considering a macbook but I need some help

[kuklenko]

Hi forum goers, I am considering buying a macbook and I have wanted one for some time but I need some help (as the title suggests). First of all, I am currently using an oldIsh) sony vaio amd if I buy a macbook will I just be able to put any external hardrive into the macbook and it will recognise it when I transfer my documents and itunes between the two machines? Also, if I buy the MC windows package for it, can I just put my old documents onto the new macbook and they will be readable?

Thanks for your help Kuklenko

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Yes to the first question, but know that Mac OS X can only read NTFS formatted volumes (to write to it, it needs NTFS-3G) and can read and write to FAT32 formatted volumes, NTFS and FAT32 being the dominant file systems in Windows.

I don't know about the second part, as I don't know, what "MC windows package" is. Maybe you could clarify that bit a bit more or look on the homepage of that package and see, if there is a Mac OS X variant (Moodle Docs has a Mac OS X version) and if Windows and Mac OS X versions of documents created with that "MC" software are compatible with each other.

 

[mrsir2009]

If it is just a standard USB or Firewire harddrive it will work with your MacBook. Not sure about the second question though.

 

[Richard1028]

Not to sidetrack your purchase decision but I don't know why anybody would get a plain old macbook these days when for about $100 more (with the educational discount) the 13" macbook "pro" can be had.

 

[iphone1105]

Not to sidetrack your purchase decision but I don't know why anybody would get a plain old macbook these days when for about $100 more (with the educational discount) the 13" macbook "pro" can be had.

Ummm, folks like me, ya know, NOT IN SCHOOL, can't get edu. discounts....also, ever consider people want the white color???
Besides, I paid 799 for my late 09 MB on a sale at a local store, upgraded my own ram and HD, and still paid less than you did for yoru pro...

Also, consider people do have budgets, and $100 is $100, to sum, thats a lot of hardwork and saving, dont just assume bro!

Enjoy your MBP

 

[mrsir2009]

Ummm, folsk like me, ya know, NOT IN SCHOOL, can't get edu. discounts....also, ever consider people want the white color???
Besides, I paid 799 for my late 09 MB on a sale at a local store, upgraded my own ram and HD, and still paid less than you did for yoru pro...

Also, consider people do have budgets, and $100 is $100, to sum, thats a lot of hardwork and saving, dont just assume bro!

Enjoy your MBP

If you are a bit devious and underhanded you could pretend you are a student. Its very easy to do. Not that I have done it, as I am a student On the online store no confirmation is needed when you say your a student. Just shop at the edu discount store instead of the normal one

 

[engram]

Not to sidetrack your purchase decision but I don't know why anybody would get a plain old macbook these days when for about $100 more (with the educational discount) the 13" macbook "pro" can be had.

As a teacher I had access to the discount. That being said, I can think of reasons to go with a MacBook.

1. You prefer the white color to the aluminum.
2. The polycarbonate may not resist scratches well, but it does absorb shock without denting (unlike my old aluminum case ).
3. Heat dissipation is more diffuse with the MacBook.
4. You don't care about Firewire or an SD card slot.
5. It is a normal modifiable laptop (like the MBP). I can max the RAM at 8GB (if it is a REV J) and install an SSD in the future.

Unless you are addicted to having the absolute newest Apple stuff*, the MacBook (or any other Mac) can be a workhorse for years.

*This way awaits madness.

 

[Richard1028]

Ummm, folks like me, ya know, NOT IN SCHOOL, can't get edu. discounts....also, ever consider people want the white color???
Besides, I paid 799 for my late 09 MB on a sale at a local store, upgraded my own ram and HD, and still paid less than you did for yoru pro...

Enjoy your MBP

Why such a defensive response? In my sig you'll see I am a "white" macbook owner and completely satisfied at that. (In 2008 the MBP was out of reach for me).

I only pointed out the possible upgrade to a MBP because most people don't realize the disparity in cost which is quite manageable considering what you get. 2GB extra RAM, SD slot, Firewire, backlight keyboard... all for a few bucks more which is really a good value IMO.

But if the color "white" is that compelling then by all means go for it.

 

[iphone1105]

Why such a defensive response? In my sig you'll see I am a "white" macbook owner and completely satisfied at that. (In 2008 the MBP was out of reach for me).

I only pointed out the possible upgrade to a MBP because most people don't realize the disparity in cost which is quite manageable considering what you get. 2GB extra RAM, SD slot, Firewire, backlight keyboard... all for a few bucks more which is really a good value IMO.

But if the color "white" is that compelling then by all means go for it.

I wasn't trying to come off jerky, I just think that how it writes out and sounds

And I understand, it is a good value for $100 more, but for someone like me, who never used or needed a firewire or sd reader, they'd be useless functions anyway!

Hey, sorry to come off like a crumb bum, thats wasn't my intent!

 

[Richard1028]

I wasn't trying to come off jerky, I just think that how it writes out and sounds

And I understand, it is a good value for $100 more, but for someone like me, who never used or needed a firewire or sd reader, they'd be useless functions anyway!

Hey, sorry to come off like a crumb bum, thats wasn't my intent!

No problem. Enjoy your mac!

 

[vpndev]

$200 discount on Alu 13" MBP

Check microcenter.com to see if there is a store near you.

If there is, you can buy the 13" MacBook Pro with $200 instant discount, making it $999 (same as white MacBook).

You MUST buy in person, at the store to get the discount.

This is latest model, new (not refurb or anything). I don't know how they manage to do this but it's real - I bought one.

 

[Erob]

Ummm, folks like me, ya know, NOT IN SCHOOL, can't get edu. discounts....also, ever consider people want the white color???
Besides, I paid 799 for my late 09 MB on a sale at a local store, upgraded my own ram and HD, and still paid less than you did for yoru pro...

Also, consider people do have budgets, and $100 is $100, to sum, thats a lot of hardwork and saving, dont just assume bro!

Enjoy your MBP

I couldn't agree more with this post. I actually could've kept saving and went with the MBP, but I actually liked the white Macbook better.

This is off subject, but I saw where you said that you upgraded your RAM and HD. Did this significantly make your computer any faster? Also, how much did it cost you to upgrade those things? I am wanting to do this to my Macbook as well.