Sell me on a MacBook..or not :)

[thomas998]

I think i've made up my mind to "go mac", now I need to decide if I should get an AIR or a Pro. I did the live chat with the apple store and they recomend the Air.

I am basically using my computer for school (online classes for my Masters- lots of papers to write) and personal use- shopping, browsing, etc.

I have concerns about not having an optical drive, but my DH reminded me that i've never used the drive on this computer- except for installing the reboot disks when my harddrive died a few mths ago.

You might need the optical drive more than you think when you are first starting to use it... If you need to install software to connect to a wireless printer it would make it easier... I know Apple is pushing the iCloud you have no storage we store it all for you deal... but frankly the thought of having yet another method of making my own backups of data and using my laptop as a DVD player when I travel would make me lean toward an optical drive in the laptop.

From what you listed as the needs you are trying to fill with a laptop... quite frankly I would say a macbook of any type would be gross overkill.... you could easily do all you are wanting with a very cheap laptop or netbook... and probably save $600-1000.

 

[racechick8293]

I think i've made up my mind to "go mac", now I need to decide if I should get an AIR or a Pro. I did the live chat with the apple store and they recomend the Air.

I am basically using my computer for school (online classes for my Masters- lots of papers to write) and personal use- shopping, browsing, etc.

I have concerns about not having an optical drive, but my DH reminded me that i've never used the drive on this computer- except for installing the reboot disks when my harddrive died a few mths ago.

If you buy software from the Mac App store, you don't need an optical drive. You would just buy (or install free software) from the Mac App store, then download and install it to your Air. The purchase is tied to your iTunes account, so you can download the program again in the future if need be.

Also, you can remotely install software on a Mac by using the optical drive on another computer.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1777?viewlocale=en_US

I have a 13" MacBook Pro and LOVE it. However, I've honestly used the optical drive about 5 times or less in the past 18 months. If the Air had had the backlit keyboard at the time I purchased (this has since become a standard feature on the Air), there's a very good chance I would have gone with the Air instead. It sounds as though your main uses are similar to mine- I teach on-campus and online- and my most frequently used programs are the Office suite and web pages. For that sort of thing, the Air seems to be highly recommended. If you have an Apple store within a reasonable distance, I would highly suggest taking some time to try out both before making your final decision.

And, don't forget to ask for your Educational Discount. Take your student ID/tuition bill, etc. It was good for $100 off my MacBook Pro. I believe that the Airs are similarly discounted. You can check to see if your school is on the list here
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/education_routing

 

[timmac]

If you need to install software to connect to a wireless printer it would make it easier... I know Apple is pushing the iCloud you have no storage we store it all for you deal...

I think you're actually hitting the nail on the head (even if it wasn't your intent)... the decision to remove optical drives is a lot more than just cost and weight; it also makes it harder (on some level) to install software, *except* that which you buy through their store, cloud-style.

Sound suspiciously like the AppStore? Think they're trying to move more towards a closed platform on the Mac line, like they have with iOS? I'd bet on it.

 

[Bob NC]

In our house we have 4 desktop Macs, 1 Macbook, 1 iPad and 2 Nanos. We love Apple here. I'm typing this on my 2 year old Macbook now. It has had zero issues in the 2 years. One of our desktops is from 1985 and still works. Find a PC that does that....

Well, the problem with this argument is that most folks buy budget PC's and spend 300 - 500 dollars for them, heck, maybe even $1000. Then they use a $3200 Mac and rave about how much better Mac's are than PC's.

Well duh! Of course the 3K machine is better than the one that costs in the hundreds.

If you spent the same on a PC as you do a Mac, I doubt you would be making the same comparisons.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm typing this post on a 6 1/2 year old PC laptop. This laptop got me through 4 years of undergrad (plugged in/on almost 24/7) and 2 years of grad school. I've replaced the battery, added more memory, and the fan is a bit loud, but otherwise it's running fine. But as someone mentioned it was not a $300 laptop. It was priced similarly to a Mac.

My work issued me a MacBook last month. Brand new one. Honestly, I don't understand the hype. It's no faster than a PC. Yes, the battery lasts longer, but newer PC laptops have much better battery lives than my old laptop, so that's not really a fair comparison.

 

[ucfgirl81]

I've had my macbook for 2 years now and it is amazing. The quality is 100% better than PCs, the reason the cost is so much more is because Apple makes all their products in the USA.... I for one love that I'm supporting "made in America!"

 

[bumbershoot]

I'lll be the minority here. I LOATHE my MacBook Pro. Maybe I have a bad one but it locks up constantly with the SPOD (spinning pinwheel of death) and I have to Force Quit Safari or iPhoto every single time I use it. SO frustrating.

My brother has one for work, and he has that same problem. Seems to happen to some macs.


My MacBook was just fine until someone, ok me, spilled a beer on it. Oh the horror. It actually dried out after I put it away thinking it was dead forever, but now it has issues with humidity. I'm using husband's work iPad because the Mac is pretending it doesn't have the airport anymore. Maddening. And I despise the iPad.


So right now we are figuring out what to do! When I work on a PC I want to throw it through the window, it just doesn't work how I want it to work. BUT my MacBook was actually physically falling apart even before the beer...the corner-tops of the case were peeling off! And I do not like the iPhoto interface, preferring the simple MyPictures. What to do what to do......

 

[AmandaNied]

I've had my macbook for 2 years now and it is amazing. The quality is 100% better than PCs, the reason the cost is so much more is because Apple makes all their products in the USA.... I for one love that I'm supporting "made in America!"

Really? I didn't know that

 

[MrsWendy]

I've had my macbook for 2 years now and it is amazing. The quality is 100% better than PCs, the reason the cost is so much more is because Apple makes all their products in the USA.... I for one love that I'm supporting "made in America!"

I hate to burst your bubble, but Apple products are not made in the USA. They are designed in the USA, but they are made in China just like every other computer.

The general reason why they tend to cost more than generic PCs is because Apple typically uses better quality components. The other PC makers often use lower quality parts in order to keep prices as low as they can.

 

[thomas998]

Really? I didn't know that

You didn't know that because it isn't true. Apple loves to print, "designed America" on their boxes because some people will then miss the smaller print that says "made in China".... It always struck me as a rather deceptive bit of marketing, and I wondered if anyone was foolish enough to fall for it....

But if you strip open a macbook you'll find the same circuits and chips that are in any PC...

 

[AmandaNied]

You didn't know that because it isn't true. Apple loves to print, "designed America" on their boxes because some people will then miss the smaller print that says "made in China".... It always struck me as a rather deceptive bit of marketing, and I wondered if anyone was foolish enough to fall for it....

But if you strip open a macbook you'll find the same circuits and chips that are in any PC...

ahh.. tricky. I was going to say I was pretty sure my DH's iPad said Made in China

 

[Bob NC]

I've had my macbook for 2 years now and it is amazing. The quality is 100% better than PCs, the reason the cost is so much more is because Apple makes all their products in the USA.... I for one love that I'm supporting "made in America!"

Every Apple product I have ordered I have tracked online and every one has shipped from China.

 

[cjdj4]

Well, the problem with this argument is that most folks buy budget PC's and spend 300 - 500 dollars for them, heck, maybe even $1000. Then they use a $3200 Mac and rave about how much better Mac's are than PC's.

Well duh! Of course the 3K machine is better than the one that costs in the hundreds.

If you spent the same on a PC as you do a Mac, I doubt you would be making the same comparisons.

A macbook pro may be $3200 (I think this is a bit high, but haven't priced it), but a regular old macbook is around $1100 before educator/student discount.

 

[AmandaNied]

Well, I made my purchase today...a Macbook Air with my education discount. I was going to go refurbished, but they didn't really have any that caught my eye

I'm excited

 

[jwfla422]

We got our first Mac 2 years ago and I have NEVER looked back! I am sold. I now have a MacBook Pro, a 27" imac, an ipod touch and an ipad.

The iphone is next on my list!

If I never see or use another PC again, I will be more than fine.

Better quality, easier to use, graphics and movie making are a breeze, the list goes on and on.

Dawn

YEAP, I love my MacBook too. And you'll love your IPhone when you get one!! I feel the same way about PCs now too;-)

 

[Swimalie]

Well, I made my purchase today...a Macbook Air with my education discount. I was going to go refurbished, but they didn't really have any that caught my eye

I'm excited

Enjoy!!