Apple MacBook...? (Read 1193 times)

Anybody out there have one? My kids are getting older and need to use my desktop PC more and more for school...thinking about giving them mine, and getting a Macbook for me I've heard great things, but wondering what my RA buddies know...? Never had an Apple computer... -What are the Pro's, Con's, etc...? -What's a good deal? $1,200 is the best I've been able to find... Dave

Benefit is you can run MAC OS X or Windows, but your stuck with a single button clicker for the pointer interface unless you go with a 3rd party solution.

You sure about that...? Mighty Mouse

I'd probably get a Dell 830, if I was getting a laptop.

I would not. Unless you think your time is best spent on the phone for hours dealing with hardware and software malfunction. Some 50% of Dells in my experience have had some sort of substantial pain in the neck problem in the first year. Apples? Not so much. I use PCs and Macs at home and at work, have for years. I am NOT one of these Mac-heads (though I love to pretend to be one). Currently I have a MacBookPro (my second Mac laptop and third Mac) and three Dells. There is NO way I would spend my money today on anything other than a Mac. Why? Well... 1. They are very dependable (recognizing that ALL computers can have troubles) 2. They just work, fully functional right out of the box, with no need to configure, install, format, blah blah blah* 3. I can run Mac and PC thanks to the Intel processor and any number of third party apps (such as Parallels) 4. For MOST of what I do (internet, word processing, powerpoint, photos) the Mac does as well to far better than a PC. Some things like the native email and calendar apps are not great, but you can run Microsoft or other third-party programs for this as well. Or just use gmail. 5. The cost is a touch more, but not substantial and the computer lasts far longer, again, in my experience 6. They just look so much cooler... *2 examples of "it just works": 1) I was recently at a meeting. I opened my Macbook and got right onto the network. Period. All the PC users struggled for most of the day to get on the network, and many never succeeded. 2) I recently moved to a different office. To connect my PC to the printer, I had to go through this clunky Microsoft Wizard on my Dell, find the printer type, then find the printer location, then find the printer all via this stupid program. Then I had to print a test page to see if it was the right printer. It took 4 attempts to get connected to 1 printer. I then opened up my Macbook and typed in the printer location on the network (which the Wizard never let me give) and it found the printer, identifyed the type and printed the test page all in one step. It was so easy, I added a total of three printers at once.

Anybody out there have one?

I have a Macbook pro and a Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5. Before that, I owned a Powerbook pro Pismo, Apple G3 tower (blue and clear plastic), Macintosh Powerpc (desktop box that your monitor sat on top of), Mac Quadra 800 (those were the days), Apple Laser printers ... the list goes on ... all the way back to 1984. I have been good to Apple -- and Apple has been good to me.

Never had an Apple computer... -What are the Pro's, Con's, etc...? -What's a good deal? $1,200 is the best I've been able to find...

PROS - Apple engineers their products so users can intuitively work/play right out of the box. - Setup is painless and you are directed with thoughtful prompts from Apple OS software. - Software is reliable and predictable - Hardware is made really well. Monitors, mice, CPUs, whatever, it's all made to high standards and will last. - Go to an Apple store to analyze the build quality. - I have never required servicing on any of my Apple computers or peripherals. CONS - It'll cost more than PC computers. DEAL - Check all the usual suspects -- online retailers abound. - Check the apple.com store, refurbished section. Over the last 20 years I have purchased monitors, CPUs and gadgets from the refurbished section. Everything worked flawlessly. You get an Apple warranty when you buy this way (in case you ever need it -- like I said I never had problems with anything). Good luck!

Rcently purchased a macbook for family-replaced Dell desktop. Everyone loves. Wife does email and personal finance suff. Kids for school. Me for surfing at night. Big improvement for all.

Did you buy one this weekend? If and when you do, reply back on how you like it!

Went to Best Buy with my wife Sat, and got a tutorial from the Apple Rep there...WOW! Looks like my wife had already been planning on getting me one for Chrsitmas. What a girl! Since I just ordered the Garmin 305, I can wait for the Mac...I think... Question: Should I load the Garmin 305 software on my PC now...or wait for the Mac? Dave

I agree about Leopard. I use motionbased.com for all my Garmin data, so there is no difference between my PC and Mac. All the data goes online.