Ups:
1) Really nice construction
2) Really well put together GUI
3) In general it's a nicer experience than a non-mac with similar tech-specs.
Downs:
1) No standard central packaging system; All the software you mention is available on the mac but you have to either:
a) Build it yourself
b) Use macports or fink, etc.
Furthermore, some of the more gui focused things have very nice mac-native ports (e.g. MacVim) but you'll have to track those down yourself.
2) Price. You can get a very nice non-mac laptop every year for the same price as getting the 17" Macbook Pro every 2 years. I compare to the 17" since I won't code on anything with less that 1200 vertical lines. If you plan on only coding with an external monitor, this may not apply.
3) Not super configurable. You get something very well put together and designed, but that also means there aren't a lot of options.
I had the option of getting a macbook pro at work but went with a Dell instead.
Ups: 1) Really nice construction 2) Really well put together GUI 3) In general it's a nicer experience than a non-mac with similar tech-specs.
Downs: 1) No standard central packaging system; All the software you mention is available on the mac but you have to either: a) Build it yourself b) Use macports or fink, etc. Furthermore, some of the more gui focused things have very nice mac-native ports (e.g. MacVim) but you'll have to track those down yourself. 2) Price. You can get a very nice non-mac laptop every year for the same price as getting the 17" Macbook Pro every 2 years. I compare to the 17" since I won't code on anything with less that 1200 vertical lines. If you plan on only coding with an external monitor, this may not apply. 3) Not super configurable. You get something very well put together and designed, but that also means there aren't a lot of options.
I had the option of getting a macbook pro at work but went with a Dell instead.