Cheap Macbooks?

Soldato
Joined
27 Aug 2004
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Singapore ExPat
I've always been a windows man then this year I started working with unix full time at work, Solaris mainly and Mac's have slowly been growing on me, mainly because I like the idea of having a shell when I need it.
Could I use a macbook as my main PC? Just use the dvi adaptor with my tft and it's suitable?
Is there anywhere cheaper to get a macbook than through the employee purchase program that I can use? I am thinking the black one with 1gb and 120gb....Thoughts please, am I gonna like it? :p
 
Just a personal opinion - which is shared by many, Black MacBook is very very nice to look at, if you handle it, it WILL become fingerprinted by finger grease and all. The white one is MUCH better in terms of dust, prints and all.

I switch over to a Mac after using Windows since '95. It's much better for what I need - work and casual gaming. Predominantly work with G.I.M.P, Dreamweaver, Flash 8, images, iphotos, garageband, Guitar pro5, internet surfing, courseworking uni stuff / research.

Battery life IMO is good, over 3 hours whilst running multiple applications like word, firefox, dreamweaver 8.

I've recently discovered how useful iMovies is, after recording multiple Tournament fights for my TaeKwonDo club with a camcorder. This little machine is full of surprises - just need to know what programs for what and how to use them effectively :)
 
You can use any monitor with it, just grab a mini-DVI adapter that will take the MacBook's output to full-size DVI. The "black tax" is largely gone but I find I prefer the white ones anyway. If you want a discount you'll have to look to your supplier and compare prices. Student/education discounts are significant if you qualify for them. You're gonna love it. :)
 
They work really well in closed lid mode. I use mine mainly with an external 20 inch DVI monitor and USB keyboard/mouse.

The black one can show fingerprints from handling, but they're pretty easy to buff off (if they bother you) in my experience. It looks so much better. A white surround for a screen is nasty. :p
 
I have the black one. I think it looks much better.
Only the bottom seems to pick up finger prints. But no one even sees that haha.

Maybe you guys are just greasy nerds :eek: :p
 
Here's a macbook/macbook pro question for you...

... what are the performance difference's like? Minimal?
 
Ok, kinda expected I suppose. Not really going to be doing anything that graphical, so macbook it is :D
 
I intend to get the basic macbook... i will just be using it to surf, general application use... nothing heavy.

But would it be wise to get a 1gb memory instead of the basic 512mb supplied for the macbook?

my mac expert friend advises me to get 1gb even if its light/medium usage?
 
I would have gone with the Macbook but that damn 13.3 inch screen is waaaaayyyyyy too small for me :(
 
thread hijackers :p

Thanks for the input guys, I didn't know it had a closed lid mode, that sounds pretty handy...am I best off taking the battery out and running it on the mains when I use it as a Desktop?

Also I still want to use my mx1000, can I map the right button to be the "hold down" thing on a mac? I think i'm definitely going to go black, i'm not into the whole mac thing but i can't deny they make a decent OS.
 
Once you go Mac you never go back.

I get my macbook tomorrow :D This is my first mac, i have used a couple times and have liked them so was right decision to get :)
 
skiba said:
am I best off taking the battery out and running it on the mains when I use it as a Desktop?

Not at all. When the battery is full, the MagSafe stops charing the battery and just powers the machine. You can see this if you download Coconut Battery app.

Things like that why I love Apple :)
 
toosepin said:
Not at all. When the battery is full, the MagSafe stops charing the battery and just powers the machine. You can see this if you download Coconut Battery app.

Things like that why I love Apple :)

Pretty much every laptop is intelligent enough to not overcharge the battery. Hell, pretty much every device with a rechargeable battery is intelligent enough to not overcharge it.
 
not true, the battery on my laptop is significantly reduced now.

I just noticed the £35 bluetooth keyboard, gotta get one of these for when the lid is shut, get my mx1000 in and am totally wireless :)
 
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