The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Couple Questions - Macbook Pro - Switching!

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by swordfish01, Dec 2, 2008.

  1. swordfish01

    swordfish01 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    123
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Well, it has been on goal sheet for quite some time to switch to mac. I am a big fan of apple products including the iphone, so I figured I might as well give it a shot.

    I run a web design company and right now have a dell dockable laptop that is very convenient. I plug it into the dock, close it, and immediately i have access to my 2 monitors, keyboard, mouse, etc.

    With the Macbook, I believe I will have to purchase something in order to connect both my dvi and vga monitor to the laptop and not work off the laptop monitor right?

    Also, which program will I be using for POP3 mail that is close to outlook but better?
     
    swordfish01, Dec 2, 2008
    #1
  2. blurb23

    blurb23 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    20
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You'll need a mini-DisplayPort adapter if you want to display anything. Welcome to Apple :p

    As far as email goes, I find Mail to be an excellent program for it. There's also Thunderbird.
     
    blurb23, Dec 2, 2008
    #2
  3. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

    Reputations:
    3,189
    Messages:
    7,375
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    2 adapters and a usb hub if you want.and Mail is very good!
     
    Xirurg, Dec 2, 2008
    #3
  4. swordfish01

    swordfish01 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    123
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    so with 2 adapater and a hub, i can run my macbook open as the left monitor, my 24 in the middle, and then have my 19 to the right for 3 work areas.

    The keyboard, I'll just have to plugin everytime I get into the office...'

    I basically get to my office each day and work off my laptop like it is a desktop, so trying to that out of my new mac...
     
    swordfish01, Dec 2, 2008
    #4
  5. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

    Reputations:
    3,189
    Messages:
    7,375
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    sadly,you can only connect your mac to 1 monitor.and I meant the hub for your mouse/keyboard/other staff,so you need to connect only 1 cable.and 2 adapters-1 miniDVI-dvi,1 miniDVI-VGA,if you use both standards.
     
    Xirurg, Dec 2, 2008
    #5
  6. swordfish01

    swordfish01 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    123
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ahh ok, so I will have to have my laptop open as the small monitor 15.4 and then my 24 will be my main monitor...

    The hub will stay connects to my keyboard, mouse, printer, and then I just plug that into my laptop daily.
     
    swordfish01, Dec 2, 2008
    #6
  7. sulkorp

    sulkorp Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    145
    Messages:
    1,192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    There are solutions out there, if you really wanted extra displays. Matrox makes them, and they allow you to use one DVI to connect to two displays. Though its an extra box in the system, and they cost a bit of money. But if you really want two or three displays, then its an option.

    Also yea, Mail is a pretty good email client.
     
    sulkorp, Dec 2, 2008
    #7
  8. Packerfan

    Packerfan Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    19
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Arguably for more monitors you could get a LED cinema display and use its usb ports, or just get a large USB hub plug keyboard, mouse, and two of these into it

    http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=11685

    They run off of USB, so they cant do 3d acceleration stuff, but desktop work is fine.
     
    Packerfan, Dec 2, 2008
    #8
  9. sulkorp

    sulkorp Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    145
    Messages:
    1,192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yea, but I dont think those monitors are really out yet/if they are they're in their infancy. But still, if they are, they will do what theyre needed to do.
     
    sulkorp, Dec 2, 2008
    #9