<p>1.) Software compadability
2.) The need to run Windows to fix #1
3.) Expensive
4.) Different - Windows has been established as a household name for computers.</p>
<p>Any input?</p>
<p>bad graphics, numerous quality issues, no LED backlit screen, option of only glossy screen, no card slot, a bit thick, bad keyboard (though debatable) and the list goes on!</p>
<p>To the contrary, I’d say they are very popular on a number of college campuses. After all, they are the hippest laptop to have, and that’s the biggest factor for many students’ decisions for purchases.</p>
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<p>1) most computers in the macbook’s price range and have integrated graphics, and it’s targeted towards people who don’t need lots of graphics processing power
2) numerous quality issues? i only know of two: edges around the keyboard/palmrests aren’t rounded off and the power adapter is guaranteed to break at some point.
3) because every other laptop in its price range has an LED backlit screen…actually, no other laptops do except the MBP.
4) most computers are glossy-only, i believe…and before, i think it was matte-only.
5) can’t say anything about the card slot, but not all that many people use them, or at least i don’t know of any. perhaps it’d be a problem for a business user.
6) thick? what?
7) can’t really say the keyboard is bad, but i don’t particularly like it at the same time. then again, i’m not particularly fond of Thinkpad keyboards, either.</p>
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<p>i agree. i just came back from a series of college tours and i must say that the macbook definitely dominated.</p>
<p>what are you talking about? you don’t even need to check reak college. just look around this board. you’ll see many apple enthusiast are lurking around.</p>
<p>If Macbooks aren’t popular, then how do you explain the very robust sales of the Mac line overall? Apple shipped something over 2 million Mac units last quarter alone.</p>
<p>If that’s not popular, I don’t know what is. I don’t think the MB is perfect, and I certainly wouldn’t buy one, but it’s certainly hard to argue that it’s lacking in popularity.</p>
<p>The dell xps is the closest substitute. It has an LED backlit screen, option of a powerful 8400m gs card, very thin, nice keyboard and with all the coupons and extras it is as cheap, if not cheaper, than the macbook.
However, I am not too sure about the card slot, if it does have one, another place where the macbook loses out!
As much as I like apple, they have to release something nice in June if they need to compete with Dell.</p>
<p>Macbooks are extremely popular, and I for one am not buying into the fad.</p>
<h1>1 reason for me not going for a mac is the software compatibility issues. I know you can install things on a mac that will run the windows programs, but why spend extra money on that when I can just get a PC?</h1>
<p>Well perhaps a decade ago, maybe consumers such as myself would have NEVER fathomed that Apple could go toe-to-toe with Windows/PCs. But these days, I’d say Apple is closing in on the gap and someone would even say they’ve surpassed PCs.</p>
<p>I attribute this in part to the fact that it seems Apple really listens to what people want i.e., no extra crappy prgms pre-installed on the laptop, beyond incredibly user-friendly, nice sleek looking outer design, and the iPods and i[insert other products] have also helped boost its popularity.</p>
<p>The reasons currently hindering them in my opinion:</p>
<p>1) About half of the Apple selling points involve them having to mention Windows/PCs. This is understandable though, Windows used to have a rock-solid grip on being the only OS for typical consumers. Of course Apple must bash PCs to gain ground. Their entire ad campaign is excellent, I just wish they’d scale back the “mud-slinging”</p>
<p>2) No 5-in-1 media card reader</p>
<p>3) Some of the more esoteric prgms are still not available for Macs.</p>
<p>What about the important point of dramatically fewer problems with viruses, spyware, etc. on a MAC than on Windows. I’ve spent a fortune on my home computer (Dell) trying to combat viruses and problems.</p>
<p>grapeful,</p>
<p>Do you really think most people care about card readers? I bet that maybe 1 in 1000, if that many, consumers actually care about that. I might like to see one myself, but I don’t think it hurts sales all that much.</p>
<p>I also don’t know what an “esoteric” program is. 
Please explain.</p>
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<p>I’d imagine that’s more because virus creators and hackers wouldn’t bother spending time trying to attacks Macs because they are still the minority in the population. If you want to create havoc, you would of course try to target the most users. If you were a terrorist, would you rather suicide bomb in a rural town? or in the business district of a metropolis?</p>
<p>Once macs start gaining popularity, I’m sure there’ll be more mac viruses.</p>
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<p>The reason why I care about the 5-in-1 reader is because when I take a picture and I want to upload it on my laptop, it’s really convenient to stick the memory card in. I do not always carry my usb cable with me, nor would I ever want to do so. </p>
<p>Plus, my labmates’ cameras don’t all use the same USB cable to connect camera to computer. (The one I’m referring to is an older Sony Cybershot.) It’s so convenient being able to stick in the card. If you don’t deal with pictures, then you obviously wouldn’t care. However, I know a lot of college kiddies do care about their digital pics given the advent of profile sites. I care because I work in a lab where we often have to take pictures of certain samples. </p>
<p>Along those lines, when I say esoteric programs, I mean programs not wanted/used by the masses. As I mentioned, I work in a lab. The program we use to run cyclic voltammetry (as just one example) is Windows only. Then there’s Origin, the graphing program that our department prefers over Excel. I believe Origin is Windows only (could be wrong). Nevertheless, the copies given to us to install are Windows only. Thus, Windows perpetuates itself in that regard. Some fields are currently stuck in a Windows only environment, which contributes (on a very, very small level) to the population still not making the switch to Macs. Of course I am only speaking in regards to the mean time. Does that explain esoteric programs well enough?</p>
<p>grapeful,</p>
<p>Sure. I think the word you were maybe looking for was niche, however. Esoteric is a bit odd the way you used it.</p>
<p>As for the card reader, I agree that it may be a good idea for some segment of the market, but unfortunately marketing and strategy are usually big nets for mass market products like the MB and MBP.</p>
<p>Niche? No way. It’s more commonly used as a noun, isn’t it? The programs I was referring to don’t have a “specific appeal.” There’s nothing appealing about them other than they are the only option. I definitely meant esoteric as “belonging to a select few.” But those “select few” is by no means above. About a decade ago, macs were certainly “esoteric.” </p>
<p>My laptop is not a Mac. So I am curious as to how other Mac laptop owners may feel about the card reader (if they have an opinion). Macs seem to be geared toward storing pictures with iLife and everything. Plus I know Macs are big on being wireless (at least with their keyboards and mice). </p>
<p>But anyway, enough about the card reader. Can anyone tell me what the “lock slot” is for?</p>
<p>grapeful,</p>
<p>It’s for attaching a laptop lock cable.</p>
<p>Why Macbooks should be popular:
- They are pretty and fashionable
- …</p>
<p>[Gone</a> in 2 minutes: Mac gets hacked first in contest | InfoWorld | News | 2008-03-27 | By Robert McMillan, IDG News Service](<a href=“http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html]Gone”>http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html)
I think the headline does enough damage on its own, eh?
Macs really aren’t that bad, they just aren’t my scene. It’s just the avid Apple whores I can’t deal with. I can’t tell you how many times at school people using Macbooks tell me how their computer runs so much better than mine. Sadly, I’m not even kidding. That crap actually happens!</p>
<p>And sorry to say it, but if you know how to use a computer well then viruses and etc. aren’t much of an issue. This is why my little sister has had to reformat the computer she uses four times and I haven’t had to do so once, despite the fact I have had a computer more than twice as long as her.</p>
<p>are you kidding? from this site to high schoolers to college students…macs are usually the most popular…it’s just when you go to mainstream families and older people where windows takes over</p>