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Switching to the Mac/MacBook
#214632 07/08/08 05:15 PM
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medic8r Offline OP
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The light bulb in the post title signifies my good idea, I hope.

And, yes, the TV ads are hilarious.

So here's the deal. My wife surprised me the other day with a request for a MacBook and a home wireless network. Currently we share a Dell 4600 desktop with dial-up internet. Regarding the availability of broadband, I'm hoping that DSL had made it out to my rural area. If not, we're looking at satellite, which is expensive and not that fast, apparently. But that's another topic.

The main reason for this post (other than hoping for some cool points from my Mac-using friends) is to ask for advice as I purchase the MacBook. I anticipate that we will share this computer for the usual purposes: of web browsing, minor word processing, CD and DVD burning - photo CDs, DVDs of our camcorder tapes, music CDs, etc. Later we might get a second MacBook, maybe an Air, which would be cool to take on business trips.

Questions:

1) Any advantage of buying at an Apple retail store vs Best Buy vs Apple.com? The nearest Apple retail store is 60 miles away. Worst Buy is 10 miles.

2) How do you guys like iLife? I imagine it will suffice for a n00b like me, but should I consider pre-installing any of the fancier software they offer for video editing?

Any and all advice is appreciated.


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
medic8r #214633 07/08/08 05:21 PM
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If you buy through Apple.com you can customize your computer with extra memory, RAM, rocket launchers, and stuff. I don't know if Best Buy does that or not.

I bought my first Mac laptop at CompUSA, and then my Mac Mini through Apple.com. I was worried about shipping damage and rough handling, but it made it through okay.

I've never used iLife.

Will this be your first Mac?

Last edited by St_PatGuy; 07/08/08 05:26 PM.

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"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
St_PatGuy #214635 07/08/08 05:29 PM
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I would use the Apple online store, although if you're somewhat tech savvy, don't buy RAM from them. You'll probably want to up the hard drive size from the default, with all that stuff.

As far as the iLife stuff goes, it's all pretty good from what I hear. I only use iPhoto and iTunes, but those work well. It depends on how heavy a video editing load you're going for. I'd say give iMovie a shot for now; if it's not enough, get Final Cut Express later.


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Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
St_PatGuy #214638 07/08/08 05:34 PM
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medic8r Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: St_PatGuy
Will this be your first Mac?

Nah, back in the day I used Macs all the time. From 1986-1990 as an undergrad, they're all I wrote my papers on. Behold the behemoth Mac Plus:



Processor: Motorola 68000 processor running at 8 MHz
Memory: 1 MB of RAM, 128k ROM
Drives: a Sony 800k 3.5" drive, 20 MB hard drive
Display: built-in 9-inch diagonal, 512 by 342-pixel monochrome bitmapped display.

All this for $2599! In 1986 dollars, no less!


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
Ken.C #214639 07/08/08 05:35 PM
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iPhoto and iTunes have been great, so far. Is iMovie part of the standard software package? I've never had a call to use it and can't remember if I've seen the icon for it.


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"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
medic8r #214640 07/08/08 05:36 PM
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 Originally Posted By: medic8r
 Originally Posted By: St_PatGuy
Will this be your first Mac?

Nah, back in the day I used Macs all the time. From 1986-1990 as an undergrad, they're all I wrote my papers on. Behold the behemoth Mac Plus:



Processor: Motorola 68000 processor running at 8 MHz
Memory: 1 MB of RAM, 128k ROM
Drives: a Sony 800k 3.5" drive, 20 MB hard drive
Display: built-in 9-inch diagonal, 512 by 342-pixel monochrome bitmapped display.

All this for $2599! In 1986 dollars, no less!


That takes me back to my Jr. High computer science course. All the cool kids worked on the Commodores. A lot of good that knowledge is doing for me now. . .

I should have thrown my lot in with the Apple geeks.


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"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
St_PatGuy #214642 07/08/08 05:40 PM
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The Commode-ore? How about the Radio Shack Trash-80?

Back in high school all the computer nerds were on the Apple IIe. We - uh, I mean they - played the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Santa Paravia. We also talked to DR. ELIZA.


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
medic8r #214645 07/08/08 05:50 PM
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10 print "Sean Rulez!"
20 go to 10



I wrote many such masterful programs.


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Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
St_PatGuy #214646 07/08/08 05:53 PM
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No wonder you have attained your current position!


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: Switching to the Mac/MacBook
medic8r #214647 07/08/08 05:55 PM
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iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, and Garage Band) will cover the majority of your digital lifestyle needs (sorry for the cliche term). I've made about 10 DVDs so far consisting of minimally edited footage of the kids and it's incredibly easy to do.

I would purchase via the Apple online store.

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