??? Isn’t that kind of like buying a new car without power locks. If your going to spend the money on a technical product get all you can now because tommorrow it will be out of date. The cost of storage is the cheapest part of a computer these days.
Rollcast,
My wife uses Mac’s and loves them. When she bought her powerbook two years ago at the local Apple store, they offered an “Educators(?) discount”. I’m not sure how much we saved, but saving a little is better than saving 'nuthin. I mention this because you said that you were going to be a teacher, so why not ask about a teachers discount, can’t hurt.
Tom.
Hey everyone… Well I got it!! Macbook 120 gig… I’m typing this on it right now. One word… Awesome!!
rollcast,
Is this the color you got?; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ffgHf8kmAk
Thanks,
Doug
Hey Rollcast that sounds SWEET!
Apples are for making apple sauce, eating and shooting with a high powered rifles. I doubt that they make good boat anchors as that would be fun but ecologically unsound.
I agree that Microsoft has a habit of releasing their new O/S before they get the bugs worked out. However, the biggest problem with Microsoft machines is the consumer that buys the bottom line, or near bottom line machine without actually doing any research into what the machine will need to run the O/S that is on it.
Windows Vista is resource intensive. The minimum ram that you should have for Vista is 2gb. Vista says it uses 512mb but it is more like 1gb and your video will probably use 256-512mb of ram. That leaves you .5gb or just 512mb free for the machine to use. Get the picture, the more ram the fewer the problems with lockups and crashes. I have 3gb of ram in my 1 year old H.P. PC.
Video must be Nvidia as well as the controller chip sets on the main board. That would read as an Nvidia based machine when talking to a sales rep. Minimum video would be Nvidia 6150 with 126mb on board ram. I am running a M.S.I. NX8400-TD512E video card with 512mb of on board video ram. It absolutely smokes.
Processor: Should be a AMD dual Core or Intel Core Duo and as fast as you can get. Minimum 3200 per core. I recommend AMD as they did exclusive work with Microsoft for the XP and Vista software but a good Intel will run just as good. With this set up Vista Aero absolutely blasts anything Mac has right out of the universe.
All P.C. and P.C. based laptops can be fully upgraded using industry standard hardware that is readily available to the consumer. Last I knew, I could be wrong, Mac is proprietary, like Dell used to be, so you have to buy from Apple and pay a premium for upgrades.
Before you buy anything made by Apple please check out one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147553
Here is what I have for a p.c.:
I upgraded to a PCIE-x16 video card myself. I have no problems running software from Windows 95 on up. I have been running AVG Free anti virus for 10 years now and only had one virus. AVG immediately zapped that virus. Mac are O.K. if you never plan on up grading or doing anything more than word processing/general computing or surfing the web. If you want to do heavy duty graphics, gaming or multi tasking in general get a good Microsoft based system.
Right now I’m sitting in my bed, typing this, after effortlessly hooking up airport express, and setting up this computer, listening to Led Zeppelin on i-tunes. Straight out of the box “it just works.” OSX=Rules!! Vista=Drools! I’ll never go back.
On the contrary to what was stated earlier … most of the grading software I’ve seen/used is for Mac. Micrograde, EasyGrade Pro, etc. For everything but gaming, especially as a teacher, it’s not a close call. Mac!
Congratulations. Your enthusiasm for cranking it on and going to work says it all.
Nighthawk, I appreciate your detailed description of hardware compatibility, and the need to select all the appropriate cards and RAM upgrades so your software operates at peak efficiency. In the past I had to do all those things to design a machine that would support my software. All I can say to that is that aside from upgrading to 1G of RAM, everything I have on my MacBook operates seamlessly… Photoshop CS2, Acrobat 7.0 Pro, AutoCAD 2000, Quicktime, iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD, MS Suite, yada, yada, yada. And all without any hardware upgrades. Apple builds it all in at the git-go so you don’t have to be a member of the GEEK SQUAD when all you want is to is run your computer to be productive and have fun. Did I mention no viruses?
Joe
I did not say that I had to add or added these things as upgrades. This is the off the shelf set up for my P.C. The only thing I added was the video card and some really cool lighting.
Price of the mac was $899. Price of my P.C. with H.P. 19 inch, wide screen, high definition monitor after rebates was $799 plus tax. This thing will absolutely smoke anything that Steve and the boys ever put the Apple name on and I can run any software I want to including Apple and iPod applications without any problems. Suffice it to say that I will never, ever like Apple or Mac and you all will never, ever like anything Microsoft or I.B.M. based. No hard feelings.
None taken, Eric. I think this thread is right up there with $600 rods, bamboo, graphite and fiberglass. Everyone is right if that’s what you want. We all like to think we’ve made the right choice, especially if we’ve had a bad experience with something else.
We REAAAAALLLLLLYYYYY need some soft water and warm weather so we can get off these silly computers and go fishing.I like fishing reports and pictures better than all this “my stuff’s better than your stuff” baloney. We’re seriously bored.
Joe
I agree, Joe. Hey heres a commercial that fits the theme you touched on. Remember this:
"My dog’s better than your dog,
My dog’s better than yours
My dog’s better cuz he gets Kennel-Ration
My dog’s better than yours.
Kennel-Ration has real red meat
and lots of other good things,
When my mom goes to the store
She buys a million cans or more
my dog’s better than your dog
my dog’s better than yours
my dog’s better, cuz he gets Kennel-ration
My dog’s better than yours"
You can have my dog, too, as long as you feed her.
BTW, do know I’m supposed to kidnap you and drag you to the MI FI? Personally, I’d rather you just came along willingly if it fits your schedule. Then we don’t have to tie Mikey up in duct tape just to keep Jack happy. LMAO
Joe
I wish I could but it looks like i may be burning most of my leave dealing with a health issue.
all we have to do with Mikey is dangle a can of SPAM in front of him! Pure torture for him and if you and I get hungry, well, lunch in the form of SPAM is served. We can make Mikey watch us eat it too.:lol:
BALONEY?!!!
I thought you were a Spam Man!
Ya just never know…
Ed