I'm considering buying a Macbook to replace my Compaq XP laptop that's on its last leg. I'm just tired of Windows and all its associated crap. I've already checked on the compatibility of what I need to use it for (Word, Outlook contacts, Quicken) and it appears to be a pretty easy transition for me.

Somebody talk me into (or out of) drinking the Mac Kool Aid.

The only thing I know about Macs is the Apple Logo... if you scratch it off there's a backwards "R" underneath. (Toys R Us)

Seriously, I've only used a Mac very little and that was about 10 years ago.

I have a Compaq laptop too and it sucks, how long did yours last? My desktop is compaq also and its getting sluggish.

Do it! Do it! Bottoms up!!!!!

You will be so glad you did... It is a scary jump, but once you make it you will never regret it...

I have had this Mac at work for nearly 4 years and it is just as fast as it was the day I first fired it up.

I will go to Mac when one of two things happens.
1- I get a high paying job
2-They become more cost competitive.

They are a better machine, I just can't justify the cost right now.

I've heard the knock on cost before, but the thing is, a comparatively configured Vista laptop is about the same money (after the student discount Apple offers).

I'm going to end up getting one, I just anguish over big ticket items.

BTW, has anybody been to an Apple store before? I was wondering if a standard-configured Macbook is something they keep in stock or is like the old Gateway stores where you basically used the storefront to place a mail order? The closest Apple store is Columbia Mall. Not too far a drive to take for an instant gratification purchase.

Not sure about the in store stock- call and ask. BestBuy is carrying Macs now as well.

What are you getting? I really want the 17" MacBook Pro.

The regular Macbook...the one with the 2ghz processor, gig of ram, and dvd burner. The screen's a little small (13"), but that's not a big deal for my uses.

$1200 +tax after student discount. Best Buy and Circuit City are authorized retailers, but you can't get the discount through them, plus none of the local ones have it in stock. Sunrise Electronics in Chambersburg is an authorized Mac dealer and repair place. I'll probably check their stock and discount usage status before shlepping to Columbia.

Nice, They have free shipping.

I love the new Mac commerial

Well at least you can throw vista on there when you realize you can't run one of your most important programs on the mac OS. LOL

The new version of Parallels is supposed to be awesome!!!!

It can run an instance of XP from with OSX and you barely know it is happening.

Perhaps you didn't read my initial post. I checked to make sure everything I need to do can be done on a Mac.

Always remember the 6 P's: Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

Yeah but there will always be one program you forgot! LOL

Like maybe a spyware or anti-virus? Oh, wait. You don't need those on Macs.

You guys really need to check out Parallels. It allows XP (or any other OS) to run on a Mac at the same time as OSX.

We have a couple of Mac users that use Parallels. Personally, I would never own a Mac. I prefer to be able to work on my own computer if I need to upgrade a part. I could pick and choose my parts and build a beast of a machine for a fraction of a fraction of the price I'd pay for something comparable in a Mac. I don't want to have to worry about whether my software will run on it or not. I don't want to install additional software so that I can run two OS's when I only need one. I don't worry about spyware, adware or viruses because I know wtf I'm doing and I keep my computer running lean and mean. It's like driving an automatic or manual transmission... I've always preferred manual because I feel like I have more control over the vehicle.

I hope you don't seriously believe that?

Do you know Mac users that have had that problem? I don't. Sure it's possible to have those problems on a Mac, but much less likely.

At this point, hackers just don't care about the Mac platform. Not enough users to cause the desired chaos.

Then this ones for you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci2D1ig4df4

Nice peripherals

I'm not upgrading to Vista right now, no need. The only benefit I would get out of it is DirectX 10 for my gaming. Now, the next machine I build (probably end of summer) will run Vista and I shouldn't have any problems with compatibility issues by then since drivers will already be available for hardware that I purchase. I mean, I understand the problems that Betty Computeruser might have at home upgrading to Vista when she doesn't really need to in the first place, but that doesn't pertain to me.

For all of the things I use my computer for, it would just be impractical for me to buy something with limited use/software availability, especially when I cannot justify the inflated cost. That's the way I see it.

I agree, coma. PC have a place and so do Macs. One reason I would like to get one is to investigate it forensically, just for practice.

Adding a Mac to my inventory is definitely in my future plans.

Interesting discussion....
Having been a MCSE in a former life I doubt I will be upgrading to Vista or purchasing a new machine with Vista anywhere in the near future...
I am definitely looking into a Mac for my next machine...
The majority of the work I now do entails a lot of graphics manipulation, for which I use Photoshop and web site development. Both of which can be done on the Mac with no problems... In fact, when I took a couple of Photoshop courses a few years ago at HCC, all the machines were Mac.
As for the other stuff I do, basic office stuff.. I can always get MS Office for the Mac if I want or use the Apple software that works the same.
I recently had the chance to spend 2 days playing with a buddy's Mac at his place and found that I had no problems with the user interface and it was faster machine, IMO, than the one I have now that has a supposedly faster processor.

Having been "in the industry", I doubt that I will be looking at the a new Vista system... especially from all that I have read and the reports I have gotten from people I know who have upgraded or beta tested already.

I understand where coma (and probably Yoss) are coming from. They seem to use their PCs for a lot more things than I do, plus I don't have any interest in building or tinkering with PCs anymore, especially a laptop. 99% of my computer use is internet, email, Word, photos and music downloads, or finance management software. If something in that other 1% can't be done on a Mac, I don't care enough about it to matter. I will say that if I was still a PC gamer, a Mac would never even enter my thoughts.

I'll probably order mine this week.

Looks like you'll be waiting awhile if you want the new Mac OS:

Apple announced Thursday that it has been forced to delay the release of the next version of Mac OS X until October. As a result, Leopard will not be ready this spring, a time frame Apple had reiterated several times over the past few months.

Webbie or any other Mac users, have you upgraded to Leopard yet? I've had a copy since a few days after release, but haven't had the time to devote to loading it up. I want to do a clean install, so that involves making sure everything is backed up, digging up install CDs for a couple programs, etc., so I figure I'll need a couple hours.