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Should I go to MacBook??? (or Windows with: Sony Vaio, or Acer TravelMate Series 3010

post #1 of 6
1/26/07 at 4:01pm
Thread Starter 
Hi all,

I have a dilemma! I want to go to a very compact notebook for on-the-go work, however after reviewing what's available it seems the MacBook is a real contender, but I've not been a Mac/Apple user before. Some advice would be great. Compactness and lightweight is what I'm chasing, but at a reasonable cost.

Re Hardware Choice
(a) Sony Vaio VGNTX47GPW - 11" screen, 1.25kg, bit smaller than MacBook
==> excellent BUT more expensive ~A$3600

(b) Acer Travel Mate - 12.1" screen, 1.5kg, mid-way in size between MacBook & Sony
==> still a bit expensive ~A$2900

(c) MacBook - A$2099, 13" screen, but very slightly bigger (not as compact), BUT 2.36kg!


I really want something I can carry around everywhere with minimum of annoyance, so the 1.25kg 11" screen Sony would be great. However I'm not sure if it warrents paying TWICE the price of a MacBook.

Question 1 - MacBook users: How do you find the device from the point of view of weight and likelihood that you'd carry around with you, or get sick of the weight and want to leave it at home?

Question 2 - Should I move to a Mac?.......from a Rails development perspective I assume it should fine. I use RadRails / InstantRails / Firebug at the moment.

Question 3 - Other windows applications/things I use, know off hand if they are covered on the Mac???

1. Ability to share directories and files with other Windows XP computers on my network? (e.g. play MPEG2/MPEG4 movies)
2. Share iTunes songs between Mac and Windows PCs on my network
3. Adobe Photoshop
4. Dreamweaver
5. Truecrypt


Any other advice that would sway me to become, or not become, a Mac user for the first time?


Many thanks
Greg
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post #2 of 6
1/26/07 at 6:37pm
I can't answer number one as I don't have a MacBook...

Number two however: Rails is, from what I understand, quite well supported on Mac. And the next version of OS X will actually have it ship with the system from what I've heard. Quick google brings this up: http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pa...tallOnOSXTiger

Question three:
1. Networking with a Mac is easy and I have no problems sharing directories with the PCs in my house. I've never been able to get printer sharing working, however.

2. iTunes should work without any problems as long as all the computers are on the same network.

3. Photoshop CS2 runs slow on all Intel Macs right now because it's not coded for the Intel processors. CS3, however, will be made for Intel and will run at native speeds. The speed may or may not be an issue depending on the computer you're coming from.

4. Dreamweaver has the same problem as Photoshop right now.

5. There is no TrueCrypt available for OS X from what I can see but there are workarounds. If you need you can use FileVault which will place your home directory inside of an encrypted sparse disk image. Everything operates transparently so you should never notice it even working, however, if the image should somehow become corrupted you lose your entire home directory. If you want to just encrypt certain files you can create your own disk images with encryption and place your files into them.

For more advice/information check out the Apple forums here on NBF.
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post #3 of 6
1/26/07 at 7:24pm
i can comment on itunes, and on printer sharing.... i use my xps and the other network admin where i am has a macbook pro we both share a printer wirelessly (via a print server) and the itunes of everybody on our network here are linked, it works regardless of them using a pc or a mac (both are well represented).
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post #4 of 6
1/26/07 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kakaze
Photoshop CS2 runs slow on all Intel Macs right now because it's not coded for the Intel processors. CS3, however, will be made for Intel and will run at native speeds. The speed may or may not be an issue depending on the computer you're coming from. Dreamweaver has the same problem as Photoshop right now.

If there is an issue right now would running PARRELLELs on the Macbook and then the Windows version of Photoshop/Dreamweaver be a work-around then perhaps? i.e. I have the Windows versions of these programs already and that would save some $$$?

Tks
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post #5 of 6
1/27/07 at 1:39am
Photoshop/Dreamweaver in Parallels would run close to native speed.

Fidget: Is your print server another computer or is it a device like Airport Express? Cause I can't get printers to share when connected to other computers...specifically the printers connected to my PCs won't work with my Mac. No matter which drivers I try and use.
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post #6 of 6
2/2/07 at 12:42am
Price-->performance-->options-->portability I would say go with a macbook. If you need native speed for adobe apps then you can use boot camp and install XP and boot into it when needed. Macbook is the best of both worlds for a person that wants to switch to Mac but still needs Windows occasionaly.
Sounds like you need one for productivity so integrated graphics wont be an issue.
What currency are you using where a Macbook costs $2099? You can practically get a macbook pro for that cost (I am refering to USD).
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