Dell Dell XPS M1330 A$1,799

Refurbed MacBook 13.3" A$1,839

It must be:

• Easy to use (Mac)
• Light, portable
• Capture Video via Firewire
• Be great for messaging (Skype video)
• No "Blue Screen of Death" (another one for Leopard methinks)
• Fast start up
• Friendly friendly friendly for my wife to adopt

I would really appreciate some comments from those who have used both - Vista Premium and Leopard on small form notebooks.

My head says "stick with the MS devil you know" - but my heart says...

I can't say Vista is going to give you a fast startup, but capturing video and messaging/Skype are no problems.

Usually, I determine the platform by the software I want to run. What kind of software do you want to use for working with the video?

Listen to your head.

I am going to make no effort to convince to buy a Mac, a tool of the other devil. Think of heaven as being in the middle. Microsoft hell is one extreme, Apple hell has turned into the other (with believers that are ridiculously clueless).

Yes, comptability can be an issue with Vista, but that is anything but an argument for going to Mac OS.

Your title says it all. You already know your answer. BTW, I'm not clueless, ridiculously, or any other way. However, comments that are ridiculously generalized....

My son convinced me to switch to MAC when he went away to college, because I was always having computer issues that I couldn't resolve myself.

It's been 3.5 years, and I haven't had a problem. I'm happy, and my son is happy that I don't call for tech support anymore.

I've even talked my husband and younger son into MACs.

Also a vote for "consider the software", but that's less of an issue now that you can run Windows on Intel Macs.

I had to set up and install Vista on my mom's Dell desktop lately, and couldn't believe how complicated it was, compared to Leopard...also I understand system upgrades are a nightmare, compared to the finger-snap they usually require on a Mac...

Something that will capture video, really simple edits, and simple burning/archiving. "Intuitive" is the word that comes to mind.

Our camera is a Canon with mini-DV - we are thinking about a Canon HDV tho'

Just get a Mac. Why do you need to be convinced when you've already convinced yourself?

Easy reason: build quality
The quality of dells has gone drastically down hill, particularly the laptops... Where I used to consider Dell the "go to" choice for a PC, I avoid them at all costs now, they just break too often... keyboards, ide/sata controllers, onboard audio...anything

Apple ain't what it used to be either... Too many hellish stories of bad quality. Even high profile users like Robert Scoble post about their experiences. I know one diehard Mac user who's on his 8th repair of his Macbook Pro.

That said; I've got the M1330 here and absolutely love it. It's well built, has HDMI out, a cellular modem slot (I've got an EVDO card in mine) and great screen.

In the US you can find the M1330 for as low as $800 with decent specifications.

I had a suspicion the XPS would be OK - great spec, and it sure looks the goods...

Speaking as someone who uses both Mac's and PC's daily, I would recommend a Mac for your use, but itounds like you are leaning towards the Mac as it is. Only suggestion, I would seriously consider the AppleCare warranty as it does give a few more years of ease of mind. I am lucky enough to be near an Apple store and the number of horror stories I have heard from laptop users make extended warranties, well, warranted. Also, as you are looking at a refurb, I would definitely want to be covered. My only problem with the Macbook is it does not have dedicated Video Ram.

As for Vista, I have yet to hear of one person who likes it. My IT people hate it and will not switch the computers over until it improves.

I switched from a Dell to a Mac two months ago last week. Leopard fixed the last issue that was stopping me from switching (good mail client). The Mac is easier and more reliable, no doubt about it. It's also much better at stuff like video. Don't let the firewire port on the Dell fool you - there's a lot more to it than just getting the bits off your camera. iMovie kicks MovieMaker's ... in terms of usability, speed and stability. If you're using other softwre that may not matter so much.

Also consider the extra costs you may run into: Office, etc. I'm using Mail and iWork and am completely happy with them.

One other thing to consider is the social cost of being associated with Mac users, who can be nearly as annoying as the Ron Paul crowd.

There's a Dell sitting here on the floor next to my desk that I haven't touched since the day I turned it off.

The rumor mill says that new Mac laptops will be announced on Tuesday, though, so you might want to wait.

I have had nothing but crap w/Dell laptops. My personal one - replaced under a "next day onsite" warranty that took months to get them to replace. Finally, they replaced it with the current P.O.S - which didn't work properly from the start. Hours and hours and hours on the phone with these bozos, telling me to install software patch after software patch (shouldn't it come the right way right away?) - finally resulting in a BLACK SCREEN to which they kept saying install this and that, and finally got a clue that I couldn't see a screen. I had to send it in. This is my "house" computer. My business ones (provided by a vendor, so it isn't my $, but it is my headache) has resulted in 3 laptops replaced (all of the same model, with little usage or travel for any of them), finally, replaced with another model which was bad on day one. The replacement of that last one has been pretty decent (and it is several months already). 5 business laptops since 2004, typically getting 20 hours a month usage.

Crappity crap crap crap.

Noted, thank you.

XP MCE has not encouraged us to actually do anything with all those mini-DV tapes.

Anything but MS Office - we use Google Apps now - so no "legacy" keeping us bound to MS.