I just wanted to provide my initial impressions on my new 2011 13" MBP base model.
First and foremost, thank you to this community for the wealth of information available here. I've been reading the forums diligently for the past several months leading up to this purchase.
Second, I put a * next to first time user, since I did own a Mac several years ago, but the relationship didn't last long. I honestly can't remember, it was maybe 2003/2004? The computer was an iBook, and shortly after the 1 year warranty expired my logic board went out. The repair cost was $800. Of course now I know the wisdom of always buying the warranty on a laptop, but at the time I was a college student and my head was kind of fuzzy (partly why I don't remember exactly when I owned the iBook, it was a fuzzy time). So I said well forget Apple! and a short while later I bought a gigantic 17" HP monster, which died after about 18 months.
So I've been laptop free for a while, relying on various PC desktops, most recently one I'm quite fond of that I built myself a year and a half ago. Great gaming rig for the types of games I play, usually ones that are a few years older.
Of course a lot has happened in personal technology since I owned that iBook, most notably the rise of the smartphone. I owned the second iteration of the original iPhone, and currently own the 3GS. The iPhone is probably my favorite piece of technology ever. I am an internet message board junkie, and when I realized I could actually have the internet with me anywhere in the palm of my hand, I was sold. A few years with the iPhone led to an iPad purchase this past winter (1st gen 16gb wifi refurb). I didn't know how I would react to the iPad, I knew I was just going to have to own one to decide if I would use it. Man do I use it! Mainly for web browsing and email around the house, but also the SiriusXM app gets tons of use.
So all this led to a situation this summer where I plan to be on the road a lot (I follow Phish) and I needed a way to stay connected to my summer classes, take online tests, etc. The iPad might have sufficed, but I didn't want it flaking out on me during a test, so I figured it was time to purchase another laptop. I certainly considered PC laptops, but ultimately I went with the MBP for a number of reasons I will elaborate on shortly.
So enough background, here are my first impressions after just a few hours with my new MBP:
1. Its simply the best looking notebook out there. Yes this is important to me. Apple has pushed industrial design to new levels, and if I'm spending serious cash on a piece of technology, I want it to look fantastic. I am not ashamed to admit this.
2. It has a solid, quality feel. See above. I want my tech to feel great in addition to looking great.
3. I synced my iPhone, and was absolutely delighted to see everything "just work". Syncing my calendar to iCal, my photos to iPhoto, my iTunes U podcasts, my contacts, boom, all synced up on my MBP! Such a simple thing, but so brilliant.
4. Speaking of photos, I love the location feature of iPhoto. I mentioned before I follow Phish, and I go to a lot of other live music as well, so it is cool to click on a city on the map and all the photos from various shows and what not pop up. A slick and unexpected feature.
5. So I went ahead and cancelled my unlimited plan. I know I could have jailbroken, but I didn't want to mess with that, and I wanted the tethering so I could use my MBP on the road. Plugged the phone up, turned on hotspot, boom, computer sees the phone, I select the network, and everything works beautifully.
6. I have the base model, and it is plenty speedy for my purposes.
7. Multitouch gestures while web browsing are perfect.
8. Stoked to hear today I'll get my Lion update for free! Not bad.
Gripes:
1. Its hard getting used to not having a right click. I'm sure I'll adjust
2. Safari. I like chrome better, but I understand Safari is getting a makeover soon.
Thanks for reading my impressions, just thought I would share them for fun and maybe posterity's sake!
First and foremost, thank you to this community for the wealth of information available here. I've been reading the forums diligently for the past several months leading up to this purchase.
Second, I put a * next to first time user, since I did own a Mac several years ago, but the relationship didn't last long. I honestly can't remember, it was maybe 2003/2004? The computer was an iBook, and shortly after the 1 year warranty expired my logic board went out. The repair cost was $800. Of course now I know the wisdom of always buying the warranty on a laptop, but at the time I was a college student and my head was kind of fuzzy (partly why I don't remember exactly when I owned the iBook, it was a fuzzy time). So I said well forget Apple! and a short while later I bought a gigantic 17" HP monster, which died after about 18 months.
So I've been laptop free for a while, relying on various PC desktops, most recently one I'm quite fond of that I built myself a year and a half ago. Great gaming rig for the types of games I play, usually ones that are a few years older.
Of course a lot has happened in personal technology since I owned that iBook, most notably the rise of the smartphone. I owned the second iteration of the original iPhone, and currently own the 3GS. The iPhone is probably my favorite piece of technology ever. I am an internet message board junkie, and when I realized I could actually have the internet with me anywhere in the palm of my hand, I was sold. A few years with the iPhone led to an iPad purchase this past winter (1st gen 16gb wifi refurb). I didn't know how I would react to the iPad, I knew I was just going to have to own one to decide if I would use it. Man do I use it! Mainly for web browsing and email around the house, but also the SiriusXM app gets tons of use.
So all this led to a situation this summer where I plan to be on the road a lot (I follow Phish) and I needed a way to stay connected to my summer classes, take online tests, etc. The iPad might have sufficed, but I didn't want it flaking out on me during a test, so I figured it was time to purchase another laptop. I certainly considered PC laptops, but ultimately I went with the MBP for a number of reasons I will elaborate on shortly.
So enough background, here are my first impressions after just a few hours with my new MBP:
1. Its simply the best looking notebook out there. Yes this is important to me. Apple has pushed industrial design to new levels, and if I'm spending serious cash on a piece of technology, I want it to look fantastic. I am not ashamed to admit this.
2. It has a solid, quality feel. See above. I want my tech to feel great in addition to looking great.
3. I synced my iPhone, and was absolutely delighted to see everything "just work". Syncing my calendar to iCal, my photos to iPhoto, my iTunes U podcasts, my contacts, boom, all synced up on my MBP! Such a simple thing, but so brilliant.
4. Speaking of photos, I love the location feature of iPhoto. I mentioned before I follow Phish, and I go to a lot of other live music as well, so it is cool to click on a city on the map and all the photos from various shows and what not pop up. A slick and unexpected feature.
5. So I went ahead and cancelled my unlimited plan. I know I could have jailbroken, but I didn't want to mess with that, and I wanted the tethering so I could use my MBP on the road. Plugged the phone up, turned on hotspot, boom, computer sees the phone, I select the network, and everything works beautifully.
6. I have the base model, and it is plenty speedy for my purposes.
7. Multitouch gestures while web browsing are perfect.
8. Stoked to hear today I'll get my Lion update for free! Not bad.
Gripes:
1. Its hard getting used to not having a right click. I'm sure I'll adjust
2. Safari. I like chrome better, but I understand Safari is getting a makeover soon.
Thanks for reading my impressions, just thought I would share them for fun and maybe posterity's sake!
