IS MAC for me ? (great Mac Book Pro deal and all)

ChicoMendez

hi
im a pc man since the beginning... just cos... like most people.

however now with fact that a mac can run windows im posing questions....
i use pc mostly for surfing and web development (php mysql) etc

i have a great oppertunity to get a NEW Mac Book Pro that would basically set me back :

for 17'' - 914euro instead of 2829euro

or

for 15'' - 814euro instead of 2,519euro

Thoughts ?
Chico

destraynor

Thoughts?

1) Forget that its a Mac. You've been offered a absolutely fantastic laptop, about as good as they come, for 900 quid! Shouldn't take much thinking tbh. You won't be able to buy an equivalent laptop for 2000 euro, let alone 900.

Buy it, write PC on the front, buy and install windows vista, and forget about the branding, it's just a great machine for a great price. Do it.

And if you're not going to, buy it for me.

K.O.Kiki

.... I do hope you're getting it legally for 33% of it's value.....

ChicoMendez

K.O.Kiki wrote:

.... I do hope you're getting it legally for 33% of it's value.....

yes its very legal - straight from apple.


17% dicsount - take off the vat - and take into account what it will whipe off my buddies tax bill .. and volia !

ya i think ill go for it

Nature Boy

Why are you buying a Mac if you're a Windows user? Is it just because of the discounted price?

If you don't go for it. I'll give you the money to get it for me

ChicoMendez

Nature Boy wrote:

Why are you buying a Mac if you're a Windows user? Is it just because of the discounted price?

If you don't go for it. I'll give you the money to get it for me

i suppose i need a change - more stability - less viruses - more speed - everything mac is 'supposed' to give you...
and now the fact that i can run windows (for those programs that are not mac enabled) ... its almost a no brainer is it not ??

however my delima now it 15'' or 17'' - is 17 a little big ??? will it fit into a normal laptop bag (i dont know anyone that has one to test!)

tnx

Nature Boy

Oh I though you were going to put Windows on it and just use that!

My bad!

ChicoMendez

Nature Boy wrote:

Oh I though you were going to put Windows on it and just use that!

My bad!

sorry no -
the windows aspect at least offers me the option to switch over if i have issues.
this is important considering iv always used pc and almost never touched a mac

ChicoMendez

JUST looking at the specs

whats DVI to VGA adapter for? - for cd's and dvd's there is no drawer that comes out - is that correct?

tnx

conical

Yeh, it's a slot-in dvd drive, and afaik the DVI-VGA adapter allows you to hook up to your LCD-TV or other monitors, say to watch a downloaded movie etc.

Would definitely go Mac - especially at that price!
I'd be interested to know how your buddies accounting system works!?!

edit: I'd probably go for the 15'' for portability btw.

uncle_sam_ie

ChicoMendez wrote:

i suppose i need a change - more stability - less viruses - more speed - everything mac is 'supposed' to give you...
and now the fact that i can run windows (for those programs that are not mac enabled) ... its almost a no brainer is it not ??

however my delima now it 15'' or 17'' - is 17 a little big ??? will it fit into a normal laptop bag (i dont know anyone that has one to test!)

tnx

Which apps do you want to use that you can't get on the Mac?

Bunnyhopper

The DVI-VGA adaptor lets you connect the MacBook to an external VGA monitor. (I think connecting it to a TV might need a DVI to Video adaptor, which you can get for about €20 from Apple.)

So, you could just use it to watch a DVD on a bigger screen, but the MacBooks also support screen mirroring and extended desktop modes. In other words, you could connect a 15" MacBook to a much bigger monitor and then use both monitors at the same time, with the mouse pointer moving over and back seamlessly from one to the other, or you could just close the MacBook and use the big monitor on its own (assuming you have the mouse and keyboard you'd need to do that). The MacBook Pro can run its own screen and an Apple 30" HD external monitor simultaneously, for example. It might be worth bearing that option in mind if you decide to go for the 15" model on the grounds of portability.

ChicoMendez

uncle_sam_ie wrote:

Which apps do you want to use that you can't get on the Mac?

hmmm just looking around and doing a bit of research .. most of them have mac equivalents ..firefox.thunderbird...openoffice ... mamp

suppose i can use parelles for the others!

ChicoMendez

Bunnyhopper wrote:

So, you could just use it to watch a DVD on a bigger screen, but the MacBooks also support screen mirroring and extended desktop modes. In other words, you could connect a 15" MacBook to a much bigger monitor and then use both monitors at the same time, with the mouse pointer moving over and back seamlessly from one to the other, or you could just close the MacBook and use the big monitor on its own (assuming you have the mouse and keyboard you'd need to do that). The MacBook Pro can run its own screen and an Apple 30" HD external monitor simultaneously, for example. It might be worth bearing that option in mind if you decide to go for the 15" model on the grounds of portability.

Great!
can i connect the macbook pro to my pc monitor (as opposed the Apple 30" HD external monitor) for mirroring ?

tnx

uncle_sam_ie

ChicoMendez wrote:

hmmm just looking around and doing a bit of research .. most of them have mac equivalents ..firefox.thunderbird...openoffice ... mamp

suppose i can use parelles for the others!

Except for games, and I use an Xbox anyway, I haven't had any trouble finding Mac equivalents. This is a great site for Apps http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

K.O.Kiki

ChicoMendez wrote:

Great!
can i connect the macbook pro to my pc monitor (as opposed the Apple 30" HD external monitor) for mirroring ?

tnx

MBP has a DVI-out on the left-hand side -- either run a DVI-to-DVI cable from MBP to monitor, or DVI-to-VGA adaptor & then VGA-to-VGA cable to monitor (DVI are large-ish connectors, rectangular & usually white; VGA are small, blue 15-pin connectors. Check Wikipedia for more)

Rebeller

ChicoMendez wrote:

more stability - less viruses - more speed - everything mac is 'supposed' to give you...

I'm an owner of a mac (macbook) myself and can definitely recommend them.

However a few caveats:

1) Running vista on mac will make it just as susceptible to viruses and spyware as a PC. It is not the hardware that makes it less virus prone but the Mac OS. Even if you run the native OS you can still act as a transport of windows viruses even though your machine will not itself become infected. You'll still need antivirus and firewall software.

2)Don't believe the hype. Macs DO crash. Not as often as your run of the mill PC but it does happen.

3) Apple released its first batch of "mactels" (macs with intel chips) 6 months ahead of the planned date (Early 2006). This was a bit of a rush job as the first lot of MB pros were fairly buggy with overheating and stability issues. Problems were corrected (after much publicity and customer complaints) but others arose.

Product line has been revised but my recommendation would be to hold out until early next year by which time the remaining bugs should have been ironed out and price will come down.

Even with the above the price you've been offered is an amazing deal.

Just be ready for a long wait between order and delivery and a useless order tracking process!!

ChicoMendez

Rebeller wrote:

1) Running vista on mac will make it just as susceptible to viruses and spyware as a PC. It is not the hardware that makes it less virus prone but the Mac OS. Even if you run the native OS you can still act as a transport of windows viruses even though your machine will not itself become infected. You'll still need antivirus and firewall software.

3) Apple released its first batch of "mactels" (macs with intel chips) 6 months ahead of the planned date (Early 2006). This was a bit of a rush job as the first lot of MB pros were fairly buggy with overheating and stability issues. Problems were corrected (after much publicity and customer complaints) but others arose.

Product line has been revised but my recommendation would be to hold out until early next year by which time the remaining bugs should have been ironed out and price will come down.

Even with the above the price you've been offered is an amazing deal.

Just be ready for a long wait between order and delivery and a useless order tracking process!!

>> hmmm but dont they release o/s updates or were those problems moreso hardware issues?

>> they say 5 day delivery - is this not true?

>> early next year would be good but need to fall into this years tax year!

tnx for info!

Rebeller

ChicoMendez wrote:

>> hmmm but dont they release o/s updates or were those problems moreso hardware issues?

>> they say 5 day delivery - is this not true?

>> early next year would be good but need to fall into this years tax year!

tnx for info!

There are regular OS updates as with microsoft but most of the probs with the early MB were hardware based (heat sensor problems) over application of thermal paste on heatsinks. It was obvious that the product was rushed onto the market to get a head start on the competition.

Most of the major issues (motherboard failures for example) seem to now have been solved but the later the better would be my advice.

I have a macbook myself (not Mb pro) which I had to have replaced after only 2 months (purchased in july this year replaced september) due to problems with random shut down which was one again caused by heat sensor issues which caused internal circuitry to overheat and melt. Apple initially refused to admit there was a general problem but eventually gave in faced with a flood of customer complaints.

You're probably ok at this time thoug as some of the initial teething problems have been sorted.
Check out www.appledefects.com

for info on recognised issues

5 day delivery really only applies to standard off the shelf configurations. If you request xtra memory, larger Hd etc mac will ship direct from production plant in china and could take up to 2 weeks if a lot of orders are being processed.

good luck

DadaKopf

I ordered a 15" MBP from the US 'cos it saved me €500. But now I'm just jealous!

I got the latest model (held out for it) and selected the 160GB option. It shipped from Shanghai on 27 Oct and arrived at the delivery address on 02 Nov. But there *are* longer wait times for the 17" for some reason.

Check out www.macrumors.com.

Bunnyhopper

K.O.Kiki wrote:

MBP has a DVI-out on the left-hand side -- either run a DVI-to-DVI cable from MBP to monitor, or DVI-to-VGA adaptor & then VGA-to-VGA cable to monitor (DVI are large-ish connectors, rectangular & usually white; VGA are small, blue 15-pin connectors. Check Wikipedia for more)

That's the one - so hooking it up to any monitor with the right combination of cables and inputs shouldn't be a problem. And the fact that the MBP can drive a 30" HD monitor just gives you some idea of how powerful it is.

@DadaKopf Aren't there customs issues with ordering it from the US? Is that €500 saving even after paying all the duty, VAT, etc.? I thought the US store wouldn't take orders for delivery outside the US anyway.

scrapland

Your right. Chances are customs will be sendning you an invoice and as 'bunnyhopper' asks how on earth did you order from the US store ? I thought that was impossibe with a euro credit card and address...

Ste.phen

he probably bought from a 3rd party reseller. Amazon for example sell macs online, although that's a bad example because they won't ship overseas