So....What Computer Should I Purchase?

So Ever Since Last September i have been waiting to purchase a computer, & now that Apple has finally finished Macworld 2008, i think i am going to buy one now.

I think this year was very lackluster & i will not even consider the MBA.

But my question is Should i get a MB or MBP?

Generally, what do you MBP owners use your computer's for?

Typically all i will be doing is browsing the net/email, downloading music, and doing school work, so i'm thinking a Macbook will be fine.Right?...Which version should i choose, i was thinking of going with Black.

Also, since i'm doing reports, excel, powerpoint stuff, does a new MB come with that software?...If not, what should i purchase?..Is Apple's own office software better than Microsofts?


Finally, i think i will uprgade the memory to 2 GB. What EXACT Ram should i purcase?(Brand) & where is the cheapest place to get it.

I'm asking because i know there is a specific one i should get...Also, by doing This it doesn't void the warranty right?


Thanks to all you heavy Apple users who help...I appreciate it.

 

Well I own a MBP and use it for Adobe CS3, music, videos, and gaming. So if all you're doing is browsing, music, and work, you're fine with a standard Black Macbook.

As for Office.... MBs come with a trial, so I'd just suggest getting Microsoft Office 08. Hate to say it, but it's pretty much the best office software out there.

 

How about the macbook air!!! Comes with 2GB of ram.

 

I think I just threw up. Hope that was a joke! lol

 

He said he wouldn't consider the Air, and in my opinion, I agree. It's an expensive machine! Very innovative, though.

The Macbook should be fine, I am looking into one myself.

 

I like the innovation and I think it is a perfect school notebook, and what is so wrong with the macbook air? I don't get it?

 

Thanks for the input...Hopefully someone else anwsers the other questions for me.

Personally, i would get the Macbook Air, but i just don't think it's worth the money.

Plus, i don't own a computer, so w/e i buy, it will be my primary computer.

If anyone wants to convince me, i'll listen, but i want to make a "smart" purchase.

 

lol You haven't looked at all the threads about the MBA here. I personally wouldn't get it, because of the lack of USB ports (only 1?!?), lack of ethernet ports, and the lack of a optical disc drive. Oh yea and don't forget the price.

 

It's a watered down Macbook for double the price is what's wrong with it. It's really no better than a Macbook as a school notebook. Especially since students have better things to spend their money on...

 

I recently moved to the Mac arena (August of 2007) and am overall pleased with the move.

To answer your question about Powerpoint, Excel, Word, etc... you can purchase the just released Office 2008 for Mac or use a free office suite such as NeoOffice. A third option is to run the MS Office apps through virtualization of Windows (either through Boot Camp/Fusion/Parallels) but its a bit trickier (see Sam's thread on running Boot Camp, Fusion, and Parallels).

I currently use Mac OSX, Windows XP, and Windows Vista all on the Mac (XP is a true virtual machine though, running via Fusion). Overall I am very pleased with how all run on the MacBook Pro. (Be advised that you'll need extra RAM to run all three at once, like I do ).

Since it looks like you'll just be doing regular office stuff, stick with the MacBook as that should be more than adequate for your needs.

 

You can also get a refurbished macbook pro from apple for $1 700.

 

the MacBook Air isn't a watered down version of a MacBook, it is a different category of notebook, watch the damn keynote, haha.

I would highly recommend purchasing a MacBook, it should be fantastic for your uses, and should suit you very well, as far as which model to get, I would get the highest specs you can afford, and since you will be using it for basic tasks, I would also recommend getting the largest HDD option you can afford, although that is not extremely important unless you think you will have lots of media etc.

a MacBook will come with Trials for Microsoft Office, as well as Apple's Own iWork software package, which can manage all the basic tasks that microsoft office is capable of.

iWork will be cheaper, but Office 2008 for Mac, which was just released today is quite a bit more powerful in some respects, and is the standard of the computer world, so I think most would recommend purchasing Office. but it is quite possible that you would be completely fine just using Apple's iWork. you can check out iWork here:

http://www.apple.com/iwork/

and Office 2008 here:

http://www.macoffice2008.com/

I would just check out each one and see which will work the best for you.

the type of RAM you will need is 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) - which is widely available at retailers like www.newegg.com, which is where I would recommend purchasing, and I would recommend brands such as Corsair, Crucial, OCZ, but in all honestly, almost all brands are available at incredibly good prices right now, but it is usually wise to go with a brand known for good manufacturing and quality control practices.

if I owned the current generation MacBook, this is exactly what I would buy, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145172, the price is absolutely amazing, as you figure the same thing went for over $100 4-5 month's ago. This is a single 2GB stick of RAM, this way, you can purchase another 2GB stick in the future to move up to 4gb of RAM if you feel the need. and it is just so disgustingly cheap right now.

upgrading the RAM and HDD's in a MacBook will not void your warranty at all, it will tell you exactly how to do it right in the user manual as well as Apple's website. (on the MBP only the RAM is user upgradeable, unless you are adventurous and want to take the machine apart)

I think that should answer all your questions, good luck with the purchase.

 

Damn, circa, I've paid more than that, and recently, too, for a 1GB stick.

/hangs head in shame . . .


Nike_Rep, just curious because your initial post seems to send mixed messages: why the black MB? You could save quite a bit simply by buying a white model. You asked about the cheapest RAM, but want the most expensive MB, which, I believe, can be just about duplicated, minus the color and 40GB of hdd space, of course, in white. If the black color is enough to drive you to spend extra cash, why not just get the MBP? It's just money.

That really isn't meant as a serious question - you're doing exactly the sort of thing I find myself doing all the time. LOL

BTW, 4GB RAM for the MB from Apple is only $850!

 

Well...I'll anwser it anyway...I just like how the Black looks...lol
Plus the 40 GBS....

Also i have a student discount so the Black is 1400 for me...But 1200 for the white one.

I don't know honestly, but that fact you brought it up is making me think about it, because i can save 200 bucks...Hmm.

The Black looks so nice though.....

 

Circa....Thanks.
If you didn't see my last question on my second post, please anwser this finally.

Is the MB goo enough to be & LAST as my primary computer?...Thanks again

 

I would say yes, unless you need gaming. Its powerful, its screen is a nice size, it will definitely be able to handle applications of the future.

 

it should absolutely be more than enough to last as your primary computer for 3 years or more. depending on how long you plan to keep the machine, it would defiintely be a wise decision to purchase Applecare especially as a student as there is usually quite a large discount for it.

that will cover you on any hardware malfunctions for 3 years which is usually how long people use a machine before buying another one. another good thing about the MacBook is the fact that you could easily upgrade to an even larger HDD (like the 500gb) drives that should be coming available sometime this year. but for basic use 160gb or 250 should be more than enough.

 

The Santa Rosa MacBook in my signature is now my primary computer. I use it for all my uni work (with a small Linux partition in vmware for programming) and it performs the task admirably. I have an Asus Eee for when I want dual monitor in a lecture hall, but the MB gets most of the use. My PS3 is for gaming.