Making the Switch: The Story of a New Mac User

UCLAri · May 20, 2006, 2:41am

I’ve noticed a lot of people on this forum sitting and wringing their hands in concern over whether or not they should get a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Since I was basically in the same camp (up until today), I’ve decided to offer some personal insights into the experience of “switching.”

So I’ve bought my first Mac. After months of vacillation between taking the plunge or sticking with a Windows-based PC, I finally did it. I input my credit card info into Apple’s slick little website and put myself into more debt (until UCSD reimburses me, that is.)

And I’m very happy I did it.

The first thing I noticed was that the box itself, despite being very large, is light. After dealing with an 8 pound beast the last time, this was a welcome change. It’s even more striking when you consider the fact that the box is light despite the fact that the power adaptor and all documentation is in the box as well. +1 for Apple.

So I open the ugly brown corrugated box that the computer shipped in, and I’m greeted by [a</a> slick black box](<a href=“http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0969.jpg]a”>http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0969.jpg) reminiscent of my [If there’s anything that Apple has mastered, it’s the art of making opening a new product of theirs an experience. Call it silly consumerism all you want, but it adds marginal value to the whole thing. +1 for Apple.

Open the box, and the new (or maybe even veteran) Mac owner is greeted with further packaging, this time in the form of styrofoam to protect your new computer. Apple, ever attentive to the most minor of details actually [url=<a href=“http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0972.jpg]stamped”>http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0972.jpg]stamped</a> “MacBook Pro”](]3rd gen iPod.[/url) on the strange styrofoam insert. Lift that up, and there’s your new toy, your MacBook. The first thing I noticed was just how much smaller than my previous system it is. [See</a> for yourself.](<a href=“http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0973.jpg]See”>http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0973.jpg) Keep in mind that my big blue Toshiba was also a 15.4"er, so it’s not that I went to a smaller screen. +1 for Apple and my back.

But all the fancy looks aside, how does it actually perform? How does the veteran “Windoze” user adapt to this new and foreign environment? Very well. It took me about 15 minutes to really get used to the lack of a Start button, but after that, everything got easier. I actually believe that the learning curve is downward sloping, meaning that the deeper you get into the experience, the easier it gets. Though I suppose that may change as I start getting experimental with the terminal. +1 for Apple.

The thing just drips “little extras.” From the backlit keyboard to the [iPod</a> Shuffle-looking remote](<a href=“http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0981a.jpg]iPod”>http://i64.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/h198/uclari/IMG_0981a.jpg) that lets you make your computer into a wireless media center (slideshows have never been easier!), the system is packed to the brim with accesories. Though I must admit that after having a card reader in my previous system I’m a bit lost without one. That, and a 4x DVD burner is a downgrade for me. Otherwise, the little extras are pretty good. +1/2 for Apple.

This system is hot. And by hot, I mean both “damn, that’s one fine lookin’ machine” and “Holy crap, it’s melting into my desk.” There is noticeable heat right now as I type from the keyboard. It’s actually a tad bit uncomfortable. I suppose that’s the price we pay for putting millions of nanometer small transistors in little silicon wafers that are further packed together, then demanding that the computer be small and compact anyway. Still, I can’t help but ding Apple for the sheer hotness of the case. I would’ve traded a bit more fan noise for slightly better heat dissipation. -1 for Apple.

Advice to the recently converted: Find a friend who runs a Mac. Talk to them. They know things. Secret, wonderful, magical things that will make your experience just that much better. For they are the vanguard, the elder council if you will, who cherish the secrets of the Mac world. And they protect those secrets. That is, until YOU join their world. Then, they are fonts of experience, ready to spring forward and welcome you into loving arms. Windows is a huge alpha city, cold, unfeeling, cruel, yet necessary and powerful in presence. Mac is a mid-sized city. Smaller, maybe lacking some of the amenities that you find in the Windows city, but ultimately easier to navigate. And if you do get lost, members of this community are far more likely to know how to answer your question, and are less likely to simply ignore you for fear that you may be carrying a weapon or some sort of disease (a virus, if you will.)

Or at least that’s been my experience so far.

So ultimately, though it’s only been a day since I’ve gotten this computer, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. If I had to give a rating, just based on my immediate out-of-the-box experience, I’d say it’s a 9/10.

10/10 if you consider the opportunity for booting in Windows as well. Why add on a point when there are obviously “issues?” Well, it’s simple. Being able to boot Windows is a plus. It’s like scoring 9/10 on some test, and then being given an extra point for being a nice person and offering your teacher a cookie.

michuncle · May 20, 2006, 10:13am

Re:heat…

I’m surprised that your new MacBookPro still has the heat issue that Mac users have been complaining about since it’s introduction. The MacBook review that I posted the other day indicates that even the latest models have the same problem: Too much thermal paste on the processor.

I understand that Apple has released a firmware fix on their website. Be aware that the fix may actually throttle back the speed of your laptop. The ars technica review of the Macbook shows that as the temperature rises, the Intel processor actually slows down to cool itself off. You pay good money for a 2Ghz laptop that’s really running slower than advertised. Some users have actually opened up their MacBook Pro and applied the correct amount of thermal paste.

There’s also a high pitch whine problem with the MacBook Pros. Test your new Mac carefully and keep the packing material in case you need to send it back for repairs…

There’s been a lot of chatter on the Mac sites about these problems.

UCLAri · May 20, 2006, 10:33am

Actually with Apple, you never need to do that. Merely take it to your local Apple store and they’ll handle it for you no problem. Who keeps packing material these days anyway?

Oh, and my laptop hasn’t shown and “whines” or “moos.” I heard they fixed that quietly around the time of the last firmware update.

As far as the heat goes, it’s actually well below what most people are saying, and I even checked the temperature with a diag program. Mine’s below the “complaint level.” To be honest, almost every laptop I’ve had in the past 2 or 3 years runs hot. My desktop’s GPU ran screaming hot (as high as 80 degrees celsius!) Nevermind how hot my Prescott P4 used to get!

Still, I’m satisfied as can be. It’s a wonderful system, and once I get Boot Camp running, it’s going to be even better. :-)

W3DNESDAY · May 20, 2006, 7:43pm

i’m extremely jealous thanks for the post
did you decide to buy the MBP over the regular Macbook? for what reasons?

UCLAri · May 20, 2006, 9:59pm

Reasons for getting the MBP over the standard MB:

<ul>
<li> Dedicated video card (I game, so this matters)</li>
<li> Faster HD (Again, I game)</li>
<li> Bigger screen</li>
<li> And last but not least…at the time I ordered this, the MB didn’t exist!</li>
</ul>

Making the Switch: The Story of a New Mac User

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