I want a mac so some dumb questions

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by lloydwatkin

Surely not! Nothing ever goes wrong with a mac

Correct.

But the windows emulator, that you need to run any real world software, blows up more than W95 sp1.

[CatB]

I have had a 12" iBook for 3 years and have just bought myself a shiny new MacBook. To be honest I wouldn't go up to the far more expensive MacBook Pro just to get a larger screen unless you are going to work on it away from home very extensively. Instead I would (indeed did) spend a fraction on the money on an external monitor and keyboard. Hey presto! Portable laptop that fits in a rucksack and doesn't weigh a ton or advertise that you are carrying an expensive piece of kit and home computing on a nice big 19" screen and comfy keyboard. If you actually need the additional specs of a MacBook Pro to run demanding software then that's a different issue. In my opinion, the black MacBook is a bit of a swiz, you don't get much more for your money than with a white one.
I went for the white MacBook with the higher specs, mainly because I wanted a DVD writer to make nice backups that I can stash well away from the actual laptop and because it's a bit faster. I also added extra RAM to future proof it a bit.
I used to be able to run Word, Excel, iTunes, iPhoto, Firefox, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and a pdf viewer at the same time without the iBook falling over so I'm hoping the MacBook will be the same. I have to admit that Leopard is definitely still a bit unstable at the moment, it has crashed as many times in trying to install things and move data from the iBook as the iBook did in the 3 years I owned it (still only 3 but still!). Hopefully though, that will be sorted in the next few software updates.
Oh, and I have just passed on my old iBook to my sister and written her a PC users guide to getting started with a Mac - PM me if you want a copy and I'll e-mail it to you :-)

[troc]

We have been using macs almost exclusively for 10 years now and would never look back (I used to run a PC for gaming but don't need to anymore).

Got a MacBook for travel, wife uses an iBook for her studies and I just spent far too much money on a Mac Pro with 24" screen (which I really don't need but is just so terribly "oooooooooh").

The Intel macs will happily run Windows XP or vista as well - either by dual booting (decide when you switch on which you want) or as a separate application within OS X (handy for using both at once). I use the latter, an application called Parallels, as there is no mac software for my gps receiver or dive computer available. As the hardware is all windows-compatible, it all runs fast and without crashing (well the windows bit crashes as often as windows does normally )

All normal USB stuff will plug in and work (usually without drivers), most cameras are instantly recognized, the included iPhoto and related apps are perfectly adequate...

etc etc

Anyway, ask away if you need hints

[Jeremy H]

Troc's and WannabeMermaids advice is good - I think the MacBook would be fine for you - the MacBook Pro's are super machines but in my opinion don't represent the value for money that the MacBook's do for normal usage. (If you're intending to run After Effects or a lot of big Photoshop files then that's a different story.)

Two other tips - always max out the ram, but don't buy the ram from Apple get a third party to install it - it's cheaper.

Also the following site is kind of fun - http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
It's all based on rumour but they can save you buying yestaerday's machine today!

Hope that helps...

[Rob Dobson]

MACs are great but I am still a little concerned about Leopard - I'm going to give it 6 months to a year before I go near OS 10.5...

For web and office type apps an ibook is perfect, if you are going to be doing video editing or intensive graphics stuff then go for a MacBookPro. The 17" is too big to cart around IMO so if you're going to travel with it stick with the 15".

If you're not going to travel then the new iMac range looks beautiful.

As others have said max out the disk, get an external drive and don't skimp on the RAM.

NeoOffice is free and will open and manipulate MS Office documents. Bootcamp allows you to run Windows natively should you be that way inclined.

[CatB]

Hmm, yes. I have to say I'd be tempted to either get one now and hope you get Leopard as a DVD rather than pre-installed or wait for a month. I'm very disappointed with 10.5, keyboard is currently working intermittently and it doesn't always seem to sleep when I close it which is a fire hazard as well as a nuisance.
I have been a vocal supporter of Apple and would still recommend the MacBook but I was too hasty in installing the new OS.

[tom]

Originally Posted by WannabeMermaid

Hmm, yes. I have to say I'd be tempted to either get one now and hope you get Leopard as a DVD rather than pre-installed or wait for a month. I'm very disappointed with 10.5, keyboard is currently working intermittently and it doesn't always seem to sleep when I close it which is a fire hazard as well as a nuisance.
I have been a vocal supporter of Apple and would still recommend the MacBook but I was too hasty in installing the new OS.

My experience of Leopard is completely the opposite: I think it's great, and it's delivered major performance improvements on my old G4 iBook.

The only issue I've had is a problem with the search function in ICal, which was easily sorted.

[CatB]

Originally Posted by tom

My experience of Leopard is completely the opposite: I think it's great, and it's delivered major performance improvements on my old G4 iBook.

The only issue I've had is a problem with the search function in ICal, which was easily sorted.

Ah well, I'm glad it's working for you - thanks for putting a view to balance my comments . I have to admit that 10.5 does look lovely and seems to have some nice new functions, I'm not planning to go back to Tiger if I can avoid it, just hoping that Apple release some fixes soon.

It's possible I have hardware issues since my MacBook is new but the Apple help discussions seem to suggest other people have the same problems. Of course the small minority who have an issue will always be the ones being vocal about it!

Anyway, I shall stop hijacking this thread with my moaning, sorry

[Sparky750]

Thanks for all the tips and keep it coming. I was going to upgrade the black mac ram anyway which works out about 300 quid cheaper than a similar pro but it's the screen i use a laptop exclusively hate being locked in my office doing work on a desktop much prefer to sit on the couch at least then i'm actually in the room with GF so she sees that as me spending time with her and not working again i know i know womens logic. Hence looking at the pro for the 15inch screen which is what my current windows machine has would i miss 2inches

[Sparky750]

Come on guys i'm sure there a couple of mac experts on here who can give more advice for some reason i'm really nervous about making a mistake with a mac and regretting not getting the pro or feeling that i would have been very happy with the macbook