First Mac Advice Needed

[NoFiero]

I have been a PC user since the mid 80's and have been looking at Mac's for about 10 months now. Like most I waited for an updated product line before getting serious. So here is my questions.

Trying to decide between the 13.3" and i5 PowerBook PRO(which seems like a common question). I like the portability of the 13" but being a PC user for years my brain says buy the most horsepower you can afford if you plan on having this machine for 3 years. Is this true in the Mac world?

I use www, itunes, email, MS-Office, want Garageband and Handbrake. Will the i5 mean much to Garageband and Handbrake?

What is a good software like "DVDShrink" to back up by DVD's for streaming?

Can you run a Macbook Pro plugged in all the time or should you be cycling the battery (plugging in a PC laptop all the time spelled certain death to a battery)?

Should I be hidding out from all my PC using friends after the switch?

Thanks for any help.

 

[miles01110]

-The 13" will be fine for you
-i5 will be noticeable in Garageband and Handbrake, but it's not really that significant.
-No idea, someone else can tell you.
-You can leave it plugged in. You'll end up cycling it every once in a while anyways.

Trying to decide between the 13.3" and i5 PowerBook PRO(which seems like a common question). I like the portability of the 13" but being a PC user for years my brain says buy the most horsepower you can afford if you plan on having this machine for 3 years. Is this true in the Mac world?

I use www, itunes, email, MS-Office, want Garageband and Handbrake. Will the i5 mean much to Garageband and Handbrake?

What is a good software like "DVDShrink" to back up by DVD's for streaming?

Can you run a Macbook Pro plugged in all the time or should you be cycling the battery (plugging in a PC laptop all the time spelled certain death to a battery)?

 

[Hellhammer]

If you have the $ for i5, go for it, it's worth it.

 

[stomer]

If portability is important to you then go for the 13.3.

- it's 500g lighter
- it's smaller
- battery lasts longer (10 hours)

I doubt you'd notice the speed difference between at 15 inch and 13.3 inch.

RipIt and Fairmount will allow you to rip your DVDs.

 

[seb-opp]

What is a good software like "DVDShrink" to back up by DVD's for streaming?

Handbrake is for encoding DVDs for iTunes and other formats, while if you wanted an exact copy of a DVD, Mac the Ripper is pretty good

 

[ECUpirate44]

What is a good software like "DVDShrink" to back up by DVD's for streaming?

Can you run a Macbook Pro plugged in all the time or should you be cycling the battery (plugging in a PC laptop all the time spelled certain death to a battery)?

Should I be hidding out from all my PC using friends after the switch?

Thanks for any help.

I love Ripit. It makes an exact copy of the DVD for your HD. They are typically large files though. (8GB a movie)

 

[NoFiero]

Thanks,

good info so far.

Any good place to gain Garageband insight?

 

[NoFiero]

Well I made my mind up and ordered my FIRST Mac.

I got a good deal on a Macbook PRO 15" i5 2.53GHZ model. Hopefully it is in early next week.

Any tips on how to adjust to a Mac or things I should do when I get it opened up?


Thanks

 

[dreven79]

Congrats, i just got on the Mac train as well. Still learning the OS and it feels weird as i just started using my MBP literally 2 hours ago. i hope to get my Apple legs in a week or so....

Gd Luck

 

[HBOC]

One thing you will notice is how nice iTunes really is. It doesn't play that nice with PC, but obviously it is a different beast for Apple.

 

[NoFiero]

Well I just got my new Macbook Pro turned on tonight. Took about 8 minutes to be fully connected and typing this.

I have no idea how to even install software or what I need but I will search around the site a bit.

It's the 15" i5 2.53 Macbook Pro.

So far I love it.

 

[imationx]

One thing you will notice is how nice iTunes really is. It doesn't play that nice with PC, but obviously it is a different beast for Apple.

I have always noticed this. Many Windows users HATE iTunes with a passion. Maybe this is an Apple technique to want you to switch to a Mac? although it can also go the opposite direction.