MacBook Redux

Posted at 11:08 pm on Monday, April 13, 2009, in Technology, and tagged apple, macbook.

When I purchased my MacBook, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, or so I believed, unlike when I purchased my desktop Dell four years earlier. When I was researching for computers back then, I simply wanted all-of-the-above. Did I want a dual-layer DVD burner? Of course, although to this day, I have never burned a dual-layer DVD since they cost too much (far more than twice the single-layer price). Did I want enough computing power to do high-end video editing? Yes, even though the only form of video editing I ever accomplished was QuickTime cut-and-paste. Windows Media Center? Yea, why not, I’d love to hook-up my cable-line and build my very own DVR (that never happened). Five-speaker surround-sound with sub-woofer? You read my mind, this 17-inch monitor is going to be the centerpiece of my entertainment system for years to come. Nope. None of those assumptions even came close to becoming true. I paid more for more computer than I ever needed, and I learned my lesson.

When researching which MacBook to purchase — because I knew I was ready for a return to Apple, and that I wanted a laptop — I thoroughly thought about exactly what I wanted in a computer, what I was most likely going to use it for.

I blog — so I need access to Firefox. That is a pretty simple demand that any computer or operating system can handle. (In fact, a generation of “netbooks” — laptops built to do just that: surf the web — are about to storm the market.)

I wanted it to be super-portable. Alright, so a laptop is the answer. But what size? 17-inches is too big; 15-inches is in the wheelhouse; 13-inches is small, but not a lost cause. Anything smaller than that (in the netbook range) is too small for probably doing anything besides Gmail.

I don’t game, and I don’t listen to much music (if I spend $4 per month on iTunes or mp3s, I need to re-evaluate my priorities, again), so an advanced video-card and sound-system were unnecessary. Same with the associated hardware.

I wanted to do consumer-level video editing (iMovie) and podcasting. I wanted to organize my photos (Picasa), and publish them to Flickr. I wanted to build web-sites. When it came down to it, I planned to use very lightweight programs with very small footprints.

I planned on using off-site storage (read: cloud) and USB drives, so I didn’t need to have the biggest hard-drive, just enough for temporary storage of current projects (photos and video) before I archive them. (I’d much rather invest in $100 throw-away TBs than spend three times as much for a quarter of that space built-in.)

And I wanted the best my money can buy, so with all intents and purposes, that meant an Apple. I’m sorry if you don’t agree, but it is true.

That lead me to the MacBook, but not the Pro. The power of the Pro doesn’t really fit my needs, nor did I need a 17-inch screen. Then there was the choice between the new button-less mouse MacBook and the classic MacBook White. I dwelled over the two for weeks, including a couple stops in the Apple Store. And in the end, the cost-conscious part of me won (it always does, I’m guessing), and I picked the 13-inch MacBook White. I used my Pixar connection for an extra-friendly family discount, and upgraded the RAM as a bonus.

I have the computer I need, and the computer I want, the best of both worlds. And so far, so good. Re-learning Apple has been a challenge, but mostly a fun one. It’s also interesting to use two operating systems on a daily basis: a PC at work and an Apple at home. I have no real complaints so far, but it’s been only four months, and I haven’t needed service yet (and I didn’t opt for the pricey protection plan).

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