Want your opinions on the Apple MacBook Pro, please

I have read many, many reviews, but very few, if any, talk about running Windows XP via Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop for Mac.


I want to know:


* Is there ***any*** difference between Windows XP on the PC and Windows XP on the Apple MacBook Pro?


* As a result of Apple's stubbornness, the built-in trackpad only has one (!) physical button. I am told that I can emulate two buttons by tapping in a particular manner. But for certain programs, where I need to click-hold, click-drag, this may become a cumbersome exercise. Will a 3-button mouse be the solution? Will it have the same functionalities on the Mac?


* Is it true that the Mac's battery life is significantly lower than claimed?


* What are the must-have programs to make the transition to Mac smooth?


* Lastly, where can I get the best price?


Thank you for your advice.

Sounds to me like you don't have a compelling reason for moving to a mac - maybe no real reason to do so - unless you like spending more than you need to for a computer - simply for a "pretty case"?

I would approach the question by looking at warranties, compatibility with the software that I already had (significant investments are expensive to replace), availability of peripherals (will only a Mac mouse work, or can you plug in any of the differenty flavors of mice and keyboards, etc., that are available?) and what I would gain by going with a Mac vs sticking with a PC clone. If running XP, I am not sure what advantage you would get with a Mac - and maybe there could be problems with future O/S upgrades (not that I am proposing Vista, but who knows, someday you might want that plunge). I don't know if there are hardware compatibilities with x86 versions of Linux or not, or if there are other issues. I will point out that with XP, you won't get the alleged virus immunity that Mac proponents like to claim for their machine of choice.

we also changed from PC to Apple, But for me I still prefer PC, more easy to use, easy to learn, and more compatible with many softwares.....i used to edit my videos on my PC using Ulead, now I can'[t do it anymore because its not compatible with applemac, we called Sony they said maybe we should try PC!!!!


i still miss PC with all the shortcuts like CTRL+C....etc...etc...

I want to buy a new model of PC laptops, but they all have the windows vista....anyone have good experience with windows vista? because I heard from friends and colleagues that vista sucks!

People always complain when they move to a new operating system. Vista works - but, to be expected, some things work differently than under XP/98 or whatever you are moving from, some old programs won't run properly, some old features are missing and some new things have been added.


I dislike some of the added security features of Vista, but it essentially works. There are some issues to stop people who would like to dual-boot with XP - M$oft doesn't want you to do that, so if you want to do this you have to do some internet research to figure out how to go about it. I dual-boot with Linux and have no problems.


If you don't want Vista, and have a legal copy of XP (that is NOT OEM hardware specific) you could always try installing XP over Vista - but FIRST MAKE THE VISTA BACKUP DVDs, and then use the XP install disk to zap Vista and install XP. As long as you make the backup DVDs you should be able to reinstall Vista later if you change your mind. Now, having said this, keep in mind, try this only at your own risk - don't blame me if something goes sour! This is a prime opportunity for Murphy's Law to jump into the works!

I switched to a Mac three years ago and will never buy a PC again. Have to use one at work, and it's fine because I'm used to it, but for personal use I much prefer the Mac experience.


Intel Macs run natively using Boot Camp (i.e. it's not an emulator - it simply runs it as if it were a PC). All peripherals work fine, and if you don't like the trackpad you either use an external mouse, or ctrl+click to do a right click.


Mac battery life is absolutely fine, but as with any computer, if you have more RAM it will drain the battery faster. If you access the harddrive often, it will drain the battery faster. When out and about, mine is quite happy for about 3 hours, and then it starts to fade - but three hours is fine with me; it's not often that I'll be away from a power source for that long (flights don't count - I don't use my computer on planes if I can help it)


MUst have programs - most come bundled (iLife etc), but if you buy the computer from an authorised Mac reseller, they will usually give you a very good deal on MS Office (that is if they don't already throw it in on the sly). MS OFfice is fully compatible with Windows Office documents too. As an alternative, OpenOffice reads and writes Word and word compatible formats if needed, and is absolutely free.


Prices are set, but the add-ons (such as extra RAM, extra software) is where the resellers will be able to give you bargains. www.appleclub.com.hk has current prices.


As with everything - go and play with the Mac OS for a while. Get the salesman to show you how he / she does simple tasks and see what you think. If you don't like it, don't buy it.


Best place is either the Apple showroom in Causeway Bay, or the guys in the Winway Building on Wellington Street (the name escapes me but you can see it from the street).


As for comments above; I've never paid more than US$30 for a piece of Mac software, and most of the programs I run are either free from independent developers, or are US$10 donation programs. Have never had a virus or any security problems, CTRL + C and the other usual shortcuts all work in the relevant programs, and when a new OS comes out I don't need to choose between 8 different versions (some with features disabled or crippled).


Bottom line is choose what you feel comfortable with. As I said, I like having the Mac OS X for my personal computing stuff and knowing that if needed I can boot it up as a PC for work purposes.