MacBook perfect for journalism

[Smallville]

If there are any news or sports writers out there looking for a great notebook, get a MacBook.

I got mine, and within a day it is the best decision I've made. Sure, I had to shell out my own money because my paper was too cheap to upgrade the 10-year old Toshiba Satellites, but it will pay for itself (and I should be able to write it off of taxes next year).

For example, I went to work and within seconds was able to access the network and get to my work e-mail.

I can use BootCamp to use Windows XP and the baseball/softball scoring software many teams use to keep stats now. Instead of using pencil and paper when out at a game, I can use my laptop.

I'm going to an all-star football game tomorrow night and there's no doubt that I'll be able to finish my story quicker. Why use pen and paper for stats when I can type them into my story file and write almost half of the article during halftime?

The IT guys (one guy is a Mac, one is a PC) fell in love with it while they helped me set it up today.

Knock on wood, but it is also a good machine as far as heat and noise issues go. I'd say my only small gripe is the lack of dial-up modem. When I go to state tournaments, my place is too cheap to put me up in a hotel with broadband or wireless, so we still connect via an Earthlink account. Guess that's another $50.

Just like reporters back in the 1920s through the 1980s used portable typewriters, the notebook is the perfect tool now.

 

[macenforcer]

Bravo!

 

[japasneezemonk]

yes you can deduct property acquired for use in your trade or business.

you can deduct 1/5 of the cost of your computer each year over 5 years by Electing the Section 179 Deduction.

 

[Smallville]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind.

 

[brbubba]

For example, I went to work and within seconds was able to access the network and get to my work e-mail.

As my first mac since a 75mhz powerpc I have been surprisingly impressed how nicely my Macbook gets along in an office environment. Networking, wired and wireless is quick and simple, with my only gripe being that it doesn't indicate encrypted networks. Also printer support was incredible. In less than a minute it scanned the network and I was able to print to any of the three office printers, all HPs, even the plotter! The same setup on a PC involves installing drivers for all three printers, which would have been a 20 minute process.

 

[igucl]

I am real curious to know how you, as a journalist, are getting along with the MacBook's unconventional keyboard. Are you finding any awkwardness or difficulty in typing how you want to?

 

[Smallville]

I am real curious to know how you, as a journalist, are getting along with the MacBook's unconventional keyboard. Are you finding any awkwardness or difficulty in typing how you want to?

I use the keyboard just fine. I type fast and rarely look at my screeen (because I'm watching a game), but that's just me.

The only throwback is that there is only one delete key, which will only delete things to the left (if that makes sense). I don't even mind that there are no page up/down buttons because the scroll function on the pad is great.

I'm aware that the keyboards are different, but this is my first laptop, so I really don't have any basis for comparison. Of course, there is a difference between my MacBook keyboard and the keyboard for the Dell desktop I have to use at work.

 

[karichelle]

The arrows do "dual duty" as page up and page down keys on my iBook...does the MacBook still have the "Fn" key to the left of the Ctrl key? If so, hold it down and use the arrows and that should give you the page up/page down functionality.

I am a journalist as well...currently in grad school studying mass communication, mostly diversity and content analysis. I always had the intention of using my iBook as a work machine during my two years of internship, but the odd software the newspaper used was only compatible with Windows, and the only people with Macs were the graphics people.

 

[Platform]

Good to hear that the laptop can keep up, I have seen that in some professions the computer can't keep up, or no software available to handle the input.

 

[ITASOR]

The only throwback is that there is only one delete key, which will only delete things to the left (if that makes sense). I don't even mind that there are no page up/down buttons because the scroll function on the pad is great.

Fn+Delete would be the equivalent to the left to right delete button you're thinking of. Try it out.

 

[Smallville]

Lucky for me, we just switched to ACT, so everything is written in Word. Besides, I'm merely a sports writer, so as long as copy gets in, no one really cares.

And thanks for the tips on laptop keyboard shortcuts everyone!

 

[Bern]

I am so confused between the MB and MBP, and now looking at your post I again begin to scratch my head.

I'm not a gamer but do use Adobe CS2, Macromedia DW and Flash and Painter IX. I'm not sure if the MacBook would be good enough for these. Right now I'm using a 12" last edition Powerbook.

 

[Smallville]

I'm not sure what to tell you. If I use Photoshop, it's only because I'm formatting a mug shot. I won't be doing heavy graphics work at all.

My advice is if you get a MacBook, upping the RAM will be necessary. Photoshop isn't native to the Intel machine, so it does run a tad slower than usual.

I think the only problem with the Pro is that when I went to buy it, the low-end MPB models that are out aren't much more suped up than the top-level MB.

 

[andrewag]

If you are using them apps, they will run the same in rosetta on both machines. I just got a black MacBook and damn love it - actually more than my 1.67 15" powerbook

I am so confused between the MB and MBP, and now looking at your post I again begin to scratch my head.

I'm not a gamer but do use Adobe CS2, Macromedia DW and Flash and Painter IX. I'm not sure if the MacBook would be good enough for these. Right now I'm using a 12" last edition Powerbook.

 

[Bern]

Well it looks like I'm getting the 1.83 MacBook and adding 2GB of ram (I already have access to a dvd burner, which I never use).

What I use PS and Illustrator for are only very small tasks, nothing to the level of a pro photographer. I do use Corel Painter though so will be interesting to see how that handles under Rosetta but worse comes to worse I could always get the Windows XP version.