Buying a Mac Laptop

Shining

Shining

Shining

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Joined
9 Nov 2003
Posts
434
Location
Perth, Western Australia
am in the look now for a laptop and have decided on getting a macbook. Im only wanting to spend the minimum but want the model with the 2ghz processor and either the 512 or 1gig ram and upgrade myself by buying the cheaper parts.

What i want to know is how powerful the lower spec macs are and how good they are for general speedyness/multitasking in OSX and running applications. The laptop will primerily be used for web browsing/MSN/music and if possible; playing WOW. I just dont want a machine thats gonna be slow to respond in applications.

Will i be fine with the bare model or is it really worth upgrading to the faster CPU spec and ram...keeping in mind that i might upgrade the ram myself.

Cheers.
 
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Here's a personal opinion of my MacBook 2.0GHz Core Duo (been with me for the past 10 months)

I initially had the 1GB upgraded with Apple (can't be arsed to find upgrade back then and it weren't that cheap then either) - plus it was extra valued for me as I was using the Student Discount.

Anyway, I run a handful of apps, often simultaneously when doing coursework and procrastinating. e.g. running Firefox, itunes, Azureus, MS Word and PowerPoint - with Stuff-It unrar-ing files or burning DVDs at the same time. When I do everything at once, it will slow down abit but not very much IMO - bareable when it comes to switching between word and powerpoint (for notes)

Since I've upgraded to 2GB, bought cheap extra value ones, I've been doing the same and never had it slowing down on me or even "lag" when switching between apps, even Word and Powerpoint (which runs under Rosetta - emulator)

I also tried running parallel using about 256MB of RAM for Windows XP whilst doing the same things on OSX, no problems.

Not tried WoW on my Mac yet.
I did however try running Civilisation 4 via XP on Bootcamp and it runs perfectly at native resolution BUT the CPU fan is at full speed, so sounds abit like a mini vacuum going on - but otherwise, it's brilliant with 2GB added on.

I'm sure with the newer Core 2 Duo MacBooks and 2GB Ram, one will find it "flawless" in terms of multitasking programs for your use.

Oh and I've tried photoshot CS3 whilst running itunes, browsing and azureus, was working on a 6MPIX photo, no slow downs but the fan does kick in but not as loud as when playing civilisation 4.

(Sorry my reply is abit jimble jumble, not very good at this yet...)
 
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