To iBook or not to...
Yes Austin, this post is directed at you.
I've been getting the itch for a laptop. I've read a little on the ibook(14in.) and it looks like what I want, I think. I'll basically use it for internet, my digital camera, and music. I doubt I'll be doing any gaming on it. The thing that interests me the most about the ibook is Garageband. It would be really cool to have a portable studio and just mainly to be able to record my music. I don't need a DVD burner, although it would need a CD burner. I'd probably get 512mb for sure.
Sooo, would the ibook be a good buy? It comes w/iphoto and Garageband right? Even if it doesn't have a DVD-R, will it play DVD's?(Not a big issue either way) Is 60GB enough? Are there any other features that I should get? What the hell is bluetooth? Should I have iWork preinstalled? Why is the powerbook more expensive? Is there something else out there that you would recommend?
I know I should probably call their 1-800# but I'd trust your opinion over a salesmans. Sorry for so many questions, but if I'm gonna shell out that money, I want it to be worth it. If you don't want to post it all here, you can email me if you want. Many thanks in advance,
jt
I've been getting the itch for a laptop. I've read a little on the ibook(14in.) and it looks like what I want, I think. I'll basically use it for internet, my digital camera, and music. I doubt I'll be doing any gaming on it. The thing that interests me the most about the ibook is Garageband. It would be really cool to have a portable studio and just mainly to be able to record my music. I don't need a DVD burner, although it would need a CD burner. I'd probably get 512mb for sure.
Sooo, would the ibook be a good buy? It comes w/iphoto and Garageband right? Even if it doesn't have a DVD-R, will it play DVD's?(Not a big issue either way) Is 60GB enough? Are there any other features that I should get? What the hell is bluetooth? Should I have iWork preinstalled? Why is the powerbook more expensive? Is there something else out there that you would recommend?
I know I should probably call their 1-800# but I'd trust your opinion over a salesmans. Sorry for so many questions, but if I'm gonna shell out that money, I want it to be worth it. If you don't want to post it all here, you can email me if you want. Many thanks in advance,
jt
posted by jt at
2:54 AM
6 Comments:
Someone I know switching to an Apple fills me with so much joy that I can hardly contain myself.
I find that some people react differently to Mac than others. No rhyme or reason.
Me... I bought my iBook almost 4 years ago and couldn't be happier. Later I ended up with an older iMac for nothing and love it too. If I had my way every computer at every office I deal with would be a Mac so I would never have to touch a Windows box again.
Then there are people like Becky. She's smart and a good computer user. But is so used to Windows and the shortcut keys, etc... that are alive in that world. She uses our Macs everyday and doesn't mind them. But in a month or so when she gets around to buying a computer for her return to school this fall it will be a Windows machine. Just her preference.
I was initially drawn to the Mac because I'm a nerd and I wanted to play with OS X when it first came out. That and I was bored of (and hated) Windows.
But let's look at what you say you would use it for:
* Internet - Everything's there. The native e-mail application is great and the native browser (Safari) is the best thing going in my opinion. A few short years ago it was not uncommon to run across website that were unusable on the Mac and required Windows. That all has changed and I can't remember the last time I ran into something like that. All of the IM clients (Yahoo/AOL/MSN) are available as well.
* digital camera - iPhoto ships with the Mac and is the bomb diggety. It makes the storing, searching, printing, etc... of your pics easy as cake. And there is a whiz-bang "export to Flickr" plugin as well.
* Gaming - It's probably good that you wouldn't be doing a lot of gaming because I don't think there are a lot of games to be had.
* Music - iTunes... the bomb. Then if you want to make music there is GarageBand like you say. I've never used it or seen it but I know a lot of people love it.
A CDRW/DVDROM comes by default with iBooks so you'd be able to burn CD's and play DVD's. If you get the 14 inch you can get the SuperDrive which is a CD and DVD burner.
Bluetooth is a wireless protocal for peripheral stuff. You can get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse so there are no wires. Or if you have a bluetooth enable phone you can sync up contacts and calendars, etc... I have never personally used bluetooth for anything.
iWork... it depends. It is basically a word processor (like Microsoft Word) and a presentation maker (like Microsoft PowerPoint). If you aren't going to be doing either of those you may not want to worry about that. There are some free alternatives for basic word processing if you needed to type a letter or something.
60gig hard drive. That would probably be enough for me but I don't really carry a lot of mp3's or stuff like that on my laptop. My iBook has a whopping 10gig drive and I've never filled it up. I think 100gig is the biggest option. If you could afford it... might as well.
Ram... Buy it from Apple with the least amount possible. Then when you get it go to a site like datamem.com and buy the memory there. Example: The iBook comes with 256mb built in. To add 1 gig of ram to the system will cost you $500 from Apple. Datamem charges $155 for that same stick. Takes 5 minutes to install.
The powerbooks are more expensive just because they are beefier machines. Faster processors, buses, ability to have more ram, better graphics cards, etc...
Never having used Garageband I'm not sure what type of juice that things requires. I'm sure an iBook would push it but can't tell you about what type of performance you'd get.
In short... for me the Macs just work. Plug you digital camera in... it just works. iPhoto cranks up and you press 1 button to import your photos. No mucking around with drivers, etc... The interface is just better to me. Things are laid out better... more elegant looking... just more appealing.
Now... that's not to say that Apple doesn't have its shortcomings... they do.
Major Cons:
1. Apple Cost - Apple stuff is more expensive. They come out with an OS upgrade about every 1.5 - 2 years and they are about $179 a pop. Now you don't have to upgrade, but it always seems that around a year after an upgrade to get into a newer version of some other software will force you to.
2. Apple Surprise Attack - Apple if famous (in my opinion) for dangling something free in front of you and then deciding to charge for new version once it gets popular. The did this with .Mac. .Mac used to be this free service given to all Mac owners with an e-mail account, offsite storage, simple webpage, etc... Once I got all used to using it they decided to start charging $100 a year for it. I bailed. Then there was iPhoto. I'm still using the old free version (2 I think), because they decided to package that with iLife and charge $79 for it. A new machine comes with iLife, but in the future if they come out with a new version you'll have to buy it.
3. Apple Addiction - Once you get an Apple you want more. Sort of like Wes and tattoos.
The best advice I can give you is to play with one. If you have a change head up to Charlotte or down to Atlanta and go to an Apple store. The workers there are generally really really patient. They have ever available Mac out in the open with internet connections so you can play around with them.
I was recently in Atlanta and spent an hour or so just playing around with stuff.
They even had a machine there with a keyboard plugged into it so you could goof with GarageBand. They also have digital cameras and video recorders there so you can snap a photo and import it using iPhoto.
If you have the change to go to an Apple Store do it... nothing like seeing it first hand. The CompUSA in G'Vegas on Woodruff road has a small Mac section as well where you can check stuff out.
By
austin, at 4:45 PM
Thanks for all the advice. I'm pretty sure it's what I'm gonna get. I'll be heading towards Woodruff Rd. way tomorrow anyway, so I'll probably stop by Compusa and check 'em out.
What I've read about Garageband, it seems amazing. I used to record my shit on a damn taperecorder, so just about anything will be better. This way I'll be able to record up to 8 tracks, add effects if needed, vocals, and be able to mix the music as well.
I know as soon as I get it, I'll be wanting an iPod ASAP.
Oh, and I can finally get some photos on Flickr.
I've still got some time to research or whatnot b/c I probably won't buy one until sometime next month. I've got the money for it now, but I'm moving in with my cousin this month and I've got a whole lot of shit going on at work(supervisor is getting us classes at G'ville Tech for CCNA).
Thanks a million for the info Austin:)
By
jt, at 9:24 PM
So Roberto, you're using iphoto and DVD "maker" at work? How much do you get paid? Are y'all hiring? I sure am getting tired of this 3rd shift shit.
By
jt, at 5:58 AM
Oh, and did Wes tell you about the fun night we had at Gottrocks? AND DBT is going to be at Bele Chere July 30th! There's nothing like a free DBT show!
By
jt, at 5:59 AM
jt and gomez in one crib is asking for trouble folks. film that shit fo-shizzle...
By
austin, at 4:14 PM
Yes it's true, me and the human speedbump will be living in the same place. I start moving in this weekend.
Your show idea is a great one. Gomez has a good digital camcorder, so who knows what's gonna go down. We've been talking about having a "small" party sometime in the next couple of months. His place is awesome, the closest neighbor is about 600yds. away.
By
jt, at 9:22 PM
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