Gosh, and I thought the fact that we had 486 DX2/66s was bad. They did however upgrade to Pentiums my Sr. year. Pentium MMX @200Mhz w/ 800MB HDD and a Data server. WOW!If the child will be using, and is expected to use, the laptop at school, then fine. Otherwise, yeah a desktop at home should suffice.
I remember junior year of hight school in computer lab. The first day, we all walked into Mrs. Wilson's class, sat down, and looked around for our individual 5 1/4" floppies.
As we all looked up at her with incomprehension on our faces, she proudly announced that we weren't getting floppies to use. The computers this year, she said, came with a 'hard drive' already built in.
I can't recall the exact capacity she said it had, but it was some saganesque, made up figure like 10 mega bites. We all oohed and aahed, wondering how even a room full of students could possibly hope to fill up such a monster...
God, I'm old.
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What notebook is best for my use?
- Thread starter PaperMacWriter
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Its been awhile, and after thinking long and hard and reserching what may be in new models to come, I have decided that my best option is to get as cheap a desktop I can that will be fast. Then, for a notebook, I can wait until Arrandale, when I might be able to get a matte display and a extra long life non-user-replaceable battery(refurbished, of course) for the same price. Hey, maybe get a current-gen when its replaced for a bargain, really justifying a MBP over a MB
I have a 19" Sony VGA monitor from my dads ol' Sony VAIO desktop, which could make a Mini rasonable, especially if it eventually retires to my TV room whereas an iMac would be stuck as an obsolete all-in-one. But then I need some speakers, a keyboard(the apple full keyboard), a Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, 500GB HDD to back up the 250GB drive, and 2GB RAM. This brings the price up to a not-so-mini $1,102.66. This does include tax and rebate from a $100 printer, so its the final cost. As an important not to chose a computer, I talked my parents into paying for AppleCare, so that is also removed from the Minis price. I test drove one today at my local Apple Store with no issues, but wanted advice on any tweaks to make to this idea.
Is there anything wrong with my thinking? Is 2GB RAM and a 500GB external HDD enough for my use? My Moms iMac is this one. Would the Mini preform similarly/better? Would the last-gen 1.83GHz preform similarly to the current model? Do I need all of the accessories I added? Thanks for all your help everybody!
SG
I have a 19" Sony VGA monitor from my dads ol' Sony VAIO desktop, which could make a Mini rasonable, especially if it eventually retires to my TV room
whereas an iMac would be stuck as an obsolete all-in-one. But then I need some speakers, a keyboard(the apple full keyboard), a Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, 500GB HDD to back up the 250GB drive, and 2GB RAM. This brings the price up to a not-so-mini $1,102.66. This does include tax and rebate from a $100 printer, so its the final cost. As an important not to chose a computer, I talked my parents into paying for AppleCare, so that is also removed from the Minis price. I test drove one today at my local Apple Store with no issues, but wanted advice on any tweaks to make to this idea.Is there anything wrong with my thinking? Is 2GB RAM and a 500GB external HDD enough for my use? My Moms iMac is this one. Would the Mini preform similarly/better? Would the last-gen 1.83GHz preform similarly to the current model? Do I need all of the accessories I added? Thanks for all your help everybody!
SG
Seems a little expensive for a Mini. Remind me again why you're getting a newer model for things that can run just as well on a G5 or even a G4?
Base model new mac mini, upgrade to 4 gigs ram and a 7200 rpm notebook drive yourself or run a fast external HD through the fw 800 connection. That should get you by fine until they release higher processed macbook/macbook pros.
I take it the OP doesn't have a display, keyboard or mouse in which case the iMac would represent the best value.
I have a display, just don't have a keyboard & mouse. I don't really want to give the mini surgery, as I don't feel comfortable prying the mini open.
I just found a 1.66GHz mini on craigslist for $130... scam? I'll email them anyway, see if we can meet at the apple store. If it isn't a scam, will a 1.66GHz core duo be enough until a major refresh of MBPs?
SG
I just found a 1.66GHz mini on craigslist for $130... scam? I'll email them anyway, see if we can meet at the apple store. If it isn't a scam, will a 1.66GHz core duo be enough until a major refresh of MBPs?
SG
Woah. A laptop may last six years, but I could almost guarantee you'll fell too out-dated by the fourth/fifth year and will pick up something new/refurb.
If you're planning on using it for and at high school, then invest in a current gen MacBook 2.0 ghz that you plan to use for the whole four years (or how ever long HS is where you are). I'm using the unibody MacBook, and have never been bothered by the glossy screen. Why? You could usually alter your position if a lighting setting is really bothering you, and the battery life is so good that if you crank up your brightness to 3/4 of full brightness (which is really bright, especially on the new MB) the battery would still last approx 3.5-4 hours. Plus, I'm putting a lot of hours into my MacBook, (20-25 hours/week at least) and internally, it's still holding up like new.
Having two machines for yourself in high school would be wasting too much time. Especially if you wanted to write and research on your notebook in school, then edit and polish it on the iMac. Why not do it all on one machine, preferably the notebook.
Decision made!!!!
Well, after a lot of deep though, I decided to buy the new 13" MBP. Its a 2.26GHz with 4GB of RAM. It's the most beautiful display I've ever seen in a notebook, and I love my backlit keyboard. Only issue is that whilst the sales dude at the apple store was adding more RAM, he must have dropped a screw of something in, because there's a rattling inside. I have an appointment at the genius bar tomorow though, so that should be fixed soon. I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So far my favorite features are the GORGEOUS display, backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, and magsafe I cant comment on to much else, since I got it unpacked not more than 4 hours ago and have only used it for 1 or 2. I think that this will suit me well for quite a few years. Thanks for all the input and steering me away from the more expensive model with power I don't need... THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!!!!
SG
Well, after a lot of deep though, I decided to buy the new 13" MBP. Its a 2.26GHz with 4GB of RAM. It's the most beautiful display I've ever seen in a notebook, and I love my backlit keyboard. Only issue is that whilst the sales dude at the apple store was adding more RAM, he must have dropped a screw of something in, because there's a rattling inside. I have an appointment at the genius bar tomorow though, so that should be fixed soon. I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!! So far my favorite features are the GORGEOUS display, backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad, and magsafe I cant comment on to much else, since I got it unpacked not more than 4 hours ago and have only used it for 1 or 2. I think that this will suit me well for quite a few years. Thanks for all the input and steering me away from the more expensive model with power I don't need... THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!!!!SG
HS kids getting 1500$ computers, this is some terrible economy we are in.
Wouldn't he, in turn, helping the rise in consumerism? Yay economy!
But, if it were my money, I would buy a Whitebook (2.0 or 2.13) because that's a great deal with what it includes...I believe you can get a 2.0 new at some places for $899 or the 2.13 for $999. And if you need screen size, buy a monitor.
Well, there was a screw intended for a battery lose inside the computer... and they replaced it. Was it a good idea to have them do this? Anyway, its a great computer, my grandmother is going to get one soon herself! She's excited, but not as happy as I am. She's had macs for years, and this is the first time I've really owned a computer.
SG
SG