Just traded in my vintage 2001 PowerBook G4 for a brand new MacBook. Both machines are perfect for the mongering lifestyle in my opinion because of OS stability and ease of use.

the MacBook is much lighter that the old Titaniun PowerBook and has the new Intel Core Duo 2GHz processor. The only upgrade I got was the 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM vice the standar 512k.

The best feature IMHO is iPhoto in which you can plug in any digital camera with USB and download your photos quickly. To messy drivers to download, and you can crop, resize and modify your pics easily.

So you road-warriors who are in the market for a new laptop, visit apple.com or you local Mac store for a test drive, you won't be dissappointed!

Price w/tax, $1500USD

You got one of the 13" models? (The price doesn't match up...so I'm a tad confused.) What stopped you from going with a bigger screen? What do you use to transport/protect your macbook? Thanx.

The MacBook only comes in a 13" screen. To get a 15" or 17" screen you have to go up to the MacBook Pro, which sets you back between $2000 and $2700.

If you don't mind the smaller screen, the MacBook is a kickass laptop with speed to burn and a set of features that justifies the price and then some. Very light and easy to haul anywhere.

Blumpy must have purchased the black MacBook; it has a larger HD than the white version and costs a bit more.

I splurged for the higher-end 15" MacBook Pro, and it really kicks ass. I'm able to run Mac OS, Windows and Linux, so can choose from any applications. Not limited the way most WINTEL boxes are. Just bought the Parallels software and I can switch between operating systems without rebooting, and all are fast fast fast!

I just bought the black MacBook and love it. It is my first Mac. I had never even tried one before. If I could change my whole office to Mac, I would. I have never had anything other than a Dell (one Acer laptop). I ordered a Dell laptop, it got here and as so big I returned it and bought the Mac. Now I see why Mac people are such freaks over the Mac. Kind of like Brasilian pussy, you just dont know how good it is until you try it. AZ

I'm still using one of those "Vintage" 15" Ti Powerbooks ;) Hey my superdrive still works!

Never order a Dell laptop. Never order a Dell laptop. Never order a Dell laptop. Never order a Dell laptop. Never order a Dell laptop. Repeat after me. Never order a Dell laptop.

I love my Dell. No problems...

Time to refocus back towards the MacBook and even the MacBook Pro. Those of you that buy the Pro, is it b/c (1) you want a bigger screen or is it b/c (2) it has more power and capability? Those of you that have purchased a MacBook, what was the deciding factor that prevented you from spending more money?

Anyone know if the Apples are more susceptible to virus' with the added PC capability now?

Branquinho - so if you don't buy the parallels software you have to reboot your computer every time you change between a PC program and a Mac program? a bud forwarded me an article on installing that software saying it is risky and takes a computer whiz to do it correctly...and I ain't one of them there types.

I didn't get the MacBook Pro because I'm not a "power user". All Ido is surf the net, play games, and utilize iPhoto.

If you decide to run Windows on a Mac, you first download "BootCamp" from Apple, then install Windows. The rub is, you WILL open yourself up to viruses, you MAY corrupt your hard drive, and the local Genius Bar will NOT help you recover your machine. Too risky IMHO!

I just got a 13" Macbook for $933 before tax.

If you are one of those guy's that is worried about Big Brother I got one word for you APPLE.

See my comments in the Border Patrol can look through your hard drive thread.
RG.

RG,
Did you buy refurb? you got a hook up? sale?
Thanx

I got a 6% discount at the Apple store, and when I told them that I also had a $100 coupon from Best Buy. I was supprised that they took the 6% off of the list price, and then applied the $100 coupon. I only expected to get the discount due to the coupon but not both.

Right now they have a good deal if you are a student.

RG.

RG, ya lucky bastage, how do you like it so far? Are you good with the 13.5" or do you wish you bought the 15" now? And just to clarify, you got 6% from a corporate discount or student disc? Where did you get that BestBuy coupon? Sorry to be a pest. Thanx, TicaSonar

I like it so far. I like the 13" size, if they made a 10" or 12" I would have bought one as I just want a laptop for travel.

Active duty and retired Military get a 6% discount on laptops at the Apple store.

The coupon was for last week only, but you never know if they will run it again. Check your local paper on Sat. and Sun. for sales ad's.

RG.

Muchos gracias Roadglide. For the info and your service to our Country.

Dell is recalling laptop batteries. Never buy a Dell. Never buy a Dell. Never buy a Dell. Never buy a Dell. Never buy a Dell. ...

The batteries are made by Sony -- NOT Dell --and are in many laptops. Dell is the first company with the cajones to recall them. What's your major problem with a company well known for good products and generally excellent service ?

I didn't get good product or good service from them, is my problem. I'm sorry we disagree, Khun Mor.

With Dell I experience the constant "run around", when trying to deal with all aspects of their company. They couldn't give me a print-out of my extended warranty (claimed that their "system" had it accurately even though my receipt didn't, and never did give a true paper proof of it), wouldn't honor it later (because I didn't have a print out!), always shuffle me from one department to the next (Educational purchases says I'm Home purchases, who say I'm Small Business, who say I'm Government, who say I'm Educational), they seldom answer at the department I need to call (or forward my call to an answering machine and then never respond), my sales-rep is only interested in bulk purchases and won't get back to me (a solo purchase) at all (no surprise, since he's commissioned; but he's the ONLY person at their organization with the "right" to change my account in their system), and the keyboard breaks basically monthly (they've been pretty good about repeatedly replacing that much for free, so good about it that it's clear to me that they are familiar with the fact that their keyboards are flimsy and sub-standard).

I think Dell is "known for" something they don't provide -- good service or good product -- merely because their advertising about how great their stuff is, is pretty good advertising. If you look 'round, you'll probably find (as I have) lots of people disgruntled with Dell.

It's nothing egregious. Just the typical big-corporation-has-the-little-guy-by-the-balls mentality, just like I experienced with Sprint until I switched to my current cell-phone provider. Then Sprint got bought or folded or whatever happened, gee what a surprise. I can't blame 'em, they're just playing the game the way we set it up for them, profit above all else.

So, I guess, it did "fall out" according to free market principles at Sprint ... eventually. It probably will, for Dell, as well. It's just that in the interim I'm stuck having to interact with them in an unprofitable manner, which is simply something they minimize.

If I could get Dell to honor the warranty that I bought; to agree on what department I should have my account in; to call me back when I leave a message; to provide a keyboard that doesn't break when I merely TYPE on it; to ANSWER me when I try to ask how I should return / replace this recalled battery ... well, then, I'd say Dell provided good service. They don't. They don't have to.

Welcome to the unregulated type of serive you get from a large, expanding organization in an otherwise unrestricted market situation ...

Unfortunately in my business, we need a PC. So I have an Alienware since I like games.

But when I am living fulltime overseas, I will go Mac all the way.

All I will need is a system that I can create web pages, make digital movies, surf the web, email, and write word documents.

I am a bit concerned over warranty and service overseas. Any experiences with that?

Sniper, if you need a PC (i.e., you have to run some Windows-only software), buy one of the new Intel Macs. I have both a Mac Pro on my desk (just arrived last Friday along with a new 30" Apple Cinema Display!!!!) and a MacBook Pro in the briefcase. Both run Mac OS, Windows, and Linux. You can use the free Bootcamp software from Apple to run Windows natively (not an emulator), but it requires re-booting when you switch between Mac OS and Windows Or, you can buy Parallels Desktop for Mac ($79) and run any of a number of OSs without having to re-boot. The performance is very impressive.

And both my Macs do very well with games (though I'm not a gamer).

Where will you be oversees? Mac has pretty good service options in most places.

Good to know. I have not owned a Mac since Windows introduced Win95.

I'll be in Colombia. I think I may bite the bullet and get a Mac now then. I heard about the new Intel processors.

I do play some games, how is the graphics card? Do I need drivers for them for Win XP?

Can't answer the graphics card question; maybe someone else can.

There's a rumor flying around that Mac is preparing to release (in the next year) a machine that will be a gamer's dream. We'll see.