Ars-Technica has a journal entry reporting on an increase in Apple's US laptop retail marketshare to 12%, up from 6% less than 6 months ago.

With the recent switch to Intel processors, Apple is now in a position to appeal to gamers who need to Windows, a market previously unavailable to them. Are any AusGamers readers considering (or recently made) their first Apple purchase, or do you think this is just a temporary increase?

What are the prices of these Apple computers? roughly the same as a PC?

My brother recently bought a macbook pro.

Even with the Intel chips and Windows-like behaviour I'd be very unlikely to get one, unless I had a reason to own a laptop that I would never compile code on. It likely wouldn't make much of a difference, but its just asking for trouble to produce code using an environment very different to your end users for no good reason.

My XPS is a great vaguelly mobile desktop replacement, although its too big to wield on a plane (economy class anyway). If I needed something more portable for a specific task I'd probably get a device to suit, like a PDA or something.

I recently purchased a 20" intel iMac. The ability to run OS X but still have Windows XP available for gaming (and this machine is VERY capable in that respect) was one of the big drawcards for me.

I have always been a big fan of the build-your-own box approach, but I like the fact that with this box, the OS knows everything about the hardware capabilities, and i'm not trawling forums looking for the reason driver version x of bluetooth chipset y doesn't like application z.

but I like the fact that with this box, the OS knows everything about the hardware capabilities, and i'm not trawling forums looking for the reason driver version x of bluetooth chipset y doesn't like application z.

How about the Windows driver support for the components in the laptops? Is that all flawless?

my 2c: I'd be dead keen to get an iBook - a bunch of my friends made the switch recently and are really happy with how it all has worked out. Solid hardware with a solid unix-based operating system sounds awesome.

My BIG problem is that I've spent the last 10 years learning the quirks of Windows - I'm extremely comfortable using it and I'm frankly scared of how long it'd take to get used to a new OS.

I got an ibook a about 18months ago.. I was amazed at how intuitive it was to use.. Nothing really requires much 'effort' on my part to get going.. Software side its all load it on and it just works, first time everytime... I'm certain any purchases in the future will probably be macs

I have a macbook, it's fantastic. Got the white 2G (wanted the black but meh $300 for a coat of paint). It's a fantastic machine. The first generation Macbook Pros have a number of faults, but Apple seem to have ironed out most of the nasties for this lower-end Macbook release. Everything hammers except for the integrated video, which is a major crutch but if you load it with memory this limitation is markedly reduced. OS virtualisation within OSX is reasonable (parallels). Apple provide all the necessary Windows drivers for bootcamp, and it works as good as any Dell. If you run extenders like UnivBE for legacy games you'll get nowhere, but contempary stuff is ok. Windows on mac doesn't seem to be particulary brittle, I play civ and run project/visio on it, else I don't actually use it that much but I have installed a yumcha usb2serial adaptor which the drivers are so old they were written in 2K era, and it worked without a hitch! (also worked in parallels)

No way I would buy an ibook. They are cheap but, Support will dry up, parts will evaporate, mac software is going universal->intel etc.. Get a macbook or the next Macbook Pro revision (merom) with all the bugs squashed.

As far as learning curve goes from an extensive windows backgorund, it's so f***ing frustrating and gloriously easy at the same time. If you've got a unix appreciation it's certainly easier.

When the lease is up on my dell laptop i'm giving it straight back and getting a MacBook. For me being able to switch between OSX and XP is the big winner, as i have application specific programs that will only support one OS, so depending on what i'm doing on any given job i can take my prefered software with me.

And it might sounds stupid but 6pin vs 4pin firewire is the 2nd biggest selling point for me (god knows why so many manufacturers went for 4 pin). I'm sick of having to lug around a wall wart to power my audio interface, the idea of laptops is portability ffs, its annoying haveing to run power out to the middle of a venue so i can plug in a power pack to do a 5 minute measurement.

Yeah the apple ibooks are nice but honestly overpriced.

Personally I'll stick with Toshiba for quality or Dell for price.

People who think Toshiba are superior to anyone else in quality are mentally disturbed.

holy crap it's FeDX!

Well mongie I can only compare the experiences I have had here at work.

Toshibas seem to last much better then other brands we have played with (ie. Acer, Compaq).

The ability to run OS X but still have Windows XP available for gaming (and this machine is VERY capable in that respect) was one of the big drawcards for me.

I had Windows XP installed for a while... but then I ran windows update, and it started blue-screening. Can't seem to stop that happenning, so I can't run XP anymore :(

In the end, the beauty of having a mac is that it just works.  The hardware works, the OS works, it all just f***ing works.  I write this on my powerbook as I am waiting for my PC to reboot :). 

Yeah the apple ibooks are nice but honestly overpriced.

ummmm:
http://kurafire.net/log/archive/2006/04/25/debunking-the-price-myth-apple-vs-dell
http://mikemchargue.com/2006/01/price-deathmatch-apple-macbook-pro-vs.html
http://forevergeek.com/news/price_comarison_macbook_pro_vs_dell_inspiron.php
http://www.cubeowner.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11670
http://theocacao.com/document.page/226
http://support.doit.wisc.edu/showroom/page.php?id=3045

and thats only taking the first page of a "macbook vs dell price" google

What are the prices of these Apple computers? roughly the same as a PC?

Yeah close to, for the same specs, 2800$ for a macbook pro with educational discount, 1550$ for a macbook with edu.

Even with the Intel chips and Windows-like behaviour I'd be very unlikely to get one, unless I had a reason to own a laptop that I would never compile code on. It likely wouldn't make much of a difference, but its just asking for trouble to produce code using an environment very different to your end users for no good reason.

They are the only computers that can run windows, linux and OS-X and u'd really have to be doing some lowlevel s*** to start dealing with different stuff (bios/EFI level).

Are any AusGamers readers considering (or recently made) their first Apple purchase, or do you think this is just a temporary increase?

Yeah - maxed up iMac 20" heading my way soon for recording work. I'm currently a *nix/win32 user so the switch will be interesting.

simul pretty much with out exception Those comparisons aren't comparing like products, and I would say are all Mac Zealots.

ie. They put the top screen in the dell, they put the most expensive batteries, the video cards will sound similar but be different.

eg. When I do it...
The Apple

13.3-inch widescreen display
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB memory (2x256MB SODIMMs)
60GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive2
SuperDrive (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
55-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
Webcam but no modem
Bluetooth
All Macs include 90 days of free telephone support and one-year limited warranty
2.36 kg
A$ 2,099.00

The Dell

Dell Inspiron(TM) 6400 Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo Processor T2300E Notebook E-VALUE CODE : N540704
15.4" XGA Wide Screen
Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz, 2MB Cache, 667 MHz FSB
512MB memory (2x256MB SODIMMs)
80GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive2
8* DVD+/-RW Dual Layer
Intel 950 graphics processor
Case
56 W Hr Battery
Bluetooth
one-year limited warranty and phone support
2.8 kg
AUD 1,372.80

So to me they look similar in specs...
Except the Dell has a bigger screen, better dvd recorder, bigger HDD, slightly better phone support and some software you don't want (MS Works), a modem, and a case.
Apple has a web cam and is .5 kg lighter.

(oh and different OSes)

That and the Dell is $600 cheaper ? (some might say the apple screen is better, maybe it is ... personally I don't care about that, but if its an issue .. thats a $134 ... still $460 cheaper)


*shrug* maybe I am missing something worth $450 odd dollars ?

You're f***ing comparing an ultra-portable 13" laptop to a 15.4" flimsy POS that you could fit standard sized components in its so massive

*shrug*

I have never desired ultra portible ... maybe thats worth $460 ...

PDA is more portable imo

PDA is more portable imo

also f***in useless for anything more than email/diary, cant exactly edit audio or videos on it now can you.

I wouldn't call > 2kg an ultra-portable 13" laptop (15" or better maybe)

Although way more expensive, the Sony VGNSZ28GP is the go. 1.7kg, 13.3", 100gb, 1gb, 2.0ghz, cam, modem, bluetooth, dock port (for the office), onboard vid + geforce go 7400 (switchable for powersaving)

Buy a Mac if you need to run a Mac OS

I'm actually trying to decide myself between a MacBook or a Dell 6400, though ive heard the integrated graphics on the Macbook are completely inferior if you want to game.....which i do, but if the MacBook is a sturdier more-portable machine than i'd probably go with that

to anyone that is thinking of buying a mac wait until after WWDC (august 7-11), they will probably change some prices/specs for some models then.