tartsquid said:
External Harddrive. I have a 250, and it will go great with the 100gb on my macbook.
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Student Buy, toss up between iBook & iMac
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External Harddrive. I have a 250, and it will go great with the 100gb on my macbook.
Since you will be going to university in the autumn and you intend to buy new Mac about a month or two earlier anyway, why not just wait? Apple may very well release new MacBook/MacBook Pro that will address your needs better, and new Intel Mac mini may be a better companion to your TV.
Go with option 2. I am doing that. I currently have the mid-speced iMac G5, and I'm planning on a low-speced iBook soon.
Do that, power & portability!
Do that, power & portability!
nutmac said:
I know, I just wanted to get some kind of idea from people's opinions and personal experiences from the current line-up
As one of the many here on MR with this setup... Get an iMac and an iBook!
I love it. I used to have a 12"PB gave that to my sister and got the iMac and then the iBook. I love love love having both. I really prefer using desktops and having all that built in HD space; but for on-the-go, I want my Mac OS X as well.
Plus, I love the iBook much more than the PB (better battery life, better wi-fi-- all essential to me in a portable).
I love it. I used to have a 12"PB gave that to my sister and got the iMac and then the iBook. I love love love having both. I really prefer using desktops and having all that built in HD space; but for on-the-go, I want my Mac OS X as well.
Plus, I love the iBook much more than the PB (better battery life, better wi-fi-- all essential to me in a portable).
Agreed. Just wait. Even if the above scenario happens and you don't want one of the new Intel machines-- these PPC ones will hopefully drop in price.nutmac said:
option 2, and remeber that pen and paper for lectures if your doing physics.
I myself bought my iBook just recently for my last year of undergrad. I am an Urban Studies major so my classes are all about writing these last two terms and it is nice to have it all digital (occasional paper used and transfered later). I love my iBook and it is just the right size (12.1") for school. It fits everywhere and the battery actually lasts long enough for my day (except when it comes to my long day with the 3 hour lecture, then I plug it in). Otherwise I couldn't be more impressed, and everyone asks about it as well, lets you plug the mac world to them . But I would also like having an iMac at home, my current at home compy is a downgrade from my iBook being an amd 750 running win2k, but until I can buy an iMac it'll do.
Option 2 is the one for you!
I myself bought my iBook just recently for my last year of undergrad. I am an Urban Studies major so my classes are all about writing these last two terms and it is nice to have it all digital (occasional paper used and transfered later). I love my iBook and it is just the right size (12.1") for school. It fits everywhere and the battery actually lasts long enough for my day (except when it comes to my long day with the 3 hour lecture, then I plug it in). Otherwise I couldn't be more impressed, and everyone asks about it as well, lets you plug the mac world to them
. But I would also like having an iMac at home, my current at home compy is a downgrade from my iBook being an amd 750 running win2k, but until I can buy an iMac it'll do.Option 2 is the one for you!
The concept of taking your laptop to class does seem cute, cool and fun but you gotta get real dude. I have seen people at my school with them for note taking and I am sure it works but don't think that its going to make you any more productive because it wont. Your battery is going to die half way through psychics when the professor has got a cheat sheet posted on an overhead or else your not gonna have a program that is conducive to how the professor teaches(i don't know about you but i sure as hell couldn't have made some of my econ graphs in excel or pages). Your gonna wake up 15 minutes late for your classes that are a 10 minute walk and the last thing your gonna wanna do is unplug all of your cables and lug it through the snow/rain/sleet to class. I had a powerbook for two years of college and I brought it with me ONCE to a lecture because I fell asleep while writing a powerpoint presentation the night before so I had to work on it in a lecture. Go with the iMac, you would get much much more mileage out of it. Spend the money you'll save on things you need once you get out there and realize would be cool like a 30 foot long beer bong or blow up dolls or a mail-order wife.
I don't know your living arrangements but assuming your moving into a dorm it is also a little ridiculous to think that you will be able to keep a +$1700 Desktop and a 1000-1400 laptop safe. Unless you plan on being a hermit and never leaving your room at night or on the weekends you are only setting yourself up for getting one or both of your new computers jacked. A shiny white 17-20" desktop with a shiny white laptop chilling next to it is way to tempting for some lowlife from another floor trust me.
Yes you may be commuting from home in which case my comment about it getting ripped off is void, but my first comment about the blow-up dolls and telescopic lens to peak in the all girls dorm across the way is a reality.
Edit: Sorry I forgot to make a suggestion go with just the iMac and lock that thing down to a desk, radiator or something.
I don't know your living arrangements but assuming your moving into a dorm it is also a little ridiculous to think that you will be able to keep a +$1700 Desktop and a 1000-1400 laptop safe. Unless you plan on being a hermit and never leaving your room at night or on the weekends you are only setting yourself up for getting one or both of your new computers jacked. A shiny white 17-20" desktop with a shiny white laptop chilling next to it is way to tempting for some lowlife from another floor trust me.
Yes you may be commuting from home in which case my comment about it getting ripped off is void, but my first comment about the blow-up dolls and telescopic lens to peak in the all girls dorm across the way is a reality.
Edit: Sorry I forgot to make a suggestion go with just the iMac and lock that thing down to a desk, radiator or something.
It depends how hardcore of a computer user you are. I make a living on my computer, and am finishing up my degree currently. I have a laptop and it goes everywhere with me. It provides me with a huge advantage in the classroom. I would temper my response by asking what your major will be? If it's art, erm, perhaps a laptop isn't for you. But if it's information systems, or any writing program, and you can type well (I type faster than I can write), a laptop and USB flash drive will serve you well.
I like the idea of a cheap laptop and the new iMac.
I like the idea of a cheap laptop and the new iMac.
Everybody thinks you need a laptop when you go to college. You really don't unless 1. You're major demands it, 2. You constantly take the bus or train home and don't have a Computer at home, or 3. You're in a major that should demand it. I'm a Criminal Justice major and I have an original TiBook. I've never taken it to the class. I've taken it three times out of my room other than the times I go home. I would buy the 20" iMac if I had an easy way of getting home. I think getting two computers is a bad idea. You'll be wasting some time by syncing the two and you're only gonna end up using the ibook when your outside of your room. It's a nice idea, but a waste of money. If I could buy an iMac and keep this old Tibook I'd love it (unfortunately I can't), but I'd never spend any significant amount of money to do so.
It really all depends on your major, but I don't think I've ever seen someone use their laptop outside of their room if it wasn't required of them.
It really all depends on your major, but I don't think I've ever seen someone use their laptop outside of their room if it wasn't required of them.
I'm planning on doing Physics.
I'm thinking that the iMac + cheap laptop is the best combination at the moment.
I'm thinking that the iMac + cheap laptop is the best combination at the moment.