Thinking about a 17" MacBook Pro Purchase

Not really that difficult unless you rest you index finger on the mouse. Ironically, it is a lot like using the buttonless track pad. If you just imagine the buttons are there it works like the are.

However the problems with the mouse ball plague these things. Certainly one of the worst products they've designed.

--
Equipment in my User Profile.
Personal gallery at http://almy.us/gallery

Art Jacks said:

Art Jacks wrote:
My plans of purchasing a 17" MBP depends on concluding a successful
domestic negotiation with my wife !

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Tell me about it - I've been slowing laying the ground work over the past few months now. Pointing out how slow both laptop & desktop are; how I cannot even run Photoshop anymore, etc. Just tonight when he was using the laptop to check email, the video card wigged out and the screen turned to snow. I couldn't have planned or timed that one better. He is getting first hand experience why we need to upgrade.

I think the issue is that he cannot get over the fact that there has been a total of 3 machine purchases over the course of the marriage (1992) that equates to roughly $8500 and now there's nothing to show for it. It is sort of nauseating when you look at it that way.

In the end though, he knows that I will be purchasing something soon .

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Have a day. :-|

My Subject on my previous post should have read "The Art of Domestic Negotiations". I made a quick edit to the post but didn't catch this error. Is it true you are only allowed one edit?

--
Have a day. :-|

MrsNikon said:

John, I enjoyed viewing your photography at your site. I noticed
that your camera lens tripled in size and your glasses got
proportionally smaller!

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Still using Nikons though MrsNikon....after all these years!

Thanks for the kind words.

--

JohnCote
http://www.johncotephotography.com

'Cameras are just cr@p we have to lug around because there is no direct brain to printer connection...yet!'

I just did this purchase the day the new laptops were announced. I was ready to fork out $3k as well on a new laptop, but I ended up buying the old 17" laptop (which isn't too different), for only $2299. They are selling the old model at a good price, so that's something to consider.

I've been using the mighty mouse for a while now, and I like it, but I only use it at home. The touchpad is awesome and it's always good enough on the go.

--Gabor

pptphoto said:

Comparing the new Apple track pad to the old Dell is
kind of like comparing an Olympic Ice Skating arena to a frozen over
toilet. You'll love it.

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That's funny and 100% accurate!

--Gabor

MrsNikon,

Have you thought about a Wacom tablet? They're expensive but if you make many selections they are worth it. I've had one (9x12) for about four years and I dont think I've used a mouse since.They are quicker, more natural feeling, and the fact that you can get effects you just can't get with a mouse or a trackpad.
--

Rory B

P.S. I just ordered my first Mac-17'MBP 2.8g/4gb 500HD matte screen+ipod touch+CS4 Design Standard. Can't wait!

MrsNikon said:

Oooh, that mouse certainly would look nice along side a MacBook. I
love the idea of it freeing up a USB port. Will they fight at night
when no one is looking? Will the MacBook self-destruct within a
certain range of a Microsoft product? All kidding aside, I certainly
wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

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I think that the Microsoft mouse is about the most polished product they have produced.

One word of warning on using a Bluetooth mouse though. You need to go into the settings and disable 'Wake up on Bluetooth' or whatever it is called otherwise if you have not turned off your mouse and it is rolling around in your laptop case it can wake up the laptop causing it to get quite hot, and flattening your battery.

See: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/macbook-users-turn-off-this-bluetooth-default-setting-now/

A Walcom tablet is great for editing in Photoshop, I find it much more natural and precise when dodging and burning particularly, it almost makes me fell like an artist !
--

A selection of my images can be found at http://www.photo-genesis.net follow the galleries link then select the Jacks gallery

Art Jacks said:

The Apple mouse does work it just takes a bit of getting used to
rocking the whole outer shell left and right as opposed to having
well defined buttons, the biggest continual problem was keeping the
scrolling button free from dust/grit etc. it only seems to take a
minuscule amount of dirt to stop it scrolling completely.

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True, that's a pain. You can clean it but you have to be careful -- you have to take the mouse apart and there are no screws. Google "cleaning Apple mouse" and you'll find a very helpful video explaining the process in detail. I've rescued two Mighty Mice from the dustbin myself.

dc

Rory_B said:

MrsNikon,
Have you thought about a Wacom tablet? They're expensive

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I paid about US$65 for my Wacom Bamboo tablet, new.

dc

Rory_B said:

MrsNikon,
Have you thought about a Wacom tablet? They're expensive but if you
make many selections they are worth it. I've had one (9x12) for about
four years and I dont think I've used a mouse since.They are quicker,
more natural feeling, and the fact that you can get effects you just
can't get with a mouse or a trackpad.

Click to expand...

A Wacom tablet is something I have no experience with however I see them being used by folks who want precision control in software applications.

Rory_B said:

P.S. I just ordered my first Mac-17'MBP 2.8g/4gb 500HD matte
screen+ipod touch+CS4 Design Standard. Can't wait!

Click to expand...

Wow, awesome!!

--
Have a day. :-|

I went to the store today and after 1 full hour with an associate browsing all the options I have shifted gears over to the iMac. I was all nervous about the glossy screen and while I was only at the store 1 hour, this wasn't an issue for me. actually I liked it. I couldn't answer Yes to any of the associates questions as to why I needed a laptop. I don't need to be mobile with it and after looking at the cost of a 13" MBP + external monitor I was better suited for the iMac. The option is there for an additional monitor down the road if need be.

The decision I have to make is choose a processor and other little bells and whistles. I don't need top of the line with 3.0GHz processor. I do want to spend the extra dollars for the 1TB hard drive. I worked up three configurations for the iMac 24" and ironically all of them are backordered at B&H. They are offering free shipping and I escape the 6% sales tax. I also will buy Apple Care.

My one mystery area is the graphic card options. I am not a gamer nor do I plan on becoming one. I will be busy enough with digital photography however a little video editing may be something down the road.

The MBP machines are just fantastic, mobile tools however I have a work laptop that I use almost daily for routine email and web browsing. If the iMac wasn't configured to accept another monitor, then I probably would have gone the MBP route with separate screen.

Thank you all for your input. I should be placing my order by the end of next week.

--
Have a day. :-|

Well, one chapter is closed and a I'm sure a new chapter of questions and challenges await me when I get the machine. It's been 16 years since my last Mac. Good-bye Windoze & Microsloth. I should have it by the end of June.

24" iMac 2.93
4 GB RAM; 1 TB Hard Drive
Went with the Standard Video Card (GT120)
iWork '09 & Apple Care

--
Have a day. :-|

Not quite "THE END", didn't you have to order from Apple to get a non-standard configuration (the 1TB hard drive in a 2.93 GHz system)?

--
Equipment in my User Profile.
Personal gallery at http://almy.us/gallery

talmy said:

Not quite "THE END", didn't you have to order from Apple to get a
non-standard configuration (the 1TB hard drive in a 2.93 GHz system)?

Click to expand...

Yes, yes you do and I did that last night.

--
Have a day. :-|