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Macbook pro - stop me

With hacks, and it's unsupported and more hassle than it's worth. Only for the geeky as a project for its own sake.
 
damn this thread...my iBook G4 is only two years old but it got dropped and the battery life is 20 minutes. Need another one but i think I'll limit my spend to a grand. Might get one of those smart little black ones.
 
twisted said:
damn this thread...my iBook G4 is only two years old but it got dropped and the battery life is 20 minutes. Need another one but i think I'll limit my spend to a grand. Might get one of those smart little black ones.
Click to expand...

Why not just replace the battery...? :confused:
 
(Didn't want to start a thread as quite a few mac users are reading this one).

Can anyone recommend a (preferably free) a good Usenet client/reader for the Mac?
 
Crispy said:
With hacks, and it's unsupported and more hassle than it's worth. Only for the geeky as a project for its own sake.
Click to expand...

So what does the Apple hardware have, that enables both OS', that PC hardware doesn't? Or is it just Apple tying the OS to the hardware?

Getting work to buy me a 17" portable desktop replacement..

Dell Inspiron 1720 >

1.36KG
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7100 Processor (1.8GHz,800MHz,2MB L2 cache)
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
17.0" UltraSharp™ Wide Screen WUXGA (1920x1200) TFT Display with TrueLife™
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software
nVidia® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB DDR2 dedicated graphic memory
Choice of colours with 2mp camera

£849

MacBook Pro >

* 3.08k
* 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* 1680 x 1050 resolution
* 2GB memory
* 160GB hard drive1
* 8x double-layer SuperDrive
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB SDRAM

£1799

More than double for a very similar spec (yes, the processor in the MacBook is stronger), I just can't justify that for a sexy OS that can't do some of what I need it to do.
 
chris - yup, of all the macs, the macbook pros are the most overpriced. don't bother unless the physical design of the things appeals to you and you can convince your work to spend the money (although it's well worth checking the refurbished macs page, as there are often some very good deals)
 
Crispy said:
chris - yup, of all the macs, the macbook pros are the most overpriced. don't bother unless the physical design of the things appeals to you and you can convince your work to spend the money (although it's well worth checking the refurbished macs page, as there are often some very good deals)
Click to expand...

As an aside, fuck me, that Dell is lovely for the price. And 1.36KG?! WANT.
 
Agreed. They're bloody expensive the MacBook Pros. And as natty as the design goes - you've got to love the illuminated keyboard, the motion sensing hard drive protection (what other laptop can make lightsaber noises when moved) and the MagSafe power cable - there's a hefty premium on the machine.

It's a classic design mind. And to be fair that Dell looks like a cheap brick in comparison. I only justified my purchase because (a) work paid half and (b) a refurb deal meant I paid under £800 for a Core Duo 2ghz MacBook Pro.

:)
 
Even normal people have macs these days, but if someone whips out a mbpro on a train, you can still be safe in the knowledge that they're a posh wanker :):p
 
tarannau said:
It's a classic design mind. And to be fair that Dell looks like a cheap brick in comparison.
Click to expand...

Not when you get it in sexy metallic red - especially when you consider it weighs less than half of the Macbook.
 
ChrisFilter said:
Not when you get it in sexy metallic red - especially when you consider it weighs less than half of the Macbook.
Click to expand...

still, the outside can't compete the inside of a mac - its OS.
 
ChrisFilter said:
Not when you get it in sexy metallic red - especially when you consider it weighs less than half of the Macbook.
Click to expand...

Nope it's still a brick compared to the thin, lean lines of the Macbook - look at how bulky it looks from the side. No innovative trackpad, clumsy hinges and much cheaper looking in general. Metallic-effect plastics are naffer than Grolsch bottle tops on Kickers in 2007.

And it's only that light because it's made out of polystyrene rather than gorgeous cool aluminium obviously.
;)
 
Actually, the Dell coloured cases are really nice, there's a couple in the office... but yes, of course the MacBook is slicker, that's what sells it!
 
ChrisFilter said:
No, this is true, but if I was that bothered I'd just install linux.
Click to expand...

You have to be kidding. Linux has come a long way, but for ease of use, it's still a long way off osx on a mac.
 
You'd be better off comparing the mac laptops with the Sony Vaio series than Dell. The manufacturing quality of macs are superb and you pay for it.
My missus never knows whether my macpro desktop is turned on or not it's so quiet.
 
jæd said:
Why not just replace the battery...? :confused:
Click to expand...

I actually think it's more than that. I had to get a new power supply cos that was what got mangled when it dropped. It's not charging preoperly and the warning light comes on whenever it wants (eg at 52% charge or any other random number).
The power supply cost me £55 and i don't want to buy a new abttery at a similar price only to find it makes no difference.
 
Yeah, it's that 'once configured' bit that's the kicker :)

I tried ubuntu earlier this year. I couldn't figure out how to:

a) Play MP3s
b) Play DVDs
c) Output a signal to my TV
d) Get the screen resolution higher than 1024x768

I'm sure these things are possible, but despite searching through the builtin help, nothing was making itself clear. I gave up, as those are four core things I like my computer to do.

My mac did all of the above right off the bat. I'm particularly impressed with the way it handles the TV - when you plug an external display in, it auto configures and then pops a box up to choose a resolution if you want a different one. And you could select a PAL widescreen res - shock fucking horror! And it remembered the settings for next time! I couldn't even get XP to pull off this trick.
 
Structaural said:
You'd be better off comparing the mac laptops with the Sony Vaio series than Dell. The manufacturing quality of macs are superb and you pay for it.
My missus never knows whether my macpro desktop is turned on or not it's so quiet.
Click to expand...

i wish mine was that quiet.
my 12" powerbook is noisy like a snoring pig.
and it gets too hot that i can't put on my laps.

i'm gutted that they discontinued the 12" product line though.
i just love how small it is.
easy to carry around town.
 
Yeah that would be the laptop I'd be interested in - portability is the key. I've got the powerful kit at home.
But I'm saving for other things - I just found out that 4gig of RAM for my macpro is 850 euros!
 
Crispy said:
Yeah, it's that 'once configured' bit that's the kicker :)

I tried ubuntu earlier this year. I couldn't figure out how to:

a) Play MP3s
b) Play DVDs
c) Output a signal to my TV
d) Get the screen resolution higher than 1024x768
Click to expand...

www.ubuntuguide.org + ubuntuforums.org. Both have been around for more than a year...
 
Crispy said:
My mac did all of the above right off the bat. I'm particularly impressed with the way it handles the TV - when you plug an external display in, it auto configures and then pops a box up to choose a resolution if you want a different one. And you could select a PAL widescreen res - shock fucking horror! And it remembered the settings for next time! I couldn't even get XP to pull off this trick.
Click to expand...

Although Ubuntu is a bit aways off doing this bit...
 
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