So I got a Mac

[AU Eagle]

Decided that I just wanted a switch...and had to try something different. So while on my mini vacation I stopped in Lexington, Kentucky at the Apple Store.

Now...I have never been into an Apple Store at all, so it was quite an experience. It was not stupid crowded, but there were quite a few people. I was greeted quickly which surprised me, given the amount of people. I kind of waved them off as I just wanted to play with the different laptops at first.

Once I wanted to know more, I beckoned one of them over and had him go over some of the differences of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. He was very helpful and knowledgable. After discussing my uses for the computer, he recommended the base MacBook Pro. I was kind of on the fence about the higher priced 13" model, but he did not push it at all and again went over my uses for the computer and said that I would be fine with the base model. He suggested upgrading the RAM by going to NewEgg or some other outlet and maybe an SSD down the road.

I was just surprised at the overall "lax" nature of the conversation and not being pressured one way or another. He really took the time to go over my needs and did not let me buy more than I needed.

So far I am loving it. It is taking a bit to get used to, but it seems mostly straightforward.

Specs are as follows;

13" MacBook Pro

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 4000

I think I will pop in some more RAM and do an SSD upgrade in the near future...we will see.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/LSglock89/IMG_2981.jpg

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/LSglock89/IMG_2982.jpg

Any apps or programs I should get? As part of my student discount, I also received a $100 gift card to the App Store...

[G8rDMD]

Decided that I just wanted a switch...and had to try something different. So while on my mini vacation I stopped in Lexington, Kentucky at the Apple Store.

Now...I have never been into an Apple Store at all, so it was quite an experience. It was not stupid crowded, but there were quite a few people. I was greeted quickly which surprised me, given the amount of people. I kind of waved them off as I just wanted to play with the different laptops at first.

Once I wanted to know more, I beckoned one of them over and had him go over some of the differences of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. He was very helpful and knowledgable. After discussing my uses for the computer, he recommended the base MacBook Pro. I was kind of on the fence about the higher priced 13" model, but he did not push it at all and again went over my uses for the computer and said that I would be fine with the base model. He suggested upgrading the RAM by going to NewEgg or some other outlet and maybe an SSD down the road.

I was just surprised at the overall "lax" nature of the conversation and not being pressured one way or another. He really took the time to go over my needs and did not let me buy more than I needed.

So far I am loving it. It is taking a bit to get used to, but it seems mostly straightforward.

Specs are as follows;

13" MacBook Pro

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 4000

I think I will pop in some more RAM and do an SSD upgrade in the near future...we will see.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/LSglock89/IMG_2981.jpg

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/LSglock89/IMG_2982.jpg

Any apps or programs I should get? As part of my student discount, I also received a $100 gift card to the App Store...

Is that the latest generations MBP? If so, not much you can do to upgrade it... If it's the previous gen, like I've got, then upgrading is easy. I upgraded to 8gb RAM and have 2 drives--one a solid state which is my boot drive/program drive, the other a 1tb HDD which is strictly data and backup :seasix:

[kingpin]

Any apps or programs I should get? As part of my student discount, I also received a $100 gift card to the App Store...

Windows 7. :D

[G8rDMD]

Windows 7. :D

To a point, yes--I have Parallels running on my Mac and it runs Windows, on a virtual machine, better than any other laptop I've ever had :seasix:

[jda67gta]

Wife just drank the coolaid and bought a MacBook Pro this evening.

:seasix:

[AU Eagle]

Is that the latest generations MBP? If so, not much you can do to upgrade it... If it's the previous gen, like I've got, then upgrading is easy. I upgraded to 8gb RAM and have 2 drives--one a solid state which is my boot drive/program drive, the other a 1tb HDD which is strictly data and backup :seasix:

I know you cannot do anything with the Retina models, but I do not think that goes for the non-retina new gen MBP. They were going to upgrade the RAM for me in store..but he just told me to buy it online and DIY since it would be cheaper.

[G8rDMD]

I know you cannot do anything with the Retina models, but I do not think that goes for the non-retina new gen MBP. They were going to upgrade the RAM for me in store..but he just told me to buy it online and DIY since it would be cheaper.

Yeah, then you should be good to go :cert:

[NeedSpeed]

Good thing you got the optional gun, you'll need to put it out of it's misery soon.


:D

[AU Eagle]

Good thing you got the optional gun, you'll need to put it out of it's misery soon.


:D

:rofl:

New thread "Does a .45 have sufficient power to stop a Mac?"

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Any apps or programs I should get? As part of my student discount, I also received a $100 gift card to the App Store...

Ought to pick up MS Office - its the standard of the world. Apple has programs that do all of the same things but Office lets you exchange docs with the rest of the world.

What else do you want to do? 3D modeling? Graphics? Video?

If I were a student I'd get on Journey or Academic Superstore and load up on software.Get the most you can swing because it will cost you 5x as much without the student discount and then you'll have an upgrade path for the future.

[AU Eagle]

Ought to pick up MS Office - its the standard of the world. Apple has programs that do all of the same things but Office lets you exchange docs with the rest of the world.

What else do you want to do? 3D modeling? Graphics? Video?

If I were a student I'd get on Journey or Academic Superstore and load up on software.Get the most you can swing because it will cost you 5x as much without the student discount and then you'll have an upgrade path for the future.

Downloaded my free copy of MS Office 2011 through my school. I am a business student (Finance major, accounting minor).

I'd be interested in photo/video editing software as well.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Downloaded my free copy of MS Office 2011 through my school. I am a business student (Finance major, accounting minor).

I'd be interested in photo/video editing software as well.

I'm Adobe biased I've been a beta tester off and on over the years for them so take this with that in mind -

If you can swing the price of the Adobe Creative Master Suite you can do any type of photo/graphic/web/video work. it gives you Premier, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator...

Otherwise iMovie is fine for just about any video short of a short film. The base version of Photoshop is a great starting place too.

[MEANZ06]

:cool1:


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p275/meanz06/1326516256.jpg

once you go Mac, you won't go back...

[Rob]

I just picked up the new one with the retina display. So far it is pretty nice.

[AU Eagle]

:cool1:


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p275/meanz06/1326516256.jpg

once you go Mac, you won't go back...

Love that...I have thought about buying something similar.

I just picked up the new one with the retina display. So far it is pretty nice.

Yes, they are pretty nice, but for my basic use it was overkill. Maybe someday.