Apple → I've got Apple on my mind

I'm sure this type of post has been beat to death, so I was a little hesitant to post, but I'd appreciate any ones input.

So, I'm thinking about a change of scenery to a Mac. About a year ago I was so close to buying a Mac Mini, but never went through with it. Right now to me it seems a bit impulsive to get one, so I really want to shop around and find something that I know that I want. The two options I am looking at are again the Mac Mini or a MacBook. I like the idea of the MacBook more than the Mini for a variety of reasons, but I also have some concerns.

I don't know much about the revisions and all that except for the little I read about them so I was wondering is there anything being done to fix the discoloration problem the white MacBooks are having or is this a pretty rare problem and taken care of by Apple? Also, I read about the logic boards being replaced in the MBP for a whine, just wondered if this problem plagues the MacBook.

I know, well read really, that August is a big month for Apple to bring out new stuff, should I wait? I kind of want to take advantage of the free Nano offer since I'm a college student, but I can wait and lose the offer if something new is coming out or revisions to fix past problems are scheduled to come out then.

The last thing is basically how much can you tinker with a Macbook? I've built my fair share of PCs and swapped things in and out of laptops and I wondered if a Macbook might be similar. I'd much rather buy my own RAM upgrade since Newegg is a bit cheaper to get above the 1 GB in my system; do MacBooks play well with any third-party RAM as long as it meets the specifications? Also, for now I think I'd pick the combo drive as I have no need for the SuperDrive, but as my needs might change is it hard to change the optical drive or is it impossible altogether. And the hard drive is always a big deal for me to be able to replace or upgrade. I've had two laptops previous and both had hard drives that died. I'd rather be able to replace it myself than have to send it back or take it to an Apple store.

It's a lot of things to think about. By this post, I've pretty much set my mind on the MacBook if I do get a Mac at all. I'll probably look around at CompUsa the week after I get back from my vacation to play around with them. I just really am wanting a change of scenery. Sure, Vista is coming out who knows when anymore, and it looks prettier than XP, but I really want something stable which Apple can provide with the unix type operating system. Linux is an to get the stability, but I rather get something that just works. I was toying with the idea of using a spare computer to play with Linux again, but I remembered I have a wireless network and it's just too much playing around to get things to work. Apple can provide stability I want and also a system that is going to work well out of the box without spending hours configuring stuff just to find out you did it all wrong. I think the new commercials comparing the nerdy PC to the sleek Mac really got me in this mindset that I want a Mac!

Thanks

Hard drive and ram swaps are about as far as you are going to go in tinkering with most Mac's unless its an older Power Mac or a G5 Power Mac.

I would wait till the August announcements 'if any' and see what happens.

One thing i have learned is to always wait for the revisions to come out. Makes the most sense. I think most rev Mac's fetch more money down the line if you have to sell for any reason. My Mac Book went back for a few reasons. Heat, fan and video issues. Im much happier with my Intel iMac.

All the intel Mac play nice with any ram, remember they are essentially PC's now. You will be able to run Linux and Vista or XP on the Mac along side OSX.

You can also geek out the Mac too. All kinds of software and things to play with. I love running many Linux app's in OSX.

Im sure you will have fun. I love building my own PC's but i also love just using the Mac with out having to play the bleeding edge hard ware and soft ware game. I love that other people in my house can use the Mac with out me freaking out about some spyware or maul ware that inadvertently finds its way in. Im sure you will love it too.

P/S the more ram the better something with dedicated video is a major plus.

I'd wait till August to see if there are any new revisions.

On the MacBook, as opposed to the MacBook Pro, hard drive swapping is trivially easy.

Yeah, wait until August 7th just in case there is a speed bump in the MacBook line, although major changes are unlikely.

Hey, I was posting basically the same thing a few months ago. Most (if not all) of the folks here are friendly, and are always happy to help out.

Usually, I would tell people to lay off the waiting game, but some valid points were made here. August is a big month for Apple with the WWDC coming up, you can be sure something fresh will be coming out in August.

That said, some have suggested not purchasing a first revision machine. My guess for August is the new Mac Pro desktop, with no revision of the case on the Mac Book Pro, that has been rumored. I just think it makes no sense to make such a drastic, unneeded change to a system that's been out less than 6 months. Especially when your flagship desktop is still on the old PPC architecture. If you wait until August, and the next big thing is your latest object of desire, you will either be.

A: Waiting until sometime around Super Bowl Sunday (can I say Super Bowl, doesn't the NFL frown on that?) to pick up a revision 2 machine. That would, um, well, it would suck.

OR

B: Picking up a second revision of one of the current machines on the market. Probably with a slightly faster processor in it.

From what I've heard, Apple is making good on the discolored Mac Book panels. Forget where I read it, but I did read it somewhere. The Mini is pretty stable at this point, and I've heard little if no complaints on the Intel models (someone prove me wrong here, if I am).

I was going to purchase Parallels Desktop when it went release, but now I'm waiting to see what will be in the latest release of OS X in August. I suspect we'll see something more than just a release version of Boot Camp. Some snazzy new feature will be added in somewhere, and I would hate to wast my $70 or so bucks on Parallels, when that's half the cash I would have to spend to get Leopard when it comes out...

Point taken, but through the 15th of July Parallels Desktop is only $49.99.

Don't you love marketing -- buy before midnight tonight! I needed it and bought it. Best recent software purchase, they still have a few kinks but for a 1.0 product it works very well. I'm using it to run WinXP (Outlook/Exchange + IE/ActiveX) and RedHat Enterprise (engineering software).

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think I'll wait until August and see what Apple has in store. I'll probably pick up a second revision MacBook if they bring those out as I'm really excited about trying out a new Mac.

Adam,

You sound exactly like I was two months ago just prior to picking up my first Mac. I think that when you do actually get one, you'll love it.

I got a MacBook about a week after they hit the streets, and I have to tell you that I really haven't had any of the issues you might have heard about. Waiting until August would be a smart move especially since it's right around the corner. You're the best judge of what you want and what you need.

Don't worry about asking questions here. There are a lot of us "switchers" who went through the same process your currently going through, and they, along with the Mac faithful, can answer any question you throw at 'em .

You are indeed, correct. My bad.

Even at $49.99, I just have to wait and see what Steve has to unveil in August. I think some snazzy new features will be in leopard that will make it worth the wait.

Besides, I all ready have a copy of XP that was on my homebrew desktop that I can install on my MBP and de activate on the desktop.

Either way, I can honestly say I have pretty much ZERO interest in running Windows unless I need it for something I can't do in OS X. I'm quickly learning there is very little I do from day to day that I "need" Windows for.

I haven't loved a computer as much as I love my MBP since my Apple II GS in 1987, and I've had a LOT of systems since then.

I will probably work a ton of overtime shifts so I can, in a year or so, pick up the latest Mac Pro for my desktop and make my friends drool in envy, but my current MBP will always be the computer that brought me back home to Apple .

Sniff sniff, shedding a tear....

I'm along the same line as the OP but quite sure that I want to pick up a MacBook or MacBook Pro late this August. Now I'm wondering(since Apple doesn't give the option) if I can put a 7200 RPM hard drive on the MacBook since it seems way cheaper to buy off new egg and install myself like the OP stated.

Is there any particular RAM brand you guys would recommend? I know Kingston and Corsair(SP) are heavily suggested for PCs but not sure if it's the same for Macs.

Does anyone know if the "new" MBP that will be announced on august 7th will be available on that date on Apple Store, or we are gonna have to wait like a month after that to order it?

There is no confirmation that there will be a new MBP on the 7th. Let's get that clear. If you're going to believe rumours at all, the most likely one is that the Mac Pro (the replacement for the Power Mac tower) will be announced. Notebooks are most likely slotted for September or later.