The time has come...

2158 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by UnleashedLive, Jul 4, 2007

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2007

I just figured out that my Acer laptop is not what I want to take with me to school for 3 years. The battery life is crap and they want $150 for a new battery that will only last 1.5 hours. I am finally going to sell this mistake of a computer. I am going to buy a Mac laptop! The MBP is looking very realistic for me. Its a 15.4 inch Widescreen like I have now on my acer. My dad says "buy the strongest/best computer, no matter what it costs". I'm looking at the 2.2GHz 15.4" MBP with 2GB RAM, and an upgraded 160GB harddrive. The specs seem good but my only concern are my programs which I "bought" are Windows based. Can I obtain Office for Mac easily? How does the Bootcamp thing work exactly? Will it be easy for a guy used to PCs to get used to a Mac? They aren't hard to use, I just need to learn the keystrokes for copy/paste/cut/screenshot/etc.

I feel so alive!!!! and excited!!!

Mac, Mac, Mac!

Questions:

1. How does the bootcamp work? Do I need to buy a copy of XP or will my XP home upgrade CD work to install?

2. Glossy or Matte?

3. Do I buy it online or go to the Apple Store? I want a 160GB HD, not the 120GB that it comes with. I also am going to be going into College, so I can get the discount. I dont care so much about the Nano, since I have a 30GB video already.

4. My iPod is formatted for Windows, is it possible to rip the music off it and put it onto the mac for when I go away?

5. Oh god, I'm excited

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

eMacMan

· #2 · Jun 20, 2007

Office for Mac is availabloe at a reasonable cost to students. Those who have used both tend to prefer the Mac version. Neo-Office is available free from sourceforge.net

NeoOffice is great if all you want to do is read excel or word files. Also OK for creating modest sized documents. Can really get bogged down on the bigger stuff, especially if you do not trim photos down before adding them to a document.

audiodan

· #3 · Jun 20, 2007

OK,

1. You will need a full copy of Windows XP or Vista. It installs off the disk, not upgrades.

2. Glossy for appeal, Matte for more precise colours.

3. Hard drives are cheaper else where. Take the nano and sell it BNIB.

4. yamipod.com :: INDEX :: will work.

5. Good luck!

Anymore more questions? Just ask.

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CubaMark

· #4 · Jun 20, 2007

You can custom-build your MacBook via the Apple Education Store online - the link to Education is in the right-hand column, top. You'll need to have your Student ID number to order.

M

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 20, 2007

I can custom build it online yes, but if I want to go to teh Apple Store to buy it how does that work? Can they customize it in store?

Starkicker

· #6 · Jun 20, 2007

Don't mean to thread crap, but what other software is included with a Mac purchase other than the stuff listed on the Apple.ca website? Does it come with a word processor or spreadsheet generator? I know you can purchase iWorks or Apple Works, but is there something that it ships with that you can use in the interim?

harzack86

· #7 · Jun 20, 2007

Starkicker said:
Don't mean to thread crap, but what other software is included with a Mac purchase other than the stuff listed on the Apple.ca website? Does it come with a word processor or spreadsheet generator? I know you can purchase iWorks or Apple Works, but is there something that it ships with that you can use in the interim?

Not out of the box. As mentioned bellow, you can install the free OpenOffice, or even use google docs and spreadsheets on line

CubaMark

· #8 · Jun 20, 2007

Well..... it does come with TextEdit, which will read and write to Microsoft Word .doc format, though in a limited way.

I'll take this opportunity to boost NeoOffice again, particularly as Patch 6, released a few days ago, has greatly improved document speed, scrolling, etc. The big advantage to NeoOffice over OpenOffice is that the latter requires you to install and run the X11 Windowing system off your original install DVD, while NeoOffice is Intel- and PPC- native.

Starkicker

· #9 · Jun 20, 2007

I was thinking of getting iWork or Apple Works. I predominantly just need a word processor, rarely a spreadsheet generator and something to make presentations/slides on.

Since I'm buying a MacBook, I thought I might as well get an office suite - would you recommend against buying one and using a free alternative? i.e. are iWork/Apple Works THAT good?

CubaMark

· #10 · Jun 20, 2007

iWork has practically nothing to do with AppleWorks, FYI.

Pages is an excellent program, with more power than many of us realize, since it offers a template-based easy document production scenario.

I admit to rarely using it - but Keynote, there's another story! Check this recent thread for a few juicy tidbits.

M

jamesB

· #11 · Jun 20, 2007 (Edited)

audiodan said:
OK,

1. You will need a full copy of Windows XP or Vista. It installs off the disk, not upgrades.

Windows XP can be installed in Boot Camp with an XP upgrade, if...
you have an external usb or fw optical drive online with an upgradeable copy of windows in it.
The bootcamp install will find this copy, verify it and carry on with the install.
don't believe me?
check this link...
macosxhints.com - Use a Windows Upgrade disc for Boot Camp installs

jb.

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 21, 2007

I am really starting to wonder if I should buy a MBP. I do not do any video or highly intense graffic work. I am wondering if a maxed out MacBook 13" would work. Its cheaper and I plan to use an external display with either machine...

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 29, 2007

I ordered the MBP today. Its the stock 2.2Ghz model. How long does it take to ship? I was told they ship from Markham, which is close to me.

Theseus

· #14 · Jun 29, 2007

Usually they ship from China (via Alaska) if new, and California if refurbished.

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 30, 2007

Theseus said:
Usually they ship from China (via Alaska) if new, and California if refurbished.

I called Apple @ yorkdale and they said they have none of the model I want but I can order it online and it ships from Markham. I said I always thought them come from Shanghai but he said only if they are custom built. This one is stock. If it actually ships from Markham I don't expect more than 2-3 days. Since I ordered in late afternoon Friday it won't get moving until Tuesday. The Nano says its ready to ship (estimated to ship on July 2). The printer should ship on July 2nd but it isn't "ready" yet and the MBP is expected to ship on the 9th of July.

I want my MBP so I can play with it before school, get it "just the way I likes it" and get the software I like installed.

JAGflyer

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 4, 2007

I ordered my MBP with education discount, free 4GB nano and $29 printer (after rebate). The printer and nano arrived but the MBP isn't even shipped.

garf1108

· #17 · Jul 4, 2007

Have patience, my friend

UnleashedLive

· #18 · Jul 4, 2007

JAGflyer said:
I ordered my MBP with education discount, free 4GB nano and $29 printer (after rebate). The printer and nano arrived but the MBP isn't even shipped.

That's like a kick in the balls...ouch. Don't worry it'll come.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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