MacBook Pro - About to make the switch to apple...

[Westyfield2]

It's new laptop time, and from this thread, I've pretty much decided on the MacBook Pro.

Before I go any further, my entire OSX experience has been using Safari in an Apple shop for 30mins (while on holiday) - and every computer in the house is Windows!
So I'm an Apple n00b, but a few of my friends run Apple's so will help me out!

The MacBook Pro I'm after is the 15.4" 2.4GHz, with optional Glossy screen and 160GB 7200-rpm HDD. I will upgrade to 4gb RAM in a few months time.

As I am such an Apple n00b, I will be dual booting with Vista (is that the right version for Bootcamp?) - but *hopefully* by the time Leopard is released I'll have gained confidence in OSX and be using that more.


However, my main concern is how to use a MB Pro along side windows machines? As I'll be using the MBP for 2years of sixth form I'll need to be able to connect to the school Intranet (they just give 6th formers the Wi-Fi details and the proxy server details) - I presume this is possible in OSX.
Also, all the school files (presuming I can even connect to a network drive) are in MS-Word/Powerpoint formats, so I guess I'll have to boot into Vista to use them? (I know the school file-server runs MS Server 2003 if that makes any difference)

Also, the MBP will be used on my home network, so will OSX be able to access the Shared Documents of my windows machines?
<And thats all the OSX questions I can think of>


I'll be buying the MBP from a US Apple retail store (probably New York, or San francisco) so will there be any issues with it being an American MBP? (I know that in a windows laptop then only problem would be the keyboard layout)

Finally, as said at the top of the post, it's a customised MBP (Apple website says it would 7-10 business days) - would an Apple shop have that configuration in stock? Or should I phone them a few days in advance?
RE the yellow screen issue (read about it here) can the Apple shops replace it there and then (say I go into NY Apple shop, buy MBP, turn it on and it's yellow) or do would the shop need to send it back to Apple?


Whoa, that's quite a big post

TY all...

 

[NickK]

Well as you're still at school, the mac:Office 2004 is about £129. Although this is PPC binary still, the MBP will run it without any playing around. Infact the "test drive" mac:Office is bundled with the MBP OSX installation
This will work with Windows Office 2004 docs. Also the previous versions too. The upcoming 2008 mac:Office sees a split in the scripting language used (apple version uses AppleScript, windows version uses visual basic still) but that shouldn't cause problems unless you have a programming assignment in VB.. which I doubt at school level.


The only issue I see with the MBP is heat. I have a MBP 15" 2.4, 2GB, 160GB 5400rpm and in a warm environment it does get hot unless I use the smcFanControl application.

OSX has windows sharing built in (connects to my Linux Samba fileserver).

The keyboard layout does not stop you from getting a UK layout keyboard.

I would advise you to get a Neoprene second skin for it as well as a protector that sits between the keyboard and screen when the lid is closed. Without it you may find you get key-screen where the screen touches the keys (worst case scratches it).

Apple shops would probably send off the mac to apple if they replace it. Normally the shop only does the easy changes that users could do but aren't technically minded enough.

 

[wij]

Networking:

Yes it will all work, I have my MBP accessing files over both my Uni's network and home network from Windows shares, you can even enable sharing on your Mac so that Windows machines can see your files.

Office:

Don't install Vista just so you can have Office, unless you need Access you might aswell just get a copy of Office for Mac, its sligthly differnt in the way it does things but I've not found any major issues yet.

Bootcamp:

The only officially supported version at the moment is the 32Bit ones, although I had the 64Bit beta version of Vista Ultimate installed for a few months without any big issues

Buying from the USA:

Keyboard will be a US layout, if that botheres you don't buy it, although its worth bearing in mind that Apple keyboards are not the same layout as standard UK ones anyway.

Powersupply will not come with a UK plug, but again you can just use any old figure-eight lead in the end of it.

Whether or not your warrenty is valid outside the US is also debateable, and somthing you should certainly check, if somthing were to go wrong it may end up costing you a lot more in repairs than you saved buying abroad.

And as for the Screen - check if they would have that configuration in stock, and also make sure that you could open it in the store to check you are happy with it before paying.

 

[Westyfield2]

Thanks for the detailed reply

Well as you're still at school, the mac:Office 2004 is about £129. Although this is PPC binary still, the MBP will run it without any playing around. Infact the "test drive" mac:Office is bundled with the MBP OSX installation
This will work with Windows Office 2004 docs. Also the previous versions too. The upcoming 2008 mac:Office sees a split in the scripting language used (apple version uses AppleScript, windows version uses visual basic still) but that shouldn't cause problems unless you have a programming assignment in VB.. which I doubt at school level.

Cheers, the school is currently on Office 2003, though the ICT admin has said he wants Office 2007 as soon as he can.
AFAIK we dont do any VB for A-Level, though I have already had the ICT network technicians come to me asking for help in VB

The only issue I see with the MBP is heat. I have a MBP 15" 2.4, 2GB, 160GB 5400rpm and in a warm environment it does get hot unless I use the smcFanControl application.

Yea, I read about that in another thread.

OSX has windows sharing built in (connects to my Linux Samba fileserver).

Yey

I would advise you to get a Neoprene second skin for it

Like this or this?

as well as a protector that sits between the keyboard and screen when the lid is closed. Without it you may find you get key-screen where the screen touches the keys (worst case scratches it).

Hmm, you got a linky for one of those?

 

[Westyfield2]

Thanks for the detailed reply

Networking:

Yes it will all work, I have my MBP accessing files over both my Uni's network and home network from Windows shares, you can even enable sharing on your Mac so that Windows machines can see your files.

Cool, that's exactly what I'd want

Office:

Don't install Vista just so you can have Office, unless you need Access you might aswell just get a copy of Office for Mac, its sligthly differnt in the way it does things but I've not found any major issues yet.

Will be using Vista for other things too (and for while I learn OSX )

Bootcamp:

The only officially supported version at the moment is the 32Bit ones, although I had the 64Bit beta version of Vista Ultimate installed for a few months without any big issues

Given my experience of XP 64bit (even with 3ghz dual core, 2gb ram) I've decided to stick to 32bit Vista

Buying from the USA:

Keyboard will be a US layout, if that botheres you don't buy it, although its worth bearing in mind that Apple keyboards are not the same layout as standard UK ones anyway.

Hmm, as it'll be my first Apple computer I won't be coming from an Apple UK keyboard - so I think I'll get used to it.

Powersupply will not come with a UK plug, but again you can just use any old figure-eight lead in the end of it.

Yea, I guess the World Travel Kit is what I'd need?

Whether or not your warrenty is valid outside the US is also debateable, and somthing you should certainly check, if somthing were to go wrong it may end up costing you a lot more in repairs than you saved buying abroad.

Anyone know the official Apple policy? Though if the warranty is US only, my Dad has plenty of US offices that I could use as a postal address.

And as for the Screen - check if they would have that configuration in stock, and also make sure that you could open it in the store to check you are happy with it before paying.

Yep, will phone ahead when I've decieded where to get it. How long would an Apple store need? As I'm after the 15.4" 2.4GHz, with optional Glossy screen and 160GB 7200-rpm HDD.
And I will definately power it on in the store - how bad/obvious (to me and the Apple salesman) the yellow screen issue?

 

[wij]

The world travel kit is the neat way of doing it, although a £2 lead from any store would also do the same job

As for the lead time it could be anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks

 

[NickK]

Thanks for the detailed reply

Cheers, the school is currently on Office 2003, though the ICT admin has said he wants Office 2007 as soon as he can.
AFAIK we dont do any VB for A-Level, though I have already had the ICT network technicians come to me asking for help in VB

You may be better getting 2004. VB is MS technology so expect the support on OSX to be very bad - even from MS.. as 2008 will not have any support (AppleScript instead) this means support will be in decline.

this

Infact that's the very one I have (in red) and yes it has that white writing about what's inside it! It's useful for protecting it from getting scratched when put inside a rucksack etc.


I have a Marware neopryne from the apple website, it's expensive for what it is and you could do the same with just a thick piece of spongy material. I just got it because I couldn't be bothered finding something to do the job and I was ordering other things anyway!

 

[Mr Spew]

"160GB 7200-rpm HD"

The amount that they charge for this is extortionate, change it yourself if you want that.. otherwise 5400 is fine.

 

[wij]

"160GB 7200-rpm HD"

The amount that they charge for this is extortionate, change it yourself if you want that.. otherwise 5400 is fine.

Oh yes sensible idea that, buying a very expensive laptop only to invalidate the warranty within the first day to upgrade a part that could be done by the supplier.

Also have you tried to open up a MBP recently, they are damn near impossible to get into without leaving some kind of damage.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I have an Incase Neoprene Case (for 17" MBP) if anyone wants to buy it..

Special Price

 

[Westyfield2]

Oh yes sensible idea that, buying a very expensive laptop only to invalidate the warranty within the first day to upgrade a part that could be done by the supplier.

Also have you tried to open up a MBP recently, they are damn near impossible to get into without leaving some kind of damage.

My thoughts exactly, I'm willing to pay Apple the extra for the 7200-rpm HDD but not for memory, after a few months I'll do 4GB RAM myself


Question about the yellow screen: Is it soo obvious that me/Apple salesman would notice it without using the test images?

 

[Westyfield2]

Keyboard will be a US layout, if that botheres you don't buy it, although its worth bearing in mind that Apple keyboards are not the same

What exactly is different between the US Apple keyboard and UK Apple keyboard? (I know the differences between a US PC keyboard and a UK PC keyboard)

 

[Deleted member 651465]

What exactly is different between the US Apple keyboard and UK Apple keyboard? (I know the differences between a US PC keyboard and a UK PC keyboard)

Then you know the difference for the Apple keyboards..

The only other thing that comes to mind is that the @ key is replaced with the " key, thus making the @ above the 2 key. Oh, and the \ and / keys are a lot closer together.

I suggest you Google-Image "Apple Laptop Keyboard"

 

[Anewbe4u]

My Apple is english and it has the @ above the 2.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

My Apple is english and it has the @ above the 2.

...thus making the @ above the 2 key

 

[Anewbe4u]

I thought he was talking about the difference between Apple uk and us keyboards, not Apple and normal keyboards.

 

[Westyfield2]

I thought he was talking about the difference between Apple uk and us keyboards, not Apple and normal keyboards.

Correct, I know what a UK Apple keyboard is but I do not know what a US Apple keyboard is.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

Correct, I know what a UK Apple keyboard is but I do not know what a US Apple keyboard is.

See my original post..

If you know what a standard US keyboard looks like then you'll know what the US apple keyboard looks like.. they're practically the same thing.

That's the US keyboard layout..

 

[NickK]

The big give away is the euro symbol. American symbols have no interest in that

 

[Mr Spew]

Oh yes sensible idea that, buying a very expensive laptop only to invalidate the warranty within the first day to upgrade a part that could be done by the supplier.

Also have you tried to open up a MBP recently, they are damn near impossible to get into without leaving some kind of damage.

In that case, just leave the hard drive as stock as the money they ask is stupid for little or no improvement.