Lookin at getting a MacBook

mattgaunt

mattgaunt

mattgaunt

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20 May 2007
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441
Hey guys

Im a Uni student studying Computer Science, my 4 yo laptop is slowly drivin me mad and i was considerin gettin a mac, but jus wondered if someone could answer a few questions. The model i was lookin for was the cheapest MacBook but with 2GB of ram instead of 1GB.

- Is the networking and wireless on a mac any good?? This is one thing that is quite a must, I have wireless at uni in most buildings and really want something that will connect and stay connected without any probs, they use VPN and eduRoam (Not sure what eduroam is but cpl of unis have got it)

- Can i install compilers i.e. java and C compiler on a mac without hassle?

- Do macs have a terminal?? (I use linux for programming atm)

- Can i get msn messenger, GIMP and open office installed on it??

- Will it be able to handle running several programs without strugglin, i.e. photoshop, itunes, messenger and whatever else at same time

- Last question I can think of, is the lil remote you can get for it any gd? I have to give presentations and was thinkin about gettin just to change slides

Any advice or guidance would be great

Gaunt
 
The networking and wireless is great - one thing I think it's missing is individual network profiles for each of your wireless networks (if it's not missing this, I can't find it!!) so that you can define DNS for each network you use (as it stands {for me, anyway} you put in global DNS that are used for each network you connect to; a bit illogical to me!) I know VPN works because a couple of the guys here use it, not sure about eduRoam, though.

If you install developer tools (from the OSX install disc) you get C compilers. You can download java compilers from the Apple website; I believe they're up to Java 6 now, but because they do their Java development in house (they have their own distributions of Java), they're normally a bit later with the releasing.

Yes, Macs use terminal. You can also use things like Fink and Darwinports to install linux software you're used to using. Since Leopard, it's been certified Unix, so all the stuff you get with Linux distros *should* be available in the bog-standard install of OSX, too.

MSN is available - lots of clients, though only the crappy one supports Video chat. I personally use Adium, but there are advocates of aMSN, Mercury and MSN for Mac on here. GIMP is available. Instead of OpenOffice, I would use NeoOffice - essentially an OSX-ized version of OpenOffice. Personally I prefer Microsoft's suite, but you're probably used to OpenOffice :)

You shouldn't have any problems running those apps simultaneously - you might get a bit of slowdown running photoshop in the background (I only run apps when I'm using them {a habit OSX has got me into}) but it should cope - my much lower-spec powerbook can do it.

That remote is intended for media player controlling and controlling keynote (OSX's Powerpoint) so it should fare pretty well. There are lots of apps available to extend the functionality of the remote, so you should be able to get it to do what you want.

hth
 
Yeah the networking is fine, I connect to eduroam on my older iBook without a problem

Not sure about compilers but I would guess they have them, yep terminal comes as standard

There are mac versions of GIMP, Open Office and and MSN compatible IM program available

Should be fine if you have around 2GB RAM, Photoshop being the main culprit

The remote doesn't come as standard anymore, but it does much more then giving slideshows great for front row etc
 
cheers for the reply, jus what i needed to know, ill have a look into everythin i hopefully will order one soon then :-S soooo much money

Anyway thanks again
Gaunt
 
Don't forget the Higher Education Apple store, for your delicious 14% discount :)

The model you're looking at is £601
 
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