MacBook need help.

[markjones05]

My sisters dell just died and she needs a new computer for work. She doesnt need anything too fancy something that is fast and portable and will work with the programs she needs for work. I suggested the MacBook pro but she is concerned because she has heard about the kinks that still need to be worked out.

The main program she needs is...
Macromedia Contribute 2. It says on the box that it works for: Apple
Power Mac G3 or higher; Apple Mac OS X version 10.1 or later; 128 MB RAM; 60 MB disk space.

What programs are the new intel macs having issues with? Will these quirks be an issue for her? She doesn't want to make a mistake when she needs it immediately for work.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[itgoesbuzz]

My sisters dell just died and she needs a new computer for work. She doesnt need anything too fancy something that is fast and portable and will work with the programs she needs for work. I suggested the MacBook pro but she is concerned because she has heard about the kinks that still need to be worked out.

The main program she needs is...
Macromedia Contribute 2. It says on the box that it works for: Apple
Power Mac G3 or higher; Apple Mac OS X version 10.1 or later; 128 MB RAM; 60 MB disk space.

What programs are the new intel macs having issues with? Will these quirks be an issue for her? She doesn't want to make a mistake when she needs it immediately for work.

Any help would be appreciated.

If you mean by "fancy" you mean expensive, the Macbook is pretty expensive,. Youll most likely be using Rosetta (PPC emulation software) to run that program on a Macbook, she might be better served to get a Dell or Compaq or somethin'.

EDIT: and if she needs it immediately, youll have to wait a while for a Macbook if you dont have an Apple store near you.

 

[markjones05]

Who can in good conscience reccommend a Dell or Compaq? Please don't even waste your time typing that garbage in here. I appreciate you answering my question but that just isnt an option...

 

[markjones05]

I found out that contribute 2 does have issues with the new intel macs, but contribute 3 does not. However it costs another 80 for an upgrade and another 150 for a new serial number.

 

[russed]

Who can in good conscience reccommend a Dell or Compaq? Please don't even waste your time typing that garbage in here. I appreciate you answering my question but that just isnt an option...

so you basically want the answer - go and get the macbook pro - it is what is best for her.

if you want advice, be willing to listen to it.

 

[livingfortoday]

She might could get a refurbished G4 Powerbook for pretty cheap on the Apple site if she's looking for something affordable that she can get right away. i think the Powerbooks are still great machines, even with the MacBook Pro coming out now. Especially considering the "fun"* I've had with my new Intel iMac... maybe she should look into something like that.




*Not actually fun.

 

[calebjohnston]

no reason to give an asswipe response to a person trying to help you OP. Don't get her a MBP if she needs something affordable but useable. Get a powerbook/ibook and she'll be fine. that program will run on there and suit her fine without the intel issues.

everyone needs to jump off of the OMGBBQ I NEED EVERYTHING NEW bandwagon and get what is reasonable in cost and will work for all your purposes.

 

[markjones05]

so you basically want the answer - go and get the macbook pro - it is what is best for her.

if you want advice, be willing to listen to it.

Not at all, but i certainly don't want someone telling me to buy something that isnt going to work in a year. I thanked him for the effort he made to respond to the post but it's not an option, nor would I pass along advice to my sister that I myself would never take. Sorry for the mix up but if someone reccomends a compaq as a good computer it immediately discredits them in my eyes.

 

[markjones05]

everyone needs to jump off of the OMGBBQ I NEED EVERYTHING NEW bandwagon and get what is reasonable in cost and will work for all your purposes.

Agreed, just looking for something that will have the longest life for her since her last Dell debocle lasted just under a year. Usually newer lasts longer and that was my reasoning especially for a switch such as this where in the next few years all macs will be intel.

 

[Capt Underpants]

So if he would've recommended a Sony or IBM laptop, you would've been cool with that?

If she requires running that program, then running it under emulation is NOT the best option. Either skip right down to the PB G4 or go for a PC.

 

[markjones05]

So if he would've recommended a Sony or IBM laptop, you would've been cool with that?

If she requires running that program, then running it under emulation is NOT the best option. Either skip right down to the PB G4 or go for a PC.

When I talked to her and she really wanted to steer clear of PC's all together since the last one she had was such a nightmare.
So am I correct in saying that a PowerBook would serve her better than an iBook? Or is an iBook good enough? Her boss said to make sure it had 1 gig of ram in it for contribute. Also do they install more ram when buying from a retail store? If you buy ram from somwhere else is it easy to install? Will ram not sold by apple void any warranties? Will the apple store install ram bought from somewhere else? She is not very computer savvy and I would do it for her but have little knowledge of the inner workings of apple notebooks.

 

[Capt Underpants]

When I talked to her and she really wanted to steer clear of PC's all together since the last one she had was such a nightmare.
So am I correct in saying that a PowerBook would serve her better than an iBook? Or is an iBook good enough? Her boss said to make sure it had 1 gig of ram in it for contribute. Also do they install more ram when buying from a retail store? If you buy ram from somwhere else is it easy to install? Will ram not sold by apple void any warranties? Will the apple store install ram bought from somewhere else? She is not very computer savvy and I would do it for her but have little knowledge of the inner workings of apple notebooks.

I don't know how much screen real estate contribute requires, but I really see that as the only reason she would want to go with a Powerbook. The iBook exceeds all of the minimum specs for contribute (300 MHz G3, 128 MB RAM, 120 MB HD space), so I don't think that the powerbook would be an overwhelming step up, especially considering the money saved.

I believe that Apple will install RAM if you buy at a retail store, but only if you buy the RAM from Apple as well. They will not install third party RAM. It's pretty easy to install RAM on my Powerbook, and I'm sure the process is similar on an iBook. Flip it over, unscrew the covering to the RAM slot, pop it in, screw in the RAM cover, and boot up. OSX will aucomtically recognize the RAM and you'll be good to go. Also, installing RAM yourself will not void the Applecare.

 

[markjones05]

I don't know how much screen real estate contribute requires, but I really see that as the only reason she would want to go with a Powerbook. The iBook exceeds all of the minimum specs for contribute (300 MHz G3, 128 MB RAM, 120 MB HD space), so I don't think that the powerbook would be an overwhelming step up, especially considering the money saved.

I believe that Apple will install RAM if you buy at a retail store, but only if you buy the RAM from Apple as well. They will not install third party RAM. It's pretty easy to install RAM on my Powerbook, and I'm sure the process is similar on an iBook. Flip it over, unscrew the covering to the RAM slot, pop it in, screw in the RAM cover, and boot up. OSX will aucomtically recognize the RAM and you'll be good to go. Also, installing RAM yourself will not void the Applecare.

Cool thanx for the quick responses being as time is a factor.

 

[itgoesbuzz]

Who can in good conscience reccommend a Dell or Compaq? Please don't even waste your time typing that garbage in here. I appreciate you answering my question but that just isnt an option...

my experiences with dell and compaq have been fine. although i overlooked that your sister had a dell so i prob. should have assumed you didnt want a dell to begin with.

i guess at this point id go for a refurb powerbook but i dont know if you should listen to someone who recommends a brand of computer that he/she has had no problems with such as myself.

 

[generik]

If she requires running that program, then running it under emulation is NOT the best option. Either skip right down to the PB G4 or go for a PC.

Why so?

A multimedia app like WoW runs at acceptable speed even under Rosetta... Adobe Photoshop CS 2 comes neck in neck with a DUAL CORE G5 2.0 based on the test.jpg homebrew benchmarks conducted on this forum.

Why would contribute NOT be a good candidate for emulation?

Hmm, let's see, spending 2 grand on a CLEARLY deprecated piece of technology to use a $79 application just so it won't run under emulation (that isn't very poor performing, mind you), wow, that's such a no brainer.

Seeing as to how so many recent posts are made by happy receipients of the MBP lately I really fail to see *how* anyone can recommend a PB in the light of that.

If time is of the essence and she can't wait a month for it, then sorry, just buy a $600 Dell budget laptop and eBay it in a couple months when supply is more readily available. I simply do not accept the PB G4 1.67 Ghz at $2000 as a valid option. Sorry.

 

[markjones05]

Why so?

A multimedia app like WoW runs at acceptable speed even under Rosetta... Adobe Photoshop CS 2 comes neck in neck with a DUAL CORE G5 2.0 based on the test.jpg homebrew benchmarks conducted on this forum.

Why would contribute NOT be a good candidate for emulation?

Hmm, let's see, spending 2 grand on a CLEARLY deprecated piece of technology to use a $79 application just so it won't run under emulation (that isn't very poor performing, mind you), wow, that's such a no brainer.

Seeing as to how so many recent posts are made by happy receipients of the MBP lately I really fail to see *how* anyone can recommend a PB in the light of that.

If time is of the essence and she can't wait a month for it, then sorry, just buy a $600 Dell budget laptop and eBay it in a couple months when supply is more readily available. I simply do not accept the PB G4 1.67 Ghz at $2000 as a valid option. Sorry.

There are plenty of apple retail stores by us. If they are available in in stores at this point in time waiting a month isnt an issue. Thanx for the post.

 

[Capt Underpants]

If time is of the essence and she can't wait a month for it, then sorry, just buy a $600 Dell budget laptop and eBay it in a couple months when supply is more readily available. I simply do not accept the PB G4 1.67 Ghz at $2000 as a valid option. Sorry.

I agree, which is why in my second post I recommended the iBook over the Powerbook.

The competition between the MBP and the iBook is simple: if you get the MBP, you get emulated application performance. Contribute (AFAIK) isn't multi-threaded, so that second core in the MBP will do nothing to aid application performance. Pretty much you can get the MBP, spend $1000 more, and get the same application performance as an iBook. Granted, other applications will be faster on the MBP, but not contribute.

 

[mvelinder]

When I talked to her and she really wanted to steer clear of PC's all together since the last one she had was such a nightmare.
So am I correct in saying that a PowerBook would serve her better than an iBook? Or is an iBook good enough? Her boss said to make sure it had 1 gig of ram in it for contribute. Also do they install more ram when buying from a retail store? If you buy ram from somwhere else is it easy to install? Will ram not sold by apple void any warranties? Will the apple store install ram bought from somewhere else? She is not very computer savvy and I would do it for her but have little knowledge of the inner workings of apple notebooks.

You could always cross your fingers and wait for the Intel iBooks... by then some issues might be worked out with that application.

Who knows you might get lucky on the 28th.