Scirocco Central

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:05 am**

I really want a new PC and am plumping for a Mac Laptop.

My questions is for those of you who have or have used a Mac and can advise me on what is best for my needs.

In terms of use ill be using it for:

Browsing the web
Sorting out photos
All of my Music (about 100Gb's worth)
Playing Movies
Writing the odd letter
Checking my emails

Im really tempted by the Macbook Pro 15" but feel it may be overkill?

Therefore based on the above would a 13" Macbook Air suffice or should i go for the 13" Pro with a better graphics card and processing power?

I get the feeling with Macs that while the specs may be lower than what i am used to with using a Windows based PC/Laptop, Macs are better optimised and therefore can use "reduced" specs?

Any advice greatfully received.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:08 am**

Are you going to be mobile with it ?

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:14 am**

caprinolaw wrote:I really want a new PC and am plumping for a Mac Laptop.

My questions is for those of you who have or have used a Mac and can advise me on what is best for my needs.

In terms of use ill be using it for:

Browsing the web
Sorting out photos
All of my Music (about 100Gb's worth)
Playing Movies
Writing the odd letter
Checking my emails
Im really tempted by the Macbook Pro 15" but feel it may be overkill?

Macbook Air will be fine except you will need an external hard drive for your music.

If you dont want to do that then you will miss out on instant on and its portability but will have the ability to do video editing music composing in the future although sounds like overkill base don your needs.

Macbook air all day long!!

Therefore based on the above would a 13" Macbook Air suffice or should i go for the 13" Pro with a better graphics card and processing power?

I get the feeling with Macs that while the specs may be lower than what i am used to with using a Windows based PC/Laptop, Macs are better optimised and therefore can use "reduced" specs?

Any advice greatfully received.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:24 am**

182_blue wrote:Are you going to be mobile with it ?

Yes I will.

Between the Bedroom, Lounge and the odd trip away.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:40 am**

From what you have described you probably just need a Macbook (aka the cheapest device), but I understand the 'want' for a better device.

Just go for the device you can afford, best to go into an Apple store and try them out and see which one you like, for instance a 13" screen for me is too small! But for you it may be perfect.

For instance I use a Macbook Pro 2011, SSD 128GB drive, 8GB RAM, 2.3GHz Sandy Bridge Processor & 15" HD non glare screen.
I use mine for 8+ hours a day, for video editing, web design, browsing, documents and its perfect for what I need.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:44 am**

I've tried the Pro and Air. I like the 15" screen on the Pro but I think the air would suffice.

All it is going to do it replace my desktop PC at home which has a 22" screen which i could plug in to if needs be.

All i use my desktop PC at home for is when a keyboard is necessary - otherwise i turn to my ipad.

Ill be honest - its going to be a 'nice to have' purchase not a 'need to have' purchase.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 12:05 pm**

caprinolaw wrote:Browsing the web
Sorting out photos
All of my Music (about 100Gb's worth)
Playing Movies
Writing the odd letter
Checking my emails

That's pretty much what I use mine for.

I've got a 10 month old white base model macbook (not the pro) and to be honest, its fine.

I mainly surf and email but I have a few photos and 12,000 mp3s and a couple of movies and I use it to store apps/sync for my iPad. And I've still got about half the HD free.

Also, if you happen to know anyone who is a student or works in an academic institute they will be able to get about 15% off the list price with the apple higher education discount. So a macbook comes in at about £750, a 13" pro 2.3 is about £860 and a 15" pro 2.0 is £1330. Quite a saving if you know a student!

The pro's have a much faster chip so it's probably worth paying the extra 100 for the 13" pro.

As for the Air, it's a lot of money to save a few grams in weight. Especially if you're then going to buy an external DVD drive to rip the movies.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 1:40 pm**

....and then they go an announce a new iMac!

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/s ... TM3NDcyOTU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 2:19 pm**

The macbooks were only updated in Feb though so you're about a new as you can get on the tech in those.

Depends if you want a desktop or the portability.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 8:08 pm**

I've recently bought a 13" air with 256SSD in the States and can recommend it 100%. I used to have the old "white" Macbook but the air has a higher res screen, better graphics and amazing battery life.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 8:17 pm**

tonight i just bought a 13" MacBook Pro for me and a 15" Acer Windows 7 Laptop for the wife, within 10 minutes i am blown away by how good the mac is as in terms of ease of use and connectivity and the build quality is superb

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 8:25 pm**

You not had a Mac before?

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 9:02 pm**

Kev wrote:You not had a Mac before?

nope but now converted for me anyway

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 9:09 pm**

My Win7 takes max 20 seconds from switch on to get into Windows.

If you Optimise Win7, you can fly with it. Whilst you're buying the Mac, you can look for a better spec laptop and even have cash left over to buy an SSD (if laptop has 2 HDD spaces, you can use it as you're 1st drive and the default as 2nd) or you can take out the optical drive and get a mod that can allow that space for a second drive and again do an SSD as the 1st (booting OS drive).

I'd seriously help you out speccing one for a budget and you'd be surprised at what the results may be. Whatever you do, don't write off Win7. Take a look at the stuff here: http://www.blackviper.com/2010/12/17/bl ... gurations/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - With all the things I have sorted I got my boot up from cold to ready to use in 15-20 seconds.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 9:54 pm**

Ryy wrote:My Win7 takes max 20 seconds from switch on to get into Windows.

If you Optimise Win7, you can fly with it. Whilst you're buying the Mac, you can look for a better spec laptop and even have cash left over to buy an SSD (if laptop has 2 HDD spaces, you can use it as you're 1st drive and the default as 2nd) or you can take out the optical drive and get a mod that can allow that space for a second drive and again do an SSD as the 1st (booting OS drive).

I'd seriously help you out speccing one for a budget and you'd be surprised at what the results may be. Whatever you do, don't write off Win7. Take a look at the stuff here: http://www.blackviper.com/2010/12/17/bl ... gurations/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - With all the things I have sorted I got my boot up from cold to ready to use in 15-20 seconds.

I'm a senior developer using Microsoft products (.NET, Sharepoint, SQL) and yet I now don't have a PC at home. I just find them too annoying when compared to Macs, which just seem to work with no fuss or aggravation. Admittedly you do pay a large premium for this, but for me it's worth it, as I no longer have the time to mess about configuring things.

ps: My air is usable in approx 12 secs from cold boot.

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 10:12 pm**

wigit wrote:
Kev wrote:You not had a Mac before?
nope but now converted for me anyway

Good man

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2011 11:58 pm**

Atlantis wrote:
Ryy wrote:ps: My air is usable in approx 12 secs from cold boot.

I know Macs boot quick, I know this as I work in a repair centre.

What I'm saying here is that 20 seconds max for booting to Windows is rather amazing. Macs are optimized as you say, but I can't help but feel 90% of the argument is "cos windows is xxxxx". If people knew what they were doing that argument would change and be more understandable possibly.

Obviously you are set in your mind. If you think it's worth it. Go for it. You're going to know more than the average Joe, so have your reasons. The good thing about this planet is, some people do different things.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2011 6:48 am**

Macs are faster, easier to use, and also look nicer!

And if for whatever reason you require your Windows interface, you can always boot camp it. I've used Windows for about 8 years before changing to Mac and believe me, I'd never go back. Worth every penny!

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2011 8:15 pm**

the price issue is a bit of an urban myth, you buy a decent quality small 13" laptop with 7+ hours battery life and you are in £800-£900 territory, there are couple of applications i need windows for an will boot camp or parallels

they are just so damn easy to use, in reality window 7 is better than vista but i haven't been blown away by it.

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