MacBook Pro vs. Latitude, and Skins Question

I searched the Apple site, but only found skins for the mp3 players. When you travel, how do you protect your MacBook? In the train or in the car (when parked, of course ), I'm always bumping the armrest, the steering wheel etc. How do you protect your MacBook?

I'm down to MacBook Pro or Dell Latitude D620 (the Lenovo T60 is still on the backburner, too)....I'm stuck on having to purchase new Mac versions of Excel and Photoshop software, as well as Parallel for an app I use that only runs on windows ....Hmmm...I just don't know if it's worth it...

Thanks for the input! Lisa

 

If you have a look on ebay and search for the Crumpler GIMP sleeves they look good and are designed specifically for the MacBooks and Powerbooks. Usually they come in at between £15-£30


----------------------------
RockDirect Xtreme CTX Pro
T7200 Core 2 Duo 2.00Ghz
120GB 5400 HD
512MB Geforce Go 7900GTX
2GB DDR 2 667Mhz RAM
17 in WSXGA Widescreen

 

I like Foofbags. Good quality, inexpensive, and available in a lot of different styles, from businesslike Irish tweed to funky tufted fabrics:
http://www.foofshop.com/

 

Some other companies that specialize in MacBook Pro bags and cases:

http://www.sfbags.com/
http://www.tombihn.com
http://www.booqbags.com/
http://www.brenthaven.com/

Might find something you like.

If you are comfortable in Windows and don't really want to switch to OS X, then you probably should stick with the Dell, especially if you already own the software licenses to the Windows versions of those apps. As you mention, it could get pretty expensive buying a separate copy of Windows, new licenses for Photoshop, Office, etc. for OS X.

 

Those are pretty nice

 

If you are going to use Parallels you might as well use the Windows versions of Photoshop and Excel under it, specially considering the present Mac versions are not Universal Binaries yet.

 

I wonder how the Windows version of Photoshop would perform in that case though, since you would be limited in the amount of RAM you could allocate to the Parallels virtual machine.

It might at least be wise to do in the meantime, and save the money to buy CS3 when it comes out, which would take full advantage of the MacBook Pro's CPU and not use emulation.

 

I agree with all these guys. If you are really interested in OS X, but are put off by new software licenses, there are solutions that have never existed before. I would suggest Parallels and then run those two programs until a Universal Binary is available. Another thing to consider is that Adobe offers a 30-day trial, so that would put off buying for another month. DO NOT buy CS2. It is not Universal and would be a waste. CS3 is not far away.

My point is that you would want/have to buy CS3 and Office 2007 for Windows anyway. The only difference is that you would have to suffer a little until they are released on Mac.

However, as xbandaidx alluded to, OS X is not for everyone. Could you be a little more specific about your situation. Why do you need Photoshop and Office? For work? Play? School?

 

Work. Editing photos for selling, creating webpages for my biz website. When I'm travelling, I'll use it to watch movies. That's about it.

I went to the Apple store, and was impressed with how clean the MacBook Pro looked, and how crisp it ran. I don't necessarily need the newest releases of Office or Photoshop, but even on eBay, it's going to end up being another $300 in software. I don't need bells and whistles. I want fast and reliable.

I was also surprised that Apple doesn't provide accidental damage protection--like for flying coffee The Apple guy looked at me like I had 2 heads. I've always had that protection through Dell and HP.

I have to say...I was very impressed with how friendly and helpful the people at the Apple store were. I had just gotten done working out, and wanted to run over real quick, so I didn't get changed...and I looked pretty raggedy. The Apple store is in a high-end hoity-toity mall, where the clerks tend to act like their last name is the same as, say Neiman or Marcus, so I didn't expect to even be noticed! I thought I could slip in unnoticed and noodle around...I certainly didn't look like I was going to purchase anything. The two guys who helped me were fabulous. I wonder if they work on commission??? After they explained so much, I'd like them to get credit if they do.

If it weren't for replacing the software, I'd try the MacBook Pro without hesitation.

 

I maybe wrong here, but if you buy a copy of CS2, I believe you get a license to use it on either a Mac or a PC. I dont' thikn you have to buy another copy of it just to use it on another machine (as long as your not using it on both).

I've heard that the cd has the install for both windows and OS X. Again, that could be wrong... but if not, I would ask adobe about it.

 

Adobe actually does have separate serial numbers for Windows and OS X.

 

Ohh.. .that sucks majorly...
I know some products like WoW allow you to install it on either. Thats really a shame.

 

It can't hurt to check with Adobe on this. Macromedia at least used to be fairly cool about this, and let me switch my licenses over to OS X without any problems. Adobe might be able to do something similar.

 

Seeing as how Macromedia is Adobe that may be worth shot. For the OP, I asked what it was for because I was going to suggest alternatives to Office and Photoshop. However, since it is for work i am sure you will want to stay with those programs. I would first see if your Adobe disc has an OS X installer on, a google search will probably tell you. If it does, that would be very good. You could run it under Rosetta until CS 3 comes out, then decide if it worth the upgrade. As for Office, your only choices are, rebuy, Parallels or Boot Camp. Parallels and Boot Camp will end up coming close to the same cost as Office, so if you won't need Windows for anything else, it is probably cheapest to get Office.