A Couple Macbook Questions

[RedBarchetta]

So the big thing for me that is for sure keeping me away from the Macbook is the screen size. Does anybody have any problems with the 13 inch screen on the Macbook at all? Please keep in mind I'm not looking for a glossy vs matte debate as I love the glossy, but I'm talking screen size and resolution. I need a laptop for university and I am wondering about the transition from my 20 inch iMac to the small 13.3 inch Macbook.

Secondly, I plan to use Bootcamp to run either Vista or XP to run Office and any other business apps they throw my way.

The system I will be getting will be the 2.16ghz C2D 2gigs RAM 160gb HD.

I guess I should also note that I will be doing heavy presentation work in both Keynote and Powerpoint, as well as using Excel and Word. I also have a large music library.

Based on your personal experiences would the Macbook be a good choice for me?

 

[MOTU]

I used a 15.4 Toshiba through my undergrad and found it to be too big for classes. The weight was fine, but in class it felt too big. It was even too big for some of the desks.

To begin my masters I've decided to go the macbook route and couldn't be happier. Very portable. The resolution is good as well. To do assignments (essays and such) out of class I'm going to be picking up a 20-22" LCD. Even with the LCD the price comes out significantly lower than a MBP. I currently have the top white Macbook (2.16 C2D 1GB RAM).

 

[sm0]

truth: sometimes i hate it, other times i love it.

on my second macbook and while its a fantastic machine, 13.3" is just too damn small at times. sometimes i wish i went for the MBP.

however, when im travelling, its a beaut. great size although a bit heavy.

after using both a MBP 15" and a 14.1" HP laptop I would conclude that 14.1" is probably IMO the perfect screen size for both portability and comfort.

if you intend on using the MB as your primary monitor then I would say its definitely WAY too small. I just couldn't live without my 24" dell at home...

Hope this helps

 

[Gandhi]

Used my wife's Macbook since September of last year for school work. I just bought and recieved a 15" macbook pro this week. Comparing the two - there is not a significant (to me) difference between the two models in terms of size and weight, but man that extra resolution goes a long way when it comes to Word, Excel and PPT. If you can, i would recommend the 15" MBP - especially since you are coming from a 20" iMac - that 13" screen will feel awefully cramped to you.

My suggestion - go to an Apple retail store and fire up couple of word docs, or a word doc and safari - can you work with what is on screen and overlap? If so, get the 13". If not ....

 

[Mac21ND]

If you're concerned about the screen size, I might recommend buying an inexpensive 19 or 20 inch monitor. You can find some good ones for between $200-300. That will allow you to have more of a desktop setup if you're working mainly from a desk one day. This will also allow you to use a full-size keyboard, mouse, etc for creating the things you've mentioned.

 

[RedBarchetta]

well the plan is I will get a 22 inch Samsung LCD and have it here at home for when I am back on weekends. But at school it will just strictly be laptop. I've been stuck deliberating for so long and i could get a 2.2 SR MBP with a 160gb HD for about $300 more than the Macbook with the specs I listed above. It's jsut a matter of the cost and that LED yellow tint I keep hearing about. I don't have time to switch through notebooks like that if something is wrong. The Apple store will be about an hour and a half away and it would be such a hassle.

 

[feelthefire]

well the plan is I will get a 22 inch Samsung LCD and have it here at home for when I am back on weekends. But at school it will just strictly be laptop. I've been stuck deliberating for so long and i could get a 2.2 SR MBP with a 160gb HD for about $300 more than the Macbook with the specs I listed above. It's jsut a matter of the cost and that LED yellow tint I keep hearing about. I don't have time to switch through notebooks like that if something is wrong. The Apple store will be about an hour and a half away and it would be such a hassle.

i was in the same situation and it came down to portability for me. I have a 15" laptop currently that weighs about 2 ounces more than the MBP and i don't like taking it around campus. That told me I should get something smaller and more easily totable. So, macbook for me. I do hook it to an LCD occasionally to watch movies or work on a big spreadsheet, but otherwise, it works great.

 

[yellow]

Secondly, I plan to use Bootcamp to run either Vista or XP to run Office and any other business apps they throw my way.

I prefer Parallels for this type of work. Frankly, rebooting to switch between OS X and XP is a headache unless I plan on using one or the other for a significant amount of time. I've encountered very little in the business world thus far, that won't work with Parallels.


Look out for those gleaming alloy A-Cars.

 

[RedBarchetta]

haha.

well another thing i was thinking is if I have a problem with space, Leopard's spaces will be a valuable tool for me to use.

but for spreadsheets and powerpoints, will the macbook be able to handle and peform those tasks well? without issue on the screen size?

 

[Samwise592]

I've got the 2.16 1gb 120gb model and i couldent be happier. it is my main computer, mostly used for internet browsing/school related things (research, papers etc.) my only complaint is that its hard to have two large windows open at once (MS word, firefox) as one always covers the other. I would recommend the macbook and an external monitor (even a 20" is still cheaper than the MBP)

 

[RedBarchetta]

okay so I think it would be best to go with the Macbook over the Macbook Pro, you guys have settled my fears on the 13 inch screen. Playing around with it I was surprised as I thought it would be much smaller.

just the last thing is how well I would be able to run Windows XP or Vista in Boot Camp while running Office?

 

[yellow]

Well, you'll get no Aero with Vista.