checked one out today

Post #256,029 by SpiceWare 5/19/06 5:55:50 PM Reply	checked one out today one word review - nice. At first glance the keyboard looks odd, kinda like a chicklet keyboard from a cheap 80s home computer, but feels just fine when typing on it. They also added an eject button so you don't have to hold down F12 anymore. That's a plus if you use the dashboard. The screen's a lot more usable than I was expecting. The glossy screen was distracting at first, but once I started doing stuff I didn't notice it anymore. The fact that they now allow you to use external monitors w/out having to hack the Mac to get desktop spanning is a major plus. The black looks just a tad nicer than the white - but not $150 nicer. I like it enough that I applied for Apple credit to use the 90 days same as cash; however, the session hiccuped when going back to the Apple Store so I have to wait until next week for the card to arrive before I can order it. I plan to get a white 2 GHz model w/80 GB drive. I'll get the RAM through OWC - they have 2GB for $225, much cheaper than Apple's $500. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #256,030 by Steve Lowe 5/19/06 6:34:26 PM Reply	cool :) I plan to get the 15" macbookpro as soon as next week :) -- Steve [link\|http://www.ubuntulinux.org\|Ubuntu]
Post #256,039 by SpiceWare 5/19/06 8:01:03 PM Reply	I'd like the 17" one myself but that's more money than I'm willing to spend at the moment. I'd hold off longer but my Thinkpad from '99 is on its last legs. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #256,041 by ben_tilly 5/19/06 8:52:45 PM Reply	Do they have a full-sized keyboard option? I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #256,042 by broomberg 5/19/06 9:29:52 PM Reply	Bet it doesn't need it USB keyboard should work. And I've got a ps/2 -> USB converter that worked on my Powerbook.
Post #256,043 by ben_tilly 5/19/06 10:09:44 PM Reply	Define "need it" We're talking about a laptop. When I carry a laptop around I want to carry one item - my laptop. I don't want to carry a keyboard as well. And I don't want to use a computer without a full-size keyboard. The form factor is pretty much the whole point of a laptop. If you give me a laptop that I'm expecting to take another keyboard around for, then I'll want a mouse as well. And if I'm doing all that then the screen is now in an inconvenient place when I'm using it, so why not add the monitor? And now you have an overpriced and funny looking computer. Remember, the keyboard is why I didn't buy a Macintosh laptop a year ago. If their largest and most expensive laptop had a full-sized keyboard, I would have bought it. They didn't, and I didn't, so I bought a Thinkpad instead. Which is why I'm curious about whether they've changed that design decision. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #256,044 by Another Scott 5/19/06 11:46:40 PM Reply	You'll still be disappointed. In the PowerBook line, the keyboard was the same in the 15" and 17" models. Similarly in the MacBook Pro line. There's some pictures of the 15" MacBook Pro versus a 15" PowerBook G4, and some commentary on the 15" and 17" boxes on [link\|http://flickr.com/photos/rbassman/135646537/\|Flickr]. Cheers, Scott. (Who isn't aware of a Thinkpad with a "full-size" keyboard, but there are boxes like the [link\|http://www.gateway.com/products/GConfig/proddetails.asp?system_id=nx860xl&seg=hm\|Gateway NX860XL] that come close. But, personally, I wouldn't want to drag around a 16" x 11" x 1.25+" box with me.)
Post #256,048 by ben_tilly 5/19/06 11:53:52 PM 5/19/06 11:57:29 PM Reply	Thanks for the report And yes, the Thinkpad does have a full-sized keyboard. It doesn't have extensions to that keyboard (like the number pad), but the spacing is right. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother) Edited by ben_tilly May 19, 2006, 11:57:29 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #256,080 by Another Scott 5/20/06 12:52:25 PM Reply	Ok, now I'm confused. My wife's Titanium PowerBook G4 (667 MHz) is 7.5" from the left edge of the A key to the right edge of the semicolon key. It's actually a tiny bit bigger than the distance on my clicky IBM desktop keyboard. My Thinkpad T41 laptop is also 7.5". All 3 of these keyboards are 3.75" from the top of the number keys to the bottom of the space bar. The Function keys and the arrow keys on the PB G4 and the T41 are smaller than on the desktop keyboard, but are roughly the same. I think that's ubiquitous on just about any laptop. The overall G4 keyboard width (left edge of Caps Lock to Right Edge of Enter) is 10-13/16" while it's 11-1/4" on the T41 and 11" on the clicky IBM keyboard. I find it hard to believe that Apple's MacBook Pro or MacBook machines are more than a mm or so different from the PB G4. In what way is/was the PowerBook key spacing too small for you? I think you need to do some measuring. :-) Cheers, Scott.
Post #256,294 by ben_tilly 5/22/06 5:47:44 PM Reply	Huh. Bizarre You're right, but I have a lot less fun typing on a Mac keyboard than a thinkpad. Perhaps it is better edges, more clearly defined keys, etc. But I still don't like the Apple keyboard. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #256,045 by SpiceWare 5/19/06 11:47:00 PM Reply	No numeric pad Though I don't think the MacBook has enough room for it. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #256,047 by ben_tilly 5/19/06 11:53:26 PM Reply	I don't care about having a numeric pad I can use the numbers on the top row when I have need. I normally do anyways unless I'm doing real calculations (because that way my hands don't have to move). But I don't do that very often. It is the spacing between keys that matters to me. Cheers, Ben I have come to believe that idealism without discipline is a quick road to disaster, while discipline without idealism is pointless. -- Aaron Ward (my brother)
Post #256,051 by SpiceWare 5/20/06 12:35:19 AM Reply	ah - it didn't feel small though I didn't compare it with anything. The [link\|http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html\|Tech Specs] say Built-in full-size keyboard. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #256,049 by broomberg 5/19/06 11:56:45 PM Reply	I misunderstood I thought you meant a place to plug a real keyboard in.
Post #257,231 by SpiceWare 5/30/06 8:56:52 PM Reply	On order I decided on the 2GHz white as is. I'll worry about upgrading the hard drive later, maybe when the new perpendicular SATA models come out. I've also got 2GB on order from OWC. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #257,723 by SpiceWare 6/5/06 9:49:33 AM Reply	Re: On order Almost here. The RAM is on the UPS truck for delivery this morning. The MacBook itself arrived at the Houston FedEx location this morning, but I don't know if it was soon enough to make today's delivery. Oooh - [link\|http://home.nestor.minsk.by/computers/news/2006/06/0501.html\|200GB laptop drive] coming in August. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #257,744 by SpiceWare 6/5/06 2:19:15 PM Reply	It made it posting via my new MacBook. Had a minor problem upgrading the RAM - you need a #0 philips, which I had, but it needs to be at most 2 inches long or it won't work. The one we had was too long and wouldn't grip the screw due to the angle. Ran up to Fry's during lunch to get something and have the 2GB installed. Darrell Spice, Jr. Trendy yet complex\nPeople seek me out - though they're not sure why\n[link\|http://spiceware.org/gallery/ArtisticOverpass\|Artistic Overpass] [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare]
Post #257,747 by imqwerky 6/5/06 2:34:13 PM Reply	Ooooh! New Toy in da House! Congrats and have fun. May it serve you well :)
Post #257,788 by Meerkat 6/5/06 10:23:28 PM Reply	Indeed - may you MacBook in good health! Two out of three people wonder where the other one is.

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