I'm getting a Mac. Which Mac do you use?
55 comments
I don't use a Mac as a primary machine (I test on them), but I do have a piece of advice - the Dell 24" is possibly the best value monitor ever. If you're on a budget but still want some decent real estate, they're perfect. I run 2 of them, 1920x1200 on the left for general stuff and 1200x1920 on the right for code (I'm considering adding a third for notes). I find it impossible to do any serious development on a laptop these days.
A 23" Cinema display is the other obvious choice - much sexier, but the specs are inferior and it costs significantly more.
A 23" Cinema display is the other obvious choice - much sexier, but the specs are inferior and it costs significantly more.
The Dell 24" monitors have quality control issues that the Apple displays don't seem to have. They're enough less expensive though that it may be worth it to you to risk the occasional banding or backlight failures.
Or you may just want/need analog inputs that the Apple display can't give you.
Or you may just want/need analog inputs that the Apple display can't give you.
Series A03 and above of the Dell 24 inch monitor, shipping since September, have no banding issues. The monitor is absolutely awesome. The best part is you can probably keep it around for 5 years or more, and it has all the TV inputs except HDMI that you may need (no tuner, but many devices have a tuner these days.) I got mine for about $540 after a 25% coupon as part of a new computer system. You can buy some 17 inch monitors for $200 but you will definitely get rid of them in two years. Why not buy something you can keep for a long time? When you're a huge billion-dollar company in a few years from now, and want to get a 30inch monitor (the only real alternative) instead, you can simply use this monitor as a TV screen on the wall behind the receptionist. :) Gotta plan ahead for that...
And, it even has a card reader and USB ports built-in to the side. It also supports VGA on one button, and DVI on another. You can easily swap what you're looking at by connecting to two different computers at the same time. Then, simply get a wireless keyboard and mouse, and plug the USB receiver into its stand for the main, DVI, computer, or unplug the receiver and plug it into the monitor, for the VGA connected computer, and click a button on the monitor to go to the VGA computer. No KVM switch needed. Just connect to the monitor's USB/card reader cord to the USB port of the VGA computer.
And, it even has a card reader and USB ports built-in to the side. It also supports VGA on one button, and DVI on another. You can easily swap what you're looking at by connecting to two different computers at the same time. Then, simply get a wireless keyboard and mouse, and plug the USB receiver into its stand for the main, DVI, computer, or unplug the receiver and plug it into the monitor, for the VGA connected computer, and click a button on the monitor to go to the VGA computer. No KVM switch needed. Just connect to the monitor's USB/card reader cord to the USB port of the VGA computer.
I should add, the key word was 'budget' - a 24" iMac will probably serve you better (unless you need serious graphics card power or multiple hard drives).
I've got a 24inch iMac. IMO, insane value for what you get. I reviewed it a while ago: http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/09/18/first-impressions-24-inch-imac/
then I got a very nice VESA arm for it.. http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/02/26/review-ilift-vesa-arm/
sorry for the link spam, but i figured it was relevant.
then I got a very nice VESA arm for it.. http://paulstamatiou.com/2007/02/26/review-ilift-vesa-arm/
sorry for the link spam, but i figured it was relevant.
The white MacBook with 2G of RAM is great for programming unix applications. I run the webserver, the database, the search engine (Ferret) and all other desktop apps as well as Windows XP on parallels for IE debugging. I never have performance issues.
I just wanted to say that if you ever plan on running Linux on your machine, don't get a Mac.
Ubuntu in particular works, but there's a lot of hacking to get it to do so and little issues abound (at least that's my experience).
Ubuntu in particular works, but there's a lot of hacking to get it to do so and little issues abound (at least that's my experience).
Just got back from the Apple Store with a fresh 17" Macbook Pro. I'm in heaven right now.
I got a 12 inch powerbook G4 ...old school, awesome machine hasn't failed on me yet
I have a 12" PowerBook G4.
Same here. It is such a great device that, rather than go with a current model, I purchased a replacement on eBay when my original was stolen back in January. (Be very careful with hotel selection in Punteranas, Costa Rica--my machine was stolen out of my backpack in my hotel room while I was out for the day. Thankfully, the idiots left the external HD, iSight, power supply, etc.)
That said, I still am waiting for Apple to get their act together and release a 12" MacBook Pro. I'd like to be able to run a variety of operating systems via Parallels. Interfacing with the corporate/industrial world unfortunately necessitates the use of Windows-only software. Virtual PC just doesn't cut it. Rumours suggest that one may be in the works but, for now, they seem to be just wishful thinking from other like-minded individuals.
That said, I still am waiting for Apple to get their act together and release a 12" MacBook Pro. I'd like to be able to run a variety of operating systems via Parallels. Interfacing with the corporate/industrial world unfortunately necessitates the use of Windows-only software. Virtual PC just doesn't cut it. Rumours suggest that one may be in the works but, for now, they seem to be just wishful thinking from other like-minded individuals.
PowerBook 15" 1.25 512. I too am anticipating a 12/13" MacBook Pro. I've had it since 2003 and it still runs like a champ, but I am on the road so often that I need something more portable. Maybe the iPhone will offer a decent, albeit basic, workspace.
Me too. the 12" PowerBook is awesome. I'm ready to move up to a MacBook Pro as soon as they upgrade them. I also have a 21" iMac. The extra screen real estate is great for coding.
Me too, plus one 23" display on each coast.
Exact same setup. Great with the bluetooth keyboard & mighty mouse. You also definitely have to go for the 1GB ram upgrade.
At one point I was using a 13" macbook, but it was just too big. Plus, I hated running non-intel native apps. I had to upgrade the RAM and hd(7200RPM) to get any decent performance. Blogged about the experience a while ago: http://sam.bluwiki.com/blog/2006/09/disappointed-with-my-new-macbook.html
At one point I was using a 13" macbook, but it was just too big. Plus, I hated running non-intel native apps. I had to upgrade the RAM and hd(7200RPM) to get any decent performance. Blogged about the experience a while ago: http://sam.bluwiki.com/blog/2006/09/disappointed-with-my-new-macbook.html
Except for some reason 90% of the time when I wake up the laptop when it's connected to the big monitor, it either doesn't recognize the wireless mouse and I have to rediscover it with bluetooth setup, or it doesn't draw the cursor. Only rebooting seems to fix the latter.
Anyone know how to solve either of these problems?
Anyone know how to solve either of these problems?
My personal computers are a 12" Powerbook and a Mac mini G4, and I have a 15" MacBook Pro for work.
If I didn't have the MBP I'd probably have replaced the PB by now; it's a great computer, but even a great computer can take only so much physical abuse, and it's over four years old now. I looked hard at the MacBooks, but the glossy screen is a dealbreaker, and the keyboard isn't so hot either, so I'm holding out for a 12" MBP.
If I didn't have the MBP I'd probably have replaced the PB by now; it's a great computer, but even a great computer can take only so much physical abuse, and it's over four years old now. I looked hard at the MacBooks, but the glossy screen is a dealbreaker, and the keyboard isn't so hot either, so I'm holding out for a 12" MBP.
Just make sure you buy it at a place where you can return it without problems if you are not satisfied.
I have returned two Macs to the Apple Online store, a MBP and a Mac Pro. Both were too noisy.
A friend of mine returned his iMac 24'' three times until Apple delivered one that was acceptable (even there I think it had flaws from manufacturing, but they settled for a price reduction).
I have returned two Macs to the Apple Online store, a MBP and a Mac Pro. Both were too noisy.
A friend of mine returned his iMac 24'' three times until Apple delivered one that was acceptable (even there I think it had flaws from manufacturing, but they settled for a price reduction).
I use a 15" macbook pro - the entry level model (2.16GHz), but upgraded it to 2 gigs of ram. The 17" was too large for me.
I also have a Dell 2407FPW which I highly recommend - it's cheaper than the Apple equivalent, has a great picture and also has a built in flash memory reader. And unlike most Dell products, the industrial design is pretty nice.
I also have a Dell 2407FPW which I highly recommend - it's cheaper than the Apple equivalent, has a great picture and also has a built in flash memory reader. And unlike most Dell products, the industrial design is pretty nice.
15" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo. 2.33GHz / 2GB RAM. Nice machine, although perhaps not the most durable (I handle it fairly carefully, but it's already pretty scratched up after ~6 months). Thinking about upgrading to 3GB RAM (the max), as I run 2 WinXP VMs under Parallels (for IE 6 and 7) and that slows me down pretty bad currently.
A PPC 17" iMac. My wife has a dual-G5 PowerMac. Of course, you can't buy these models any more, but they've both been reliable.
An important thing is that you should probably buy directly from Apple. Every experience I've had buying from third parties resulted in Macs arriving with hardware problems. Could have been a coincidence, I suppose.
An important thing is that you should probably buy directly from Apple. Every experience I've had buying from third parties resulted in Macs arriving with hardware problems. Could have been a coincidence, I suppose.
15in mpb 2.0Ghz / 2gb ram. a lot of the time w/ 20in monitor plugged in. I've been ecstatic with it. The 17in seems to big to move around with (though I did not have that option when I bought mine).
If I was buying it again today I would take a really hard look at the MacBooks; especially since they are now as fast as my mbp.
If I was buying it again today I would take a really hard look at the MacBooks; especially since they are now as fast as my mbp.
I had a 12" PB for a couple years then sold it to a friend who still uses it daily and it a very mobile environment. Myself, I work fulltime and go to school fulltime and I'm never at home and the only laptop for me was a 15" Macbook Pro.
I'm using a 24" iMac and it's great for development. A MacBook whould come in handy if you want mobility and it has a nice price also. I don't think you'll have performance issues with any laptop you might choose.
I went from a 12" ibook g4 to a 15" macbook pro. (The student price knocked off a couple hundred dollars)
I really liked the 12", but the 15" widescreen real estate is very handy. I'll never get another PC for personal use.
I really liked the 12", but the 15" widescreen real estate is very handy. I'll never get another PC for personal use.
I'm on a WindowsXP desktop right now.
I'm planning to get the 15" 2.33GHz MacBook Pro,
w/ 160GB hard drive.
I don't know why they don't offer the 7200rpm hard
drives. Won't the 5400 be noticeable slow?
MacBook Pro, entry level.
I've had a MacBook for a few weeks (while my MBP was in repair :() and I was so happy to get the MBP back.
I use it with a big CRT in our office and a Samsung 205BW (20" widescreen) in my home-office.
I've had a MacBook for a few weeks (while my MBP was in repair :() and I was so happy to get the MBP back.
I use it with a big CRT in our office and a Samsung 205BW (20" widescreen) in my home-office.
I don't use a Mac any more (decided to go back to Linux), but my base-model 15" powerbook served me wonderfully for two years. Just pop in an extra gig of RAM.
I have the 20in. iMac, maxed out on RAM and HD. It's absolutely killer - the best machine I've ever owned. Next purchase will be a MacBook Pro.
Recently replaced my XP desktop with a 13" Macbook as my main machine. I'm eying the Mac Pro w/ a 30incher when the time is right...
Mac Mini, 1.67Ghz dual core. It's their lowest end model right now, but with 2G of RAM, performance is quite good.
I have a 12" Powerbook and a Mac Mini with the core duo. I'll be getting a Macbook sometime in the future.
What a great forum. I'm deciding b/w a Mac or a the Z. Looks like everyone really loves their MAC.
My T40 is dying.
My T40 is dying.
MBP 15.4 2.16 2GB and the sexy Axio Hardsleeve (axio-usa.com) for lugging it around.
A 13" MacBook. Without a doubt, it's the best computer I've ever owned.
I've got a Quad Core 3Ghz MacPro... and yes it is REALLY fast!
17 inch PowerBook G4...No problems the past two years.
17" MacBook Pro. It is very, very, very nice.
Do you carry it everywhere with you?
I used to have a 17" PowerBook (first 17" model), and I carried it around a lot. There's a Halliburton case that fits it snugly on all sides; no rattling or anything.
People complain about the weight and size, but I never noticed a problem. Of course, I'm a pretty big guy.
People complain about the weight and size, but I never noticed a problem. Of course, I'm a pretty big guy.
Actually, yes. I have a Incase laptop sleeve, and it fits in my backpack perfectly. It's usually the lightest thing in there, too -- at least, my shoulders are happy when I get to leave the books at home.
Same here. Yes.
I use the booq backpack. Great fit and it will stand up whether or not you have the laptop in it.
I use the booq backpack. Great fit and it will stand up whether or not you have the laptop in it.
i'm also in the market - any idea if apple is planning to do a 15" MacBook? Thats what I'm have been holding out for.
13" MacBook
MacBook (non-pro). I'm poor/cheap, plus I actually prefer a smaller form-factor for notebooks; I have full-sized external monitors at both home and work, so the smaller display is a non-issue where I spend most of my time, and a postive advantage when I'm mobile.
Intel announced Robson technology awhile ago, which ships in their "Santa Rosa" platform which is scheduled to ship in May - this month.
Apple has gone a bit longer than usual in releasing laptops... they are overdue for both MacBooks and MacBook pros.
On June 11th Steve Jobs will be giving the keynote at WWDC.
Last week Apple announced that they would be shipping laptops with LED based displays "later this year". Such a change will require a design change in the laptop- eg: a new formfactor. It might be like the aluminum books now, not really a new looking formfactor compared to the Titanium powerbook-- but thuroughly new internally.
Thus, I think the odds are very good that new laptops will be announced on June 11th and that the difference will be significant enough that its worth waiting a month before buying your mac.