Waylander Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Looking to upgrade the Vaio in the near future. Everything else I own is MS - from Desktop/Laptops/Tablet and phone. Friend bought an XPS recently (from Dell Outlet) and it does look rather good. I want something with a good spec and excellent screen. The main brucey bonus of the Vaio was/is the built in BluRay writer (I have used it once I think!) I just have this little itch I can't scratch about just how good a MBP is hardware wise. I also need to be in Windows for some of my on call software I think (not sure, will check with a Mac owner at work). I guess a crude fix would be a dual boot as a Hackintosh.... So - few questions (re MBP): If I have Office for Mac are the files compatible with Windows Office? Will Skydrive/Onedrive work on OS X? Will an MBP be visible to my Home Network (the other machines just see it and interact)? Will there be anything I can't do on an MBP that I can on a Windows Laptop? I presume I need a licence to run Win in Parallels? Any other advice re which route to pursue given the rest of my hardware? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Looking to upgrade the Vaio in the near future. Everything else I own is MS - from Desktop/Laptops/Tablet and phone. Friend bought an XPS recently (from Dell Outlet) and it does look rather good. I want something with a good spec and excellent screen. The main brucey bonus of the Vaio was/is the built in BluRay writer (I have used it once I think!) I just have this little itch I can't scratch about just how good a MBP is hardware wise. I also need to be in Windows for some of my on call software I think (not sure, will check with a Mac owner at work). I guess a crude fix would be a dual boot as a Hackintosh.... So - few questions (re MBP): If I have Office for Mac are the files compatible with Windows Office? Will Skydrive/Onedrive work on OS X? Will an MBP be visible to my Home Network (the other machines just see it and interact)? Will there be anything I can't do on an MBP that I can on a Windows Laptop? I presume I need a licence to run Win in Parallels? Any other advice re which route to pursue given the rest of my hardware? Why a crude hack? Just run Parallels. There's nothing remotely crude and you can have both systems booted at the same time and work between them. Office files are compatible. Just do Office 365 anyway. Bargain and you get online storage too. I've moved everything over to 365 now on all our machines. Onedrive - yes. Sharing - yes. We're all Mac anyway but it is just a network device on your network, so I don't see how it can't be visible. MBP v Windows - no, nothing you can't do. Oh, except disinfect it from viruses, because you're highly unlikely to ever need to. Windows licence - yes. As for your comment about MBP hardware - you're right, it is that good. My MBP is used every single day, travels the UK, gets battered and bruised, is super, super, super fast and never lets me down. Everything about OSX is intuitive but when you come from Windows that means it takes time to get used to. However, stick with it and you'll soon realise how difficult it is for any OSX/MBP/iMac user to even contemplate going over to Windows. If I ever have to use a client Windows based laptop I feel a bit like I imagine a Rolls Royce Phantom driver would if he was asked to drive a grubby old Proton for a day. It's all soooooo inferior. And yes, I really do mean that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 The hack was refering to setting up OSX on a Windows machine as a dual booth (the so called "Hackintosh" method) - much cheaper way of doing it but rather crude compared with MBP and Parallels. Was proposing to use Office 2013 (for Win) and Office-for-Mac 2011 (if I go MBP) Will look into 365 - works on both Win and OSX? Or do I need different versions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Office365 sub will give you OSX & Windows versions of office (2011/2013 respectively). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Aah right. I think I am able to source standalone versions of both (2011/2013) for a silly price hence was proposing the non-365 method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Well the good thing about the '365 subscription is that it's evergreen - you'll always have the latest version. 2011 is about to updated in a very awesome way. As to the XPS/MBP route....They're probably the most common units I see day to day (well, that and some lenovo). They're both excellent products. I will say there's lots that that the XPS can't do that the MBP - like run OSX properly, and well, for instance....But in reality unless you're a heavy user I think either would be a good platform. I love my MBP/OSX platforms simply because they virtualise Windows so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 (edited) Waylander, don't. Honestly, just don't buy the standalone versions. Buy 365. I followed Mac's advice (I had 3 x Office 2011 licences) and he was right. Plus, you'll get Office for iPad free with Office 365. Remember it is a per user basis, so I run a single Office 365 subscription on my iMac and MBP, and then on my iPad too. £12 a month is just an absolute bargain for what you get - and remember that is endless updates and new versions too. Oh and route your mail through MS's servers for Exchange too. I changed my domain (company) DNS (MX) records and mail is much better now. I have had no outages whatsoever, I have the peace of mind of back up and the functionality is excellent (I use Outlook on all devices that sync with the Exchange mailboxes). Edited April 29, 2014 by NewNiceMrMe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Thank you both - that is very helpful. I only really want OSX for Osirix (I am sure I have said this before) but the build quality is lovely too. Helpful to know both will be good. I think it will depend on just how many pennies I can scrape together by summer (when SWMBO is safely overseas ; this new house/new car/new baby large is expensive!!) ; difficult to look past the superb bargains on Dell Outlet too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Do the NHS still do the deal for office? I seem to remember getting the whole suite for £14 or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 I cant fault the Dell Outlet. Especially as you can filter scratched and dented seperate from other returns. I bought a Dell XPS 13, top spec, i7, which would sell in JL for £1300+, and paid £740 iirc. I am convinced the laptop i got, was a returned, never been opened unwanted product.. I did later have an issue with the screen, where i got a line acrooss the taskbar at the recommended resolution, but not at others, and Dell came to my place of work and replaced the entire screen/lid assembly under warrantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 My last two windows boxes were Dell XPS a laptop and a desktop and they were good but not MBP good in build. The MBP really is a stunningly good machine, I've got the last generation hard drive non retina though which has been excellent for storage and the photography work I do and its bloody quick as well. You should be able to get a discounted rate on the MBP if you look hard enough or know anyone in education that will make it more appealing price wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Waylander, one thing to look at if you go for a MBP - instead of buying a windows licence and a virtualisation package (Parallels, VMware Fusion, Virtualbox...), first check to see if your required Windows Software runs under CrossOver (WINE on OS X). I have a copy of Office 2007 Pro with Visio (all about to be 2010) that I run under CrossOver. It just works, and absolutely flies compared to running it on a real or virtual Windows box. If you are lucky and it does work, then you save a wad of $$$ you can spend on something else. As for your other questions, OSX is based on FreeBSD which is one of the securest (out of the box) and most connectable of the UNIX operating systems. Don't swallow any Microsoft kool aid about networks and interoperabiliy (or is it too late?). As for Dell gear, like Mac, nearly all the newer Windows laptops I'm seeing are the higher end Dell and Alienware ones. However, nearly all have ditched Windows 8.x for Windows 7... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 WINE is beyond shite, especially for a non-technical user Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torino101 Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Mac, For 'Bang for Buck' these days where is the sweet spot in 4th gen processors? I3, I5 or I7?? All are perfectly capable of running everyday tasks, but if you wanted to add in a bit gaming (with a dedicated GPU), or some heavier multitasking are the I3's still plenty fast enough??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 My not very techy brain is immediately telling me you want to be comparing dual/quad core rather than i3/i5/i7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 WINE is beyond shite, especially for a non-technical user That's why I use CrossOver and let the real geeks do the heavy lifting and packaging for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Do the NHS still do the deal for office? I seem to remember getting the whole suite for £14 or something? hhhmm Nice healthy discussion - which is nice! Nope that deal ended over a year ago. Rachel I haven't swallowed any particular Kool Aid - the question was borne of complete ignornace of having multiplatform devices in a home setting. Having Win8 on my tablet and netbook and Win7Pro on my Desktop I agree I prefer WIn7 (the Vaio is is Win7 HP) Paul the point you raise is exactly my dilemma - I could get a stunning piece of kit if I keep my eye out on the Outlet store for under £1k. When it is a semi-vanity purchase the bang-for-buck is useful. Carmad there is an NHS Apple store but discount is not particularly high and I don't know anyone in Education. Torinio PC Pro recently discussed the various CPUS and I think Garcon is right in that the iteration is less important as the actual type of chip (some i5 were better that i7 etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Waylander, I was faced with a similar decision. I like Apple products and fancied a change to a Mac Book Air. In the end, I bought the Dell XPS13 a small and light, machined aluminium and carbon fibre chassis / Gorilla glass windows Laptop (Probably the closest windows based machine to the MBA design) and a iPad Air for the same money I would have spent on a MBA. I needed a windows machine for VCDS, or would of had to buy a windows OS and Parallels on top of the Mac book air price to run. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Thanks The only Apple software I would like to run is their excellent FREE dicom viewer called OSIRIX. Seems daft to find £600+ extra for the luxury Hence why being able to get Mavericks to run as a dual boot or virtualisation would be superb solution for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Yeah...good luck with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 I know.....I did actually get it working quite nicely (Snow leopard) on the desktop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 AHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Go on. I'll bite. What is fondling your funny bone so hard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Snow leopard for start is an age old...Also, I've yet to see a Hackintosh box work reliably for more than small period of time. Change one slight thing, the whole frickin' thing falls apart. It just isn't worth the effort IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 aah right. I did that a few years ago when I was more into my "tweaker" phase simply to prove to myself that it might be possible - didn't mean to imply it was a "current" solution or even one I use A mate is playing around with his XPS trying to triple boot WIn/Linux/OSX - "not for the faint hearted" is his latest comment and he was the one who told me as far as he knew Dell would need the wifi chipset swapped out to work with Hackintosh. So as you say not elegant. I think for me it's simple: if the price differential was not high I would like an MBP "Just cos" For the sake of running a free price of software "sometimes" it is hard to offset vs a nice bells and whistles Dell/Win7 machine for about 2/3 of the price The Win alternative to Parallels doesn't seem to exits sadly which would be my ideal state Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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