall it. I discovered it this week, after 1 months on my air that is a big fat lie. Programs leave all kind of shit behind and there isn't a central location nor any os tools (not counting rm) to remove that shit
Bring your windows laptop and tether to your cellphone.
WonkyPanda
Member
TBH, the Iris Pro is pretty incredible for video related tasks, minus gaming.
Barbacoatl
Banned
Pretty incredible relative to integrated?
Care to explain? because i don't think i understand what you are talking about.
Ingueferroque
Banned
Have you tried.... DRAGGING AND DROPPING THE FILES?
What does day-to-day work mean? Those computers are likely overkill unless you need some serious horsepower. Even ultrabooks/MBA can perform most computing tasks required nowadays. I carry my ultrabook with me everywhere I go because it's so light. Plus, it was 1/2 the price of what you're thinking about buying. Think about it. That's a nice vacation somewhere.
Also, it really comes down to what OS you want to use.
Also, it really comes down to what OS you want to use.
apieceofstrange
Member
Back in 2007 I spent alot of money on an XPS M1330, which was one of Dell's first attempts at a "high end" Macbook pro competitor. The thing nearly cost $3k with maxed out specs and was riddled with all sorts of issues from using cheap plastic parts, shoddy manufacturing (the keyboard literally had a bulge in the center and was not level), shitty drivers that crippled audio and video playback, and a ticking timebomb nvidia card that would need to be replaced a year later. I did not get a defective unit either, these were all widely spread problems with the laptop and I think there was ultimately a class action suit some years later.
I'm sure these issues are all nonexistent now, but man I can still feel the burn from that purchase and would never recommend anyone get a Dell laptop, especially one that costs $2,000.
I'm sure these issues are all nonexistent now, but man I can still feel the burn from that purchase and would never recommend anyone get a Dell laptop, especially one that costs $2,000.
WonkyPanda
Member
and against dedicated as well. For what limited information we have, the Iris Pro can hold its own against discrete GPUs, while being more power efficient.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6993/intel-iris-pro-5200-graphics-review-core-i74950hq-tested/15
Definitely going to watch the Anand and Ars review carefully for this.
In Windows, I can right-click a file, select Cut, navigate to the folder where I want it to go, paste it, and that's that. In OSX, there is no option to cut a file. You can copy it, navigate to where you want it to be, and paste it, but the original file remains where it started, leaving me with two instances of that file.
I was lamenting the lack of cut and paste functionality in Finder in the Mavericks thread this week, and someone told me that before pasting, you can hold the Option key to display alternate commands. When doing this, 'Paste Item' becomes 'Move Item Here'. I had no idea this Option menu existed and I don't know how I would have found out unless someone told me or I was just randomly pressing buttons in menus.
That's fine, but I don't like having multiple Finder windows open, and it doesn't change the fact that something I would consider to be extremely basic file management functionality is so heavily obscured.
Why not copy, then paste, and then delete original? I thnk the reason there is no cut, is because - what happens if you cut a file, then have a crash, etc. or forget to paste.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
People poo-pooing the XPS 15 need to get in touch with the latest crop of Dell laptops, particularly the non cheapy Ultrabook line. They have improved a lot.
Ingueferroque
Banned
How is it heavily obscured? You.. drag and drop.
Mavericks supports tabs for finder windows anyway, so that fixes your real-estate issue.
Sqrt_minus_one
Member
Right I have never used a Mac before but I do own a 4 year old Dell XPS 15 which has the 1080P RGB IPS screen option,
The laptop has not given me much trouble but I have had to reinstall twice over that period (its 4 years old cut it some slack).
Screen is still goreous, build quality is holding up all right few bits of plastic have come loose and some splitting where some of the plastic was glued together but everything still works bar one USB port which shorted out in a current surge the main fuse box in my house tripped.
Only real problem I have had with it is after a while the fan's dust filter gets clogged and I have had to open it up to clean that quite a few times.
Having sung the Dell's praises a little there is obviously a reason why every single review site out there has the rMBP and Apple laptops as top picks and winning editor's choice awards all over the place.
And yes if I ever do replace this laptop I am buying a Mac.
The laptop has not given me much trouble but I have had to reinstall twice over that period (its 4 years old cut it some slack).
Screen is still goreous, build quality is holding up all right few bits of plastic have come loose and some splitting where some of the plastic was glued together but everything still works bar one USB port which shorted out in a current surge the main fuse box in my house tripped.
Only real problem I have had with it is after a while the fan's dust filter gets clogged and I have had to open it up to clean that quite a few times.
Having sung the Dell's praises a little there is obviously a reason why every single review site out there has the rMBP and Apple laptops as top picks and winning editor's choice awards all over the place.
And yes if I ever do replace this laptop I am buying a Mac.
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