Hi all,

I'm currently in the market for a new laptop and seriously need some advice. My main concern isn't the technical specifications, but more to reliability, stability and in the case of a MAC, its user-friendliness and ease of change from Windows to Mac.

As a 'loyal' PC-based user, I'm once again questioning my loyalty to Unc Bill. I have in the last 24 hours, gained some knowledge about MACs through some of the related threads here, esp the "MacBook/MacBook Pro Users" and through MAC 101 just so i won't come across to all you experts here as 'naive' or 'stupid'

My main concern is mostly the fact that I'm a TOTAL illiterate when it comes to MAC products hence would like to know how difficult it would be to get used to the new OS platform?

PS: I am aware that XP's runnable on the MB/MBPs through bootcamp [though i've no idea what bootcamp is *oops*] but let's leave that advanced topic for another time. For now, just provide me with whatever U think I should know.

If you're smart and keen, using Mac is not an issue at all.

I got a great offer last time for MBP at less RM400 market price, omg you didn't see it? (Offer is over)

Speaking of running Windows on Mac, you can also have Parallels.

Basically, Bootcamp allows you to boot into different OS in Mac Machine, while Parallels allows you to launch different OS while you're running Mac OS. Get it?

First, find yourself a reason to try Mac OS. It looks cool to carry a MBP, but not on dummy's hand. No offense.

i would scrap out this sentence if i were you. Being cool to carry a MBP? its not being cool, its being different.

My advice to the original poster is : visit a mac center, try out the OSX, play around the expose, love the dashboard, ask more about bootcamp and windows migration. After that , decide your budget and your needs.. theres mac book and mac book pro for you to choose.

Jargon guide : bootcamp is like a boot loader manager which makes your a windows partition in your mac and allows you to install and boot windows. Parallels in the ohter hand is like a emulator of Windows in OS X, allowing you to run windows based application without booting into Windows itself.. but with limited performance.

This post has been edited by onscreen: Dec 4 2006, 05:08 PM

wanna ask.. other peripheral like printer and scanner izzit all can be used in MAC? how to know which are not?

Check it at the product website -> drivers or try the customer support. Also, you can use goggle to find if your product is compatible to mac... type in your model number, brand, Macintosh ... thats how i do my search when i first bought my Mac 4 yrs back.

Heislyc,

Thanks for the explanation on bootcamp and parallel.

I'm hoping to 'find' the reasons here, hence initiated this thread .

Also, I ain't considering it just cause most people think it's 'gaya'. What's the point of looking stylishly cool if it's a white elephant? Might as well just get a shell for that purpose, right?

onscreen,

Will definitely try out the OSX when I can.

My current shortlist of notebooks are:-
1) Sony Vaio (SZ38GP) - 13.3", 1.7kg
2) Sony Vaio (FE38GP) - 15.4", 2.8kg
3) MacBook Pro 609ZP/A - 15.4", 2.6kg
4) Fujitsu - 13.3"/14.1", 1.8kg (C2D isn't available yet so can't compare)

Maybe I should save everyone the trouble and tell myself it's way too troublesome to even consider a Mac? Am already looking like this

Looking for Mac products is simple. All you gotta do is google. Say you want an FTP client, just google "ftp mac". IRC client? then google for "IRC mac". It's that simple. All you need to do is add a "mac" word behind what you're looking for. Try out the apps and see which one fits your needs. Don't like a certain app? Just dump it into Trash. No harm done. I hope this answers your question to Mac products. Cheers.

I recently switched from PC to OS X. GOt myself a MBP 2.16Ghz,just like the one on your list. Yes It might be costly to get it, but if u compare it with other Windows Bases laptops with similar specs, The price range is more or less in par.

Mac Os X is a plug and play OS. U will have most of the essential tools u need right out from the box. I experienced it first hand when i was setting my wifi/lan network between my MBP and windows based PC. Being a Windows guy for 10 years and Mac for a few days, I find it easier to configure The MAC than my PC.

On the plus side,you can always switch back to windows with your Macbook/pro if you dont like OS X. Whereas other windows based laptop will have difficulty running MAC OS X. U get the best of both worlds with Intel Based Macbook/Pro

Visit http://www.mymug.org for more information and user feedbacks about apple products.

First off, what is your purpose of getting the mac? Gaming? Photoshopping? Trying for new os experience?

If your into casual gaming, the macbook 2ghz core 2 duo or macbook pro 2.16ghz is sufficient. If your into battlefield 2142, fear and all the stuff don't bother getting the mac. The graphics card is always a letdown, personally, if not for the intel gma950 and instead a discreet graphics card, i would get the macbook. The grapics card on macbook pro doesn't seem enough for my hardcore gaming hehe. I recently saw the hp dv9000 and i was like , a gaming laptop!

If you just wanna make the switch for fun and for everyday activities like email, p2p illegal downloads , burning disc and the stuff, get the macbook cd/c2d.

BTW: Macbook is selling for RM3000+ for the coreduo version!

N0eL,

Hope you're having loadsa fun with your new toy. From the way you'd put things, I am assuming it shouldn't be too difficult to operate from the Mac platform, and primary setup's a breeze.

Any particular 'tips' u'll like to share? And anything else I ought to brace myself for should MBP turn out to be the Champion? I guess I'm here just to seek 'solace' - at the very least I won't feel guilty for not having done any research before making this purchase

Keith,

I've shortlisted the Mac because I need a replacement to my current laptop. As highlighted by N0eL earlier, if you compare specs for specs alike, the prices between a Windows-based laptop and the Mac isn't too great. In fact, if you take into consideration the 'other' stuff [other than the fact that Mac comes only with 2 USB ports ], I dare say Mac's probably cheaper than Fujitsu's 14.1" yet-to-be-launched C2D model.

I'm definitely NOT a gamer, and do NOT intend to start gaming on this new laptop. It'll probably be more for everyday activities like what you mentioned, and if time permits, I do have intentions to learn how to use the Adobe CS2 programs [then again, the damn program's been installed on my home pc for abt 1 year now but I prob opened it uhm, less than 5 times?! so as u probably can tell, that part's really and totally 'optional']

I honestly think the MB is a pretty good buy other than the fact that I find 512MB RAM insufficient for my needs - I'm looking at min 1GB RAM and C2D 2.0GHz [I'm sure I'll definitely appreciate the additional 2MB cache RAM]. Don't ask me why I need something that's so fast - guess I'm just 'kiasu' - it's all Intel's fault. If not for the additional 2MB cache RAM i'd even settle for the C2D 1.83GHz *siGh*

This post has been edited by tinkerbel: Dec 4 2006, 07:29 PM

We as newbies of the Apple phenomenon need 1 thing~! After sales support. Mac dealers in Malaysia are known for their bad virtues/services. Therefore choosing the right company to deal with is essential. PM me for the right ppl to deal with.

IF you have decided on a MBP, i would suggest you to request for a "Matte" LCD screen instead of a glossy one. It's true that glossy screen provide better colour representation, but it also reflect light at certain angles thus render the screen unseeable.

Good luck~!

me is the new "switcher", change to mac because want to have a laptop that is worth the technology and not just some branding... after looking out vaio, hp, dell, compaq, and IBM, finally settle on apple because the hardware technology offers are simply too "irresistible"... isight, magnetic power plug, slot in cd rom, keyboard highlight and light sensors ... these are creatively built-in to make our life easier (not to miss iLife) ...

i have used windows and linux as my desktop OS for more then a decade and i can tell, OS X is for the idiot ! yes, it is so easy to used that even my grandma know how to use it... (just a example ... ) i only spend less then a week on it and i think i have learn far more then spending a decade learning how to use windows...

application wise, due to the nature of OS X (darwin), open source apps available on the internet and just need you to google around to get it... for the activity you mentioned that you will be doing on the net, you will find not only a lot of options but finding which are more creatively suit your needs and eye (right, the cool graphics) ...

if budget is not a concern, get a mac... if you regret later the OS X is not for you (which i doubt so), just install boot camp and it is windows ready...

Yeah.. I thought the light sensor and luminous functions not available for Macbook were useless. It's definitely features that all laptop should have...

mymac,

You give me the impression that you have some knowledge of PC before making the switch to Mac [I've heard of Linux but i'd never used one before]. And from the way you're explaining, I think I shouldn't have too much problems switching to a Mac - and if i do, at the very least I know who i can call upon [I'll look u up, even if ur gonna laugh at me or ask me to refer to ur grandma ]

Now, moving on to Applications and more advanced stuff [whatever it maybe], I shouldn't find it too much different from Windows-based right? I mean, taking earlier advice from aMDCoPPer, just need to put in the mac in my search, and ensure the applications i'm downloading is MAC 'versionalised'

N0eL,

I'm bound to look you up too. Maybe I should start scouting around for a 'si-fu' who'd teach me what I need to know about a Mac too? I read somewhere about the glossy screen thingy you mentioned. MB comes with glossy screen whereas for the MBP there are 2 options to choose from, and as much as I don't remember what the other one is called [u mentioned matte though], the gloss ones weren't recommended. Is that what u were referring to?

There's a default build for macbook that comes with 2ghz c2d and 1gb of ram .

It's all down to the user's perferences actually, some people actually like the glossy sceen display

This post has been edited by KTay: Dec 4 2006, 11:51 PM

Confirm, as long as you still keep a pc with windows""

Keith,

Yup, I do know about the default MB build. The thing about that is the Graphics Card and the screen size. I'd rather much prefer the MBP but i suppose if i decide not to want to spend too much, the RM5299 model is another option.

And may I ask, what's your screen preference? Glossy or Matte? Any particular reason?

Ahh something to talk about.

Ok, i prefer matte screen surface since glossy is known as "artificial color screen" It have slightly stronger brightness and low viewing angle. In the other hand, matte screen have wider viewing angle and dimmer screen.

Usually, people dont care about screen surface unless you are a specific type of user who moves around and relies on enviroment lighting alot then glossy is way to go.

Matte surface in the other hand is for those who work long hours on the computer and stares at texts, colors, moving images alot. And this falls on me too. Anyway, what i wrote above is my opinions and opinions / comments that i have asked from my colleagues.

Hope this will roughly know how matte and glossy surface works. Currently my Acer is matte screen while i have an Alienware laptop thats glossy.