I need Everyones HELP!! Name a fact!!!

[Macsforcollege?]

Hey everyone.. here it is.. im graduating next month. I want a laptop. My dad wants to give me his current one. I want a macbook. Never had one, no one in my family has had a mac. He feels i dont need it. But my mom agrees that i should get one or any laptop, but a macbook is what i want. SO when people ask shes telling them to get me a apple gift card. I want to tell my dad about this. He wont be thrilled but he will live with it. But i want your help! I want to show him a lot of stuff he doesnt know about macs. So please please please, give me a fact about the macbook or what you think about it. Give me features or anything like that. If you have pictures of college campuses using macbooks, post that. If you go to college and see many people use macs, say that. Also write about hardware, features, the look, what it can do, etc. I want to be able to print out pages and show him how many people like it and to be able to say all of these people have facts for you about how good they are!.
Thanks Everyone

[ki2594]

here you go dad:
1. Better than a windows laptop :D (thats the big thing)
2. The most stable OS out to date
3. Can run windows via Boot Camp
4. Office '08 for Mac runs brilliantly
5. Most advanced intel processors in laptops up to date along with the Macbook Pro
5 Spaces really helps you get your work done especially if your multi tasking
6 Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, etc. seem to run a lot better on macs
7 The Macbooks battery life is better than most in its class
8 2 gb RAM standard is huge and can be easily expanded

lot more but thats a start

[Macsforcollege?]

Thanks! Appreciate it.... Keep it coming everyone..

-Thanks again!!!!

[mike000]

here you go - macs at a university!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21204652@N04/2060299139/

[t0mat0]

If you have pictures of college campuses using macbooks, post that.
Check out the picture on the Fail thread:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&goto=lastpost&threadid=473897
There's one showing a room full of Apple laptops, 1 non apple laptop and a guy using a notepad and pen/pencil.

Edit: Beaten to the chase :)

[richard.mac]

well all Macs come with Mac OS X which is fast, easy to use, has a great UI, doesnt junk up and get slower over time & is virus free.

you can also install Windows on your MacBook if you need to too using Boot Camp (built into OS X) or by using a third party virtualisation. more info here (http://guides.macrumors.com/Booting_Windows_on_the_Mac).

if price is a concern you could have a look at the refurbished store. theres a MacBook for $999 with decent specs here (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nplm=FB062LL/B).

also have a look at Apple's "Find Out How (http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/)" videos to have a look at what a Mac can do.

[Uoila]

- Fully 64 bit Hardware and OS
- Utilizes "next gen bios (kinda)" EFI
- Full *nix environment with shell and gnu user land tools


Sorry for all those that I offend, but it is pretty much like any other PC except it can run OSX natively.

I understand your dad not wanting to buy a new laptop when there is a perfectly good one laying around but he shouldn't be mad about it being a mac specifically.

Anyways, whatever your decide to do..... do it quick so that you can still use your student discount.

[Burgess07]

Macs are well built. They can survive Fires (http://www.modyourmac.com/?p=101).

[speakerwizard]

very secure, that's enough for most.

[Macsforcollege?]

Just saying Thanks again.. Feel free to add more..

Thanks..... I dont think he will be mad, he just feels it not nesssecary to get one. But i rather have a new laptop. Macs seem great!

[richard.mac]

^ Macs seems that way to some people becuase of their classy appearance. but only until you buy one you appreciate the stability and speed of an Apple Mac + Mac OS X.

[Yvan256]

If you get a Mac, you get Mac OS X. And with OS X, you're going to spend more time actually using the computer than trying to keep it working.

When you work, time is money.
When you study, time is knowledge.

[SFStateStudent]

Went to the Harvard School of Law and everyone had a laptop; I'd say 70% had Macs. Went to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and everyone had a laptop; at least 80% had Macs. My four years at the University of California, Berkeley, I had an Apple computer 24/7, and my two years at San Francisco State University, I've had a MacBook/BlackBook/MBA with me 24/7. Do you want to connect to your school's WiFi faster and with a more reliable connection? Go with a MacBook. Every class I've taken, I've had an Apple computer in front of me, so hopefully everything will work out for you! Go Bears! Go MacBook! :p

[h0e0h]

Important stuff for dad from a college student (I used some of this information 5 years ago to persuade my parents)

70,000 known viruses affecting Windows-Based Personal computers in 2002 --> that figure can be estimated to have exponentially increased over the past 6 years.

most Macs have NEVER been affected by a single virus

You can create, send, receive, and edit all MS Office based documents with MS Office '08 for Mac as well as iWork featuring Pages, Numbers, and Keynote --> Apple's proprietary competitor for Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

now for my personal experience, my parents purchased me a 12" PowerBook almost 5 years ago to start college. Today, that PowerBook is still currently used EVERY DAY and strongly running OS X 10.5.3.

[farmerku]

here you go - macs at a university!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21204652@N04/2060299139/


I think this picture is great and all... I really do..


but I go the KU and we really hate everything about MU... that school SUCKS!!!!

Tell your dad to buy you a MacBook dude but don't every go to MU :)

[.:R2theT]

You will be much more likely to get laid if you have a Mac. No question.

That should put the issue to bed for him.

[skybolt]

Check out this blog from a long-time mac basher turned mac lover! I never thought this guy would EVER admit to liking macs -- but he does!

http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/14/50-reasons-to-switch-from-microsoft-windows-to-apples-mac-os-x/

[krye]

Just show him the OS X guided tour....

http://www.apple.com/macosx/guidedtour/

If that doesn't do it, nothing will.

[Consultant]

Guided Tour of Leopard, download the highest quality version that your computer can handle and watch it together.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/guidedtour/

Doh! over 30 minutes too late.

[Nick012]

Can't maintain a wireless connection...

I'm just annoyed, they're great machines...

[Jpoon]

Can't maintain a wireless connection...

I'm just annoyed, they're great machines...

They're well designed, in my opinion, and if you go for a refurb / buy off Amazon / get a student discount, it's not that bad of the price considering the hardware you're getting. And I've NEVER had an issue with Wifi, Ethernet, or using a Sierra Wireless Air card *Sprint* with my Santa Rosa MB.

Your OS is 64bit, which takes full advantage of 4 gigabytes of RAM.

RAM and HDD are easily accessed to replace.

You can boot either OS X or Windows XP, Vista.

Battery life, is relatively respectable compared to similar PC hardware
equivalents.

Beats equivalently equipped PC's.

Bluetooth as a standard, Six pin Fire Wire *probably referring to that incorrectly,* excellent software suite of the box.

Relatively plug in play with most cameras, mice, keyboards, usb headsets, etc.

Overall, an excellent machine on style, performance, ease of use, and beats all PC laptops with equivalent hardware.

Plus, they're damn sexy. Nuff said really.

[Chundles]

Wait, graduating or just finishing High School? Graduating here is what you do when you get your University degree, anything else means bugger all so we just call it "finishing High School". Anyhoo, I'll presume you're using the american definition seeing as you asked for pictures of Macs at Uni campuses. Here we go:

1. Chicks dig them. Windows laptops are nowhere near as cool.

2. No virus/spyware related downtime. If a virus makes the rounds on the campus networks you'll be the one still able to get stuff done.1

3. Easier to lockdown if the Uni decrees that all machines will be searched for pirated material meaning you don't have to burn 118 CDs in a few days then reformat your drive2

4. Better battery life means you can get your work done in nicer places.

5. Handbrake means that making a massive collection of movies and TV shows of all your mates' borrowed DVDs the easiest thing in the world. Then you can hold movie nights in your room with front row. In the dark. Then you can use that dark, cuddled up atmosphere to pick up chicks3

1 - Every year on campus 2001 - 2004 (HP Pavillion PC)
2 - Fourth year at Uni (2004), same machine as above.
3 - Second year at Uni (2002), same machine as above, more difficult to do than HB + Front Row but the result was the same.

Need any more?

[alphaod]

I hate to say this, but you don't need a Macbook, you want one; there isn't anything wrong with what you're dad said; he told me the same thing.

As with all this convincing: Thinkpads are more durable, Linux is more stable, plus it's free; remembers chicks like dudes who are smart, so give up on the looking cool part. Thinkpad wireless is way better, and you can do a lot more on a Windows machine.

That said...

For the dad:
1) Easy out of the box experience; you son won't be configuration a bajillion things when he can instead be studying
2) Less games on OS X; sure he can install Windows, but OS X is a deterance; it works.
3) You son is a grown man; he looks to look at his daily share of "stuff"; a Macbook will make sure he won't have problems after he's "done."
4) The Macbook price/performance is very good; plus he can get a free iPod and a free printer; saves you money! (Maybe keep the iPod ;) ... or not... )
5) Macs are increasingly popular among college students; don't let your son get left out; you want him to be shining brightly as a student, not as the guy without the Mac.
6) Seriously, he wants a darn Mac; you don't know anything about it, so you don't think he needs it? If he hates it in the end, it's his fault; you don't want him pissed off at you for all those years for him being left out. Buy him a Macbook out of love; out of the fact that you will feel you have done your part and your son shall do the rest.
7) Put it this way: Get him a Macbook, you are happy that he is happy; he will do well in school; he makes big bucks; he can buy all the PCs you will ever want.

Good luck!

[lil' brudder]

You will be much more likely to get laid if you have a Mac. No question.

That should put the issue to bed for him.

nice pun... :P

another reason, macs are built like tanks! I've dropped my macbook twice from at least 3 feet up (hard tile and concrete), and its been running flawlessly for two years. Not to mention how great apple's service department is. Not to mention the great number of people switching to macs because vista sucks. Most of my friends and family who have vista laptops hate vista and wish they had bought macs.

[Chappers]

The University of Cambridge has within its Computing service a Mac lab, called the Balfour Macintosh Room. It's is full of iMacs that are upgraded on a fairly regularly basis.

Believe me you see a lot of Macs in Cambridge.

For a city of only 150 thousand people it has one Apple store and two official retailers. Not bad I think.

[lxuser]

here you go dad:
4. Office '08 for Mac runs brilliantly

office 08 runs anything BUT brilliantly, but the good news is that iWork 08 an amazing office suite that handles everything I throw at it here at school.

I bought a new laptop at the beggining of this year for college. it was top of line when I bought it, 4gb ram, huge hd, quick intel core 2 duo, but windows vista was seriously making it slower than my old pentium 4 desktop. it was insane! it was a gateway, and they (and most other pc manufacturers) dont even make windows xp drivers for their new laptops so downgrading to good old windows xp was not even an option.

It was such a nightmare that I sold my laptop to someone on my floor in the dorms, and bought a new macbook in white right after their most recent revision. and iWork was literally a quarter of the price of the Office 08 software. Office 08 is majorly buggy, even SP1 for it failed to fix most peoples problems. there are many alternatives though, open office, neo office, iwork, the older (but more stable) office 2004, etc.

It was the best decision I ever made! tell him the quarter I got my macbook, I also got a 4.0 hahah! its true!

[cthomet]

3. Easier to lockdown if the Uni decrees that all machines will be searched for pirated material meaning you don't have to burn 118 CDs in a few days then reformat your drive2


how is that done exactly?

[SFStateStudent]

Well, did your Dad buy you a brand new BlackBook, and are the two of you waiting for the iPod Touch special rebate in the mail? :eek:

[ki2594]

office 08 runs anything BUT brilliantly, but the good news is that iWork 08 an amazing office suite that handles everything I throw at it here at school.

I bought a new laptop at the beggining of this year for college. it was top of line when I bought it, 4gb ram, huge hd, quick intel core 2 duo, but windows vista was seriously making it slower than my old pentium 4 desktop. it was insane! it was a gateway, and they (and most other pc manufacturers) dont even make windows xp drivers for their new laptops so downgrading to good old windows xp was not even an option.

It was such a nightmare that I sold my laptop to someone on my floor in the dorms, and bought a new macbook in white right after their most recent revision. and iWork was literally a quarter of the price of the Office 08 software. Office 08 is majorly buggy, even SP1 for it failed to fix most peoples problems. there are many alternatives though, open office, neo office, iwork, the older (but more stable) office 2004, etc.

It was the best decision I ever made! tell him the quarter I got my macbook, I also got a 4.0 hahah! its true!

well it works brilliantly for me though I know some have problems with it. I definitely use pages more because it just seems cleaner but word runs easily on my macbook.

[MacHappytjg]

uhm this is i think ur 3rd thread on this issue make the friggin switch already! u wont regreat it

[Chundles]

how is that done exactly?

They say "We are coming to check your computers for pirated material" so I burnt it all to CD and wiped my HDD.

Our contract allows for the search of computers for illicit or pirated material. Before the crackdown they didn't give a rat's but when the uni were threatened with legal action they decided to search all of us.

The Mac guys just put a firmware password on their computers - all us PC guys didn't know how.

[ki2594]

firmware password??

[alphaod]

firmware password??

Yes you put the install disk in and you set a EFI password. There is no way I'm burning 2TB of stuff to DVDs.

[Watabou]

Yes you put the install disk in and you set a EFI password. There is no way I'm burning 2TB of stuff to DVDs.

Can you explain that a bit more? I don't get how EFI password can help me to lockdown my mac.
And is it recommended that I do to make my laptop more secure when i go to college? I don't have any pirated materials. Is it okay for me to set a firmware password, meaning nothing will go wrong?

[Macsforcollege?]

Hey everyone
Thanks for all your help. I just told my dad. I told him i have been doing a lot of research and explained everything.. his response " I want you to know, if something happends to it, i cannot help you at all". Then i said that there is an apple store about 1hr away. He said "Ok, BYe"... That was it......

[richard.mac]

^ we can be your help for software and minor hardware troubleshooting IF you need it and IF you get major hardware troubles you can take it to your local Apple Store and they will fix it under warranty.

i suggest you buy Apple Care for your MacBook because IF you do run into a problem after the complementary warranty runs out it will pay for itself.

notice i used "IF"s as most likely you will have a trouble free user experience.

good luck with your new Mac! :)