Going from desktop PC to MacBook.

[xfusejc]

As of now, I'm unsure as to whether I'll be getting a MacBook or a MacBook Pro, but that isn't the main point of my thread.

I use my PC mostly for surfing the net at home, downloading stuff and making blends (mostly on Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro). Can I leave the notebook on for a while? I think that's my biggest concern, because i want to namely replace my PC desktop and move to a Mac notebook, so i'm a little off on how well a transition it would be for what I usually do.

I've never owned a notebook before, so I'm not very clear on what level of work I can do before the notebook gets too hot or something bad happens to it. The concern is namely in the change, where I would stop doing everything on my PC desktop and move exclusively to the Mac notebook.

Ideally I'll be getting an iMac down the line, but for the time being...

Thanks!

 

[theman5725]

My only computer is a MacBook, and I use it heavily all day. Works great.

 

[xfusejc]

Great! Thanks for replying. Do you leave it on for some time and do you use it more while it's connected to the power or when it's off it?

 

[EGT]

If you're doing Photoshop/graphics work, you might want to consider the MBP purely for the larger screen real estate.

In saying that, the Macbook screen is still great. It's very vibrant, much brighter compared to my 15' Powerbook, but as I've been transitioning stuff from my PB to the MB, it's blatantly obvious that the 15' screen is much more productive than 13'. It sort of surprises me a bit when I go back to the PB and see how much larger the screen is. (I'm dreaming of an LED equipped MBP with increased resolution! wow mamma, is that gonna be a sweet display)

The Macbook is a great computer though. A little flying machine! If you're hooking it up to an external monitor then you might be a little more comfortable and get more done quicker. It is perfectly capable of filling in as a "desktop" replacement. You sort of get the best of both worlds. When you're on the move, you have the benefit of a smaller computer.

If an iMac is coming later on, you might not need to fork out for the MBP, so the Macbook ticks this box also.

In summary, I say go for the Macbook. Just try and buy as much RAM as you can afford and you'll be sorted.

 

[volvoben]

If you already have a desktop computer, why don't you use the monitor along with the MacBook's LCD? You can never have too much screen real estate, too much ram, be too rich or too skinny.

Notebooks are nearly no more likely to overheat or be stressed by hard work than desktops are. A MacBook, like nearly any modern computer, can be stress tested (run on 100% cpu etc) for days on end without issue. It would be a rough world where your laptop fries because you want to run a filter in photoshop.

 

[micsaund]

I've switched my "main machine" to my new MB and the Winbloze machine only fires-up for gaming.

When I'm at my desk, I use the MB with an external Dell 2005FPW (20" widescreen) via the DVI connector, and a Logitech MX1000 mouse with a Logitech G15 keyboard. It works great and the larger screen and real mouse is definitely appreciated when I'm trying to get stuff done!

It took me about a week of serious "do it on the MB" instead of falling back to Winbloze for some tasks. During that week, I tried to find apps that did things I was used to doing on Win, but only after I spent some real effort to "think different" and find a Mac-style solution. However, now that the adjustment period is over and I have all of my data and stuff setup on the MB, I don't miss my Winbloze machine at all for non-gaming activities.

Mike

 

[DOlsson]

Get the MacBook

This thread is really interesting as it was the exact thing I was wondering when I did just as the poster.

I've had my MacBook in black for 3 weeks now and it serves the same purpose you described. My PC is here basically for large storage and WoW (haha I know, but whatever). What I did was connect an external lcd to the laptop using the mini-dvi to dvi adapter from the apple store.

I am extremely happy with this laptop so far, I leave it on basically all the time and here and there I take it on the road with me. Best of both worlds as someone put it.

You'll never be disappointed with a Mac. I've been using PC's for my entire life and this was a really radical change for me. I welcomed it with open arms and embraced the chance to learn something new like I did so many years ago on my first PC.

Have fun!

 

[Blubbert]

You surely can be too skinny, to the border of starving to death... But i totally agree, you should definitevely keep the monitor of your old computer. The dual screen will allow you perform everything you need a lot of screen space for.

 

[DOlsson]

I agree, and the MacBook, or any Mac that you can purchase right now for that matter has enough horsepower to do whatever it is you need to do. With the exception of gaming on certain models, but if that's your route, you'd be buying a PC

 

[Maxwell Smart]

I use my macbook is my primary desktop computer and I couldn't be happier. I leave it on all the time, it's now going on 9 days, 22 hours and it works like a charm, I just let it go to sleep at night and wake it up when I want to use it. Before this I was a desktop PC user, so I know where you're coming from. My suggestion to you is to keep your monitor and use it in conjunction with the Macbook (I have a 22" cinema display hooked up) and also to purchase a stand for it like a Griffin iCurve or Griffin Elevator. Then obviously with an external keyboard/mouse/speakers, there is virtually no difference except you now no longer have an unsightly PC tower

 

[DOlsson]

What's the advantage to the little stand thing?

 

[iLoveMyMBP]

either the macbook or the macbookpro are great computers....reliable good battery time and sleek looking computers...

 

[mick4394]

I have a Macbook. My wife has an iBook. We also have a desktop PC. We both use our notebooks as our primary computers and occasionally use the desktop when Windows is needed. Mainly, at this point, my desktop is used as a media server.

 

[xfusejc]

Oh, wow. Thank you all

 

[holamiamigos]

What's the advantage to the little stand thing?

i juss got my griffin elevator today... and its awesome!!! it raises the macbook to eye level and you could put things under it to save space...in my opinoin its definitely worth the buy

 

[theman5725]

Great! Thanks for replying. Do you leave it on for some time and do you use it more while it's connected to the power or when it's off it?

I use my MacBook both at school and at home connected to a display. It usually will go days and sometimes weeks without turning off, usually without hitting any type of performance bump. It's a great computer!

 

[justflie]

10.5

For those with an MB, don't forget about Spaces in Leopard! While you can't view everything at once at full size, you can have a LOT of stuff open at once and still be usable without an external display.

 

[DOlsson]

xfusejc - this is another thing I also went over and over again before I got my MacBook.

When and for how long to leave it plugged into ac power, when to use the battery, what to do to optimize battery life etc.

My rule of thumb is, keep it plugged in as much as you want, but once in a while be sure to give the battery some exercise. This automatically fits my schedule fine. At least once a week or more I'm taking it with me somewhere so the battery gets its workout there. When I come home, put it back on my desk, and plug it in to charge. Rinse and repeat every week or so - whatever fits your schedule

 

[shifeng]

I just got a MacBook here. Had it for 4 days and it's really great. Currently it's going to be something I use to watch my anime until my wireless connection is up. And I'll do a total switch from my desktop PC.

It's also going to be my main machine when I start university.

So it's a really great idea to switch to a Mac.

As for your case, I think like the others, a MacBook will suffice, unless you have the budget, get the MBP for the better graphics card and the bigger display. =)

Cheers! and have fun with the Mac.

 

[xfusejc]

xfusejc - this is another thing I also went over and over again before I got my MacBook.

When and for how long to leave it plugged into ac power, when to use the battery, what to do to optimize battery life etc.

My rule of thumb is, keep it plugged in as much as you want, but once in a while be sure to give the battery some exercise. This automatically fits my schedule fine. At least once a week or more I'm taking it with me somewhere so the battery gets its workout there. When I come home, put it back on my desk, and plug it in to charge. Rinse and repeat every week or so - whatever fits your schedule

Thanks for that

 

[$nowman]

I just moved from desktop PC to macbook. couldnt be happier, shoulda done it years ago.

I still have my PC but i havent turned it on since i looked up directions to the apple store last month.

i wouldnt want to use it daily without having an external LCD/mouse/keyboard just because it would get kinda dirty and worn.

 

[iW00t]

Just buy it. Don't worry about silly issues like "how hard can I push it before it gets too hot and gets hurt", Macs are very well engineered, I am sure many here can attest to how wonderful the Macbook Pros are, especially the current ones.

 

[Icewind]

Currently it's going to be something I use to watch my anime until my wireless connection is up.

I also watch all my Anime on my new MacBook. Anime looks gorgeous with the glossy screen. I actually have all my DivX Anime collection stored on a 1 Terrabyte external FW800 drive connectd to my 24" iMac in my study. I then just connect via WiFi to my 1T drive and launch an episode from wherever I am in my apartment (usually sofa or bed ). The anime starts instantly and streams perfectly, without and lag or stutter.

It's a sweet little machine.