What is the big deal with Macs? They cost a whole lot of money and a lot of the software you had on your old PC probably won’t work if you change. Why bother spending all that money on something that you aren’t sure is going to make your life easier like a computer really should do?
Well my friends, I have had my MacBook for a couple of months now and thought that I would throw my 2 cents into the mix along with everyone’s opinions.
Is It Any Good?
Yes! That is the simple answer anyway. I have the current (as of June 2009) MacBook and it is exceptionally high quality. Far superior to any Windows notebook I have ever had. The keyboard is the only keyboard in a notebook where I have felt comfortable typing. The keys are perfectly weighted and spaced. The build quality of the chassis and screen is top drawer. It feels quality even before you switch it on. The clarity of the screen is second to nothing I have seen before. It is a bit of a magnet for finger prints, but this is nothing a cloth can’t sort out. The attention to detail is first class too. This looks and feels like a high end electronic device should do.
Is It Easy To Use?
The learning MacBook learning curve starts off quite steep but once you get over the initial difficulties, the thing practically operates it’s self it is so intuitive. Luckily Apple have included enough tutorials to show you the basics but not too much that you loose the thrill of discovering all the neat features for yourself.
I am a huge fan of the multi-touch track pad which allows you to scroll, swipe and pinch with up to 4 fingers to access different controls. This makes you feel more “at one” with your computer. It is a good feeling. I have recently started using a “Mighty Mouse” as well. This feels more like a standard Windows system, but one that works smoothly and looks far more elegant on screen. Web browsing and email are all handled with Apple’s software and it handles the job admirably.
Connecting external printers, scanners and mice is a breeze. The apple mouse is configurable onscreen and my old mouse just plugged straight into USB. The printers etc are even easier using the Bonjour system. I just searched and found my printer and was printing wirelessly in less than a minute (this does require a wireless printer however). All in all, a very pleasurable experience.
Is It Worth My Money?
I think the price point is absolutely as high as they could get away with. You don’t get a whole lot extra but you do get everything you need to start working. If you are looking for a system that can do everything from gaming to word processing and everything in between, you might be best looking at a PC since Mac gaming is pretty much non-existent. If gaming isn’t an issue for you and you can afford the money, you definitely won’t regret buying a Mac. I have an X-Box (now with Mac Stickers on the side) but am trying to reduce the time I spend gaming. The Mac certainly isn’t a temptation to play games!
Now is also a good time to be buying if you can. Because of the current economic crisis, you can get a good deal on kit like this. I haggled and got an Apple brand mouse, which was more expensive than my PC mouse with customizable weight distribution and base slip coefficient, Office:mac 2008 and extended warranty for only slightly more than the £1000 (approx) asking price of the stand alone notebook. Considering that Apple don’t let sellers discount their stuff, I was quite happy with this!
Importantly to me, the entry level model (which I own) is very high quality. I wanted a small (13.5″ screen) light and powerful laptop for work and general creativeness that wasn’t going to let me down, ever but still be a pleasure to use. I found exactly what I was looking for. I have a stress free computing environment which allows me to do what I want, when I want, without worrying that the whole thing will crash. A genuinely pleasurable experience.
Gee Chris, Is There Anything Wrong With It?
Well yes, but only little things that don’t really matter too much. You can’t multi-monitor using VGA cables but you wouldn’t want to spoil the experience by using a lower quality monitor now would you? Mine has only 2 USB ports. Things have got cluttered but I have tried to streamline my usage. Only having what I need. It currently looks cluttered to me because my new room doesn’t have wireless, just an old fashioned wired connection. This minimalist approach is the one that should be taken with Macs in my opinion. Too much clutter and you might as well just have a PC. If you like a ton of wires going everywhere then you might not get on too well with a Mac. The magnetic power connector sometimes comes off when I have my Mac in my lap but I think the benefits of this design far out weigh the drawbacks.
All In All?
As long as you don’t want to play games, an excellent product, well worth the money, if you can afford it!
