They're both great computers, besides the phrases "Dell" and "Vista Ultimate".

I would go with the top one, as it has higher specs, but the bottom one will be more portable as it only has a 15" Screen. You choose which one would be better for you.

Thanks for your reply. Dad thinks the one you recommended would be better, but on the EA web 2 people say the other and he is baffled. Why do you think they say that?

Probably, like I said, for the portability. Some people need a small laptop that they need to take everywhere. That's why they made the MacBook Air.

Well thanks for your opinion, I do value it. I think I will go with that one but specs and things don't mean anything to me. In fact dad knew that and nearly ordered it last night and then remembered he said he'd ask me which one I wanted.

Well, enjoy your big box of viruses, crashing, and confusing applications.

He is back to reconsidering now because someone on EA has told him that the graphics card sucks!

Just had a chat with dad and he said he isn't totally against Mac's it is just that I might find that I can't interact with the different computers in the house and I would have to learn how to use them from scratch. So, what one would you recommend?

Of those two computers that you mentioned before I would agree with Otune, and recommend the top one.

I would also agree with Otune and say that Apples are worth the money.

I find that I have very few qualms with Apple => Windows communication. I have to transfer files, etc. from my home computer (an iMac) to the school system (pretty crappy Windows) and have met very few snags. It especially works well if you have the iWork suite on your Mac computer, which can read and edit Microsoft Office documents. Also, Macs have a great framework for doing any media activity from composing/recording music to making a movie. What I especially love is how co-operative all the software is; how you can easily send one bit of media from say, iTunes to iWeb, or iCal to .Mac (now MobileMe).

If you want to get a slight discount you could buy a refurbished Mac from Apple. They are usually computers that they found small defects in the factory, and then completely repaired them. Apple's refurbished Mac store is at the following link: http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?sf=w2YF4JXY4AHCAJCDF&nclm=C61AFE24

I think a Mac is definitely worth considering, and I don't know if a Mac would necessarily be incompatible with your home network. Although there could be something finnicky about your home network that I don't know about - then I would feel guilty about recommending a computer that would ultimately suffer from compatibility issues.

Just my two cents. I know I'm kind of jumping into this discussion halfway through, hope you don't mind .

Thanks for your reply. I have no idea at this moment in time what has been decided as I left him looking at different computers when I went to bed last night and he has gone to work now. I will pass on what you have said. Cheers!

Yeah, what Geo said. He's better at doing that than me.

And about learning how to use from scratch, I had never used a Mac before I got one. I managed to learn how to use everything very easily. That's one of the main reason I like Apple products.

P.S. Geo, do you use iChat with your MobileMe account?

I haven't renewed my MobileMe account since the free trial ran out, but It seems that I can log into it fine using iChat or Adium But I don't know if I can actually IM people yet.

I put some new pictures on Fangree today.

Cool! I'll go check them out right after a visit to the forum games section...

I'm waiting for my new laptop to arrive! It isn't either of those I listed as the special offer that was on them had gone by the time dad had made his mind up. I don't know what the spec is on the one I'm waiting for, but it is bound to be good. Well it arrived and it is excellent apart from the little problem of shutting down without warning! Dad has had a look at it and thinks the powerpack is faulty so a new one is on order.

What's this?