Pros and cons MacBook Pro

Hi, I’ve recently purchased a 15-inch MacBook Pro (2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4Gb RAM), including a Mouse and a nice Covertec bag, all around 2,350€ (about 3,300$) in Spain. This is my first post, and I’ve seen several awesome stickies, very helpful for new users like me, so the first thing is to thanks all the participants for this amazing work. What I really missed was a guide of pros and cons for new buyers (people like me who were hesitating whether it is worthy to switch from a PC). I found several good reviews in this forum, but what I mean is a summary. Pros and cons are spread in a lot of different posts, generally at the end of reviews. For instance, I spent 49 euros in an apple mouse that is completely useless for this laptop because the cable is too short (I work much quicker with the mouse than with the trackpad). I list my opinions about several other pros and cons. This is not a full review, only a short list of my first encounter with a MacBook Pro, after many years working with PCs:

1. Pros:
- Laptop: Nice look, light and very comfortable to work on laps (no heat/no noise).
- OS-X: Despite I was afraid, the switch from a PC is really easy. For me it is a lot easier to get a good organization with this OS than with XP or Vista (my other two windows laptops are a mess).

2. Cons:
- Useless mouse: As I said before, if you like me are used to work with a mouse, don`t buy a standard Apple mouse unless you are left-handed.
- Slippery: I have to be careful when opening the laptop, it needs to hold it because it is like the desk were slippery (my Fujitsu, a pound lighter than this, is much stable on the desk).
- Several things to get used to: Clicking on the upper left of a window to close it; few USBs, and both situated on the left; DVD reader: on the right side of the laptop, just where I have the mouse or the cable of the mouse… (Does anyone know if this laptop was designed for a left handed?).
- Delete: There is no Supr key to delete that all the PCs have; of course you can delete forward pressing two keys fn+del (it took me some time to find it out).
- Microsoft office: people who frequently use Microsoft office should take into account that several functions (like data analysis) in 2003 Microsoft excel for windows are not included in 2008 Microsoft excel for Mac (I’m really upset with this, but those who don’t use these functions have nothing to worry about).

3. Pros/cons (I don`t know yet) http://forum.notebookreview.com/images/smilies/confused.gif
- Trackpad: I read several posts in this forum about this, and I can tell that this is very important for many people. For me, maybe in the future, but not now. I prefer a good traditional mouse.
- XP/Vista in a Mac: I think this might be interesting for those who use only Macs. For the time being, I don`t get the point to install XP/Vista when I can run windows programs in my other PCs.
- Really expensivehttp://forum.notebookreview.com/images/smilies/eek.gif: I don’t know if the extra money that I’ve spent in this Mac is worthy yet, but for the time being I appreciate a lot the fact that this laptop doesn’t think, only works. You don’t have to wait the sand clock to stop, wondering what it is thinking about and why now, that you are in the middle of something important.

 

The idea of a pro/con list-thread is cool, but it really serves no practical purpose.

All inputs would be positive, coming from mac users.

There would be some negative for converts and first time users, but it is just the same with windows users that use nothing but windows. Sure pro/con about OS versions

And then of course, here comes the pro/con of each and every model ...

my 2 cents.

cheers ...

 

Thanks for your input,but let me not agree with few of your cons

well,
1)you can't say that it is macbook pro's con
2)subjective really,since lots of people like them.

the point is,you can have 2 in 1.Lots of our members do this to play games on their mac's and to run PC exclusive programs.

Well,those can't be listed as a con for all since "getting used to" is not a bad thing. f.e. when you buy a new house/car,you need to get used to it,but this doesn't mean that they are bad!

Yeah,it really sucks! :yes:

 

.............

 

Maybe I did not explain properly the mouse issue. I don't know if this is a macbook pro's con or an apple's con, but for me is really unconfortable to work with it...

 

why did you not go with a wireless mouse?

 

FYI,any other mouse will work with apple,you are not forced to buy apple mouse

 

Thanks for your replies. Any of your suggestions are fine. My point was just a warning not to order useless things.

 

^again,lots of people like/love mighty mouse/s

 

For me:

Pros: Everything!

Cons: Wish I can afford the 15" and the 17"!!

 

The mouse you have is clearly intended for use with iMacs/Mac Pros, since they have the keyboards with the USB connector under the right side. It didn't come with any kind of extender?

Also, for exiting an application completely don't get too used to clicking the top left red icon. Use the cloverleaf-Q combination. The red button does not necessarily quit out of every app in an expected way.

 

Just ditch the mouse. Force yourself to only use the touchpad for awhile and get used to the gestures. I barely use my mouse on MBP except when I game.

 

^me too!also,usb extenders are >5$ now!

 

I also just use my trackpad except for when i am gaming! It is an awesome trackpad, and gestures make it even better!

 

You are right, but I realized late. I bought it together with the MB Pro.

I know that a lot of people are really happy with the trackpad, but I'm very busy to get used now, maybe later on.

After reading several reviews in the web, and coments in this forum I eventually went for a BT white Logitech v470 (45 euros=62$). My other option was the apple mighty mouse, but this was more expensive (69 euros=95$) and with no so good coments as the v470. I'll have it in a couple of days, then I'll write my inputs in the thread "best bluetooth mouse for Macbook". Meantime I`ll keep using the "short cord" apple mouse.

 

^Don't you have a store where you can go and try mice?cos ordering mouse online is bad move IMO!

 

Yes, there are some stores around, but "open box, mouse paid".
I ordered it through a dealer, that is probably as bad move as on line. Thanks for the advise.

 

^my point was that you have to chose your *perfect* mouse yourself by trying,not judging by other's reviews.Things that ones like,others don't