A cheap Window's computer

[Laurelin]

So I have a Macbook and it works great for most things. However, at work my computer is Windows and I am getting more and more used to it. I find I get home and the mac frustrates me a lot. There is also a lot of trouble when I try to remote log in to the company's website and my work computer due to nothing being written with macs in mind.

I still want to keep the macbook for basic internet surfing. I think I want a new laptop though to use to do work stuff and I want something that can run Corel Draw. I've tried a lot of art programs and Corel is my favorite for outlining things in. I use it at work all the time and have borrowed my coworker's Corel some to play with. But I can't run it on my computer. I don't know how to decide how much computer you would need for a program like that. As of now, that would be all I'd be using the computer for.

I just don't have that much money to throw out there for a good computer, plus the money for Corel. How much do laptops usually run now? Is there a laptop that is powerful enough to run a graphics program like Corel that is not very expensive?

[stardogs]

What about getting a program that allows you to run Windows on your Mac?

[Laurelin]

I didn't even think about that at all. I was wondering though if it would be even more expensive to do that? How much does it cost? Plus I have mac specific software I don't want to lose (Adobe Creative Suite)

[MinPinOwner]

There is Boot Camp but you still need to buy a copy of windows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_Camp_%28software%29

[stardogs]

IIRC there are several options for software that lets you maintain a Windows platform on a Mac - the cheapest is around $75, most expensive around $200 iirc. The platforms run separately so you won't lose anything on the Mac, just switch back and forth between the two setups on the same computer.

[Bahamutt99]

I don't know about running windows on a Mac, but I bought a computer off Ebay for about $90 with the shipping included. Its what I'm using right now. Came with (albeit an older version of) Windows installed and ready to use. I added a second TB hard drive and a RAM upgrade, parts which cost me probably about $100. (The HD was off my old computer, the RAM upgrade I bought off Amazon for $30). Well worth the $$$ so far, after Best Buy denied me financing to get a new computer.

ETA: I realize I'm talking about a desktop and you referred to laptops, but its what I've got. LOL

[eddieq]

Run a VM. VMWare Fusion is 50 bucks.

http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/overview.html

[Kat09Tails]

My next windows PC will be from costco most likely. I'm expecting to spend about $600-700

[Renee750il]

Originally Posted by eddieq

Run a VM. VMWare Fusion is 50 bucks.

http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/overview.html

This is what my dad has on his Mac. Works better than the dedicated Windows computers, lol. WAY faster. The expensive Dell, as a matter of fact, is now dead, and I'm praying my files can be salvaged from the hard drive. It died suddenly, without warning.

[Lossalfling]

If you run windows on Mac it will be great, Im not sure how much those programs cost(never owned a mac) If you decide to get a windows machine I can tell you one things. If you want to run some harsh graphics programs, make sure what ever laptop/desktop you buy has a graphics cards and not just an chipset. Though chips sets have come along way , they are still nowhere near to par of a good card. Lots of laptops will have cards versus chipsset. With a laptop its even more important to make sure its a card as you cannot add one later like you can with a desktop