Apple/Mac Geeks

Kraig · #1 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

I have been a VERY long time user of the Wintel platforms so the whole Mac/Apple thing is VERY new to me.

I am not a graphics designer nor do I plan to every use the laptop for graphics design. I do have a pretty wicked PC at home already, although I am checking out the marketing for a laptop to allow me to go portable.

I "MAY" also use the laptop for Final Scratch 2 as well which is simply uses a firewire port.

Talk to be about the best models, bang for your buck. I don't want to spend a fortune.

I saw this on eBay... although expensive, it seems FULLY loaded:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...722151399&rd=1

Cheers.

Kraig · #2 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Here is another on eBay... this is much more in my price range:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...722461105&rd=1

mux · #3 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Don't buy a Mac off eBay. Buy it new from the Apple Store, and make sure you get the three year AppleCare warrantee. Macs are *wonderful* machines, but if something goes wrong in them (and it always seems to happen at about the 1.5 year mark), they're *expensive* to fix.

Spending $1600 now is better than spending $1200 now, then another $800 in six months when the motherboard dies. Happened to my girlfriend, happened to two of her friends.

mux · #4 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

re: models - I like the 12" G4 powerbook, but as for bang for the buck, you say what you *don't* want to use the machine for (graphic design), but you don't say what you *do* want to use it for (past final scratch). The 12" is probably the best all-around Mac laptop; the only downside is the smaller screen.

Kraig · #5 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by mux

re: models - I like the 12" G4 powerbook, but as for bang for the buck, you say what you *don't* want to use the machine for (graphic design), but you don't say what you *do* want to use it for (past final scratch). The 12" is probably the best all-around Mac laptop; the only downside is the smaller screen.

Installing Final Scratch 2 would only be part of it's use... I would also plan to use it for work and stuff. It's tempting to just up and buy a Wintel based laptop as I have always done as I use everything on that platform. Stability is always in question on that platform though. I can't imagine hooking up Final Scratch to then only have Windows die while in mid set.

nuf_dawg · #6 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

kraig dont waste money on ebay not good.
gimmie modelnumber i can prolly get u good deal at fs

rawb · #7 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

get the 12" pb you will love it.

Kraig · #8 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawb

get the 12" pb you will love it.

Hey Rawb... I trust your opinion. Is it worth the cash though? I mean, again I have only ever used PC's and the Wintel platform. Should I just say screw it at get a Dell or something?

rawb · #9 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

i was an exclusive windows (+linux for work) user and on a whim i picked up a 12" ibook.

i was worried about showing up for work with it and not being able to do anything for a few days while i got used to it, but really it's quite simple. it had maybe a 1 day learning curve and then i was just in love with it.

the biggest thing is pick up a 2 button usb mouse/trackball so you can rock 2 button style like windows, otherwise i really really enjoy my ibook. everything is so much simpler with so much less bullshit, it's designed so i can just get my work done.

can you borrow one from a friend for a day or two and test it out?

bebu*funfun · #10 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

kraig see if u can get a 2 for 1 deal lol, looks like ill be needing to buy one soon as well =(. i like using macs as much as i like using pc's, its simple to use and things just work in an understandable manner, just takes time to convert.

Kraig · #11 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawb

i was an exclusive windows (+linux for work) user and on a whim i picked up a 12" ibook.

i was worried about showing up for work with it and not being able to do anything for a few days while i got used to it, but really it's quite simple. it had maybe a 1 day learning curve and then i was just in love with it.

the biggest thing is pick up a 2 button usb mouse/trackball so you can rock 2 button style like windows, otherwise i really really enjoy my ibook. everything is so much simpler with so much less bullshit, it's designed so i can just get my work done.

can you borrow one from a friend for a day or two and test it out?

Hmmmmmm... did you buy yours brand new from a store? If you don't mind me asking, what was the dammages after tax and any add-on's?

I'm assuming you got the one that 1GHz with 256MB of RAM?

rawb · #12 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

the greatest is just how small and light it is, coupled with the fact every device ive thrown at it (camera, mouse, wifi station, external drive, treo 600) just worked. no goofy driver issues, osx just opened up what it needed to and i was on my way. this is the kind of stuff i enjoy, because i spend enough time fiddling with my own configs and code on the things i take care of at work, and i dont want to dick around for every small thing i plug into my mac.

also i find that when i go to confrences/meetings with clients/partners who also have macs its a great conversation starter and i generally can get into their comfort zone quickly.

its so hard to find a well built pc laptop nowadays, so many are just thrown together, with off-the-shelf parts, that having a system with an OS that is very laptop-centric (laptop sales drive a lot of apple business so they make sure their os plays very nice with laptop-specific things like sleep/wake, power conservation and wifi and the like) is great.

also i like the keyboard a lot, feels full size to me. from every laptop ive owned the real killer is 'can i type on this keyboard comfortably?' and the 12" mac laptops pass this test well.

haha more info than you ever wanted.

rawb · #13 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

for my ibook the damage was just under $1600 after everything, apple price fixes their hardware at every retailer, so it will always be the exact same price as the online apple store or maybe 10% more.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...s/canadastore/

i believe futureshop and lonson drugs sell at the 'apple price'. no sales kind of sucks, if you want a better deal you're going to have to buy used or find and employee/student discount.

Kraig · #14 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

The more info the better!

What about cross-compatibility with a PC? I obviously use a PC at home quite extensively. TONS of documents, imaging-type work so I would need to share that back and forth.

rawb · #15 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

as long as you have the latest office i havent had any problems, only caveats i ran into are things like VISIO, which doesnt have an analouge on the mac.

the mac version of outlook (called entourage) is much better than than outlook in my opinion.

but with the newest photoshop and ms office you should be fine, id suggest checking out any programs you use and make sure they have mac versions.

tvmann · #16 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Kraig, Traktor and Final Scratch are merging into the same software base product so that is something to keep in mind. Traktor runs very well and reliably on Windows XP. This is a music application that runs better on a PC than Mac.

Traktor is not yet as well optimized for Mac. Maybe the developers will put more effort into optimizing the Mac version.

That being said, I know there are very happy Mac/Traktor users. Be careful about the iBook because they don't have the PCMCIA port which is used by some sound cards. There is (was?) a resident DJ at the Pumpjack club using Traktor on an iBook but his was a couple of years old and not quite fast enough to use some of the features in the latest Traktor.

I run Traktor on a Wintel laptop that is itching to hook up to a big amp. Check out my demo at http://globalbeatz.net (Downloads / DJ Mix MP3s / name tvmann).

Lenny · #17 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

I work between my powerbook and pc doing design, music, and multimedia and I've yet to emcounter any real issues. I'm not fully converted but I love my 17" powerbook. For what you're planning on doing the 12 powerbook should serve you just fine and if you want a little more juice, the 15" is more than enough. Like rawb said the learning curve is next to nothing.
A friend of mine got taken for about $2600 on ebay trying to get a powerbook. he's an idiot but I still wouldn't go with ebay. find a student, the discount is pretty good!

Kraig · #18 (**permalink**) Sep 25, 04

Quote:

Originally Posted by (LJF)

I work between my powerbook and pc doing design, music, and multimedia and I've yet to emcounter any real issues. I'm not fully converted but I love my 17" powerbook. For what you're planning on doing the 12 powerbook should serve you just fine and if you want a little more juice, the 15" is more than enough. Like rawb said the learning curve is next to nothing.
A friend of mine got taken for about $2600 on ebay trying to get a powerbook. he's an idiot but I still wouldn't go with ebay. find a student, the discount is pretty good!

Thanks for that Lenny.

Cheers.