EXTREMELY Urgent: Buying MacBook in 72 hours!!! Or Asus W7S-B1B? What MacBook Accessories to get?

Hello Everyone!

I'm going to buy a MacBook in 72 hours, I need all the help I can get please
Firstly, I'm buying it from amazon.com as I have some gift certs to spend.
I decided to get apple's greatest black macbook and will be upgrading ram to 2GB myself.

I have some main concerns. I am going to be a mac-pc switcher and have many concerns over this switch.
Parallels have already been added to my cart and I have an extra copy of XP Pro. So my question would be, would boot camp or parallels be better for me to play games like counter strike source?
And is it possible that I install both, parallels and boot camp, so that boot camp be made for gaming and parallels for basic tasks like word processing and running incompatible apps on windows?

Next up is about the keyboard. It looks mighty cool, but from what I read, it offers a superb tactile response. Is that true, and does it have ANY keyboard flex, which I absolutely hate?
The keyboard is going to be black. Is it glossy black or matt black?
And IF it is matt black, will they turn shiny over time because of wear and tear?

The screen is fantastic glossy and all.
The thing is, a 50" plasma was recently purchased and I would really like to use the macbook with the plasma. The resolution is 1378x768 or something like that, and it is a widescreen televison. It has HDMI inputs and VGA as well, am I able to use it with my macbook at FULL resolution i.e. 1378x768?
I know that I need a VGA adapter too, and will be buying that as well.

Lastly, this is regarding accessories for the dear mac.
I will definitely be getting AppleCare protection.
And some accessories I need everyone's wise help on.
First up is the macbook case. It really looks nice and I just need everones opinion on which color scheme to get. The red looks sporty but the white stripe matches the apple logo!
It is really a tough choice to make.

The links are here:
http://www.case-mate.com/s.nl/it.A/id.192/.f
http://www.case-mate.com/s.nl/it.A/id.193/.f

Next up is the keyboard protector. It is basically a silicon keyboard skin that protects the keyboard from wear and tear and also falling cookie crumbs and cake bits
Is this worthwile to get, and has anyone had experience using them, how were they?
Was wondering if the artic white will clash with my overall color scheme?

The link is here:
http://www.iskin.com/protouchmb/index.tpl?cart=11839134842183516

I really appreciate it guys!

Oh man, I TOTALLY forgot about the poor Asus W7S-B1B.
Is it worthwhile to get? I mean it has 2 years international warranty and the pricing is only 50USD more as compared to the macbook with applecare.
It does look nice and is almost comparable to the MacBook since I like black.
The thing is, it does have the latest santa rosa platform and has a graphics card. And has 2 batteries - 6 and 9 cell.
So the main differences would be
OS X vs. Vista and
Apple's Coolness Factor vs. Asus Sleekness
Asus Power vs. Apple's low spec macbook

Oh yeah, I really wanted a Black macbook because it is cool and hard to find.
And also since it will match my new 8GB Black iPod Nano.
But then again, asus specs are really value for money!!

Argh,,, i'm so confused and I HAVE to make the purchase in 72 hours! Help!!

Thanks!


Gerald

 

If you go for the mac, I'd use BootCamp for gaming. Whether or not you want to also use parrallels for basic tasks is up to you, but in my experience bootcamp does the trick.

However, since it doesn't seem like you need any of the software on the mac, or OSX itself, I'd say the W7S is a much better option, as it's gaming capabilities will be far superior to those of the Macbook. If that matters at all to you, go with the Asus.

 

I've mentioned this many times to people in your situation that ask these questions. Are you buying a Mac or are you buying a Windows machine? If you are even considering either a Windows or a Mac notebook then it's obvious that you have no interest in using the OS X operating system. Only you can answer that question because at this point your questions are only being applied to hardware and not the system.

If the Asus is on the table then you can't use Mac OS X so why even consider the Mac? Using a Mac to run Windows is a convenience option but it's still a Mac.

You mentioned you want to buy the Macbook because it's cool looking and it's hard to get? That doesn't make you a "switcher". I am a Mac user and I am recommending you get the Asus.

 

well the Mac does look cool and I really like the intuitive user interface.
I saw some youtube videos on it and oh boy, I was like so awestruck by it.

You see, gaming is not my first priority and I like the Mac because it comes with all the cute applications you can use. For example, photobooth is a real good application to have fun with friends!
Things like iMovie, windoes does not even have it built in and I would really like to get a mac for such stuff.

I do not really get what you mean about being a switcher.
What justifies a switcher?

Well I am buying a Mac, and I am really interested in using Mac OS X as my main platform.

But for occasional gaming, i guess boot camp would suffice?
I CAN live without gaming, I don't need it as it isn't my main concern.

And I have not considered the MBP because it is too big and heavy.

I really appreciate everyone's replies!

 

One more thing that bugs me is that,
Why is everyone under the impression that I do not need/want/would like OS X?

"since it doesn't seem like you need any of the software on the mac, or OSX itself,"

"it's obvious that you have no interest in using the OS X operating system."

I feel that OS X is much cooler than Vista who is a copycat

 

Oh, sorry, most people on this forum are using that term "switcher" when they have been using Windows and decide to switch to the Mac OS X system. Your interests in the Mac OS don't seem extreme but they are good reasons to want to use the OS X system. I'm the same way it's the little things on the Mac that made me switch from Windows to the Mac.

The Macbook is not a gaming machine. The GPU is for very light gaming and it may force you to keep the setting on the lowest for 3D games.
Yes, the Macbook is very cool looking and offers a lot but again you have to ask yourself if you are really going to be using Mac OS X. If it's 50/50 (OS X and Windows) then it makes sense to get the Mac. If your Windows use greatly outweighs the Mac OS in use and you find yourself just playing with OS X for the fun of it then it's a waste to buy a Mac.

I always love helping people when they want to buy a Mac but my first time buying a Mac did not include any consideration for another PC and if you still have a PC on the table you're considering then you should just get the PC.

 

If you want to game, get the W7. The 7400go gpu is way better than the intel solution. That's all, nothing to do with whether you like OSX or Vista.

 

Its 8400
Oh well looks like I have to seriously think this one out,

 

Creepers, I don't think you're understanding the point. When you title your posting as Buying a Mac in 72 hours or Asus then it's obvious that you won't be using OS X on at least one of those machines.
This doesn't mean in my mind that you don't like OS X but it certainly shows that you have very little interest in using it when considering a Vista laptop.

 

Nope.
I am fine with either operating systems since I just surf the web and type documents.
And to explain further,
I do not like vista and prefer OS X but my main concern is whether I would get the most bang for the buck.

So my main concern right now is bang for the buck vs. apple's coolness factor.

And I am pretty much going to buy my black macbook.

But i have one more question.
if say I sell the black macbook like 1 year from now, if leopard releases and possibly the ultraportable macs come out, hope much should I expect to recover back?

Thanks!


Gerald
p.s. I prefer being called Gerald. Creepers was a silly name I intend to change it

 

Exactly. If you're considering a machine that doesn't have OSX, then having OSX is obviously not one of your primary concerns. If you definitely want to use OSX, then you can't get the Asus. It's as simple as that.

Also, the Macbook (I assume you're looking at the Santa Rosa one?) will have the GMA x3100, which is not suitable for anything but very light, casual gaming, in which case you probably won't need windows anyhow. The 8400 on the W7S, is a decent mid-range card, that you could play pretty much any modern game on.

 

I'm in a similar boat, but the integrated graphics in the Macbook will be absolutely mauled by ANY dedicated graphics card.

I went through the same thought process. But eventually, I upped from a Macbook to a Macbook Pro. The Macbook pro is less than a pound heavier, it is seriously mobile compared to most 15.4" and I would highly recommend it if you are considering gaming at ALL. Otherwise, it offers the exact same software as the MacBook, and will run fairly similarly if you get the 2.2 Macbook Pro (Because that is only .04 times faster than 2.16).

Anyway, between the two, it is just hard to sit with that GMA 950 in the Macbook, I know it'll play World of Warcraft with medium settings at about 16-20 FPS, but the WOW engine isn't as demanding as serious CS:S.

The way you are talking though, I'd bet you'd still be happy with a Macbook.

 

Okay thanks for explaining why you felt that way I understand now.

The MacBook does not have santa rosa. The MacBook Pro does.

I intend to upgrade to 2GB ram too. And I would like to keep this under 1800USD

And MBP is out of the question because I do not want to pay so much for a laptop i'm going to use for 1.3 years, where after that i'll have to go for army!

 

I forgot to add that I would be porting it around to cafes and around school so it has got to be the weight of a macbook or lighter

And that said, I do not really need gaming so... i'll give it a thought tonight,

 

Can you get the student discount where you are? That would be really nice with a Macbook. Also, I've done some more research, and it looks like the GMA 950 in the Macbook WILL play CS:S. Essentially, you just have to set the graphical settings to lowest and then work your way up slowly, checking performance with each increase. Apparently, the GMA 950 has gotten better over time. As long as you dual boot into XP when playing games, I think it will do fine.

There! Now you can get your Macbook and play CS:S too!

 

Okay Gerald, based on your last couple of posts I now change my recommendation to the Macbook but here are the reasons:

The Macbook may have a few less USB ports than say a Windows machine but you pick up true Firewire which gives you more opportunities for video cams and external hard disks.

The Magsafe power connector is a must for a notebook.

The Macbook is supported for dual boot which greatly extends your options. If you are in a situation where the Mac OS doesn't offer certain software then you can simply boot to Windows (provided it's installed). You might end up in a situation where Windows is just not welcome and the Mac is only supported, in this case it works for you.

Lastly, we are living in the digital age and basically living an "iLife". Apple's products have become the products to own. Apple is now the new Sony. You can bet that the iPhone, iPod, iTunes and any other Apple products will always run and connect better on a Mac. The iPhone itself runs OS X so you can expect that the computer age is changing to the Mac OS and that will be the future of computing.
Yes, Leopard will set a whole new standard when it arrives.

Now for your gaming concerns, forget it. That Macbook's GMA 950 won't suffice for 3D games and the SR X3100 isn't much better. You can play lite games but that's it. The Macbook pro is a gaming machine.

 

Yeah, I change my recommendation too.

Though, for the record, the x3100 is much better than the GMA950, and can handle most modern games at low settings, inlcuding such as Oblivion and Fear.

 

After 1 year, i guess the price of selling it is half of wat you bought. Remember tat the multitouch macbooks and leopards are coming together and it is really a bigger upgrade compared to the ones before.

 

I wouldn't spend much money at all on a notebook if you are only going to use it for a year. I would either get the cheapest thing I could find or get something used. Incidentally, doesn't the army allow you to take your notebook? Maybe not to boot camp, but you can take it after that. I would look into that and then save for the MBP so you can get a decent GPU, cause even the 8400 is not that great.

 

Sorry i'm using my phone to reply its screwed up hold on ignore this

 

Okay. First off, this is such a fantastic forum i would probably almost totally get 1 word replies if i posted it in my local singaporean forums. Reason being that we don't have much mac people here.
Thank you everyone for your recommendations , i realized that i have always wanted the mac. About cs:s, i just need it at the lowest setting, wanted to know if i can play it in the lowest settings.

i'm getting the macbook cheaper than education discount, kinda, because of the vouchers.

i will be upgrading to 2gb ram, but am i able to upgrade to 4gb ram using 2 sticks or will the macbook not recognize it?

and guys, any help on the accessories to get? I'm deciding between a sleeve and a case. The mac looks extremely nice on it's own but does that case make it look nicer or does it hide the beauty of the macbook?
If i were to get a sleeve, which one is good? I want a leather one only, sorry vegetarians! Haha.

and about the keyboard protector, has anyone used it before? How is it?

is there any additional accessories you recommend me to get from amazon?

you don't know how i appreciate this guys, thank you so much!!!

 

Go with the sleeve. The case add some extra mms to it, i wouldnt want it but it makes ur mb colourful, all up to you. A notebook cooler is also a must.

If you want to output the display to an external lcd, u need a converter as well, but i guess u know that..

 

Ok, need some recommendations too, any sort of leather sleeve from amazon. Will get vga converter unless they have hdmi will it work with my 50 inch plasma tv that uses 1378x768 resolution? Or is it too large to drive? I asked the question in my first post but i think it was missed since it was such a lengthy post!

 

At that resolution, your macbook should do fine with the plasma. Apple and other companies have DVI to HDMI converter cables, I think those would work. Just make sure to get the right cable. If it is mini dvi vs regular dvi and etc. The HDMI end should be standard.

Cables on Apple

This kind of thing.

You can probably find some brand cheaper on NewEgg.

 

I believe that the 945m chipset in the Macbook only recognizes 3GB max, though I suppose with Mac's it could be different. I know the PC 945m ones only handle 3gb RAM, regardless of OS.

 

Ok but I would tentatively buy 2x1GB RAMs and then keep the 2x512MB RAMs just in case the 2x1GB spoils

 

Gosh I just saw the tech specs again for the MB and MBP.
The difference in weight is a mere 0.3 pounds!
That is roughly 0.15KG and I do not mind taking the MBP into consideration now but I wish to keep the pricecap below 1900. possible?

 

Well, you can consider either a refurb MBP from Apple's website or one on Ebay. You should be able to get a decent priced and good spec'd machine.

 

If you're going refurbished, go with Apple over eBay. When dropping that much cash, it's a lot less sketchy to do business with the company than with 3rd party distributors (ie, random strangers on eBay).

 

It kinda must be from amazon.com since I got some gift certs to use.
Oh well, MacBook it is, I'm so excited I cannot wait to get it.
How many hours should I charge it initially?

 

As in the battery? You should charge it fully, and then let it discharge fully. I'd recommend doing that at least twice. For more info on battery health, read this.

 

Oh I meant the initial charge time.
Usually for iPods and stuff it is something like 8 hours?
How many hours should I charge the macbook untouched, without turning it on?

Thanks!


Gerald

 

I also think you should go with the ASUS. The Macbook's GPU won't allow for much gaming. You'll be able to do some light stuff but nothing more. If you were really set on getting a Mac and intended on gaming I would spend a few hundred more and go with the low end MBP. It's a few hundred more expensive than the black Macbook but I think it would suit your needs better. It's your budget though, if you are strained for the Macbook and insist on gaming I would go with the ASUS.

 

I think he would be better off going with the macbook and then getting a 360 or something, since the macbook pro's 8600 card is good now, the ps3 and 360 will look so much better on an HD tv. (if you have one)