Came down to CPU speed

[Codda]

Four screws, two cover plates and your in...on the bottom of the unit.

[ben_r_]

Originally Posted by kjj512

Sorry Mac fanboys I use windows. Mainly because I am an engineer first and photography is just a hobby. Can't get all the programs I need on a Mac not to mention my self built tower would have cost nearly triple what I paid for it if I bought a Mac with the same specs. I completely agree about the bloatware on computers straight from the manufacturer. All of my computers have been reformatted and cleaned of all that junk since I switched over to windows 7 like 3 years ago. But lets not let this turn into another Mac / PC pissing contest.

How much is the price difference between the 2.4 and 2.5 processors? Since it is a Mac I am assuming it's way to much money to make it even remotely worth it. Not to mention it is a laptop and the faster processor is going to be more power hungry and drain the battery quicker. It may be negligible in this case but it is something to think about.

Same here, of the electronic and telecommunications type, and I get buy when needed just fine. Apples are just as useful in that world as PCs. In fact, running windows 7 on an Apple will give you the best of both worlds. Now thats efficient.

Originally Posted by aliengin

Thanks for the heads up. 4 to 8 ram upgrade is $200. I can get the 4 ram model and buy a Kingston 2x4GB modules from the same store for $64

In PC Laptops adding RAM is like switching a battery. It is easy, how is in a unibody Mac? Is it easy to install?

Yea, def never buy RAM from a manufacturer, its always cheaper to buy it and install it yourself. Its the easiest thing ever to do.

[kjj512]

Originally Posted by ben_r_

Same here, of the electronic and telecommunications type, and I get buy when needed just fine. Apples are just as useful in that world as PCs. In fact, running windows 7 on an Apple will give you the best of both worlds. Now thats efficient.

Yea, def never buy RAM from a manufacturer, its always cheaper to buy it and install it yourself. Its the easiest thing ever to do.

Agreed buy and install the RAM yourself and save a bunch of money compared to what Apple would charge.

Yeah I just graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and 3D solid modeling and FEA programs receive no support for Macs. I half researched using bootcamp when I had the idea of building a hackintosh. If I remember correctly the computer cant use the full functionality of certain hardware when running windows in OSX. I think it was processor hyperthreading that was reference specifically.

[ben_r_]

Originally Posted by kjj512

Agreed buy and install the RAM yourself and save a bunch of money compared to what Apple would charge.

Yeah I just graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and 3D solid modeling and FEA programs receive no support for Macs. I half researched using bootcamp when I had the idea of building a hackintosh. If I remember correctly the computer cant use the full functionality of certain hardware when running windows in OSX. I think it was processor hyperthreading that was reference specifically.

Huh, unfortunately cant speak to that specifically, as I dont do much CAD in the ME sense, but I HAVE been able to get all my serial programmers for microprocessors and their IDEs to run just fine when booted into windows. Some have even begun adding OSX versions of their IDE. I also have been able to get every windows program I have thrown at it to run just fine. I will say I have had much better results actually booting into windows as opposed to running it within OSX (windowed). But yea, its been a great solution for me for years now.

[MCAsan]

Because I am an engineer, I turned my i7 Sandy Bridge into a Hackintosh running 10.7.3 Lion with no problem. If I wanted, I could put in a Windows partition and dual boot. But having tried a Windows 8 beta....I run from Windows.

Best bang for your buck, build yourself a top level i7 machine and run OSX and Windows. Hold off for a few weeks and do it on Ivy Bridge processors.

[ben_r_]

Originally Posted by MCAsan

Because I am an engineer, I turned my i7 Sandy Bridge into a Hackintosh running 10.7.3 Lion with no problem. If I wanted, I could put in a Windows partition and dual boot. But having tried a Windows 8 beta....I run from Windows.

Best bang for your buck, build yourself a top level i7 machine and run OSX and Windows. Hold off for a few weeks and do it on Ivy Bridge processors.

lol what does being an engineer have to do with running a hackintosh? Im an engineer and I dont have a hackintoshed computer, I actually bought a mac and have a beast of a PC, because if anything, as engineers, we should have the money to do so.

[MCAsan]

what does being an engineer have to do with running a hackintosh?

First recognizing that Mac OS is what windows is still trying to become (since Windows 3.11)

Second recognizing that Apple hardware is way over priced. Not a good bang for the buck.

Third, being an engineer, I see a problem and look for a solution. So I run Mac OS on an open, relatively low cost configuration, using off the shelf PC components. It is a good bang for the buck.

[DiMAn0684]

Originally Posted by kjj512

I half researched using bootcamp when I had the idea of building a hackintosh. If I remember correctly the computer cant use the full functionality of certain hardware when running windows in OSX. I think it was processor hyperthreading that was reference specifically.

A friend of mine is working on a PhD in a bio-related field and needed some biostatistical software that only runs on Windows. I installed an XP under Parallels and installed the software on it without any issues. I don't think I'll be switching to Mac for my desktops, but my next laptop might be a MBP.