Sorry guys - another Mac query...
Discussion
After being a lifelong PC user (or 'numpty' as my Mac and Linux using mates phrase it 
) my trusty Dell desktop is on its last legs. I havent been using it as much recently as it is tied to the desk, but have been using my work laptop to put all my bits n bobs on, which I shouldnt really.
So, ideal opportunity to splurge on some new laptop gear!
I am sick of Windows various and well known problems and am very very seriously considering getting a Mac, specifically a MacBook Core Duo (the recently discontinued ones that are going cheaper on the Apple refurb store - £530 or so for the base model with 1.83ghz core Duo, 512mb RAM, 60GB HD etc etc - bog standard basically.
All I would be using it for really is web, iTunes, photos + PS and some basic word processing, spreadsheets etc.
Seems like a fairly good price for the spec, although I am anticipating putting more RAM in. Is there anything about the MacBooks I should know coming from PCs before I buy one?
I am assuming external hard drives are easy to sort on Macs, and there are Mac equivilents for MSN messenger, ICQ, etc
Cheers!
) my trusty Dell desktop is on its last legs. I havent been using it as much recently as it is tied to the desk, but have been using my work laptop to put all my bits n bobs on, which I shouldnt really. So, ideal opportunity to splurge on some new laptop gear!
I am sick of Windows various and well known problems and am very very seriously considering getting a Mac, specifically a MacBook Core Duo (the recently discontinued ones that are going cheaper on the Apple refurb store - £530 or so for the base model with 1.83ghz core Duo, 512mb RAM, 60GB HD etc etc - bog standard basically.
All I would be using it for really is web, iTunes, photos + PS and some basic word processing, spreadsheets etc.
Seems like a fairly good price for the spec, although I am anticipating putting more RAM in. Is there anything about the MacBooks I should know coming from PCs before I buy one?
I am assuming external hard drives are easy to sort on Macs, and there are Mac equivilents for MSN messenger, ICQ, etc
Cheers!
www.adiumx.com - lovely piece of kit which I use instead of MSN
I've been posting positive reports of my Powerbook for the last 4 years on here. I've STILL got it. It's STILL going strong and all I've done is upgraded to a gig of ram. It's lightning fast and I use it daily. I've dropped it and it still works.
I've probably jinxed myself now, but it really is good. I would have had 2 or 3 Dells in that time so in the long run they're much cheaper too
I've been posting positive reports of my Powerbook for the last 4 years on here. I've STILL got it. It's STILL going strong and all I've done is upgraded to a gig of ram. It's lightning fast and I use it daily. I've dropped it and it still works.
I've probably jinxed myself now, but it really is good. I would have had 2 or 3 Dells in that time so in the long run they're much cheaper too
Not much more to add.
Nothing really you need to know, you can use PC formatted external drives, or Mac format them.
You can get ICQ for Mac, Messenger isn't as advanced though.
One idea might be to install Windows, giving you the option to boot into it. Or use parallels to run Windows applications within OS X.
Nothing really you need to know, you can use PC formatted external drives, or Mac format them.
You can get ICQ for Mac, Messenger isn't as advanced though.
One idea might be to install Windows, giving you the option to boot into it. Or use parallels to run Windows applications within OS X.
IT10 said:
Seems like a fairly good price for the spec, although I am anticipating putting more RAM in. Is there anything about the MacBooks I should know coming from PCs before I buy one?
I am assuming external hard drives are easy to sort on Macs, and there are Mac equivilents for MSN messenger, ICQ, etc
Cheers!
I am assuming external hard drives are easy to sort on Macs, and there are Mac equivilents for MSN messenger, ICQ, etc
Cheers!
External drives won't be a problem. Existing ones with NTFS formatted partitions might be 'interesting' (read only) but not overly challenging (basically back em up to the work laptop, wipe them and format on the mac, restore over network). Ones brought after you get the Mac aren't an issue either.
More RAM = better regardless of what OS you are going to run. Excluding DOS, before someone says it
MSN Live Messenger is available for OS X, dunno about ICQ, AOL, et al. However you will probably find something like gAIM will be available and will sign in to multiple services at once (like Trillian or Miranda).
catherineJ said:
4 years is good going Rico.
Yep. I'm quite impressed. Every year I expect to have to replace it and can't see any reason to. The only issue has been the keyboard, as the 'e' no longer works. So I bought an external keyboard which I use and its actually nicer to type on.
Another plus is Apple's own software. iTunes for a start works soooo much better than the PC version. Mail is a great email package, iPhoto is good, iMovie is excellent and so easy to use. I prefer using Word, Excel etc on the Mac as its a cooler looking system. Only negative is if you have to use programs that are PC only, but even then you can now run Windows so that excuse is irrelevent.
They do get hot though... I can't use my Powerbook on my lap.
I remember when I bought this, I posted a similar question and 'Bacardi' in particular was hugely helpful in convincing me to take the risk.
rico said:
catherineJ said:
4 years is good going Rico.
Yep. I'm quite impressed. Every year I expect to have to replace it and can't see any reason to. The only issue has been the keyboard, as the 'e' no longer works. So I bought an external keyboard which I use and its actually nicer to type on.
Another plus is Apple's own software. iTunes for a start works soooo much better than the PC version. Mail is a great email package, iPhoto is good, iMovie is excellent and so easy to use. I prefer using Word, Excel etc on the Mac as its a cooler looking system. Only negative is if you have to use programs that are PC only, but even then you can now run Windows so that excuse is irrelevent.
They do get hot though... I can't use my Powerbook on my lap.
I remember when I bought this, I posted a similar question and 'Bacardi' in particular was hugely helpful in convincing me to take the risk.
Our's got very hot until it had the battery replaced under warranty. It was at the time of the scare with pc laptop batteries exploding into flames.
I am currently using an Ibook G4 which was bought to accompany me on site visits and was put into service when laptop number 3 gave up the ghost, that machine is practically cold compared to the powerbook.
iBooks generally feel cooler as they've got a polycarbonate case with a heat shield inside. They're built around a frame.
Whereas the PowerBook is a Aluminium case with the components laid on them. There's a fairly large heat sink, but inevitably some heat will sink through to the case.
There's some good widgets such as iStat Nano that'll display the temps. You could always post them on here if you're concerned. You could also run the Apple Hardware Test on the supplied DVD, this tests the fans and temp sensors.
Whereas the PowerBook is a Aluminium case with the components laid on them. There's a fairly large heat sink, but inevitably some heat will sink through to the case.
There's some good widgets such as iStat Nano that'll display the temps. You could always post them on here if you're concerned. You could also run the Apple Hardware Test on the supplied DVD, this tests the fans and temp sensors.
jamieboy said:
magic torch said:
My desktop Mac is 6 years old, used daily, still doesn't need replacing.
Says something.
Is there any data yet on how well the Intel Macs are lasting, or is it still too early to say? Says something.
The only thing that doesn't seem to be suffering is the Mac Mini.
Portables seem to taking the worse of it, as they've got a restrictive work space.
Some of Apple's firmware updates are a cop-out IMO, ie just turning the fan on permanently to resolve heat issues.
As you've said it's still early. The manufacturing problems have at least been resolved. I'll probably be getting a MacBook Pro of the refurb store this month.
rico said:
I remember when I bought this, I posted a similar question and 'Bacardi' in particular was hugely helpful in convincing me to take the risk.
Hey Andy, happy new year, hope you're well. Glad you're still enjoying the mac experience!
My old 12" 1 GHz 867 MHz powerbook, which I bought before talking you into the 'darkside', is still going strong after a very hard life. Looks a bit scruffy now though. I did replace it for work with a 17" macbook pro last year but the 12" is great for travel. I currently have 3 desktop macs going back to a positively ancient 9600 (on permanent loan to a mate), and 3 laptops, the oldest being a black G3 Lombard. All have been given a thrashing in a professional photography environment, not so much PS but shooting tethered to them all day long, day after day (plus watching movies on them and music in the evenings) and all have given me little trouble (apart from one HD) and all are still going strong.
My 12" aluminium doe's get pretty hot, the 17" less so. To early to have an opinion on 17" reliability but so far, my one seems rock solid ... he says reaching for rabbits foot
. Lot of mac switchers on these boards these days, welcome aboard... not many going the other way I notice
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