OK, Convince Me To Go Apple...

[MacBoobsPro]

I think the reason Apple dont offer card readers is because you dont really need them. Most cameras and peripherals that use 'cards' come with a USB cable you can just plug straight into your Mac. Why would you want to take out the card then plug it into a reader and then connect the reader?

Just conenct the two with the cable and boom.

I have 3 digital cameras at home and use 2 at work i use one cable to connect to them all.

 

[patrick0brien]

^ I'm pretty sure that's just for show ... so that you can see it's a Griffin 5-in-1 ExpressCard/34 card reader.

But I think the way it works, is it locks in, and to get it out, you push it in and it pops out.

Yep! Like a ball-point pen.

On my MacBook Pro, where the speakers and light sensors are, there is that mesh with little tiny holes. There are specs of stuff in the holes and I can't seem to get them out.

Canned air, using the tube, from about an inch away at an angle of 45 degrees. At that distance be sure you don't 'go liquid'. Don't want to freeze your speakers...

Why would you want to take out the card then plug it into a reader and then connect the reader?

-MacboobsPro

Because connecting a camera to the computer exposes both devices to static electricity, and therefore potential damage - especially the camera.

I fried two point-and-shoots before I figured this out. And there's no way I'm doing this to my DSLR.

Oh, and the ExpressCard is waaaay faster than USB. Good Linkypoo

 

[MacBoobsPro]

-MacboobsPro

Because connecting a camera to the computer exposes both devices to static electricity, and therefore potential damage - especially the camera.

I fried two point-and-shoots before I figured this out. And there's no way I'm doing this to my DSLR.

Oh, and the ExpressCard is waaaay faster than USB. Good Linkypoo

Fair dos. I didnt know that. Still I wouldnt change the way I use my cameras. Ive never had a problem for years.

 

[risc]

That HP is nothing more than a MacBook (not Pro) with a bigger screen (same resolution) and a slower processor, you get a card reader though! I say go for it buy the MacBoo^H^H^H^H^H^HHP. Vista is going to fly on that, especially with the great 3D graphic support.

It sounds like great value!

 

[carfac]

Actually, I have NOT made up my mind. Or if I have, I LEAN to the Apple, but the $$$ hold me back.

That Griffin card makes a big difference to me... I really do want an integrated card reader... I do NOT want to haul a bunch of cables, or a seperate card reader (I have a Canon with SD cards, My Nikon 200 used Compac flash...)

I REALLY appreciate the points made- I am a bit surprised to see so many, so quick. Thanks!

I did google that Intel GFX card... I see the MBP wins there!

 

[Flowbee]

Why would you want to take out the card then plug it into a reader and then connect the reader?

You save the camera's batteries by using a card reader instead of connecting the camera directly to your computer.

 

[carfac]

Most cameras and peripherals that use 'cards' come with a USB cable you can just plug straight into your Mac. Why would you want to take out the card then plug it into a reader and then connect the reader?

For me- and the way I have done it on my current HP- I find it easier too pull thge card and put it right into the 'puter. As I wrote above, I have different camers that use different cards... and have different USB-type cables. I do not want to caryy all the gear-0 either multi-USB cables, or an outboard card reader. Perhaps it is becasue I am used to the HP, perhaps it is just my habit... but I find it easier with a multi-reader in the laptop.

YMMV

 

[TonicAngel]

I was in the same boat as you for 3 years - imac and windows laptop. I thought essentially I had to have windows for certain programs for school. Turns out, my school has a deal with Dell so they push windows. It doesn't mean that the programs I need won't run on mac.

So this past Monday I got a new MBP. (My imac has since died, so I had just a windows laptop.) Wow. That was what I said when I opened it up. It was gorgeous. I was really worried about the screen, but it is a gorgeous screen. Everything is lit evenly and it runs SO much cooler than my windows laptop it is extremely surprising. Even doing lots of things at once - converting video, converting files in photoshop, surfing internet & email - the fans kicked in but it wasn't loud like I was expecting at all.

Personally - I say ditch Windows. If there are certain programs you HAVE to have you can install bootcamp.. or use crossover mac (I use that for some school programs, I don't have to install parallels or bootcamp!) I will install parallels if I need to, but so far I haven't had to. It is so nice to work on a computer that doesn't crash unexpectedly and is wicked fast. Plus the fact that it doesn't weigh 8-9 lbs and runs osx seals the deal. You'll love your MBP. More and more programs are being converted or being created on the mac side. I have been able to find alternatives to mostly everything (except certain MS programs.)

Order that MBP already!

 

[Freyqq]

why not go with the macbook (nonpro)...it sounds like you don't need the graphics card b\c your old one didn't have one either...and it'll be much cheaper

 

[patrick0brien]

why not go with the macbook (nonpro)...it sounds like you don't need the graphics card b\c your old one didn't have one either...and it'll be much cheaper

-Freyqq

Good thinking, but he'd lose the ExpressCard slot on that one. That, and with the MBP he's far more future-proofed.

For me- and the way I have done it on my current HP- I find it easier too pull thge card and put it right into the 'puter. As I wrote above, I have different camers that use different cards... and have different USB-type cables. I do not want to caryy all the gear-0 either multi-USB cables, or an outboard card reader. Perhaps it is becasue I am used to the HP, perhaps it is just my habit... but I find it easier with a multi-reader in the laptop.

-carfac

Sounds like we have similar needs. Please be aware that the Griffin ExpressCard Multi-reader reads pretty much everything but Compactflash. You would, like me, need another card for that - and it would stick outside the case. But then, I keep it with the camera and only use it when needed. Hell, I used a PCMCIA reader on my last machine - no biggie.

 

[carfac]

why not go with the macbook (nonpro)...it sounds like you don't need the graphics card b\c your old one didn't have one either...and it'll be much cheaper

Actually, I do not NEED, but I want a separate one. My current HP has a separate, dedicated 128 m nVidea card, ands that was one thing I bought it for. Now that I saw this HP does not have a dedicated, it is out of the running.

 

[iW00t]

Fair dos. I didnt know that. Still I wouldnt change the way I use my cameras. Ive never had a problem for years.

I also have been uploading pictures to my computer by physically moving the memory card into some card read. DSLRs are not cheap to risk damage like that, especially when there is no such thing as "CanonCare".

Actually, I have NOT made up my mind. Or if I have, I LEAN to the Apple, but the $$$ hold me back.

That Griffin card makes a big difference to me... I really do want an integrated card reader... I do NOT want to haul a bunch of cables, or a seperate card reader (I have a Canon with SD cards, My Nikon 200 used Compac flash...)

I REALLY appreciate the points made- I am a bit surprised to see so many, so quick. Thanks!

I did google that Intel GFX card... I see the MBP wins there!

Have you considered buying a refurb?

It is a good way to own a Mac at closer-to-PC prices.

 

[carfac]

Have you considered buying a refurb?

Yeah- I have not looked recently at the price. I was considering this as I can get 3 bills from CompUSA (plus a bit) for my old computer... is that about what a referb discount is?

 

[Eraserhead]

Actually, I do not NEED, but I want a separate one. My current HP has a separate, dedicated 128 m nVidea card, ands that was one thing I bought it for. Now that I saw this HP does not have a dedicated, it is out of the running.

Do you game? If not a GMA 950 will be fine, in gaming Civ 4 runs as well on my Macbook with a GMA 950, as on my PPC iMac G5 with an ATI 9600, obviously it isn't as good as everything else is faster on my Macbook but still...

I think people on this site may be a bit bias...

Sesshi posts here, and he much prefers Dells to Macs.

 

[iW00t]

Yeah- I have not looked recently at the price. I was considering this as I can get 3 bills from CompUSA (plus a bit) for my old computer... is that about what a referb discount is?

Hmm!

It sounds like somebody's missing out.

You can order refurbished Macs from Apple's online store for like... $1349 for a 15" Macbook Pro Core Duo 2.0ghz or $899 for a Core Duo 2.0ghz Macbook.

Absolutely great value!

While they are a generation behind, but the reality is if whatever work you need to do runs slow on those machines, chances are paying twice as much for the current generation isn't going to net you that mythical 100% increase in performance either.

With diminishing returns why not just aim low instead

 

[newmacuser13]

missing card reader

I do agree with the original post that the thing I miss most from my sony laptop to my MacBook is a built in card reader. We really shouldn't have to carry a cable or card reader along - just another thing to store and lose.

Aside from no built in card reader, my MacBook is much more fun than the Sony.

 

[hondaboy945]

Do you know a student

I am not condoning this,but if you are a student or know a student there is an wducation discount. That should make up the $300

 

[thejadedmonkey]

How many Microsoft fan sites do you see where almost 100% of the online population is so dedicated to a company. Hell, how many company's ever can claim such loyalty?

Viva la Apple!

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Oh, and the ExpressCard is waaaay faster than USB. Good Linkypoo

FYI, Expresscard incorporates USB 2.0 into it, so using the card reader in the slot would be identical to using an external USB 2.0 card reader.

 

[3nm]

I had a violent reaction to your thread title...

... now that I've recovered, all I can say is that I don't think anyone can "convince" you to get a Mac. In my experience, the more you try to convince someone, the more they resist.

I'm pretty sure you've already made up your mind which laptop you are going to get anyway. Good luck wasting everybody's time. God, I'm mean today..

well said, couldn't agree more. why should we convince you???

just get the HP already - you like HP + half the price w/ cr@p load of buttons and you know you like buttons + windows is something that you are familiar with + memory reader that you can't live without

 

[patrick0brien]

I think people on this site may be a bit bias...

I'd never deny this, but we make up for it by being informed...

 

[patrick0brien]

FYI, Expresscard incorporates USB 2.0 into it, so using the card reader in the slot would be identical to using an external USB 2.0 card reader.

Expresscard requires compatibility on the platform as part of the spec, it is much faster in throughput

From the article:

Enter ExpressCard, a smaller, faster, cheaper solution. ExpressCard will have the theoretical maximum throughput to transfer data at a whopping 250 MBps (actually, 500 MBps total; 250 MBps to the computer in one direction and 250 MBps to the card in the other). This is in comparison to the now seemingly sluggish 132-MBps PC Card standard.

ExpressCard's throughput is ideal for video transfers and uncompressed files. To compare it with throughputs you're familiar with: Gigabit Ethernet has a throughput of 125 MBps, FireWire 800 (seen only in new Apple notebooks so far) runs at 100 MBps, and USB 2.0 can reach 60 MBps.

 

[Sesshi]

Sesshi posts here, and he much prefers Dells to Macs.

I doubt one voice in the wilderness counts as unbiased