4 posts tagged “macbook”
I'm one of the "new switchers"... even if I don't consider myself as a switcher.... I'm primarily using Ubuntu as desktop and server. Now for several years Do I switch to use a OS X ? I don't think so. OS X is replacing Windows as it has the same applications (iTunes, Lightroom, Photoshop)
Now a lot of people are asking why should they buy a mac. I explain my reasons as Ben asked yesterday on Pownce. Here is my answers :
I bought a macbook in December 2007 for 2 reasons :
1 - the former PC laptop (an Acer) was 3.5 Kg weight (7 pounds ?). It just broke my shoulder last summer... I wanted a lightweight laptop.
2 - I didn't want to give too much money, and get a too powerful laptop. Power that I would not use.
Result : the macbook is (in December) the cheapest 13" laptop. The Sony Vaios were 500 Euro more expensive. the macbook is 2.5kg (5 pounds ?) is ok. I didn't want a ultraportable.
I bought it in Switzerland for 1800 CHF (1300 Euro), instead of France (1445 Euro).
OS X is simple but you can go deeper in the system if you want to get more of it. Of course you need sometimes to think differently than with Windows, but that's because OS X is not Windows, nor Linux :)
The features that allows you to remotely access a hard drive is not only a OS X feature.... Or I misunderstood your sentence.
I've a macbook but still have my Ubuntus as desktop computers and both (OS X and Ubuntu) are talking to each other in harmony.
So what happened last December is : I bought a black Macbook in Lausanne.
After some reflections, posting and feedback I decided to by this black pearl ;) Being in Geneva by the time, I tried to get one here. But guess what, there were no available in any shops ! All vendors told me that being close to Christmas all stock were empty. The week end coming, I went to Lausanne (60km east from Geneva,by the lake). And going to the FNAC, I asked the Genius at the Apple Bar, who replied that 8 pieces of Macbook were waiting ! I just took one :) It was Saturday. I was happy to play during the whole week end.
So, now.. what am I doing with it : primarily using for work, as note taking application, and for my search of flat. I use it also to check all my mails as the office network is blocking almost all ports (even secured ones) for security measures.
I think I did the right thing to buy this macbook, it's small (13 inches), rather lighweight (2.5 kg), start rather fast (30 sec), well everything I want for my new laptop.
About the price, I paid around 150 Euro less in Swizerland than in France....
This last summer 2007, I used a lot my Acer laptop. I had to have it with me when in Grenoble. It weight 3.5kg (7 pounds ?) and had a screen size of 15.4 inch. It really broke my shoulders. After this mission I started to look for smaller and lighter laptop.
I found the MacBook (not the pro) to be the best compromise between price and weight. I don't mind the OS. I'm using Windows XP, any flavor of linux, and handle OSX rather good (I think ;) )
I'm ready then to buy the Macbook when.... 3 days ago, I visit a friend who showed me a bunch of new cool small laptop (screensize from 12 to 14 inches, less than 2 kg) ! Prices starting under 1000 Euro (I don't know where the US dollar is now..) up to 1400 Euro, price of the highest macbook.... Basically ultralight laptop over 1000 Euro, have some better hardware than the mac : own graphic card (Nvidia or ATI, with own memory), 2 to 4 GB or RAM.
Now, I'm.... disappointed :) Should I get a PC laptop (12-14 inches screensize) or a macbook. Asus or Samsung seem to very nice.
Has anybody any advices ?
NB : I'm using primarily linux as OS on a PC based computer. I'm bored to hack the OS so wifi is recognized or the graphic card has no 3D.... So if it's a PC laptop, it should handle wifi, 3D effect (compiz fusion) like anthing else.
As it's almost time Leopard to get to life, I'm preparing myself to get a Macbook. So, in betwen, I'm looking at some new application I may use. Today I'm looking for note taking application. I asked yesterday on Pownce and Jaiku, if people had any advice I could look on. Of course I found some interesting links already. But any experience can show me new software.
What I'm looking for it a simple application that could stay hidden somewhere, and I can call any time to note a phone number, a short text. On my Ubuntu Desktop, I'm using Tomboy, and I've about 25 notes about phone, VoIP, Server configurations I need to have quickly when I've to manage computers. Something I like, that I didn't found in any other note taking applications is the links between notes. Actually for Tomboy, every note is a webpage containing links. I hope to find something similar.
So, here is the list of applications I found and that Jack from worriedco.com and Rupert from rmaspero.com confirmed :) I tested them on my powermac G3 (running Panther) when a version for it existed. I can test them ;)
- Takslist is running on tiger only, I could test it. how ever it look like a neat application. Talk list manages a list of task to be done, that's not the goal I want but it might help.
- Journler is for taking notes and thought, sorted by date. You can make a journal out of it. It's not the exact applications I need, but as you can type any thing, add pictures, etc... I can be helpfull.
- xPad is a text editor, capable of handling multiple text at once. As it's just a text editor, it can be usefull to just write note, and just click on the right panel to select a new note. Actually, it could replace the apple text editor.
- SchoolHouse2 is like a mail program where you can save all your timetable. Can be use for notet taking and sorting, but as it's running only on Tiger, no test possible !
- SideNote is a tiny applications that reside on the left or right border of the desktop. Hidden until you approach the mouse near the side. I tested it on Panther and, well, it's nice to have it. I can save almost all my notes in the windows, a select menu allows you to display and edit every note. For the moment, this software is answering my will.
A problem will occur, whatever the software : Data migration. Tomboy is using a XML format to save datas. Journel is also using a XML format, but it is encrypting datas inside the tag. SideNote and xPad are using the common RTF format.
Now you, it's your turn ! Do you know any good applications ? Free if possible, using a readable format (I don't want to loose my datas if I need to migrate the datas back to Ubuntu or Windows, or any webserver).
