MacBook Questions

[india349]

Hello everyone!

I just bought a MacBook (as in "just" bought it, meaning it's still currently in shipping) and I have a few questions. I bought the stock 512 MB RAM and 60 GB Hard drive model of the second one listed on Apple's site. Before Christmas or at least before Leopard, I'm planning on upgrading to at least 100 GB of hard drive space and for sure 2 GB of RAM. Here are my questions:

1) What can I do with the old hard drive and old RAM once I remove them? I've considered selling them to my school or on eBay, I really have no other use for them. Is there some sort of recycling program if I can't sell them?

2) Will Leopard run on my computer, even if it has no 64 bit capabilities? I'm not trying to ask a probably dumb question, but I really don't understand what the difference between 64-bit and 32-bit is but I'd like to make sure that in early 2007 when Leopard is released that I'd be able to run it.

3) Installing a new hard drive is my main worry. Is there a brand that's more reliable than any others? OWC's list of hard drives for notebooks is immense and I'm not really sure what to pick from. I don't know how speed will affect the type of work I'm doing (mostly school work, such as word processing, PowerPoint and working with photos from digital camera, music, and light gaming) so any advice will be appreciated.

4) I've heard some horror stories about Macs and laptops in general getting stolen at universities. Would investing a laptop lock like those seen on Apple's site be a good idea? Also, what about a laptop sleeve or something to keep dirt and scratches off of my Mac?

Maybe I'm a little obsessed; I don't even have my Mac yet but I'm thinking of every little thing I can do to it. But from what I've read, anyone getting a new Mac is excited and this is my first Mac since 1997-1998! Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'd love to know more about my computer and other's experiences with it. Have a great day all, thanks again!

india349

 

[72930]

2) Will Leopard run on my computer, even if it has no 64 bit capabilities? I'm not trying to ask a probably dumb question, but I really don't understand what the difference between 64-bit and 32-bit is but I'd like to make sure that in early 2007 when Leopard is released that I'd be able to run it.


4) I've heard some horror stories about Macs and laptops in general getting stolen at universities. Would investing a laptop lock like those seen on Apple's site be a good idea? Also, what about a laptop sleeve or something to keep dirt and scratches off of my Mac?


india349

First of all, congratulations.

Answer 2) Leopard will run. The processors shipping now are not 64-bit but 32-bit. You will notice barely any difference between the two. Before you replace the laptop, most applications will not take advantage of 64-bit.

Answer 4) Get a sleeve! It will protect your laptop from getting not only scratched but dirty aswell. I use a booq sleeve for school (from Apple store). Before I did, my beautiful macbook got scratched. Worse than that, Ink spilled in my bag and got a stain on my laptop. Fortunately the repair people cleaned it up when I repaired it for RSS.

 

[Eraserhead]

1) What can I do with the old hard drive and old RAM once I remove them? I've considered selling them to my school or on eBay, I really have no other use for them. Is there some sort of recycling program if I can't sell them?

I'd keep them for troubleshooting any problems that could occur with your computer if you can't sell them.

2) Will Leopard run on my computer, even if it has no 64 bit capabilities? I'm not trying to ask a probably dumb question, but I really don't understand what the difference between 64-bit and 32-bit is but I'd like to make sure that in early 2007 when Leopard is released that I'd be able to run it.

Yes definitely, they aren't like that and support old models for about 5 years.

3) Installing a new hard drive is my main worry. Is there a brand that's more reliable than any others? OWC's list of hard drives for notebooks is immense and I'm not really sure what to pick from. I don't know how speed will affect the type of work I'm doing (mostly school work, such as word processing, PowerPoint and working with photos from digital camera, music, and light gaming) so any advice will be appreciated.

I don't think the speed will be an issue which brands are best I don't know.

4) I've heard some horror stories about Macs and laptops in general getting stolen at universities. Would investing a laptop lock like those seen on Apple's site be a good idea? Also, what about a laptop sleeve or something to keep dirt and scratches off of my Mac?

Laptop locks are easy to break, I'd install Undercover and a firmware password, and make sure you either take your laptop with you or leave it with people you trust. (That's what I do)

 

[XP Defector]

Check out the Hiatchi Travelstar 2.5 SATA - here in the UK you can buy a 160GB for around 120.00 GBP. The word on the street is that these are good harddrives, but make sure whatever you buy is SATA (not ATA) and is 2.5 inches (I think).

 

[fivetoadsloth]

id say keep the ram for issues as said above. Also the hard driv ie fairly wasty to replace, and leapord will run fine. apple isnt going to release a computer and half a year later release an operating system that wont run on it.vid aso recomment undercover as laptop locks are somewhat easy to break. good luck with your new machine i am sure youll love it.

 

[extraextra]

No one is going to steal your laptop at university if you're awake and there!

If you leave your bag lying around unattended, you're working on your laptop and fall asleep at the desk, or go to the bathroom (or to get food) and just leave all your stuff lying on the table, then your laptop will probably get stolen.

 

[india349]

Thanks everyone!

I suppose now it's just where and when to get the RAM and Hard drive. I guess I'll just be in financial hibernation until then, slowly working my way back up.

I looked into Undercover but I'm a little skeptical. Does anyone have any experience with it that they could support whether or not it's reliable?

As for a sleeve, some of these are a little expensive, the ones being mentioned, at least in my opinion. I'll continue looking, see if I can find something that really doesn't "inflate" the size and weight of my computer.

india349

 

[Lil Red]

I'd keep them for troubleshooting any problems that could occur with your computer if you can't sell them.

I would agree, at least keep the HD in case the one you have buy goes out...you still have a backup to put in your computer.

 

[PowerMike G5]

I would buy that extra stuff from Newegg ...