A few quick queries before I buy a Mac

Ok, so, like so many others I'm about to take that final plunge and buy a Macbook or Macbook Pro and just wanted to clarify a few things before I make up my mind.

Firstly - does the MB/MBP automatically ship with Leopard or do I need to add it to the shopping cart when buying online? I thought it automatically came with it but after browsing the store I've noticed that once you've added the notebook with your specs to the cart Leopard still comes up as something to possibly be added.

What do people think of the Office 2008 for Mac? As I've always had a PC I'm pretty attached to Word, Excel and Powerpoint now despite whatever flaws they may have. Using these programmes is very much second nature to me and I'd rather not have to relearn/figure out the more complicated tasks on iwork but I have heard people complaining about Office for Mac. Is it really so bad?

Also, I'm buying in Germany but wanting to get the English version - is the English international keyboard widely different from the British? Will the Macbook be unhappy when I go back to England constantly having ot be plugged into a converter? really don't want to screw up the notebook because of some electricity incompatability...

On the question of to MB or to MBP - I love the bigger screen and much better speakers on the MBP but am a bit worried about extra weight and durability if being carried around quite a bit. I'm coming from a Sony Vaio TZ so quite a lot lighter than both of these. The shop where I went to test out the notebooks in the flesh had glued all the Macs down because they are so precious, v annoying when you go to a shop so that you can actually handle the thing....

And finally, whats the best notebook case to get for a mac?

Sorry, I know the whole new mac questions get asked all the time but I couldn't find the answer to these ones...

All advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

it is shipped with leopard!

to me it is not bad,but also you can have openoffice,which is great,and free

keybord is not different at all,and power adapter is international,so it will work everywhere

and MBP is only 300g heavier then MB,and it is built very well

 

Go for the MacBook Pro, it's built of high quality materials and has a nice midrange graphics chip. The cheapo MacBook is made of junky plastic and fades easily especially on the palm reset. It also has a lowend Intel graphics chip. I have friends with MacBooks, and friends with MacBook Pros. The MacBook Pros seem to be much better built and are way more durable.

 

As far as the power brick goes, it's a standard auto-switching 100-240V, so you'll just need to get the proper connectors when you go into a different country.

 

it ships with leopard.

office 2008 for mac is not at all bad. but i prefer iwork; the latest version iwork '08 is a very competent office replacement; it is very easy to learn; and produce high quality finish.

the reason i avoid the office 2008 for mac; is that the security in microsoft product is not satisfactory; such as (im not sure if this apply to the 2008 version; but in 2004 version this apply) it introduce the activeX virus on mac.

not too sure; but the difference shouldn't be a lot. i think the power adapter is auto voltage adjust, like most modern adaptor. on the side note; i personally buy the notebook local; so, if you mostly use this notebook in germany, buy it in germany.

ill post my opinion below...

i use the STM 17" large brink - fitted 17" MBP bag. it is designed specifically for mac, there are the 15" version, there are one fromt his company for Macbook, but im not sure if it is "the brink" one.

glad to help

the macbook pro is indeed the one to choose if this is to be your main machine. the macbook is NOT made of junky plastic, it does not faded easily, the early early models do experienced brown discoloration. but newer does not discolour; we have 2 one is ruggedly used; there has been no discolouration seen, there have been hairline cosmetic cracks on the case; most likely from thermal cycle, as both has the same problem, one is mostly stationary...

the MBP, has heaps better screen, and speaker, the 17" has very decent speaker; that i can actually enjoy listening music with the internal speker. the case is prone to dent and (cosmetical) corrosion though; i have not experience it (thank god ) but i take care of my stuff .

both has absolutely NO keyboard flex!!!!!!!

this might scare u; but the truth is; every other laptop has issues, so to speak; (and indeed everything ever produce for that matter) is without flaw.

all in all i prefer the MBP.

 

FUD, nothing more. Have you even seen/touched a MacBook?

I've got a Black MacBook and it certainly does not feel CHEAP. After owning and using several Dell machines over the years, the MacBook construction blows them all away.....it's built like a tank in comparison.

And for people who aren't going to be doing any serious gaming, the Intel GMA will do just fine.

 

The MacBook will come with Leopard all installed and ready to go . When you first turn on your new Mac, it'll guide you to setting up a wireless network if you have one, giving your Mac a folder name, etc. Then its good to go!

In terms of office suites, it depends on your tasks. If you have a job that requires working with lots of Word, Excel and Powerpoint files, then Office 2008 for Mac is the way to go. Just to clarify though, Office 2008 is the Mac equivalent to Office 2007 for Windows, which had a GUI change, so you may have to re familiarize yourself with Office anyhow, if you're not used to Office 2007. If you don't need all the compatibility (Word Documents and such from Office still open and are editable in iWork, just not always 100% as it looked in Office, especially Powerpoint and Excel), iWork is a much cheaper option that still does a lot!

I believe the English International keyboard is the same, there's nothing to worry about there! Keeping it with a converter is pretty much okay, if you'd rather not you can get a new Magsafe with the right electric requirements for that region at an Apple Store at a price.

If you can afford it, definitely go for the MacBook Pro. It has the larger, brighter screen and more extra features, and its only 0.4 pounds heavier (so pretty much insignificant).

 

Maybe its just the ones that I've seen, but a fair amount of Macbooks that my friends have, theyve started to fade/wear/discolour on the palmrests.

I think its more obvious on the white, but on the black, it almost seems like the matte finish has worn. Though I never really inspected it, it could just be grease that could wipe away, but I know that some macbooks do kinda wear, although its purely a cosmetic thing. Could be fixed in the current gen of the macbooks, not sure myself.

 

Thanks for all the advice, is very helpful.

One more question tho. I make radio programmes and will probably get an editing programme like Pro Tools to work on them. If I get the Macbook I can afford to get it with extra RAM but can only get the MBP with the lower spec. In that case does it make mroe sense to get the Macbook?

Thanks!

 

I really wouldnt buy a MBP right now since there is a new MBP coming soon and all the MBPs out right now have defect GPUs, so good luck.

 

The newest White Macbooks now have grey plastic for the palmrest and keyboard surround instead of the white plastics found all over the rest of it. So they won't get palm rest discolouration.