Need help buying a laptop

[bcjenkins]

If you can hold off - http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...september.html

[stuckless]

Well, I ended up buying a macbook pro for her... It's the same size, but a little thicker and heavier. I couldn't justify spending the money on the Air for hardware that was inside.

I guess this is my first venture in the world of Apple computers... I'm sure I'll have fun.

[PLUCKYHD]

Congrats I don't think your or she will regret the decision. I couldn't justify the air over the pro either. I am starting to like Mac os the more and more I use it. The wife loves all the picture and video tools it comes with as they are easy to use.

Cheers and good luck now I am not the only one who bought a apple this year something I swear I would never do.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Congrats I don't think your or she will regret the decision. I couldn't justify the air over the pro either. I am starting to like Mac os the more and more I use it. The wife loves all the picture and video tools it comes with as they are easy to use.

Cheers and good luck now I am not the only one who bought a apple this year something I swear I would never do.

I hope that she likes it. We spent about an hour on it last night... It's funny how people say it's easy to use, but doing simple tasks like deleting a file becomes a challenge. It's becomes a lot easier once you get used to the paradigm of dragging stuff to the trash... but when you are used to just right clicking (which doesn't exist) or hitting the delete key, it's frustrating trying to figure out the small things But, that being said, I'd rather spend an hour on the Mac than Windows Plus, the fact that she has the Mac, means that now I have Mac, Windows, and Linux in my house, which is handy for testing stuff.

Some other general thoughts about the platform... I was impressed by the fact that when I brought it home, I turned it on, and it asked me a couple of questions (username, network password), and then I was in. No fuss and no crapware. Last year my sister-in-law bought an HP laptop and brought it my place. When we opened it, and first booted it... we were 2 hours later before we could even begin to hook it up the network The thing had to finish installing it's crapware and configuring windows before it would let us use it... it was a horrible experience, especially since once it was all done with the that, then we spent the next hour removing all the crapware.

[bcjenkins]

Sean, feel free to ping me if you need help with the Mac. To enable right-click go into the mouse/trackpad prefpanes. You should be able to turn on the ability to use the right bottom corner as the click.

In addition, if you like keyboard shortcuts then use the command-delete combo after highlighting the file.

B

[Taddeusz]

As has been said, right clicking certainly does exist on the Mac. The idea of a single mouse button on the Mac has been outmoded for some time. Even the Mighty Mouse could be configured for three buttons even though it only has a single physical button. That's how I have mine configured.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

Sean, feel free to ping me if you need help with the Mac. To enable right-click go into the mouse/trackpad prefpanes. You should be able to turn on the ability to use the right bottom corner as the click.

In addition, if you like keyboard shortcuts then use the command-delete combo after highlighting the file.

B

Originally Posted by Taddeusz

As has been said, right clicking certainly does exist on the Mac. The idea of a single mouse button on the Mac has been outmoded for some time. Even the Mighty Mouse could be configured for three buttons even though it only has a single physical button. That's how I have mine configured.

Thanks Guys! Those are great tips. I did find that if held down the control + click then it would open a context menu on an item, but configuring the bottom right of the trackpad to be a right click is even better.

Here's another thing... Can a scroll a view without having to click and hold the scrollbars. On some trackpads, swiping down on the right side of the trackpad will scroll a view, but I'm not seeing that happen here.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Thanks Guys! Those are great tips. I did find that if held down the control + click then it would open a context menu on an item, but configuring the bottom right of the trackpad to be a right click is even better.

Here's another thing... Can a scroll a view without having to click and hold the scrollbars. On some trackpads, swiping down on the right side of the trackpad will scroll a view, but I'm not seeing that happen here.

Scroll with two fingers check out mac's website for all the finger motions that you can do.

http://www.apple.com/magictrackpad/

some are there but there are videos somewhere listing all the shortcuts and most are configurable. The new inertia scrolling and moving around windows with 3 fingers is nice as well.


They are pretty intuitive after you figure them out.

Also you can right click by clicking anywhere with the mouse with two fingers instead of one (still amazed it can detect how many fingers are on the mouse)
much easier then having to go to the bottom corners.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Scroll with two fingers check out mac's website for all the finger motions that you can do.

http://www.apple.com/magictrackpad/

some are there but there are videos somewhere listing all the shortcuts and most are configurable. The new inertia scrolling and moving around windows with 3 fingers is nice as well.


They are pretty intuitive after you figure them out.

Also you can right click by clicking anywhere with the mouse with two fingers instead of one (still amazed it can detect how many fingers are on the mouse)
much easier then having to go to the bottom corners.

Yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it. The trackpad setting screen is nice enough to show a small video of how each feature works. Now that I know how to use them, it makes the experience much better... but when you don't know that it exists, it's not very intuitive

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it. The trackpad setting screen is nice enough to show a small video of how each feature works. Now that I know how to use them, it makes the experience much better... but when you don't know that it exists, it's not very intuitive

Agreed there but their videos are helpfull i actually bought a book on macs because I couldn't stand not knowing shortcuts and at least the basics

[Brent]

Originally Posted by stuckless

it's not very intuitive

I agree. Spent 45 minutes playing with a Macbook in the Apple store this morning while waiting for them to agree to replace my iPad (developed a LCD defect line across the screen). It's nice, but I think it's no easier than Windows 7.

If my parents lived closer to an Apple store I'd switch both of them to Apple. For me though, I'd stick with Windows 7. Love my new Lenovo X200 btw.

[PLUCKYHD]

Originally Posted by Brent

I agree. Spent 45 minutes playing with a Macbook in the Apple store this morning while waiting for them to agree to replace my iPad (developed a LCD defect line across the screen). It's nice, but I think it's no easier than Windows 7.

If my parents lived closer to an Apple store I'd switch both of them to Apple. For me though, I'd stick with Windows 7. Love my new Lenovo X200 btw.

He was saying it wasn't intuitive when you don't know once you know it is quite nice. I myself could never go back to a windows laptop. I think ever laptop could benefit from a mouse like apples laptop mouse at the very least make the entire think clickable like apple.

And also the battery life is very nice and like Sean said not loaded with crapwate like every windows pc out there. I can't stand all the bloated crap a w7 pc comes with preinstalled.

You know you can't pass judgement just playing with one in the store

[Brent]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

You know you can pass judgement just playing with one in the store

Oh yes I can

I have used Macs quite a bit actually. Through work and stealing my wife's sister's Macbook on occasion. Like I said, it's nice. But it's NOT better imo.

And I mis-used his quote for my own enjoyment so keep that in mind. Just havin' some fun. I give Apple way more money than I should as it is. Please don't tempt me to buy more Apple stuff

I'll have to do a review of this Lenovo X200 I got a few weeks ago. Small, lightweight, superpowered (my opinion of course ) and no bloatware to remove. But it isn't as pretty as the Macbooks for sure.

[PLUCKYHD]

Better to spend money on MacBook than an unusuable iPad

How is the battery life on that out of curiosity I have heard good things about it.

If it wasn't for my wifes apple I could have never made my smm videos look so good so easy

Another feature I like is the magnetic power supply can't tell you how many times it has saved the laptop and the daughter from a injury.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Better to spend money on MacBook than an unusuable iPad

How is the battery life on that out of curiosity I have heard good things about it.

Battery life on the iPad is good. Not nearly as good as the Kindle though.

iPad is a nice-to-have device. It doesn't really do enough to replace the laptop yet though.
Like:

1. Instant on
2. Ligher than laptops
3. Apps can be awesome
4. Kindle Reader syncs to all other devices - and reading in dark works well
5. Would make an excellent mobile placeshifter device
6. Can't wait for the Sonos plugin
7. found a bluetooth keyboard that makes blogging from it almost tolerable

Dislike:

1. Expensive
2. Can't really print well if at all
3. Too heavy for longer reading sessions. If they figure out how to decrease the weight and keep/improve the battery life I'd pay even more
4. Screen Resolution isn't as good as my iPhone 4. Again, this is something I'd pay more for
5. Tethered to the computer. Stupid Apple tricks that I put up with
6. Can't use outside. Even in the Apple store you'll notice the mirror-like screen.

I'm constantly talking about selling mine on EBay. But I always come back to the fact I use it daily...

[PLUCKYHD]

Sorry I was asking about the laptop

[Brent]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

Sorry I was asking about the laptop

Oh.
Well so far it seems good. Haven't run out of juice using it yet although I haven't tested it thoroughly yet. I'll let you know after my trip to NYC next week. That will be a very good test.

[briands]

Originally Posted by PLUCKYHD

He was saying it wasn't intuitive when you don't know once you know it is quite nice. I myself could never go back to a windows laptop. I think ever laptop could benefit from a mouse like apples laptop mouse at the very least make the entire think clickable like apple.

And also the battery life is very nice and like Sean said not loaded with crapwate like every windows pc out there. I can't stand all the bloated crap a w7 pc comes with preinstalled.

You know you can't pass judgement just playing with one in the store

Isn't that what intuitive is supposed to mean??? I guess I have trouble overcoming years of windows conditioning...

My mother in law got one last year...

My pet peeves - Right click, windows control (Max, Min and close)

Pros - Brother in law now takes over ALL MIL tech support

Anyone tried one of those fancy mice in Win7?


Intuitive \In*tu"i*tive\, a. [Cf. F. intuitif.]

[1913 Webster]

1. Seeing clearly; as, an intuitive view; intuitive vision. [1913 Webster]

2. Knowing, or perceiving, by intuition; capable of knowing without deduction or reasoning. [1913 Webster]

Whence the soul Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or intuitive. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Received, reached, obtained, or perceived, by intuition; as, intuitive judgment or knowledge; -- opposed to deductive. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by briands

Isn't that what intuitive is supposed to mean??? I guess I have trouble overcoming years of windows conditioning...

My mother in law got one last year...

My pet peeves - Right click, windows control (Max, Min and close)

Pros - Brother in law now takes over ALL MIL tech support

Anyone tried one of those fancy mice in Win7?


Intuitive \In*tu"i*tive\, a. [Cf. F. intuitif.]

[1913 Webster]

1. Seeing clearly; as, an intuitive view; intuitive vision. [1913 Webster]

2. Knowing, or perceiving, by intuition; capable of knowing without deduction or reasoning. [1913 Webster]

Whence the soul Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or intuitive. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Received, reached, obtained, or perceived, by intuition; as, intuitive judgment or knowledge; -- opposed to deductive. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

I agree... and that's why I used "intuitive". It's not a slam against Apple... they, like windows and linux, have so many unintuitive features, icons, etc. For example, when I first used an ipod touch/iphone, it took me 15 minutes to figure out how to close an application It wasn't intuitive to me that pressing a almost invisible button with a square on it exits the application. When I handed the unit to my wife and asked her to open the browser, it wasn't intuitive to her that "Safari" == "browser".

But, when you use an OS for some time, all features become intuitive and you forget how much you hated it when you started.

That being said, stating that an OS is not intuitive to a person is simply a personal observation of that person, and is not a negative reflection of the OS itself. While I find many aspects of the Mac OS to be unintuitive (because it's different than what I'm used to), it tend to like the unintuitive features (which are no longer unintuitive, to me, since I know them )

My pet peeve is hearing, "Linux is hard to use", or "Apple is hard to use", or "Windows is hard to use"... when in reality it's neither of those things... what is really being conveyed is... "Linux is different than what I know.", "Apple is different than what I know.", "Windows is different than what I know". For me, right now, Apple is different from what I know, and it's causing some initial frustrations, that i'll eventually overcome. And eventually I'll make a decision on whether or not I like the differences enough to actually use it as my primary PC... I personally don't see that happening (since I use Linux), but I would switch, if I were a Windows user. (ie, i like the apple differences enough to abandon windows, but not enough to abandon linux)

[mayamaniac]

Wow, are we really having this Mac vs. Windows discussion? Aren't there enough on the internet already? Just use what works for you.

- PC guy typing on my Macbook