Anyone using MacBook as their only Mac/computer?

[FreqFlyer]

Hello!

I was just wondering if any of you are using the MacBook as your only Mac or computer? Interesting to hear about the setup to the people around here :)

[Prekesh]

yeah i use this as my primary machine. i got a pretty weak set up atm. but its nice to be able to just take this to school and then use it there and at home.

soon hopefully, i can get a 20" and hook it up to this while im at home.

[VSMacOne]

I've had my MB since October and it's my main/only computer. It does everything i need it to do. I don't even have an external monitor because the 13" has been good enough so far. I wanted to have something very mobile and still full of features and i went from a 15" Toshiba to the 13 MB and I couldn't be happier!!

[Phatpat]

I would venture to say most people who own Macbooks use them as their primary computers. Desktops are so 4 years ago.

I occasionally use mine with an external monitor and mouse, it's not necessary. As has been mentioned before, it's nice to have everything in one place and not worry about syncing.

[billyjoegibsonx]

my macbook is my main computer :) i use it 99% of the time. I have an old XP desktop downstair, for some reason :S

Was thinking bout chucking the xp and getting an iMac ? sound good ? ;) lol

[NewMacbookPlz]

I use my AluMacbook exclusively. I keep my P4 Dell around for any just-in-case situations.

As far as setup, its just the laptop, and a connection to the TV/speaker system for video every now and then

[Prekesh]

my macbook is my main computer :) i use it 99% of the time. I have an old XP desktop downstair, for some reason :S

Was thinking bout chucking the xp and getting an iMac ? sound good ? ;) lol

haha i have an XP desktop too, and i am thinkin of throwin it out and getting an iMac too, how strange :P

oh yea and i use my mighty mouse with my macbook too, naturally

[yorkslad]

Yeah I have a MBA. I have bootcamp running XP and I use an old 30GB ipod for extra storage of work files. I find 80GB a tad small am considering upgrading to MB or MBP.

[tubbymac]

Once I got the Macbook all my other machines have sat unused. I keep this thing hooked up to an external monitor quite a bit though.

[Moks]

Yep. No need for anything else, except external storage.

[mobilehaathi]

I use my MBP as my main computer (it is my only mac too). I have an external HD that I hook into for backups every morning at lab. In the evenings I take my MBP home with me and use it on a lap desk. The only other computer I have is a linux box I use as a home sever/media center. It seems to work pretty well for me.

[thewizard.mac]

I have the white MacBook a year now and I use it all day it's really nice and convinient although I can't say that I wouldn't love an iMac :o

[marmiteturkey]

Yup - my alu macbook is my main computer (i've also got an aspire one for throwing in the bag when I don't think I'll actually need a computer, and an apple tv as my media server). Stuck a 500gb drive and 2gb memory in there, and we're away! Great computer, doesn't lag on very much - I don't game on it.

[superfunkomatic]

yes, i've been using my powerbook, and now a macbook pro 17", for absolutely everything for almost 10 years now.

i use and older g4 as the backup station for time machine.

[H$R]

Yes I also use my MacBook as my only computer. It's just easier, to have all emails and documents on just one computer. This way I can create something at college, work on it on the train back home and at home I can keep up where I left.

I upgraded the HD to 320 GB, so I have just enough storage space for all my music, photos and documents.

I don't use an external monitor, the 13 inch screen is just right for everything I am doing. Except for programming a second display would be good. But I am not programming that much. And I rarely do anyting video related.

[jrrdnx]

My MBP is my first and only Mac. Definitely all I will be using from now on. My wife even loves it so much she's saving up her money to get the MBA.

my macbook is my main computer :) i use it 99% of the time. I have an old XP desktop downstair, for some reason :S

Was thinking bout chucking the xp and getting an iMac ? sound good ? ;) lol

While the iMac would be awesome, I found another use for my old XP desktop. I turned it into a home media server. I had a RAID card lying around and a friend gave me a small 10GB Seagate HDD he had lying around, so I formatted and installed my OEM Windows XP on it, then hooked my previous 2 HDD's (1st was OS/programs, 2nd was media) up in a RAID1 array. Now my wife and I keep backups of all of our music, photos, and videos on the server so we can stream them all to my Xbox 360. I also installed XAMPP on it to use as my development server. Total cost for me: $0.

[GfulDedFan]

This is my only computer but there are a total of 5 Macs in my household. My son has a 15" PB and 15" MBP, my daughter has a 12" PB, and we have a Mini in the living room acting as a Media Center.

I use my MacBook for everything personal and for work including a subnet connection to the Linux server. Works perfectly. It goes to work, business trips, home, lake cottage and anywhere/everywhere else I go. My only supplement is an iPod Touch.

[Primejimbo]

it's my main computer now. I still have the old Gateway, but I keep that in my daughters room now and it's a back up.

[FreqFlyer]

Great to hear so many replies! I added a poll, but I just discovered that I forgot a Linux option... sorry for those who feel left out :rolleyes:

[zephead]

Still rockin' the 1st gen MacBook in my sig. Nothing too intensive, mostly just Mail, Safari, iTunes, iPhoto Picasa, and the occasional use of Fusion for XP.

[hmai18]

I've been running a notebook as my primary machine for almost 3 years. Progression was:

1. iBook + 17" CRT
2. iBook + 20" LCD
3. MacBook + 20" LCD

[mgpg89]

I'm using my MacBook Pro as my only computer. (connected to a 20"ACD when I'm at home)

[avediswolf]

I haven't owned a desktop type machine for years. Even in my pre mac days, all I had was a notebook.

[alphaod]

You poll is missing the one that says I have 3 laptops and 2 desktops running Windows and OS X. :D

[jav6454]

It's my only computer, but it boots in Fusion XP and Win 7.

[acfusion29]

I only use my MacBook. It does everything I need it to do.

[the Western zoo]

My MacBook is the one and only computer I need! :) I've got air tunes for music, and can plug it into my tv for watching movies... It's all good!

[JG271]

I'm using a white macbook with external screen, apple keyboard and mouse and external speakers. Its great, I set it down and it is practically a desktop, take it with me and its a laptop!

[danpass]

I've been thinking about doing this with a laptop for quite some time.

Having recently checked out the MacBook 13 it seems sufficient for what I do (a Mini is the other option since I have a 19" Viewsonic).

currently I have PC gear. tower that I built and an Acer laptop, external USB drive, Linksys wifi. two printers connected to the tower, also accessed by the laptop.


My ideal 'clean' setup is a laptop, wifi station, external drive, printer


I see that there is an airport option where you can hook up an external USB device but it appears that there is only one USB connection. This would require buying one of those NAS enclosures (like the D-Link DNS-323) for an external drive(s) since I would be plugging in the newer printer to the airport.


thoughts?

[joaoferro37]

If MacBook is the only Mac you have, take a look at this product on OWC
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Raidon/DR4WBS2/
Built-in RAID 5 with no configuration required.
Quad interface for future upgrade, saying you love you MacBook and you are dying to get a Mac Pro but don't want to waste your investment.
Review at barefeatrs.com
http://barefeats.com/hard122.html

[txhockey9404]

I used to have an iMac as my main and only computer, but now I have a new 13" MBP (which in my book still qualifies as a Macbook). I used them both for about a month, but the iMac is now being relegated to home server and encoding duty. I am also moving, so it will be used as a guest computer with the server account running in the background. Now I just have to hope that my relatives that have never used a Mac can figure out how to get to the internet without asking. My MBP does everything my iMac did aside from store all of my media easily. The iMac only did that because of 2 external drives, but laptop externals are a bit cumbersome to carry around, and I am too afraid to bring my $140 external drive to school along with a $1500 laptop.

[macshill]

I misread this as "Anyone using a MacBook AIR as their only Mac/computer?". Now that would be interesting!

[KielderWolf]

I went from my iMac to a Mac Mini in '06 (the first generation Intel one... man it was a pain until the day it died - and even more of a pain for dying when it did... </rant>) then to my BlackBook in '08 and far from being my main machine it has also become possibly the most important thing I own.

I have a WD Time Machine drive and it occasionally borrows a 17" LCD that I have plugged in through adapter to my PowerMac 6200 for my old-school mid-nineties pixelated games of violence and blood (ahhh Doom II my old friend) and when it's on the desk I plug a Apple Pro Keyboard and Mighty Mouse into it as well for ergonomic comfort.

Next machine is probably going to be a MacBook Pro and that will take over my work and home life in a few years time.

[Cyclo0n]

My MacBook unibody is my only computer i use. Im thinking about buying a Mac-Mini or something for at home and use my MacBook for school :)

[drummerlondonw3]

well currently I have an Air and a MBP but I will be going to a 17 uMBP for myself and I am going to buy a 13 MBP for my girlfriend as we are now used to having 2 computers.

Although while at university I had the base 12 iBook 800 mhz and I think 756 ram :eek: This did everything, I did photoshop on it, wrote my dissertation and took it everywhere! When I look back now you realise how much things have moved on in even a few years :)

[niuniu]

Mum uses her Macbook as her primary computer..

[davidjearly]

Yeah. I recently went from 13" MacBook & 24" iMac to a 15" uMBP and soon to be external display set up.

For me, my MBP is perfect as a single computer.

[davidcalvet]

I am using my white mac book that I got las year in june.
I also have a TIME CAPSULE.
By the way I would like to re-do the original copy on it, as I did some clean up on my MABOOK. What can I do, without erasing all other things I copied on it.
Thanks and god bless OS X !!!

[RMo]

I have a MacBook, and it is my only computer. (Well, that's a lie: I have an old iMac G3 lying around, a 2004 HP laptop, and occasionally a random few-years-old desktop PC that I buy for cheap at auctions when feel like playing around...but my MacBook the only computer I normally use...except last fall when I sold my old white MacBook in anticipation of a September refresh that never happened and left me waiting, iMac G3 in hand, until late October. That was not pleasant, but it's my own fault. :D)

Anyway, I don't understand why most people, if they have a MacBook, would need more. With enough RAM and HD space, it can do pretty much anything most people want. It seems like a waste of money to me to buy it just to have it. (I do programming, personal accounting, write papers in LaTex and other grad school "homework," Web browsing, e-mail, and occasionally use OpenOffice.org, and my MacBook suits me fine.)

I also have an external display and keyboard/mouse, which gives the MacBook a more "desktop" feel. But I didn't use an external display on my old MacBook, so for a while I was using the 13.3" screen and even that was OK (but I definitely enjoy the larger screen). The only bad thing is that with my external mouse, I can't do any of the touch gestures that you can do on the touchpad...but, on the other hand, I have a few extra buttons to work with that mostly makes up for it. :)

[brn2ski00]

yep, went from an iMac to a MB - I don't do anything really processor intensive that my 2.0 Ghz can't handle.

I am using my white mac book that I got las year in june.
I also have a TIME CAPSULE.
By the way I would like to re-do the original copy on it, as I did some clean up on my MABOOK. What can I do, without erasing all other things I copied on it.
Thanks and god bless OS X !!!

looking into getting the TC - need a new wireless AP and can't stand unplugging/plugging my USB external HDD. :eek:

[doug in albq]

Yes, and My iPod Touch is my laptop...

[Takuta-Nui]

Voted also have a desktop running Mac.

Technically the family iMac isn't mine - my parents paid for and own it, while I paid for and own my MacBook. But I use the iMac to back up stuff as well as watch anime online since doing that on the MB sucks out about 30% of the charge. I want the battery to stay strong for the first two years of university at least before I start to consider replacing it.

When I move out and hopefully at the same time or earlier obtain a reliable job, I'll probably do the same but slightly different - MB Air for light work like writing and Internet, and iMac at home for movies and anime and backups. =D

[Techguy172]

I use my MacBook as my main machine now but I just don't find it enough, much too slow and gets way too hot. Photoshop is slooowww, and it cannot handle many applications open simultaneously very well.

[uanuglyfool]

I only have a MacBook (late 2008) which is set up to my 24'' dell monitor. I love the portability.

[r.j.s]

I've been using my MB as my only machine for 2 1/2 years, no issues.

[jmann]

I only use my Unibody MacBook, what else could I ask for?! I would hate to sit at an uncomfortable desk to use my computer.

[dlewis23]

I have been all MBP since January. I use it as my desktop and notebook. When I'm home I have it hooked up to a external monitor, KB and mouse. Really have no complaints except id like to have a second monitor.

And I do everything with it, from building websites to iPhone applications.

[5DollaFootlong]

macbook on the go. then i hook it up to a dell 22 inch monitor, keyboard and mouse: there's my desktop.

[Rai Saix]

If I ever get one, I will be using it as my primary computer. Sadly, I'm forced to use the family desktop my dad insits on that's running.........Oh God I just threw up a little in my mouth....................Vista.....*sniff*

[Praetorian®]

Right now, I'm using my MacBook (early 2008), iMac 24" (early 2009) and my 4 years old desktop with Windows 7, but the iMac is just borrowed for writing a review and I use the desktop only during the holidays. Normally when I'm at the university, I use only the MacBook and it's perfectly fine.

I'm watching movies on it, editing photos, browsing the web, listening to music, chatting with friends, cutting videos, writing documents (in Pages and LaTeX), using Matlab and Mathematica and many other things.

If you're considering whether to buy 'basic' white MacBook, I say "go for it". You'll be very happy.

[monkey86]

blackbook with bootcamp = perfection, only gripe is the integrated gfx, but, as i got the blackbook as a present im not complaining - using it with alu bt keyboard and wired logitech mouse and its awesome.

[celticpride678]

Yep, using the Late 2008 2.4 GHz MacBook and loving it. Using it for everything and is my only computer.

[randystand]

Im living in the dark ages still. Only have an iBook g3 Dual Usb and my XP desktop. Only use the Windows for syncing with iPhone really, not much else, it runs way to slow. Even though my iBook is years old, it runs faster than the desktop and i use my iBook as my main computer. Does everything i want it to do. Word Processing, spreadsheets, Powerpoint, Music, Web Surfing, Emails, Msn and photos.

I really would love a MacBook but couldn't justify spending that much money on something my iBook could do very easily aswell.

[monkey86]

I really would love a MacBook but couldn't justify spending that much money on something my iBook could do very easily aswell.

im guessing you dont mind choppy video/audio on youtube etc then?

[iStudentUK]

I got the White MacBook a few days after the student deal started (do I still say 'white' now the uni has gone 'pro'?!).

I love it. It is my only computer, and it does everything I need it to do with ease.

I toyed with getting the 13" MBP, but it was £130 more (after student discount) and I didn't really have the money. Now if I had cash to burn I'd have the base 15" (just the 9400M), that would be the dream!

[randystand]

im guessing you dont mind choppy video/audio on youtube etc then?

Don't use YouTube on Laptop. Use my iPhone.

[McDrunken]

My white refurbished MacBook (2.0GHZ, 2GB DDR2, 120GB, NVidia GeForce 9400M) is my only computer and I really like it. It is pretty fast and it does exactly what I need it to do. It gets dirty really easily and there are lots of very minute scratches that you can only see in certain light at a certain angle, but I like it a lot.

[Potomac]

My white Macbook is my main computer with my Dell PC desktop being used about once per month. (I can't stand that thing LOL)! I would love to replace it with a Mini.

[dubels]

I have had my CD MB since it released. It has gotten me through sophomore year to graduation, great all around laptop.

[torbjoern]

I bring my MB 13" with me to school, to work and on holidays, and I also have a home-built desktop running Linux.

[MarkCooz]

Definitely my WhiteBook get's me through the days/nights.
whenever i need some video editing, INTEL can do the job, it's okay. but I seriously just can't play games on this intel card. I need to upgrade sooner or later. Hopefully end of senior year for me I'll probably able to get the 17" MBP or probably a newer one by next year. haha. upgrade some specs or some sort.

[Synchromesh]

No. I have a gaming Phenom2-based PC which is running XP 64-bit. I also have a MiniPC by Aopen as a backup machine. The Macbook is my 3rd machine and is basically a fun toy I gave myself for my last bday. :)

[Zazoh]

Aluminum Macbook and iPhone. Desktop computers, and I've been using since DOS 4.2, are obsolete.

I am an avid digital photographer too. I just can't see sitting in a room or dedicating a room to a computer. That is so 1993. Desktops are equivalent to the wooden console / stereo TVs of the 60's..