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Anyone using MacBook as their only Mac/computer?
- Thread starter FreqFlyer
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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!
I've got air tunes for music, and can plug it into my tv for watching movies... It's all good!
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?
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?
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
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
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.
I misread this as "Anyone using a MacBook AIR as their only Mac/computer?". Now that would be interesting!
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.
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.
I dont need something else
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
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
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 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
Although while at university I had the base 12 iBook 800 mhz and I think 756 ram
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 
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.
For me, my MBP is perfect as a single computer.
me too
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 !!!
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 !!!
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. )
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.
)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.
yep, went from an iMac to a MB - I don't do anything really processor intensive that my 2.0 Ghz can't handle.
looking into getting the TC - need a new wireless AP and can't stand unplugging/plugging my USB external HDD.
looking into getting the TC - need a new wireless AP and can't stand unplugging/plugging my USB external HDD.
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
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
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.
I only have a MacBook (late 2008) which is set up to my 24'' dell monitor. I love the portability.
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.
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.
And I do everything with it, from building websites to iPhone applications.
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.
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.