MacNoob seeks guidance

[dominic]

Finally getting the chance to make the change and would appreciate the assistance of those in the know (and Bwana too)

want: macbook pro
budget: 20-23k
apple experience: square root of negative zero, weaned on windoze
dayjob: lawyer, note not IT professional

while i feel like going the mac way is just the decent thing to do I do not have a lot of time to mess around with it and need to get functionality up and running asap

questions:
- based in Cape Town, best place to buy?
- suggested model?
- how easy will it be to transplant a life of word and outlook?

 

[Shardie]

HI Dominic.
First of all welcome to the Mac World.

Budget : With R20-23K you can get a really decent MacBook Pro. http://megagraphix.co.za/store/mac/mbp/macbookpro.html for a price range. There is DigiCape.co.za seeing that you are in Cape Town.

Suggested Model : I would suggest any 15" MacBook Pro. The 17" is abit huge and is mostly used by Graphic Designers and Video Editing Pro's. I think you will be comfortable with a 15". One thing is get the most RAM you can. I have a 2.4Ghz MBP with 2GB Ram and 500GB Hdd and I do Graphic Design, Web Development and Video Editing using Final Cut Pro. It handles all applications flawlessly, so you get the picture.

Word & Outlook : Microsoft has made a Mac version of Office (http://www.mactopia.com) which is Office 2008. It is a flawless transition. If you were using Outlook on Windows then the Mac version is called Entorage. I personally prefer Mail (part of OSX) and iWorks (which has Pages, Numbers and Keynote). I find iWorks much better and easier to use as apposed to MS Office.

If you need any other other or guidance dont hesitate to ask. Oh and Welcome again.

 

[Ou grote]

I like Digicape more than the iStores.
Long story...

They also give free mac lessons.
http://www.digicape.co.za/events.php

 

[MidnightWizard]

Bob Jones and Quadumplation Macs

Finally getting the chance to make the change and would appreciate the assistance of those in the know (and Bwana too)

Well done

Great minds and all that

MW

 

[DotKomrade]

I think mid-range 15" and replace the hard drive for a bigger, faster one... Or buy an LCD...

 

[Shardie]

heres some tutorials as well from Apple. You can use this link even if you have local bandwidth only.

http://movies.apple.com/findouthow/mac/

enjoy

 

[dominic]

cheers
i have to admit that performance at this stage is not a huge issue as i am not a heavy user (of computers, at any rate )

MacBook Pro 15-inch: 2.66GHz New
R21499

Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Memory
320GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
Glossy screen

seems more than adequate
i see digicape is slightly more expensive than megagraphix - would go with digicape unless there are issues with them (i see henry has been nagging )

 

[Shardie]

when u getting one? let us know your experiences too. also there is a blog www.allaboutmac.co.za

 

[StbA]

Hi Dominic, I've converted about 15 prominent lawyers in SA to Mac, I dont sell mac but deliver services. PM me if you require help.

 

[dominic]

will be in the next two weeks (but i have an aversion to blogging and reality is the less you hear the better it will be going)

thanks StbA - will bear that in mind (although i am a somewhat atypical prominentish lawyer)

 

[StbA]

Lol, no problem, PM me for references. If not good speed and help from the net guaranteed.

 

[Shardie]

FROM THE MAC TEAM - We all wish Dominic well in his new switch over to the enlightened side.

 

[bwana]

cheers
i have to admit that performance at this stage is not a huge issue as i am not a heavy user (of computers, at any rate )

MacBook Pro 15-inch: 2.66GHz New
R21499

Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Memory
320GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
Glossy screen

seems more than adequate
i see digicape is slightly more expensive than megagraphix - would go with digicape unless there are issues with them (i see henry has been nagging )

So would I based solely on the support they've given me in the past.

The 13" is also a nice, convenient size - especially if you don't need a real workhorse.

I cant stand Office 2008. I use iWork for day to day but I do also have Office in reserve for that 5% of the time that I'm forced to start it up.

 

[syntax]

buy the extra protection plan as well.

 

[bk.ru]

Good luck with your mac. I love mine

 

[hj2k_x]

cheers
i have to admit that performance at this stage is not a huge issue as i am not a heavy user (of computers, at any rate )

MacBook Pro 15-inch: 2.66GHz New
R21499

Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB Memory
320GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
Glossy screen

seems more than adequate
i see digicape is slightly more expensive than megagraphix - would go with digicape unless there are issues with them (i see henry has been nagging )

Haha, yes that issue was basically resolved with good feedback from the branch involved. M advice regarding getting a Mac at all, would not be what you want to hear, but this is not the place for it

Good luck

 

[MidnightWizard]

Obscurely Mysterious

M advice regarding getting a Mac at all, would not be what you want to hear, but this is not the place for it

WHERE is the place so that I can go there

MW

 

[MidnightWizard]

Missing Manual

Mac OSX Leopard: The Missing Manual

Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual - Leopard Edition


[EDIT]
This is specialy for Dom and Bob & PeterCH ( Note Dinosaur and 62 )
Also note that you can get a book FREE -- Wonder if INTERSOFT would ever do that

Mac OSX Leopard: The Missing Manual (For Dinosaurs)
Great For Dinosaurs, December 20 2008
Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
Submitted by JarheadBlaine [Respond | View]

In 1978 I received my Master's in Fine Arts Photography. Recently I've been trying to convert my knowledge of photography to digital.
Trying to do this in a Windows environment was driving me crazy but my new Vista powered Dell Inspiron laptop was the final straw.
Out went my PCs and off to the Tucson, Arizona Apple Store I went.
I purchased a new MacBook Pro and this book was recommended by the Genius I spoke with. I bought it with the new computer.

I'm a 62 year old dinosaur and the book has been a huge help in getting my system up and running.
I have found that the only thing keeping me from getting all of my questions answered is my inability to ask and or look things up properly.
On my PC keyboards, both laptop and desktop, I had an "END" key. I loved that key.
I didn't love it enough to tolerate Vista but I still loved it. I miss my "END" key.
I assume that there is a shortcut or method of some sort to get the same result from my Mac but I can't find it and I can't figure out where to look or what question to ask.
Maybe an index for the chronologically impaired would help.
This is the only sticking point or this book would receive 5 stars from me.
Oops, it's 8:00 PM. I'd better shuffle off to bed.

As a test -- when you go to purchase your new Mac in Cape Town -- see if anyone says anything about this book :erm:

[/EDIT]


MW

 

[bwana]

WHERE is the place so that I can go there

MW

He's alluding to the fact that he's a mac hater. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock.

 

[hj2k_x]

He's alluding to the fact that he's a mac hater.

Haha, hate is such a strong word. But you are not wrong