Should I get a macbook?

[Bateluer]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a Mac Mini. Since those have been out for a while, has their QC ironed out of the bugs and issues.

 

[SampSon]

If you think you need a laptop, and you don't already know what you need to run, then you don't need a laptop.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

I just want to use it for light surfing and bringing it to class. Using the webcam would be nice also. No gaming because I have my desktop for that.

 

[Tu13erhead]

.

 

[akodi]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: akodi
the only complaint I have about the macbook is the volume, it doesn't seem to be as loud as my previous powerbook.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=579

macbook = ipod

 

[Triforceofcourage]

bump

 

[Xenon14]

I recently got a new a Macbook/white-the cheaper version.

Positives:
-Widescreen (good for movies and allows for better utilization of screen realestate with other programs).
-Screen Quality - very bright; quality rivals my desktop's Dell Ultrasharp LCD.
-Duo CPU (multitasking performance is great, decodes HD videos like a charm - even most 1080p's without hiccupping).
-OSX/Widgets (the amount of things I can have running via the widgets makes my Windows XP desktop downright useless. There's pretty much a widget for anything you can possibly want. Also, OSX has a much better use of file management; it's easier to sort everything and keep your computer from getting cluttered. And it's visually nicer than XP).
-Boot Camp
-Airport (wireless capabilities) are very good.
-Comes with a wide variety of software, that is fun to use or just explore, and can be very useful.
-Battery - Very respectable battery life, even when using wireless, but only on dimmer screen settings (which are still bright enough in most uses)
-Builtin Camera - Great camera, and great software for it.
-Remote - Very useful for media playback. Can be ported to control other software with additional downloads; can control other apps, power point slides for instance... very cool.
-Looks cool

Negatives:

-512mb ram not nearly enough (that's how much mine came with. I definately need to upgrade it, less than 1gb cripples performance greatly).
-Poor sound volume when using built-in speakers.
-Poor heat distribution, using laptop on your lap is not bearable, especially if your doing a CPU intensive task, the bottom left side gets way too hot.
-Noticeably heavier when compared to a similarly sized Lenovo
-Screen can't be tilted back as far as pretty much any PC laptop I've used.

Conclusion: From the usage aspect; the mac is almost flawless. Even when I'm home, I use it 90% of the time... and I have a pretty new overclocked opteron desktop. My main urks are the generally low volume sound & poor heat distribution. Overall, I'm very satisfied.

 

[thescreensavers]

only if you want to see a gay pin wheel half the time and if you want to kook breakfast on it

 

[NaOH]

NO

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: Xenon14
I recently got a new a Macbook/white-the cheaper version.

Positives:
-Widescreen (good for movies and allows for better utilization of screen realestate with other programs).
-Screen Quality - very bright; quality rivals my desktop's Dell Ultrasharp LCD.
-Duo CPU (multitasking performance is great, decodes HD videos like a charm - even most 1080p's without hiccupping).
-OSX/Widgets (the amount of things I can have running via the widgets makes my Windows XP desktop downright useless. There's pretty much a widget for anything you can possibly want. Also, OSX has a much better use of file management; it's easier to sort everything and keep your computer from getting cluttered. And it's visually nicer than XP).
-Boot Camp
-Airport (wireless capabilities) are very good.
-Comes with a wide variety of software, that is fun to use or just explore, and can be very useful.
-Battery - Very respectable battery life, even when using wireless, but only on dimmer screen settings (which are still bright enough in most uses)
-Builtin Camera - Great camera, and great software for it.
-Remote - Very useful for media playback. Can be ported to control other software with additional downloads; can control other apps, power point slides for instance... very cool.
-Looks cool

Negatives:

-512mb ram not nearly enough (that's how much mine came with. I definately need to upgrade it, less than 1gb cripples performance greatly).
-Poor sound volume when using built-in speakers.
-Poor heat distribution, using laptop on your lap is not bearable, especially if your doing a CPU intensive task, the bottom left side gets way too hot.
-Noticeably heavier when compared to a similarly sized Lenovo
-Screen can't be tilted back as far as pretty much any PC laptop I've used.

Conclusion: From the usage aspect; the mac is almost flawless. Even when I'm home, I use it 90% of the time... and I have a pretty new overclocked opteron desktop. My main urks are the generally low volume sound & poor heat distribution. Overall, I'm very satisfied.

I've had my macbook for a month now and my thoughts mirror yours EXACTLY, to the dot. It runs a tad bit hot, and the sound isn't too good (average at best). BUT again, this is a laptop, what can I ask for. The build is flawless, and for what it is, it's great. And relatively cheap at that (factor in Edu + free Ipod + free Canon iP4200). And I like the idea of having a store to go bitch at for problems.

If you get one now, minus the heat issues (which is not that bad, comparatively to other core duo using companies), everything else is pretty much fixed. Staining was quietly taken care of, and so was mooing, and whatever else have you. Personally, I haven't seen any problems myself, and even if I do, I'm confident about my warranty. Apple stores are almost everywhere.

I'm planning to get a nice Klipsch iFi to compliment the poor sound. I've already newegged myself 2 gigs of corsair on this baby, and am using a nice bt mouse. It's truely a pleasure to look at, and to use. OS X is whatever, but it works.

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
only if you want to see a gay pin wheel half the time and if you want to kook breakfast on it

You've never used one, have you? I've had mine for three weeks and it's the fastest laptop I've ever used. It runs warmer than my 700m did, but nowhere near hot enough to cause problems.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

I bought one and it was complete crap, it was so crappy that I returned it and was happy to eat the 100 dollar restocking fee so I would never have to see that piece of crap again.

I am the OP so I answered my own question lol

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: akodi
I guess if you're a student you get a free ipod nano or 180 toward a different kind of ipod.

Your comparison of a T42 vs a macbook seems off, I don't think they sell the t42 anymore and if you look at the t43 model it's considerably more expensive even at a student discount. Dollar for dollar I think the macbook is a pretty good deal.

Lenova is still riding the IBM Quality wave. To buy a lenova is to take a gamble at this point - they may not have the same longevity the IBMs did.

I thought Lenova had been building IBM laptops for a while now and all that happened was they officially took over? Or am I way off base?

I believe you're right, but the company is Lenovo.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: beer

Originally posted by: akodi
I guess if you're a student you get a free ipod nano or 180 toward a different kind of ipod.

Your comparison of a T42 vs a macbook seems off, I don't think they sell the t42 anymore and if you look at the t43 model it's considerably more expensive even at a student discount. Dollar for dollar I think the macbook is a pretty good deal.

Lenova is still riding the IBM Quality wave. To buy a lenova is to take a gamble at this point - they may not have the same longevity the IBMs did.

a) it's Lenovo
b) they made the laptops in the first place

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
I bought one and it was complete crap, it was so crappy that I returned it and was happy to eat the 100 dollar restocking fee so I would never have to see that piece of crap again.

I am the OP so I answered my own question lol

Care to elaborate? Why was it crap?

 

[Triforceofcourage]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
I bought one and it was complete crap, it was so crappy that I returned it and was happy to eat the 100 dollar restocking fee so I would never have to see that piece of crap again.

I am the OP so I answered my own question lol

Care to elaborate? Why was it crap?

First of all, it ran really hot. The last draw was that I couldn't get it to connect to my wireless router. Keep in mind I have a desktop, Nintendo DS, PDA, windows laptop all hooked up with no problems. I would never buy another mac again.

 

[aphex]

Well, i've owned an IBM T41 for over 2 years now. Those comments above are correct, Lenovo has been making the laptops for IBM for quite a few years now, in fact the entire T-series going back to T40 has been made by Lenovo). Not sure about the T20's, i think those may have been made by IBM..

Nevertheless, the point of my post, was that the IBM/Lenovo keyboard is phenominal, and one main reason why i would never switch to most other brands; HOWEVER, after trying out a macbook keyboard in store, i can say without a doubt that i was impressed, very close to the sturdy feel i get on my thinkpad.

 

[postmortemIA]

Macbook price is ok, but macbook pro is wayyy overpriced.

 

[moddedcompsdotcom]

actually the macbook pro is not over priced.... try to find a laptop with the same specs as the macbook pro and there are few that are close to it. Not only does the macbook pro have good specs but they are designed very nicely. They are super light and look very stylish. But the best part about it, is you can run osx on it. If i was in the market for a new laptop the macbook pro is what i would buy

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: moddedcompsdotcom
actually the macbook pro is not over priced.... try to find a laptop with the same specs as the macbook pro and there are few that are close to it. Not only does the macbook pro have good specs but they are designed very nicely. They are super light and look very stylish. But the best part about it, is you can run osx on it. If i was in the market for a new laptop the macbook pro is what i would buy

The Asus W3J+ would pwn the macbook pro, and it's a smaller form factor. And it's a couple of hundred bucks cheaper on the same spec minus screen size.

 

[Parasitic]

IBM's quality is top notch. I bought a x21 from FS/T and even though it doesn't have the processing power or the graphics of my other laptop, its size and build are simply excellent.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
I bought one and it was complete crap, it was so crappy that I returned it and was happy to eat the 100 dollar restocking fee so I would never have to see that piece of crap again.

I am the OP so I answered my own question lol

Care to elaborate? Why was it crap?

First of all, it ran really hot. The last draw was that I couldn't get it to connect to my wireless router. Keep in mind I have a desktop, Nintendo DS, PDA, windows laptop all hooked up with no problems. I would never buy another mac again.

Sounds like a user error.

 

[LMR]

Edit: Please ignore

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: mwtgg

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
I bought one and it was complete crap, it was so crappy that I returned it and was happy to eat the 100 dollar restocking fee so I would never have to see that piece of crap again.

I am the OP so I answered my own question lol

Care to elaborate? Why was it crap?

First of all, it ran really hot. The last draw was that I couldn't get it to connect to my wireless router. Keep in mind I have a desktop, Nintendo DS, PDA, windows laptop all hooked up with no problems. I would never buy another mac again.

Sounds like a user error.

Yeah, I just got a Macbook last night. Took me all of 1 1/2 minutes from first boot to have my account set up and using my WPA encrypted G network. Does sound a bit like user error, altough I have no idea how use mess up that process.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
only if you want to see a gay pin wheel half the time and if you want to kook breakfast on it

You've never used one, have you? I've had mine for three weeks and it's the fastest laptop I've ever used. It runs warmer than my 700m did, but nowhere near hot enough to cause problems.

Am I the only one who finds it disturbing that people will sacrifice operating temperatures for looks? If the laptop runs hot, it just isn't fscking worth it, it probably means it's going to consume more power than it should as well. My IBM laptop or any IBM laptop infact has never had heat issues AT ALL.