just bought a powerbook 12"
I just purchased a powerbook 12" for school. I got the superdrive and 768mb ram. I also opted for apple care. it came out to almost exactly $1800 w/ the education discount, etc. I couldn't wait for the rumored Intel machines, so I went for it now. I had the money and I had a need, so why not.
This is my first mac and my first laptop. I'm wondering what i should opt to purchase that will help my experience. I'm going to be using it as my main computer, bringing it everywhere on campus, etc. I'll be using it to view movies, use AIM, do photo work with my negatives, word process, internet, etc. It'll basically do everything your basic college student needs a computer for. So, what would you get to accompany this? I know I'll need speakers (which ones?), as well as a wireless mouse/keyboard for when it's on my desk in my dorm room. I'll probably use an external monitor then too. Is there any sort of docking station that this stuff can be connected to so the constant transition is more efficient?
Any other suggestions for this first time laptop/mac owner?
This is my first mac and my first laptop. I'm wondering what i should opt to purchase that will help my experience. I'm going to be using it as my main computer, bringing it everywhere on campus, etc. I'll be using it to view movies, use AIM, do photo work with my negatives, word process, internet, etc. It'll basically do everything your basic college student needs a computer for. So, what would you get to accompany this? I know I'll need speakers (which ones?), as well as a wireless mouse/keyboard for when it's on my desk in my dorm room. I'll probably use an external monitor then too. Is there any sort of docking station that this stuff can be connected to so the constant transition is more efficient?
Any other suggestions for this first time laptop/mac owner?
Comments
Apple Macintosh.
People at AI love to hear news about, well,
people who switched or just got a new Mac.
Share your experience.
Regarding speakers:
Everything JBL and Altec Lansing is worth a
look (and hearing)
Particularly if you consider an iPod purchase,
you might find a build in "iPod Dock" useful.
The sound is amazing compared to the
seize of said audio units.
Another option is BOSE, but they settled
in another price range.
I like the HK soundsticks, but they're expensive. Worth it? Can I connected them directly to the powerbook, or do I need an external soundcard?
Originally posted by timf0ran
I have an ipod. I picked it up from freeipods.com, which was nice. So yeah, what do I have to deal with as far as converting all that from PC to Mac? What about bringing my songs from PC to Mac?
I am not a PC guy. However, I believe the easiest thing
is to copy all your mp3's onto an external. Set up your
Mac (and iTunes), import all your tunes from within iTunes.
That should do the trick.
Originally posted by timf0ran
I like the HK soundsticks, but they're expensive. Worth it? Can I connected them directly to the powerbook, or do I need an external soundcard?
Yeah i forgot to mention HK. Yes you can connect them
directly to the powerbook's audio out. AL, JBL, HK they all
active (build in amplifier) speakers.
A nice setup would be soundsticks connected to an
Airport Express station.
Originally posted by timf0ran
I have an ipod. I picked it up from freeipods.com, which was nice. So yeah, what do I have to deal with as far as converting all that from PC to Mac? What about bringing my songs from PC to Mac?
Enable disk mode on the iPod on your PC. Drag your music library onto the iPod disk. Connect to your Mac and copy content to desired directory. Hopefully your music will all fit onto the iPod disk, otherwise you'll have to get a larger portable disk, burn them, or an even easier solution would be to get a crossover cable and just download them to your Mac from the PC via network connection.
As for a Docking station. If you don't want to constantly re-connect all of your cables, then you can try out Bookendz. They work real well, and I think that is kind of what you are looking for.
That is about it I think. Have fun with your new machine!
Originally posted by timf0ran
i may just get a crossover cable to do the trick. that way i can move a lot of other files i have, too. do i need to format the ipod again, or what?
If you are asking if you have to reformat your ipod to work with your mac if it was working with your pc, the answer is no.
I bought an HP ipod and left it formatted for a pc so I can work off of it at home on my mac and at work on my PC.
This document gives detailed information on how to do it:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173an
1. A good case for carrying around your powerbook. I have a timbuk2 commuter, but there a number of manufacturers that make very nice cases (waterford, shaun jackson are the ones that come to mind, but there are many more). You want to make sure you protect your investment.
2. a screen protector like one from radtech or owc that lays over your keyboard so when you close it, the oils from the keyboard don't get on the screen
3. radtech wild eeps - these are little rubber feet that stick on the edges of your screen to make it more even and secure when you latch/close your laptop - not sure if you need these as much with the albooks, but I got them for my tibook.
4. an extra adapter (if you don't want to keep unplugging and plugging into your bookendz) for when you're using your laptop on campus or in the library. I'm not sure if it's necessary to get an apple one or if a generic on will do cause I never got an extra adapter - I mainly use it at home, and when I got out, I just unplug and bring the adapter with me.
A word of advice (and you might already know this or you might use your laptop this way anyways). Try to run your laptop off battery only at least once a week - I learned the hard way that leaving it in plugged in all the time shortens the effective life of the battery.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!
I am wondering if I should order 512 MB for a total of1 GB, or go ahead and get a 1GB chip for a total of 1.5 GB.
Other than email, word processing, surfing, and digital photo editing, I won't be doing any heavily graphics-intensive work (i.e no movie making, games, or driving large external monitors).
For my use is1 GB enough, or should I just get a 1 GB chip and make it a total of 1.5?
Anyone have a recommended place to go online for Memory?
does crucial make memory for macs?
Originally posted by timf0ran
crucial?
does crucial make memory for macs?
im not sure.. im sure you can google it and find places..
Originally posted by timf0ran
crucial?
does crucial make memory for macs?
Yes. They are the only place I shop for my ram.
Originally posted by timf0ran
crucial?
does crucial make memory for macs?
Yes, I got a 1GB module (from the UK store) for my 12" PB earlier this week .
Originally posted by aplnub
Yes. They are the only place I shop for my ram.
thats where I got my ram for when I built my desktop a few years back.
GUESS WHAT?! MY POWERBOOK JUST ARRIVED!! I have to eat breakfast then play with it all day.