I'd like to first thank Macrumors for the fine advice I received while considering my potential purchase. I read of all the positive remarks and recommendations, as well as the pitfalls, which, at first seemed to be many, (so much so that when I unboxed my purchase I almost expected it to burst into flame on start-up!).
Using the good advice proffered, I went with purchasing my MacBook Pro from an Apple store with a great reputation for service. As I travel extensively, I had my choice of thousands of retailers, so researching and finding a seller on the internet as i traveled took time, but was worth it in the value received in customer care.
The store I chose customized my MacBook to my specifications, adding a faster internal HD, as well as hooking me up with esata external drives for my many video files.
Researching the Macrumors video forum I found the best way to connect my camcorder and process my files, as well as how to best store them externally for later use.
After 8 months of heavy use, my MacBook Pro is running great, hundreds of videos converted, hundreds of my CD's loaded into itunes and converted to MP3's, (some of these being old obscure lame-brand CD's).
My anti-glare screen serves me well, being in so many lighting environments I can't control. I know many people feel strongly on this point, but for me, the anti-glare is the way to go.
I can't say enough how well my MacBook Pro has served me, I also have the comfort of knowing my Seller backs my purchase in case something does go wrong so I sleep better at night knowing that I have all my bases covered.
My Seller also refurbished my G4 Powerbook at a reasonable cost and it has become my tote-about car, beach, mountaintop device for surfing the net and processing my many photos on-the-fly, as well as being the keeper of my legacy software from OS 9.
I live on the road and the Macbook Pro is the best device out there for travel and graphics processing. I maintain my website, blogs and facebook pages on the go, as well as email. I design and create ads, business cards, correspondence and other promotional materials using ilife 09. I use wifi when availible, or use my cellphone as a modem, (legally, of course), to access the internet in wilder places.
I have worked on Windows machines going back to Windows 3.1 and Mac back to System 6, (still have my Mac Classic too! Still boots!), I heartily recommend Mac to anyone who is looking for a great computer experience without the frustrations that seem to pervade the Microsoft world.
Apple is not perfect by any means, (remember system 8 first launch? Or OS X's first struggles?), but it has been a solid reliable platform on which to build my life and career. Using Apple products I have earned my bread for over 15 years, first as a Graphic Designer, now as an independent Business Person.
I wrote this thread because so many posts seem to be negative, (as they should be when something goes wrong), I just want to add balance at this point to show there can and is a totally positive experience out there, if you purchase and maintain properly.
Fanboy? Hardly. 52 year old Grandmother who knows her stuff.
Using the good advice proffered, I went with purchasing my MacBook Pro from an Apple store with a great reputation for service. As I travel extensively, I had my choice of thousands of retailers, so researching and finding a seller on the internet as i traveled took time, but was worth it in the value received in customer care.
The store I chose customized my MacBook to my specifications, adding a faster internal HD, as well as hooking me up with esata external drives for my many video files.
Researching the Macrumors video forum I found the best way to connect my camcorder and process my files, as well as how to best store them externally for later use.
After 8 months of heavy use, my MacBook Pro is running great, hundreds of videos converted, hundreds of my CD's loaded into itunes and converted to MP3's, (some of these being old obscure lame-brand CD's).
My anti-glare screen serves me well, being in so many lighting environments I can't control. I know many people feel strongly on this point, but for me, the anti-glare is the way to go.
I can't say enough how well my MacBook Pro has served me, I also have the comfort of knowing my Seller backs my purchase in case something does go wrong so I sleep better at night knowing that I have all my bases covered.
My Seller also refurbished my G4 Powerbook at a reasonable cost and it has become my tote-about car, beach, mountaintop device for surfing the net and processing my many photos on-the-fly, as well as being the keeper of my legacy software from OS 9.
I live on the road and the Macbook Pro is the best device out there for travel and graphics processing. I maintain my website, blogs and facebook pages on the go, as well as email. I design and create ads, business cards, correspondence and other promotional materials using ilife 09. I use wifi when availible, or use my cellphone as a modem, (legally, of course), to access the internet in wilder places.
I have worked on Windows machines going back to Windows 3.1 and Mac back to System 6, (still have my Mac Classic too! Still boots!), I heartily recommend Mac to anyone who is looking for a great computer experience without the frustrations that seem to pervade the Microsoft world.
Apple is not perfect by any means, (remember system 8 first launch? Or OS X's first struggles?), but it has been a solid reliable platform on which to build my life and career. Using Apple products I have earned my bread for over 15 years, first as a Graphic Designer, now as an independent Business Person.
I wrote this thread because so many posts seem to be negative, (as they should be when something goes wrong), I just want to add balance at this point to show there can and is a totally positive experience out there, if you purchase and maintain properly.
Fanboy? Hardly. 52 year old Grandmother who knows her stuff.