MACBook Notebook or Not?

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

MacBook will do nicely for her needs. MacBook Air is thinner and lighter
but more expensive.

Mac versions of Word & Excel are file-compatible with the Widows version.

You can install and run Windows using BootCamp (installed) or Parallels
or VMWare Fusion. You have to buy the last two, and you have to buy
Windows.

See detailed specs of all Macs at the Apple web site,
http://www,apple.com

--
Bill Collins
For email, change "fake" to "earthlink"

In article ,
Shawn Hirn wrote:

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

You and your wife should stop by a computer store in your area that
sells Macs and have a look at Apple's current offerings. If there's an
Apple store in your area, definitely stop by there. A MacBook is
probably the best choice. The new thin Mac is a MacBook Air, but its
intended more as a second Mac than a primary one. Stop by, talk with a
salesmen and have your wife check out the models to see which one she
likes best. In the meanwhile, feel free to look at Apple's web site at
http://www.apple.com to learn more.

I just acquired a MacBook, and I like the form factor. The 13.1" screen
is about right for my old eyes, and I find the keyboard very comfortable.

VMWare Fusion is installed and I am running XP at almost full speed for
my few Windows apps. If you go with Fusion or Parallels, I'd definitely
add memory. Remember, you don't have to buy Parallels or Fusion unless
you want to run both OSes at the same time. BootCamp (part of the Mac
OS) will run Windows for free. ("Free" meaning all you have to bring is
your own copy of Windows.)

The MacBook is not the fastest laptop around, and I don't know why.
Maybe because Leopard is a bit bloated, or maybe it's the shared video
memory. In any event it's "fast enough."

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

Meeee:

My new MacBook With 4 GB of memory and VMware Fusion runs both XP Pro SP2
and Vista SP1 very well.
The MacBook comes with s/w (Boot Camp) to dual boot Windows, but I purchased
s/w (VMware Fusion) to virtualize Windows.

Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I would start off in USENET.

A good place to start! Welcome to the Mac community - we're glad to
have you. : )

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

The thin one is the MacBook Air, and it's more expensive than the
MacBook.

Personally, I'd recommend the MacBook or MacBook Pro. The big difference
between them is screen size, screen resolution, and the video chip.
Compare the specifications he

http://tinyurl.com/223xt9

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

All currently-shipping Macs are Intel-based and can run Windows. None
come with Windows installed - you'd have to purchase that yourself. If
you purchase a "media only" copy of Windows from a legitimate source (I
think newegg.com still sells them), you can get Windows XP fairly cheap.

You can boot Windows without any additional software, but it requires
dual booting. To run Windows applications along side Mac OS X without
having to reboot (the preferred way for most people), you'll need to
purchase a virtualization application such as Parallels Desktop or
VMware Fusion.

Parallels Desktop http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/
VMware Fusion http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

Both of these virtualization applications let you run Windows
applications right along side Mac OS X applications.

While I own and use both products daily, personally I recommend Fusion
because it has better hardware (USB) support, more robust guest
operating system support, and seems to be a bit less buggy overall. Also
VMware Fusion seems to play better with Mc OS X in that Mac OS X seems
more responsive while VMware Fusion is active when compared to
Parallels. YMMV, of course. At any rate, both are excellent products,
each with their own strengths and weaknesses though.

No special drivers are needed for Windows to boot. Apple does, however
supply Windows drivers for special Apple hardware in MacBooks, like the
built-in iSight video camera and microphone.

(BTW, it's "Mac", which is short for "Macintosh". "MAC" is an
abbreviation for a few things, the most common of which is "Media Access
Control".)

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. E-mail
sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter.

JR

In article ,
"CZ" wrote:

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

Meeee:

My new MacBook With 4 GB of memory and VMware Fusion runs both XP Pro SP2
and Vista SP1 very well.
The MacBook comes with s/w (Boot Camp) to dual boot Windows, but I purchased
s/w (VMware Fusion) to virtualize Windows.

Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.

Note that if you look at the System Preferences for the trackpad, you
can turn on right-click functionality. Then, tapping on the trackpad
with two fingers acts like right-clicking the mouse.

Works with Parallels running Windowsmumble just as well, too.

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

I welcome your recommendations.

Purchase, indeed, something close to the lowest-end, lowest-cost MacBook
-- it will be all the laptop she needs.

Then, if this leaves some unspent funds in the kitty spend them on
accessories: external keyboard, external mouse, larger-screen external
monitor, all for use at her primary working location; pocket HD (or
larger non-portable drive) for backups; Airport base station, misc
software -- whatever is top priority among these.

In article ,
Steve Hix wrote:

In article ,
"CZ" wrote:

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

Note that the MacBook does not have a second mouse button, so as a Windows
user you may want to purchased a mouse.

Note that if you look at the System Preferences for the trackpad, you
can turn on right-click functionality. Then, tapping on the trackpad
with two fingers acts like right-clicking the mouse.

Yep - and simply tapping with two fingers actually much easier than the
silly second button on most Windows PC track pads! PC laptop owners
don't know what they're missing.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. E-mail
sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter.

JR

You are asking an Apple question in a PC Newsgroup. You'll get a much
better answer in a Mac Newsgroup. Try again.

--
--DaveW


"Meeee" wrote in message
news:6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no...
My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

In article 6dqCj.86834$pM4.67292@pd7urf1no, "Meeee"
wrote:

My wife would like a smaller laptop, say 15 inch screen or less (more
like 13.3) and light weights as she does a fair bit of travelling. We
currently own an older Inspiron 1150.
I am a Intel guy myself. I haven't done any research at all so I thought
I
would start off in USENET.

Her needs are fairly basic. She needs to run Word/Excel and other
spreadsheet programs and online manuals from work. She needs WiFi
access and for me, when I occasionally use it I would like a decent
CPU/Speed/ and hard drive size to install navigation software. Firewire
is a nice to have. Neither of us like hot running laptops.

I was thinking of getting her a Macbook or one of the thin ones that's
on the commercials. I dunno how much that one is.

I welcome your recommendations. However, in going with a MAC with an
Intel CPU, can this machine run XP or Vista and does it come with
Windows Software? What about drivers for Windows (either version)?

Thanks

Apple makes 3 notebooks: macbook, macbook pro, and macbook air.

The air is the one getting the big ad time at the moment. but it's 1800
dollars and has only an 80 gb drive. The battery is not user
replacable, no optical drive, only one usb port, wireless only, no
firewire. My opinion is that it is a great machine for a very
specialized market and I'm not a member of their target group and it
doesn't sound that your requirements put you in that group either.

the macbook runs about 1100 up to 1500, 13" monitor and probably your
best bet, but I would never buy one because it only has a glossy screen
and I don't like the feel of the keyboard. If you can possibly see one
at a store, you may find that my objections don't apply to you.

I'm working on convincing my boss that I need the new pro. It's more
expensive than the other ones, 2000 and up, but that includes a 200 gb
drive, 2 gb memory and a 15.4 or 17 inch monitor.

Whatever you do, if you want more memory, get 3rd party since apple's
prices are about double what others charge. I also recommend an
extended warranty for any laptop from anybody, but I'm hard on my
notebooks.

As someone else said earlier, go to an apple store and kick the tires.

dick