Forums | MacLife

Moved to Everyday Tech

edit: The 13" screen in the Macbook is adequate for what you've mentioned, but bigger is better. You could always set your Dell's display to a couple different resolutions to see how it effects your workflow.

If you can afford it, I'd get the MacBook pro (15" model) not just for the sake of the screen, but also because a faster machine will likely serve your needs longer. Though even then, 5 years is stretching it for any computer. Sure, plenty of people keep their for 5 or even 10 years - but the average is still 3.

Thanks for the input as I wanted to reinforce the direction I am moving on this purchase.  I keep thinking why should I buy cheap on my first Mac, I don't want to regret what I bought and end up 2 yrs later buying up. As for lasting 5 years, I suppose I have been lucky, my Sony Desktop bought in '03 is still good- although I did spend a pretty penny for it- did not go cheap.  As for the Dell it is okay, more of work machine with the databases that I need (Access, Monarch etc..)  and it is no longer fun to travel with it's just too heavy-plus it looks like what cell phones looked like 10 yrs ago!!
I have to admit- the Mac's are beautiful!
So, if I have questions about my Mac- once I get it- is Everyday Tech the forum to go to?

The Dell laptops are generally lightweight so if they seem heavy to you (at least after a while), then it probably is more important to use weight as a crucial factor since it can make the difference between taking the laptop with you and leaving it. Yes, the MacBook screen is smaller and may be problematic for programs which are heavy in use of floating menus, but that larger MacBook Pro won't do you any good if you are leaving that at home because it is too troublesome to take with you.

As to longevity: my mom is still using my old 2001-model iBook albeit her needs are considerably more modest than yours, but the point is that it is still a functional machine unlike some Dell Inspirons which were bought by the company I work for. Even those that are only 3 or 4 years old are being tossed out due to wear and tear problems. The iBook relates to the PowerBook (the higher end portables at that time) as the MacBook relates to the MacBook Pro.

The Everyday Tech forum is where you might post questions on the hardware and on OS X. For questions on Apeture and other advanced software you should post them in the Pro Shop forum.

EDIT: added "may be problematic"

Last edited by D'Eyncourt (2009-01-19 5:18 pm)

If there is a Mac Store in your area I would run down there and check them out.

But leave your credit card at home on the first visit!

Thanks for all the replies.   I am in the No. Calif. Bay area and did go to the Apple store-crowded as all else-had my list of questions which they answered okay, but because it was so crowded I did not get to play around with it as much as i wanted and the guy in the store tried to tell me that the 13 inch only had 1 gig of ram, I told him - no, it has 2 and is upgradable to 4-he was like, really?.   So, I am doing research elsewhere.  Will have to go back early on a weekday, maybe those working won't be the holiday staff and they will be better able to help!

and no kidding, leave the CC at home (don't think the tax man would understand the apple addiction)

Yes, the new 17" MacBook has a non-removeable battery.

dv wrote:

I bet a motivated end-user can replace it.

And it will probably be out-patient care at any Apple Store in a couple years when they start going south.

Still, a stupid smurfing move on Apple's part. A non-removable battery doesn't seem like a good idea from any angle.