Macbook vs. HP pavilion laptop.

[ursus]

hi everyone.
i'm looking to buy a new laptop and after thinking about it for ages i still can't make up my mind about which to buy out of the two i've narrowed it down to.

im tossing up between one of the new macbooks, specs are:
13.3 inch widescreen display
1280 x 800 resolution
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
2.0GHz intel core duo
2GB DDR3 memory
160GB hard drive
5 hours battery life
weight 2.04kg
price: $2019

and a hp pavilion, can't remember which model:
intel core duo 2.4GHz
2GB DDR2 ram
320gb hard drive.
256mb geforce go 8400 video
13.3 inch LED display
weight 2.1kg
price: $1450

i'm basically just using it for uni (doing bachelor of arts) so i was thinking the mac would be good because of the long battery life. also they tend to be more stable, don't get viruses etc.
but the hp seems to be just as good (and heaps cheaper) apart from battery life, and as all windows computers do, it would slow down a lot over time. and i'd want it to last for all of uni.

so what do you guys think?
thanks heaps! 

[Roflmao]

Hp seems a little bit better

Pros: Hp has a faster cpu and a bigger hard-drive and hp is much cheaper

Cons: Hp has DDR2 and the mac has DDR3 but they are the same thing almost you wont see a diffrece

[Over9000]

To be honest, its really a matter of your preference for operating system, if you really want and need mac operating system then get the macbook, otherwise the Hp is way better value for money.

[ursus]

ok cool, thanks for your help

also, does anyone know about the macbooks' ability to run several programs at once?

[Over9000]

ok cool, thanks for your help

also, does anyone know about the macbooks' ability to run several programs at once?

Depends on ram mostly, ddr3 isnt that much better than ddr2 yet so should be almost same as Hp

[AppleXY]

ok cool, thanks for your help

also, does anyone know about the macbooks' ability to run several programs at once?

I have a PB G4 (from 2004) and it works like a dream. Could open probably 6-7 apps without lag.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

I have a very recent HP very similar to that. I will tell you now, the battery life is beyond phail.
...but i'd still buy it over a Mac anyday.

[AppleXY]

lol the macbooks design kicks ass ANY notebook in the market. I have a HP piece of shit, srsly its just fucking gay shit clump of plastic, liquid metal my fucking black ass.

Vista doesn't even compare to the efficiency of expose and quicksilver, I still miss those features dearly. The only reason I use windows is for trading and excel that's prettty much it.

there is no IRC sexy client for windows as well.

[excal]

lol the macbooks design kicks ass ANY notebook in the market. I have a HP piece of shit, srsly its just fucking gay shit clump of plastic, liquid metal my fucking black ass.

Vista doesn't even compare to the efficiency of expose and quicksilver, I still miss those features dearly. The only reason I use windows is for trading and excel that's prettty much it.

there is no IRC sexy client for windows as well.

I quite like 'irssi'

HP is better value for money. However, you may be well served with a netbook (EeePC for example) if your only use will be Uni use. I wouldn't touch Macs unless you had a particular need for them (design/multimedia software for example).

It really depends on what you need the laptop for outside of uni hours.