Hey guys,

So my barely-a-year-old Sony Vaio is going up **** creek without a paddle. It sucks. Vista sucks. I want a Mac. A shiny, pretty, sparkly new Mac. Has to be a laptop.

So a couple of questions to all your Mac boys out there:

To Pro or not to Pro?

Wait on the rumours of new models, or not?

And finally, am I correct in saying you need an external hd to be able to make use of Time Machine in OSX?

Thanks all!

xoxox

go pro

Go pro.

But your best bet is to call a Mac store up and ask them.

How ever Vista can't be that bad, I mean I have XP so I don't know but it surely can not be that bad.

But you have to go with what makes you happy.

Good time to get a MAC since the new OS was released last week. Depending on what you are going to use it for, you might save the money and not get a pro. Might go to an Apple store and tell them what you want to do and let them make a recommendation. Both are great though.

i lov big macs yummmmmmmmm
oops sorry i thought u ment the sandwich

its not just VISTA that sucks.. every windows OS sucks..

they plan it that way so that when they come out with a new version, people will buy it thinking it is better.. then they leave holes in the security of that one and glitches that they will "improve on" in the next version..

i have a mac laptop i love it......going pro is your choice, mine isn't and its still fantastic!

i have a mac book pro, its great, i have not had a problem yet with any aspect of it and i got a free ipod

Macbook Pro is intel based as i am sure you are aware!
Bootcamp Gives you the option to Operate WindowsVista..
If you need to use it for work?
Why slow down a Mac with Windows????
I have Had Many Mac`s and other then Small Problems???
No Complaints!
Wish I could Say that About My Newest Dell!

The iMac I'm using has been the best machine I have ever used. I will be sad when I have to get rid of it.

Here's a site that lists every Mac released http://www.everymac.com/index.html

The last update to the laptop was in June

I have recently purchased a Macbook.

I have had PCs for 25 years and loved every version of Windows (NOT)
[still thinks Win98SE is the best]

My whole family has a Mac now ...

I will still keep my PC for stuff that Mac cant run, but I do like my Mac.

Im waiting to see what happens with this new OS ... one person I have heard from says its the dog's danglies ...

So, I would say, go get a MacBook ... its small and perfectly formed!!!

"small and perfectly formed!!!"

I can't believe no one has asked the most fundamental of questions when someone is choosing a computer!

"What will you be using it for?"


If your not going to be doing movie editing, gaming (I'm being serious) or high end graphics stuff, buy a Macbook, spend the money you've saved on a nice present for yourself!


New Macbooks are rumored soon:
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook

I've been a Mac user for many many years, and they are great computers, you won't be disappointed, and just shout it you need help with it.

Ta,

~C.

P.S. Currently time machine requires an external drive, but it should work with network drives soon.

I compiled the following information from Apple.com. It is basic information to compare each of three models in each class (MacBook and MacBook Pro). Considering the considerable price difference, whether one purchases a MacBook or a MacBook Pro is an important decision.

If you meet one of the following criteria, strongly consider purchasing the MacBook Pro.

1. you're an avid gamer
2. you do a lot of video creation/editing (home movies, etc.)
3. you work in 3D graphics or art
4. you do a lot of presentations (or need to connect to external video devices frequently)
5. you are a professional graphic designer, video producer, etc.
6. you need a large screen to work effectively

If you are a casual computer user (web browsing, e-mail, basic photo management, and word processing / spreadsheet work), however, the less expensive MacBook will likely meet all your needs sufficiently.

One thing I strongly recommend with the less expensive MacBook is to pay the extra $150 to get an additional 1GB of RAM installed, bringing your total to the maximum 2GB. Your computer will run much more smoothly, and you will thank yourself in a couple of years that you didn't cheap out on the memory.

* * *

MacBook vs. MacBook Pro: Specs Overview

Processor (Intel Core 2 Duo)
MB: 2.0GHz / 2.16GHz / 2.16GHz
MBP: 2.2GHz / 2.4Ghz / 2.4GHz

L2 cache
MB: 4MB shared (all models)
MBP: 4MB shared (all models)

System bus
MB: 667MHz (all models)
MBP: 667MHz (all models)

Standard memory
MB: 1GB (all models)
MBP: 2GB (all models)

Maximum memory
MB: 2GB (all models)
MBP: 2GB (all models)

Hard drive
MB: 80GB/120GB/160GB
MBP: 120GB / 160GB / 160GB

Slot-loading optical drive
MB: Combo / SuperDrive / SuperDrive
MBP: SuperDrive / SuperDrive / SuperDrive

Graphics memory
MB: 64MB shared / 64MB shared / 64MB shared
MBP: 128MB dedicated / 256MB dedicated / 256MB dedicated

Graphics card
MB: Intel GMA 950
MBP: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT w/ dual-link DVI

Screen type
MB: Glossy TFT widescreen
MBP: TFT widescreen (glossy optional)

Screen dimensions
MB: 13.3-inch / 13.3-inch / 13.3-inch
MBP: 15.4-inch / 15.4-inch / 17-inch

Resolution
MB: 1280 x 800 / 1280 x 800 / 1280 x 800
MBP: 1440 x 900 / 1440 x 900 / 1680 x 1050

FireWire ports
MB: One FireWire 400 (all models)
MBP: One FireWire 400, One FireWire 800 (all models)

USB ports
MB: Two USB 2.0 / Two USB 2.0 / Two USB 2.0
MBP: Two USB 2.0 / Two USB 2.0 / Three USB 2.0

Audio output
MB: Built-in stereo, minijack (all models)
MBP: Built-in stereo, minijack (all models)

Audio input
MB: Omnidirectional microphone (all models)
MBP: Omnidirectional microphone (all models)

Video output
MB: VGA (requires adapter), Composite and S-video (requires adapter) (all models)
MBP: VGA, DVI, Dual display and video mirroring (adapters included) (all models)

Video input
MB: Built-in iSight camera (all models)
MBP: Built-in iSight camera (all models)

Networking
MB: 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet (all models)
MBP: 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet (all models)

Wireless
MB: AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
MBP: AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

Maximum battery charge life
MB: 6 hours (all models)
MBP: 6 hours / 6 hours / 5.75 hours

Size (H x W x D) and weight
MB: 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches, 5.1 pounds (all models)
MBP: 1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6 inches, 5.4 pounds / 1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6 inches, 5.4 pounds / 1.0 x 15.4 x 10.4 inches, 6.8 pounds

Casing:
MB: white / white / black plastic
MBP: brushed metal aluminum (all models)

Software
MB: Mac OS X v10.5, iLife, Front Row (I assume Photo Booth, too, but Apple doesn't specify)
MBP: Mac OS X v10.5, iLife, Photo Booth, Front Row

Base price
MB: $1,099 / $1,299 / $1,499
MBP: $1,999 / $2,499 / $2,799

Price (adjusted for 2GB of RAM)
MB: $1,249 / $1,449 / $1,649
MBP: $1,999 / $2,499 / $2,799

Thank you to everyone, you've all been most helpful!

resserts in particular - I am so appreciative of your post - that makes things a million times easier. I'm suspecting I only need the Macbook (my primary use is word processing and surfing, although I seem to spend around 10+ hours a day on the computer, if that should make any difference). I do a fair bit of graphics-based design, just for fun, but it's not 3d. I rarely play games on my laptop.


I suppose my main reasons for considering a pro are these:

1)The casing seems as if it would wear better.
2)I always seem to have issues with speed with my laptops, within about a year. I always put this down to the zillion windows I have open at once, but perhaps it's simply because it IS Windows, and even the OS takes up a load of space. So I figured the more speed to begin with, the better it would wear over the years.
3) I like the backlight. Christ, I'm such a girl.

Am I just being ridiculous? Will the difference between 2.16 GHZ and 2.4 be really noticeable?

And is Applecare really worth while?

The Macbook casing wears just fine.

Don't pay apples prices for extra RAM, its easy to install and can save you some pennies.

I've bought AppleCare on all my Macs, and have been grateful, for it on more than one occasion.

If your word processing, and surfing, you won't notice the difference between 2.16 and 2.4.

I think Macbooks look just a nice as a Macbook Pro, personally I love the Macbook keyboard.

Ta,

~C

Are you anywhere near an Apple store?

Why would anyone buy a mac? way over priced, software sucks if you can even find any thats useful...I use to work at computer repair shop far more macs than pc's at any given time. jmo..

I have a friend who works for the Mac House in Amsterdam and he says that the majority of problems with people using Macs is their inability to realise that its not a pc.

Im lucky I have two laptops and I use the Macbook for this kinda stuff and transportability and the pc for all the "other" stuff I like to do.

Im aghast as to how much the Macs cost in the US!!!

as the $/£ exchange rate is in our favour, I should have flown to the US and bought a Mac from there!!

Nutz!!!

even including the return airfare, I would have saved a bloody fortune!!!!

@pjmaxx
Macs are actually cheaper than PCs with a similar spec. The software kicks the ass of any windows software...

Find me a windows program you can't get and equivalent for Mac! Chances are the Mac equivalent is superior.

Failing that, you can install Fink and run most any Linux software too, or Parallels and run any Windows software.

As for the repair side of things, surely the repairs should be done by authorized apple shops?

Several of my clients are Apple distributors and also handle repairs and warranty claims, and I can tell you on average, a PC would need to be 'seen to' every six months. A Mac would need to be 'seen to' every three years!

This was taken from 250 PCs, and 250 Macs, and quite a few of both were installed in schools...

So... ner ner


Oh and the new Macbooks were silently rolled out today:
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/11/01/apple-updates-macbooks-to-santa-rosa-gma-x3100/

Be careful, rather annoyingly Leopard is currently shipping with its firewall disabled?!?! Not a wise move from Apple... At least when you enable it, it works, unlike the Windows one.

Ta,

~C