My New MacBook

Small Dog received their second shipment of MacBooks today, and I was one of the lucky recipients of the $1,099 white MacBooks. Before I even got a chance to look at it, when I was pulling it out of the box, it felt much thinner and a little heavier than I thought. I’m converting from an old G3 white iBook just in time to head to college, and I’m so glad I made the decision to get a MacBook.

One of the things I’m most excited about is having Tiger (OS 10.4) on my personal computer. I love having it here on my work computer and use things like Dashboard and Spotlight quite often. Another feature I am going to use a lot is Front Row. I’ve never gotten to play with it until now but it looks very useful, with iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and DVD Player. The built-in iSight is really neat too. It was a little weird to have a big live picture of me on my screen! iLife ‘06 comes standard on these machines as does a 30-day trial of Office Mac 2004, so there are many useful applications on top of the ones that already come standard on every Mac.

The design of the MacBook is very sleek and similar to the G4 iBook. It has a 13” screen as opposed to either the 12” or 14” G4 iBook. The design is also a little slimmer than the G4. The keyboard is pretty neat with keys that are all separate. Now all I need is an iSkin to keep the pet hair out! The trackpad is much larger and I’ve heard you can do multiple things with it! I haven’t played with that feature yet. One of my favorite features, design-wise, is the magnetic power cord. I’ll admit I tripped over my old power cord and broke it and had to not only buy a new power adapter, but also have a piece taken out of my computer’s AC port. This way, if I have a clumsy moment, it won’t mean a costly repair.

I’m excited to play with all the new features of this computer and I’m glad I made the purchase!

To link to our new MacBooks, click on one of the links below. The MacBooks have been mentioned in previous posts and links were given there, but I’ll give them again here:

See our MacBooks here!

Similar Posts

  • FireFox Flicks

    As someone who is constantly browsing the web and using a web browser at least 15 of the 24 hours in a day,…

  • Picking the Right Mac for School

    Picking the perfect Mac to accompany a collegiate adventure may seem like an arduous task to some. At a glance, the multitudinous array of custom configurations and pricing tiers may leave you saying “giga-what!?”

    What is important to consider when selecting a machine and the accessories to go along with it is, the classic balance between price and performance. Ideally, the perfect Mac is one that will last the course of a college career and with only the features one needs.

    It is easy to overbuy based on what you might think you need, when in actuality you could be saving hundreds to better spend on bee….err…textbooks! While requirements can certainly vary from school to school and program to program, there is thankfully some overlap in terms of what to look for.

    Based on my days as a young lad back at university, in addition to the machines outlined by a few leading schools, I’ve complied a list to aid in the task of picking the perfect Mac for college.

    *Brown University:*

    MacBook 13-in 2.4GHz 4GB/250GB White Unibody

    *Recommended Accessories:*
    AppleCare
    Ethernet Cable

    *Columbia University:*

    MacBook Pro 13-in 2.4GHz 4GB/320GB

    *Recommended Accessories:*
    AppleCare Protection Plan

    *Princeton University:*

    MacBook 13-in 2.4GHz 2GB/250GB White Unibody

    MacBook Pro 15-in 2.4GHz i5 4GB/320GB

    *Recommended Accessories:*
    AppleCare Protection Plan

    *Amherst College:*

    MacBook 13-in 2.4GHz 4GB/250GB White Unibody

    *Recommended Accessories:*
    Lock
    Carrying Case
    AppleCare Protection Plan

    *Yale University:*

    MacBook 13-in 2.4GHz 2GB/250GB White Unibody

    MacBook Pro 15-in 2.4GHz i5 4GB/500GB

    *Recommended Accessories:*
    AppleCare Protection Plan
    LoJack Anti-Theft Software

    As you may have gathered, for even the most prestigious schools, the 13-inch White MacBook is the overall favorite. This affordably priced, yet versatile machine is undoubtably the most iconic and popular machine on campuses nationwide. Catering to a wide range of student types, the MacBook is ideal for students in arts and sciences disciplines as well as business, law, and medicine.

    Every institution also recommended the AppleCare Protection Plan. As a former student myself, I can personally attest to how invaluable this extended warranty truly is. Providing three years of hardware coverage in addition to three years of unlimited phone support, AppleCare is a tremendous resource for Mac newcomers and existing users alike. This warranty, however, doesn’t cover accidental damage or physical abuse, so make sure to keep any extra-curricular beverages at a safe distance from your new machine.

    Other must-haves include a carrying sleeve, notebook lock, ethernet cable, and a back up drive. As a note on the latter, an external hard drive can be a lifesaver for your data in the event your computer crashes or worse, is stolen. Apple’s included Time Machine software makes doing a comprehensive system back easy. Keeping a regular backup is a great way to preserve college memories without the fear of suddenly loosing them.

    Hopefully this guide will serve to reduce some of the stress surrounding the impending purchase of a new machine. While this guide reflects the needs of the average student, don’t hesitate to explore Apple’s other offerings if your program warrants it. Though higher end creative programs typically specify or even supply students with the proper machine, it can never hurt to double check. Above all, enjoy your new Mac!

  • Happy Birthday, Walden

    Walden was published 152 years ago today, on August 9, 1854. Walden is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it a few…

  • Free iPod eBook

    iLounge just released version 3 of their iPod book. It contains lots of tips and tricks that you can do with your iPod…