Calling the Mac experts

[Banquo's Ghost]

You're certain the refurb is exactly the same? It doesn't have 'pro' in the name and the CPU speed is listed as being slower. Not that I doubt you; I like to be absolutely positive about these things before I take the plunge.

No, you are dead right. It's a slightly slower processor and therefore it's the MacBook from the last generation. Apart from the processor speed, it has the same specs (and oddly, was more expensive) - still the unibody, and the same graphics processor. For writing, it's likely to do the job admirably.

Might be worth phoning the Apple store to discuss any differences. Well spotted though!

[frogbeastegg]

It looks fine spec wise. A fractionally slower CPU won't make any difference. Since the warranty etc is good I'm highly tempted and might go for it.

Do you think it will have one of those backlit keyboards?

[Lemur]

I believe that's the model I'm typing on at this very moment. For the Pro model they bumped the proc a little and stuck in the fancier battery. Otherwise identical.

If this keyboard has backlighting I haven't found it yet.

[frogbeastegg]

Hmm. So what kind of battery life did the less fancy ones give? :wonders why she cares since it will be plugged in to the mains most of the time when in use:

[Lemur]

The Macbooks have always gotten good battery life, three hours or so in actual use. But the new one gets five in reality, seven on paper. It's a big jump. But methinks battery life should take a backseat to price for the honorable frog princess. The screen is very clean and clear, the trackpad is aces, the wireless connectivity is superior, and the rest of it works as advertised. And you still get the LED backlight, so the brightness now is what it will be in five years.

A good deal for £729.

[frogbeastegg]

Ordered. Thanks for all the help.

Now all I need to do is wait patiently for it to arrive so I can resume writing. :taps fingers and is anything but patient: It's funny, I've gone off Word almost entirely since reinstalling windows a few weeks ago. I am still trying to kill off the bits I don't like, rebuild my custom dictionary, and otherwise restore the program to the way I like it. I've done this many times over the years and this time I'm nauseated by it. So much bother which gets in the way of actual work, and once all is back to normal I will still have sundry other minor problems navigating my 1,300 page manuscript. It’s been several weeks since I was last able to sit down and write; I’m getting withdrawal symptoms.

But methinks battery life should take a backseat to price for the honorable frog princess.

I just like to know every tiny detail of an expensive purchase. That way I know precisely what I am getting. Especially with technology - sometimes nasty surprises lurk behind the specifications.

3 hours? And I thought my PSP had obscenely short battery life with 5 hours ...

EDIT: I should ask if there is a decent beginner's guide to using the system. I haven't used a mac since primary school and those systems were so old they were simply branded the Apple Mac, complete with funky rainbow apple logo.

[Lemur]

I should ask if there is a decent beginner's guide to using the system. I haven't used a mac since primary school and those systems were so old they were simply branded the Apple Mac, complete with funky rainbow apple logo.

OS X and Windows borrow liberally from each other, so your learning curve should be shallow. A few basic key commands are different (pressing delete gets rid of a highlighted file in Windows, command-delete does the same thing in OS X, etc.).

Because of OS X's Unix heritage, things are a little more strict in terms of what can go where. Applications must go in the Programs folder, your desktop is really a folder contained in your user profile (as opposed to a part-folder part-application part-profile with special properties as in Windows), that sort of thing. Nothing should be too disconcerting. A lot less right-clicking in the interface.

If you want something to skim on the train the O'Reilly guides are usually (but not always) quite good.

-edit-

And here's a dumb browser trick that keeps me sane in a multi-computer environment:

1. Download Firefox and install it
2. Download Xmarks and install it
3. Create your account in Xmarks, and do the same with your desktop PC
4. Sync the two browsers

And hey presto, from now on when you add, delete or reorganize a bookmark it will sync between the machines. Xmarks does other stuff too, but I turn it all off. I just want it to keep my various computers on the same page.