MACBook Notebook or Not?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Meeee
  • Start date Start date
M

Meeee

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks
Click to expand...

MacBook will do nicely for her needs. MacBook Air is thinner and lighter
but more expensive.

Mac versions of Word & Excel are file-compatible with the Widows version.

You can install and run Windows using BootCamp (installed) or Parallels
or VMWare Fusion. You have to buy the last two, and you have to buy
Windows.

See detailed specs of all Macs at the Apple web site,
http://www,apple.com
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?
Click to expand...

You and your wife should stop by a computer store in your area that
sells Macs and have a look at Apple's current offerings. If there's an
Apple store in your area, definitely stop by there. A MacBook is
probably the best choice. The new thin Mac is a MacBook Air, but its
intended more as a second Mac than a primary one. Stop by, talk with a
salesmen and have your wife check out the models to see which one she
likes best. In the meanwhile, feel free to look at Apple's web site at
http://www.apple.com to learn more.
 
Shawn Hirn said:
You and your wife should stop by a computer store in your area that
sells Macs and have a look at Apple's current offerings. If there's an
Apple store in your area, definitely stop by there. A MacBook is
probably the best choice. The new thin Mac is a MacBook Air, but its
intended more as a second Mac than a primary one. Stop by, talk with a
salesmen and have your wife check out the models to see which one she
likes best. In the meanwhile, feel free to look at Apple's web site at
http://www.apple.com to learn more.
Click to expand...

I just acquired a MacBook, and I like the form factor. The 13.1" screen
is about right for my old eyes, and I find the keyboard very comfortable.

VMWare Fusion is installed and I am running XP at almost full speed for
my few Windows apps. If you go with Fusion or Parallels, I'd definitely
add memory. Remember, you don't have to buy Parallels or Fusion unless
you want to run both OSes at the same time. BootCamp (part of the Mac
OS) will run Windows for free. ("Free" meaning all you have to bring is
your own copy of Windows.)

The MacBook is not the fastest laptop around, and I don't know why.
Maybe because Leopard is a bit bloated, or maybe it's the shared video
memory. In any event it's "fast enough."
 
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks
Click to expand...

3rd party online stores often have sweet deals on Windows installs of various
flavor.

http://macmall.com

I bet she could get by with no Windows from the sound of it. Unless you're
seriously gaming most are fine running a virtual machine so you can have Mac
OS available, too. I got my kid to buy XP for $20 at the university,
installed Parallels, and haven't looked back. The one Windows app I run is
EAC. I also am the family troubleshooter so use Windows when needed,.
Otherwise I wouldn't bother at all and just use Max.
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Meeee:

My new MacBook With 4 GB of memory and VMware Fusion runs both XP Pro SP2
and Vista SP1 very well.
The MacBook comes with s/w (Boot Camp) to dual boot Windows, but I purchased
s/w (VMware Fusion) to virtualize Windows.

Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I would start off in USENET.
Click to expand...

A good place to start! Welcome to the Mac community - we're glad to
have you. : )
Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.
Click to expand...

The thin one is the MacBook Air, and it's more expensive than the
MacBook.

Personally, I'd recommend the MacBook or MacBook Pro. The big difference
between them is screen size, screen resolution, and the video chip.
Compare the specifications here:

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?
Click to expand...

All currently-shipping Macs are Intel-based and can run Windows. None
come with Windows installed - you'd have to purchase that yourself. If
you purchase a "media only" copy of Windows from a legitimate source (I
think newegg.com still sells them), you can get Windows XP fairly cheap.

You can boot Windows without any additional software, but it requires
dual booting. To run Windows applications along side Mac OS X without
having to reboot (the preferred way for most people), you'll need to
purchase a virtualization application such as Parallels Desktop or
VMware Fusion.

Parallels Desktop <http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/>
VMware Fusion <http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/>

Both of these virtualization applications let you run Windows
applications right along side Mac OS X applications.

While I own and use both products daily, personally I recommend Fusion
because it has better hardware (USB) support, more robust guest
operating system support, and seems to be a bit less buggy overall. Also
VMware Fusion seems to play better with Mc OS X in that Mac OS X seems
more responsive while VMware Fusion is active when compared to
Parallels. YMMV, of course. At any rate, both are excellent products,
each with their own strengths and weaknesses though.

No special drivers are needed for Windows to boot. Apple does, however
supply Windows drivers for special Apple hardware in MacBooks, like the
built-in iSight video camera and microphone.

(BTW, it's "Mac", which is short for "Macintosh". "MAC" is an
abbreviation for a few things, the most common of which is "Media Access
Control".)
 
CZ said:
Meeee:

My new MacBook With 4 GB of memory and VMware Fusion runs both XP Pro SP2
and Vista SP1 very well.
The MacBook comes with s/w (Boot Camp) to dual boot Windows, but I purchased
s/w (VMware Fusion) to virtualize Windows.

Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.
Click to expand...

Note that if you look at the System Preferences for the trackpad, you
can turn on right-click functionality. Then, tapping on the trackpad
with two fingers acts like right-clicking the mouse.

Works with Parallels running Windows<mumble> just as well, too.
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
I welcome your recommendations.
Click to expand...

Purchase, indeed, something close to the lowest-end, lowest-cost MacBook
-- it will be all the laptop she needs.

Then, if this leaves some unspent funds in the kitty spend them on
accessories: external keyboard, external mouse, larger-screen external
monitor, all for use at her primary working location; pocket HD (or
larger non-portable drive) for backups; Airport base station, misc
software -- whatever is top priority among these.
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?
Click to expand...

I recommend the MacBook. The MacBook Air doesn't have the disk space
you indicated you need. It is also slower than the MacBook, and quite a
bit more expensive.

All Macintosh computers made today will run both XP and Vista, but does
not come with any Windows software, but they do come with Windows
drivers.

You have the option of dual booting (boot in either Mac OS or Windows)
or virtualization, where you can run both OSes simultaneously. Dual
booting is built-in to the Mac, but virtualization requires third-party
software; you have a choice of two of them.
 
Steve Hix said:
Note that if you look at the System Preferences for the trackpad, you
can turn on right-click functionality. Then, tapping on the trackpad
with two fingers acts like right-clicking the mouse.
Click to expand...

Yep - and simply tapping with two fingers actually much easier than the
silly second button on most Windows PC track pads! PC laptop owners
don't know what they're missing.
 
You are asking an Apple question in a PC Newsgroup. You'll get a much
better answer in a Mac Newsgroup. Try again.
 
CZ said:
Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.
Click to expand...

'double tapping' (tapping with two fingers) should do a right click.
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Apple makes 3 notebooks: macbook, macbook pro, and macbook air.

The air is the one getting the big ad time at the moment. but it's 1800
dollars and has only an 80 gb drive. The battery is not user
replacable, no optical drive, only one usb port, wireless only, no
firewire. My opinion is that it is a great machine for a very
specialized market and I'm not a member of their target group and it
doesn't sound that your requirements put you in that group either.

the macbook runs about 1100 up to 1500, 13" monitor and probably your
best bet, but I would never buy one because it only has a glossy screen
and I don't like the feel of the keyboard. If you can possibly see one
at a store, you may find that my objections don't apply to you.

I'm working on convincing my boss that I need the new pro. It's more
expensive than the other ones, 2000 and up, but that includes a 200 gb
drive, 2 gb memory and a 15.4 or 17 inch monitor.

Whatever you do, if you want more memory, get 3rd party since apple's
prices are about double what others charge. I also recommend an
extended warranty for any laptop from anybody, but I'm hard on my
notebooks.

As someone else said earlier, go to an apple store and kick the tires.

dick
 
Apple makes 3 notebooks: macbook, macbook pro, and macbook air.

The air is the one getting the big ad time at the moment. but it's 1800
dollars
Click to expand...

It's frankly intended as a second or third machine, not as one's sole
computer.
and has only an 80 gb drive.
Click to expand...

Which capacity is enough for most people, most of the time. Making the
Air as light and thin as possible restricted the number of drives that
could fit internally. *All* small/extremely thing/light laptops have to
make similar tradeoffs.
The battery is not user replacable,
Click to expand...

Unless you have a screwdriver.
no optical drive,
Click to expand...

Except for the optional external drive. (For most use, most of the time,
WiFi will do the job.
only one usb port,
Click to expand...

There *are* small hubs available. (Although most of the time, you only
need one anyway.)
wireless only,
Click to expand...

Except for USB or ethernet, using an optional USB-to-ethernet converter.

Frankly, WiFi does an adequate job, at worst, for most information
transfer tasks, including reinstalling the OS or other software.
no firewire.
Click to expand...

Only so much real estate on the motherboard, and those who *really* need
FireWire also generally need something with more mass storage and
horsepower than the Air has.
My opinion is that it is a great machine for a very
specialized market
Exactly.

and I'm not a member of their target group and it
doesn't sound that your requirements put you in that group either.

the macbook runs about 1100 up to 1500, 13" monitor and probably your
best bet, but I would never buy one because it only has a glossy screen
and I don't like the feel of the keyboard. If you can possibly see one
at a store, you may find that my objections don't apply to you.

I'm working on convincing my boss that I need the new pro. It's more
expensive than the other ones, 2000 and up, but that includes a 200 gb
drive, 2 gb memory and a 15.4 or 17 inch monitor.
Click to expand...

It is *very* nice.
Whatever you do, if you want more memory, get 3rd party since apple's
prices are about double what others charge. I also recommend an
extended warranty for any laptop from anybody, but I'm hard on my
notebooks.
Click to expand...

Even those who are extra careful probably ought to get it anyway; laptop
repair is expensive, and Stuff Happens(tm).
 
Thanks everyone for your input,

I have checked out the prices and indeed, the Macs are quite expensive.
The wife and I went looking yesterday and looks like she wants a PC
Notebook. She doesn't want to be hassled with a dual boot system. She
also needs Corel based apps in addition to Microsoft Office.

Cheers,
 
(e-mail address removed)-sjc.supernews.net, Jolly
Roger at (e-mail address removed) wrote on 17/3/08 6:48 AM:
In other words, you're looking for a cheapo computer. Fortunately for
the rest of us, Apple doesn't make those. This is Good Thing. : )
Click to expand...
Have to agree with Jolly roger on this one. You get what you pay for and
without getting into one of those legendary computer-to-computer comparison
usenet flamewars merely comparing the sticker price will indeed show you you
can buy cheap PCs. Comparing a similar tricked out PC and you will see
there is little difference in price (waits for flaming reply the=at PC X is
waaay cheaper etc etc etc ..... Please save yourself the trouble).

And I hope you are very happy with your choice, whatever it may be, as a
cheap PC may indeed be perfectly suited to your needs. I am glad apple
doesn't make a cheapo version - it half the reason I now refuse to help
friends and family with cheap PCs - actually any PCs now as even the
expensive ones are stuck in XP/vista hell.

Nigel
 
"Meeee" <[email protected]> said:
Thanks everyone for your input,

I have checked out the prices and indeed, the Macs are quite expensive.
The wife and I went looking yesterday and looks like she wants a PC
Notebook. She doesn't want to be hassled with a dual boot system. She
also needs Corel based apps in addition to Microsoft Office.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

..i'm curious
?how much did she pay for her car

..the price a person is willing to pay for
a computer is really a measure of their
own value system

..many people i hear whining about the cost of
a mac are driving $40,000+ bmws and carry
a dell laptop
..they could easily have purchased a car for
1000s of dollars less and had the money
available for a computer (brain prosthetic)
worthy of them

..it's all about what you think is important

..so a mac costs a couple hundred more
..it gives me what i want

..i'm worth it

..so are you

..good luck
..i'm sure she'll be quite happy with another pc


heron

--
unDO email address
___
Nature, heron stone
to be commanded, http://gendo.net
must be obeyed. mailto:[email protected]
 
.i'm curious

?how much did she pay for her car

.the price a person is willing to pay for

a computer is really a measure of their
own value system

.many people i hear whining about the cost of

a mac are driving $40,000+ bmws and carry
a dell laptop
.they could easily have purchased a car for

1000s of dollars less and had the money
available for a computer (brain prosthetic)
worthy of them

.it's all about what you think is important


.so a mac costs a couple hundred more

.it gives me what i want


.i'm worth it


.so are you


.good luck

.i'm sure she'll be quite happy with another pc



heron
Click to expand...
(.Moron)
 
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