Just about to buy a Mac

[VKCOMMO]

Hey all

Im close to buy a 17" Macbook Pro

Just wondering what accessories should i get while im there? i.e more power cables, screen cover, soft case etc...

And please can this not be a "Dont buy a stupid ****ing Mac" thread

Cheers

[levymetal]

i would get a good case for it, and if you're going to be using the laptop an awful lot, i've heard good things about the rain mstand

[VjamesY]

With any laptop get a good wireless mouse. So much easier

[sleepa]

I say a soft case, the wetsuit material one, had mine for over 2 years and still perfect.
You're gonna love the macbook, mine is still going very strong and NO viruses since I have had it (2 and a half years)

If you want to plug it into a tv buy the special cable for it, that's the only other thing I bought and is awesome to watch streaming videos on the plasma.

[Astranomical]

I agree with YjamesY, get a wireless mouse (preferably bluetooth so you don't have to carry a dongle around, not to mention a BT mouse saves a USB port), I have a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse that I use with my MacBook, can't live without it. So much better than the trackpad.

Secondly, if you want to use it with an external display, you'll have to get whatever display adapters you need, as the MacBook Pro uses Mini-DisplayPort. You can get adapters that go from Mini-DP to S-Video/Composite (for TVs), VGA (for CRTs and low end LCDs) and DVI (for most LCDs made in the last couple of years), get whichever one suits your display.

Finally, you'll also need software, if you're going to be spending most of your time in Mac OS X you'll probably want an office suite for it, iWork is good though if you're going to be sharing files with people who use Windows, Office:Mac 2008 is probably your better bet. I'd hold off on that if you can though, since Office:Mac 2011 is supposed to be coming out later on this year, probably after the release of Windows Office 2010. If you want to run Windows you'll also need a Windows license, unless you already have one you can use.

[VKCOMMO]

i would get a good case for it, and if you're going to be using the laptop an awful lot, i've heard good things about the rain mstand

ok, I would probably be using it mainly for on the lap use, like on the couch and that so that would be a bit chunky

With any laptop get a good wireless mouse. So much easier

I was thinking that as well, i used one down at Apple Sydney and I think ill definitely get a wireless mouse

I say a soft case, the wetsuit material one, had mine for over 2 years and still perfect.
You're gonna love the macbook, mine is still going very strong and NO viruses since I have had it (2 and a half years)

If you want to plug it into a tv buy the special cable for it, that's the only other thing I bought and is awesome to watch streaming videos on the plasma.

OK, and they wouldnt cost too much either which is a plus..

I agree with YjamesY, get a wireless mouse (preferably bluetooth so you don't have to carry a dongle around, not to mention a BT mouse saves a USB port), I have a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse that I use with my MacBook, can't live without it. So much better than the trackpad.

Secondly, if you want to use it with an external display, you'll have to get whatever display adapters you need, as the MacBook Pro uses Mini-DisplayPort. You can get adapters that go from Mini-DP to S-Video/Composite (for TVs), VGA (for CRTs and low end LCDs) and DVI (for most LCDs made in the last couple of years), get whichever one suits your display.

Finally, you'll also need software, if you're going to be spending most of your time in Mac OS X you'll probably want an office suite for it, iWork is good though if you're going to be sharing files with people who use Windows, Office:Mac 2008 is probably your better bet. I'd hold off on that if you can though, since Office:Mac 2011 is supposed to be coming out later on this year, probably after the release of Windows Office 2010. If you want to run Windows you'll also need a Windows license, unless you already have one you can use.

BT mouse would be great, definately thinking of getting BT for it.

Ill be getting a VGA one, my LCT just has the old VGA on it, same as my LCD TV, thats one thing that shits me about the Mac, it has no port on it for normal usage via screens like on PC's

it will most probably be 100% on Mac OS X, definately using office, but yeah, i will buy office '11 for it, should be alot better...

How hard would it be to go dual OS with windows, because i can use the key on my PC.

[kalekale]

Belkin F8N048auBR - $25.00 - Scorpion Technology

This is what I have, Its great for throwing my laptop in my school bag for uni

[tommo82]

I highly recommend the Apple magic mouse (wireless, bluetooth)

[GetToDaChopa]

All you need, is a soft case, a wireless Magic moose (as mentioned, i have one too) and you're all done.

[Astranomical]

How hard would it be to go dual OS with windows, because i can use the key on my PC.

Not hard at all - use the Boot Camp Assistant (Applications -> Utilities) to repartition your hard drive and then boot off the Windows CD/DVD. Disc 1 of your MacBook DVD set should contain the Mac specific drivers and stuff which includes a Windows version of the Startup Disk control panel on the Mac, and from both OS's you can select which OS you want the machine to boot into. You can also hold down the Option key at startup to select a boot partition.

[VKCOMMO]

I highly recommend the Apple magic mouse (wireless, bluetooth)

All you need, is a soft case, a wireless Magic moose (as mentioned, i have one too) and you're all done.

so i assume i should get a magic moose, it comes with it doesnt it now? no, wait, it comes with every iMac, so soft case, moose, adapter, office, second or third power supply...

Not hard at all - use the Boot Camp Assistant (Applications -> Utilities) to repartition your hard drive and then boot off the Windows CD/DVD. Disc 1 of your MacBook DVD set should contain the Mac specific drivers and stuff which includes a Windows version of the Startup Disk control panel on the Mac, and from both OS's you can select which OS you want the machine to boot into. You can also hold down the Option key at startup to select a boot partition.

that sounds easy, so partition 50/50 (250gb a pop) and install on partition 2..


Thanks guys

EDIT: so chopa, you have a MB pro?

[Astranomical]

Nah, the MacBook doesn't come with a Magic Mouse, only the iMac and (I think) Mac Pro do. Apple Portables have never come with a mouse, ever.

[sweefu]

Not in the slightest have a ago at you mate, but just wondering what sent you down the path of a mac vs. pc? Again just curious.
Cheers.

[VKCOMMO]

Nah, the MacBook doesn't come with a Magic Mouse, only the iMac and (I think) Mac Pro do. Apple Portables have never come with a mouse, ever.

im looking at MB pro... But it looks awesome so magic either way

Not in the slightest have a ago at you mate, but just wondering what sent you down the path of a mac vs. pc? Again just curious.
Cheers.

not at all mate. Ive used PC's alot and im looking for someting different ATM, ive used macs recently and i really like them, they are easy to use and fast, and now ive found you can run dual OS on them.

But yeah, i completely understand why people like PC's over Macs

[sweefu]

Yeah fair call there mate.
I have a few reasons why i like pc vs mac if you ever want to hear them haha

[arrow224]

Also consider AppleCare. International protection, and great phone support.

[VKCOMMO]

Yeah fair call there mate.
I have a few reasons why i like pc vs mac if you ever want to hear them haha

you can if you want but ive probably heard them all before

Also consider AppleCare. International protection, and great phone support.

Was just looking at that 2 seconds ago, very interested in the extended apple care plan. I wanted to get it for my iphone and was stupidly waiting till the last minute to get it, My grandfather died on the day i was going to get it so family before iPhone.

[Kurtp]

And please can this not be a "Dont buy a stupid ****ing Mac" thread

.......awww

[sleepa]

Yeah the Applecare thing is good, I haven't needed it but you should get it, just in case.

[VKCOMMO]

Yeah the Applecare thing is good, I haven't needed it but you should get it, just in case.

Yeah, my iPhone is ****ed so im kicking myself for not buying it when i got the phone

[Astranomical]

Yeah, you should make sure you get AppleCare, especially since you're buying a lappy, since lappys are usually more at risk of having issues than desktops, even though Mac desktops (the iMac and Mac mini, anyway) are fairly similar to laptops inside anyway. I got AppleCare for my MacBook, which actually runs out this year, and I've never needed to use it, but I'm still glad I paid the extra few hundred bucks for it anyway....with these things it usually goes that if you don't buy it, Murphy will make sure you wish you'd bought it.

[Kurtp]

You'd be an idiot not to buy it for iPhones, ive never heard so many issues with anything breaking in my life. My mate has gone through 4, all of which have had serious OS issues.

[sleepa]

You'd be an idiot not to buy it for iPhones, ive never heard so many issues with anything breaking in my life. My mate has gone through 4, all of which have had serious OS issues.

My mate has had 3,the first got water damage, second had a problem with the os (but it was jailbroken) so his on his third now, one of each model.

[VKCOMMO]

You'd be an idiot not to buy it for iPhones, ive never heard so many issues with anything breaking in my life. My mate has gone through 4, all of which have had serious OS issues.

My mate has had 3,the first got water damage, second had a problem with the os (but it was jailbroken) so his on his third now, one of each model.

Ive had 9 since december 08. 4 smashed by dropping, 2 OS problems and 3 with hardware problems...

3 smashed were covered by insurance, so only $50 excess but 1 month wait on each. and one got delivered with hardware problems, they wanted to send it back (which would be another month) so i just decided to warranty it...

Im wanting the glass that is 20 times stronger than plastic in the iPhone 4

[VKCOMMO]

Yeah, you should make sure you get AppleCare, especially since you're buying a lappy, since lappys are usually more at risk of having issues than desktops, even though Mac desktops (the iMac and Mac mini, anyway) are fairly similar to laptops inside anyway. I got AppleCare for my MacBook, which actually runs out this year, and I've never needed to use it, but I'm still glad I paid the extra few hundred bucks for it anyway....with these things it usually goes that if you don't buy it, Murphy will make sure you wish you'd bought it.

yeah, it is like car insurance, you might drive for 20 years with no crash but it is good to have it there