J.D.s Laptop: the genesis (Mac-snobs read)

[Ensign Steve]

Well, I am insanely jealous of vm's new computer, so I am going to buy one for myself. I have never owned a laptop before, so I am looking for advice from you geniuses.


It must be a laptop.
I'd like a mac, possibly an ibook.
I must be able to get on the line with it.
I will use it at home and at hotels.
It must be able to talk to my current Windows desktop.
I must be able to watch and listen to DVDs with it.
I do not play games.
I've got about 1300 US to spend, but I'm definitely willing to pay less.


I'm looking on ebay and overstock.com. I don't know what is meant by the G3, G4. How many Gs do you think I need? Will it perform differently on the moon?

Wow, I am even too ignorant of the subject to ask good questions. I guess the Gs are my biggest concern right now, because they make a huge difference in the prices. What do y'all think? Any good advice for a first-time laptop purchaser?

[Corona688]

Well, I am insanely jealous of vm's new computer, so I am going to buy one for myself. I have never owned a laptop before, so I am looking for advice from you geniuses.


It must be a laptop.
I'd like a mac, possibly an ibook.
I must be able to get on the line with it. Just about any compy with a network connection will qualify for that these days. It must be able to talk to my current Windows desktop. I think that's possible, but I'm not 100% sure how this friend of mine manages it. I must be able to watch and listen to DVDs with it. I think that's par for the course for a mac. I do not play games. good, 'cause they don't have 'em.I'm looking on ebay and overstock.com. I don't know what is meant by the G3, G4. How many Gs do you think I need? Will it perform differently on the moon? It's not any sort of measurement, it's a model number. The higher the number, the more recent the chip. G3=older macs. G4=most macs these days; they have extra things like vector processing. G5 =those shiny new 64-bit dealies; like G4's but twice as wide a datapath etc. G4's probably what you want imho.

[Sauron]

Well, I am insanely jealous of vm's new computer, so I am going to buy one for myself. I have never owned a laptop before, so I am looking for advice from you geniuses.

[list]
It must be a laptop.

Laptops usually have inferior quality hard drives. They fail more often. This is because the price point for laptops is so sensitive that manufacturers often skimp on quality.

Still want a laptop?


I'd like a mac, possibly an ibook.

Why?


I must be able to get on the line with it.

Any laptop can do that.

I will use it at home and at hotels.

Any laptop can do that.

It must be able to talk to my current Windows desktop.

Define "talk to".

* See each other on a common network?
* Transfer documents?
* Execute FTP commands in common?
* Run virtual machines?


I must be able to watch and listen to DVDs with it.

Any laptop with a DVD drive can do that.


I do not play games.

Well, neither do I, buster. :whup: So I'm glad we got THAT little detail straightened out! :-)

I've got about 1300 US to spend, but I'm definitely willing to pay less.



I'm looking on ebay and overstock.com. I don't know what is meant by the G3, G4. How many Gs do you think I need? Will it perform differently on the moon?


Beware eBay for computers. I have never heard a good computer buying story from eBay.

G3/G4 is the Motorola processor family for the Mac. More processing power, better graphics. WHy are graphics important? Games, DVD, video editing and rendering, etc.

You left out something really important - battery life. Make sure you factor that into your purchase, and (if necessary) leave spare room in the budget for an extra battery (or extra-capacity battery).

[Sauron]

Also, seebs is a developer for the Mac platform. He can probably give you some pointers.

[seebs]

I'm only marginally a Mac developer.

Of course, I say that about nearly everything I do, but... I don't think I've built a real GUI app on the Mac. Not that it's hard these days.

[John Carter]

One solution for having your mac be able to communicate on a network with your windows desktop is called Samba. It's freeware (gnu license) and you should be able to get a version for the mac.

Samba emulates the native windows network protocols. Basically, your desktop will think the mac is another windows server. This should work for most interpretations of "talk to".

[Ensign Steve]

Still want a laptop?

Indeed. I have several trips for work on the horizon, including one that will be upwards of six weeks. While I can (and have in the past) pack up my desktop system and put it together at the other end, that is getting increasingly ridiculous to continue doing. Plus I can't watch DVDs on my desktop, so I end up also having to pack my DVD player as well.

I'd like a mac, possibly an ibook.
Why?I dunno. I've heard good things and I wanted to see what the fuss is about. Besides, how can I justify making fun of Mac snobs if I don't give it a try myself? I've had opportunities to use other people's ibooks and I liked them. I'm the kind of girl who buys a car if she likes the color.

Define "talk to".

* See each other on a common network?
* Transfer documents?
* Execute FTP commands in common?
* Run virtual machines?

:shrug: I dunno, I'm ignernt. At least the first two, possibly the third, I don't even know what the fourth one means.
Beware eBay for computers. I have never heard a good computer buying story from eBay.

G3/G4 is the Motorola processor family for the Mac. More processing power, better graphics. WHy are graphics important? Games, DVD, video editing and rendering, etc.

You left out something really important - battery life. Make sure you factor that into your purchase, and (if necessary) leave spare room in the budget for an extra battery (or extra-capacity battery).

/me takes notes.

Thank you, this is good information!

One solution for having your mac be able to communicate on a network with your windows desktop is called Samba. It's freeware (gnu license) and you should be able to get a version for the mac.

Samba emulates the native windows network protocols. Basically, your desktop will think the mac is another windows server. This should work for most interpretations of "talk to".
Thank you as well, Mr. Carter.

What do you guys think I need as far as a network card or wireless card? My mom uses her laptop without a wireless card, and if she's at a place that has wireless network (like a hotel) they have always had some kind of receiver available that she could plug into her network card. Is that pretty standard? Is it worth the extra expense to go wireless? That would probably make it easier to network at home. Is it a much greater expense?

[Waluigi]

Mac OS vs. Windows

Make sure you have some familiarity with the Mac OS interface, because it is quite different from Windows. The single-button mouse, the different windowing system, keyboard layout, supported file formats, etc. If you have an Apple retail store nearby, I recommend stopping in and taking a test drive with the assistance of an employee who can show you all the basic features. Mac OS isn't difficult to learn, it's just different.

Wireless Internet

Do you have wireless Internet at home? That would probably be the deciding factor. If possible, I'd recommend getting both a standard Ethernet port and the wireless (I believe Apple calls it AirPort) adapter. That way, you're covered. And yes, every hotel I've been to that offers wireless Internet comes with an Ethernet adapter for people that don't have wireless adapters.

The "G" names

This was pretty well explained, but I'd like to second the recommendation that you stick with G4. Not only are the processors faster, the bus speed is too, so the overall performance of the computer will be better.

I was going to look at the Apple online store and make a model recommendation, but the site appears to be down for maintenance. It says it'll be back up within an hour (and hour from when, I have no idea...)

[Ensign Steve]

Thanks, Waluigi! (great handle, btw) :toadguy:

I might need to start a new thread for help on home networking. To answer your question, I don't have a wireless network at home, I don't have any real network except the fact that my one computer is plugged into a cable modem, which is plugged into a wall.

Lauri and I used to be wireless networked when I was staying with her, and that was relatively simple. It was with borrowed equipment, though, so I don't know how much of an expense that would be for me to set up for myself. :shrug: At the same time, I love the idea of netting from the couch without being tethered to anything. But that's definitely a "want" not a "need."

[Waluigi]

Most times, you can get a pretty good deal on a basic wireless router and network card from Best Buy or some such store, provided you're willing to foot the money upfront and get rebates later. Netgear and Linksys are the two brands I've heard the best things about. I had a Netgear router/firewall for years, and more recently, I bought a wireless Netgear router and card for my laptop.

I could have just used my neighbor's Internet connection, since their wireless network wasn't secured and I got a pretty good signal from my living room. I'm too moral, though, so I bought my own router.

*continues topic drift* If you do go wireless (which, now that I've finally done, I wish I had done it sooner), make sure you WEP-enable your network. It's usually not enabled by default, so anyone can use your connection.

[Corona688]

Mac OS vs. Windows

Make sure you have some familiarity with the Mac OS interface, because it is quite different from Windows. The single-button mouse Apple got over themselves and ditched the useless one-button mouse some time ago.the different windowing system, keyboard layout Only slightly different. It's got these weird swirly symbols that pretty much substitute for control-keys(though it's got them too, inexplicably.) And it's got No Windows Keys. Neither control nor alt nor the Symbol Formerly Known as Prince will interrupt your program and pop up a menu unasked for when you brush them accidentally. Personally I think that's a reason to rejoice. :P

[Corona688]

Another point about macs -- not all hardware works with macs(though a fair bit of it does). You'd be suprised how much proprietary win-ware is out there; you'll have a hard time finding a macintosh webcam for instance. What hardware you will find for macintosh will be probably better, and at least more standards-compliant than windows-only hardware; I look for the 'Macintosh OSX' logo on hardware when I shop, and I run linux!

[Ensign Steve]

Thanks! My only real big-money pieces of hardware are the digi-cam and the photo printer, both of which I think are going to be okay. Anywho, I'll still use the PC, too. Also, who used a webcam? What am I, a pervert!

I just read about the Tiger. It doesn't come out until the 29th, though.

[Ensign Steve]

Eeek! I did it! :blush: I bought new, because of the dire warnings against the used ones, and plus also because I found one within my budget (with a dollar to spare!).

Here she is! Ain't she purdy? (http://www.apple.com/ibook/)

Mine is the bigger one on the right. It has 4Gs (but only cost 1.3!) No upgrades until another couple of paychecks, but the wireless card came standard, so yay!
Upgrades I'm considering:
256 more Rams
Bluetooth (maybe in the distant future. I have no use for this yet)
Extendend warranty
AirPort Express wireless router (with airtunes I can hook it up to my wicked loud stereo and play songs off the computer and ipod if I owned one! :eek: )
Extra battery for those extra long airplane trips

/me waits patiently for standard shipping. ARGH!

[Corona688]

What do you guys think I need as far as a network card or wireless card? I'm no expert when it comes to wireless, especially mac wireless, but I think the Macintosh wireless products are standard 802.11-something-or-other in fancy clothing. Mac calls their wireless stuff 'Airport'.My mom uses her laptop without a wireless card, and if she's at a place that has wireless network (like a hotel) they have always had some kind of receiver available that she could plug into her network card. Is that pretty standard? Yes, it is. That sort of thing is called DHCP, and it ought to work the same everywhere once you have it set up once.Is it worth the extra expense to go wireless? Depends. It tends to involve more hair-pull than wired, but is nice when it works. Are you going to be in a lot of places with a wireless network available?That would probably make it easier to network at home.Only if something else at home already has wireless, like a wireless router or something. Otherwise it'll have nothing to talk to.

[Corona688]

Mine is the one in the middle. It has 4Gs (but only cost 1.3!) No upgrades until another couple of paychecks, but the wireless card came standard, so yay!Yay. Wireless will probably come in handy in the future, maybye not today, maybye not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of it's lifetime warranty.256 more RamsDefinitely. You can never have too much RAM, and 512 is about perfect.Bluetooth (maybe in the distant future. I have no use for this yet) Bluetooth's another of those "only useful if you have something that uses it" things. I doubt you'll ever need it.AirPort Express wireless router (with airtunes I can hook it up to my wicked loud stereo and play songs off the computer and ipod if I owned one! :eek: ) Heh. My macophile friend and some of his fellow macos serenaded each other with the weirdest songs they could find, played over each other's wireless routers, not their own. :D

[viscousmemories]

Here she is! Ain't she purdy?
Oh, I dunno. I've seen...

Sorry
Your session has timed out after a period of inactivity. Please return to the Store Menu to continue shopping.
...before.

[Ensign Steve]

Ooh, thank you. I'll see if I can't find an image at a static location.

Edit: I fixed the link upstairs, but also here it is:
http://www.apple.com/ibook/ (mine's the big one on the right)
http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html (mine's the middle one)

[CaDan]

Ooh, thank you. I'll see if I can't find an image at a static location.

Edit: I fixed the link upstairs, but also here it is:
http://www.apple.com/ibook/ (mine's the big one on the right)
http://www.apple.com/ibook/specs.html (mine's the middle one)

I certainly like mine. I have the slightly older version (only 933 processor). I'm on it right now.

I like the iBook line 'cause, although they are in that pretty white color, they are built like little tanks. I've crashed on my bike with it in my bag and it's OK. The battery life is nice, too.

But, unless you are super-careful, you will scratch the shiny polycarbonate case, so it won't look pristine for long. I cover mine with stickers to disguise it.

[viscousmemories]

That's hot, Ensign. Congrats. :)

[Ensign Steve]

I like the iBook line 'cause, although they are in that pretty white color, they are built like little tanks. I've crashed on my bike with it in my bag and it's OK. The battery life is nice, too.

I have also heard that they are sturdy. It came highly recommended by a friend who's been subjecting his to light abuse for three years and never had a problem.

But, unless you are super-careful, you will scratch the shiny polycarbonate case, so it won't look pristine for long. I cover mine with stickers to disguise it.

That bums me out. Seriously. That, combined with the fact that plain white is just so boring, is why I wish they still made macskinz (http://www.macskinz.com/MACSKINZ/logoshine.html) for the ibook.

[CaDan]

That bums me out. Seriously. That, combined with the fact that plain white is just so boring, is why I wish they still made macskinz (http://www.macskinz.com/MACSKINZ/logoshine.html) for the ibook.

High quality stickers work well. I have a couple of gold lamè Elvises interspersed with Vegas paraphenalia--slot machines, roulette wheels, poker chips, and dice.

My previous one had tropical fish and flowers.

[Ensign Steve]

Do they make custom fit ones for the computer? If so, do you have a link?

[CaDan]

I'm talking about plain and ordinary stickers.

I'm pretty sure somebody makes "sleeves" to protect iBooks, but those are jsut for transportation.

[Ensign Steve]

I've actually found some excellent looking vinyl or acrylic skins for the ipod and for game systems like xbox. Nothing for the ibook, though. I did find a company that will custom paint mine, though, if I send it in. Weird! :?

[seebs]

Recommend a 512MB RAM upgrade when you can afford it. 256 extra is not enough.

[Ensign Steve]

Agreed. For the normal day-to-day shit, I'm doing okay. But for the real fun stuff like digital video and such (you know, the shit I bought the mac for) it's a bit sluggish.

[freemonkey]

Congrats on the new computer. I'm wanting one myself.

[Ensign Steve]

Well, I haven't bought the memory, yet, but I did buy the wireless router and I am proud to say that my multi-OS home network is up and running. It's kind of pointless since I'm the only one who lives here, but sometimes I put the computers in different rooms and run back and forth between them just because I can.

[JoeP]

Well, I haven't bought the memory, yet, but I did buy the wireless router and I am proud to say that my multi-OS home network is up and running. It's kind of pointless since I'm the only one who lives here, but sometimes I put the computers in different rooms and run back and forth between them just because I can.
:giggle: :runinbox: :flash: :flashcl:

Just :nevertouch: