I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why? - Apple Macbook Black Retail ♦ Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro News

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re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

subzerohitman721 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:46:14 GMT

@ Snakedoctor,

"The apple closed argument is so lame."

Tell that to AMD, VIA technologies, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Toshiba, and every other PC manufactuer. Oh lets not forget Microsoft who still can't run consumer versions of OS-X legally in Windows because the EULA agreement forbids it. Yet Microsoft has no problem letting Apple run Windows in Mac. I'd say thats pretty open of Microsoft. They could be jerks and block bootcamp with littigation and programming. They aren't.

Are you telling me that AMD processors aren't good enough to run Leopard? Granted they aren't Intel, but at one time they were ahead of Intel. If the answer is yes, than that is pretty damn arrogant. I think AMD could be the answer to a low costing but high quality Mac for everyone else.

I'm sure if you said that infront of the previously mention companies CEO's, I bet they'd bust out laughing. Just because they have Darwin, doesn't truely make them open sourced. A lot of the bells and whistles that makes OS-X a contender to Windows is the API's which are missing in Darwin. If they were truely opened, how about all the API's and UI that gives the Apple look and feel?

I'm not saying at all that tne new Macbooks aren't impressive.

Paul, 2 dead HDD and a dead optical drive in 2 years? Jesus, my marriage lasted longer than some of your hard/optical drives. I've had HDD/Optical Drives that have lasted 5 to 7 years before dying on me. If thats the best Apple can do with their notebook drives then thats a dealbreaker for me. Especially with the expensive upfront cost and AppleCare? I'd be raising hell if I spent that much money and it was failing that quick.

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re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

Waethorn — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:39:20 GMT

"Running Windows on a Mac?! That's like dressing up your grandfather in drag. It's true what they say...."

www.youtube.com/.../ktYEBAc5VGA

youtube.com/.../-zj1ZEAxAa0

I guess you're right!

"....actually, it's pretty common" ;)

....

"You'll understand if I don't buy WD drives any more. But that's not the point."

Actually, it is. I stopped selling Western Digital drives years ago because of poor reliability. It's also why Steve Gibson hates them too (he created SpinRite). It's funny because if a company has to make "RAID Edition" hard drives to successfully implement RAID, then you know their drives are crap. I ALWAYS recommend against using Raptor drives in RAID too, because I've known about 8 people that all had to replace their Raptor RAID drives with drives that are a bit more modest. 2 of those people learned the hard way after having to replace their Raptor drives 3 times under warranty.

I sell mostly all Seagate enterprise-class hard drives, aside from the odd desktop model on cheaper systems. Seagate carries a 5 year warranty on all drives. Because WD Raptor drives are wholly unreliable in RAID, realistically you can only reliably use a single drive. Seagate Barracuda ES (the enterprise models) work reliably in RAID, and a RAID 0 stripe with those is still faster than the 10,000 RPM single Raptors, and much MUCH cheaper for way more storage space. Barracuda ES and ES.2 drives also come with 32MB of cache each.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

lotsamystuff — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:50:10 GMT

"It's true what they say, Windows users have no taste."

Spoken by someone with no class. That was just unnecessary.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

lotsamystuff — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:22:21 GMT

"A failed hard drive is a failed hard drive and should not occur in hardware less than 3 years old unless it's abused"

Oh, come on.

Last year, I had two WD portable drives fail within 20 minutes out of the box. Seriously. To add insult to injury, I had a WD 250GB drive fail for no apparent reason around the same time (different machine). That drive was about two years old (and under warranty), but it was never abused (unless you consider caching this site abuse...j/k). You'll understand if I don't buy WD drives any more. But that's not the point.

Hard drives are mechanical devices. They WILL fail eventually; some will just die sooner than later. MTBF estimates simply mean that half should fail before a certain date and half after (and those numbers, as it turns out, are greatly exaggerated: www.dailytech.com/article.aspx )

As far as Paul's optical drive is concerned, I put the blame squarely on Apple's shoulders for that one. I think the fiirst-gen PowerBooks had some seriously defective drives, because (anecdotally at least) there are a lot of stories about them failing.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

maati — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:56:54 GMT

Hey Paul!

About the battery...

I guess it will not work because a couple of manufacturers (Asus, Dell, Zepto... even Apple with the MB Pro afaik) faced problems when they tried to use their batteries designed for the Centrino "Napa" platform with their new "Santa Rosa" notebooks.

Those batteries refused to work or even, if they were designed for the modular bay, destroyed the main battery.

So, be careful if you plan to try using your old battery.

cheers,

Matthias

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

lilserenity — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:41:28 GMT

Interesting stuff.

I must admit it has crossed my mind a couple of times to look at new notebooks and simarlarly for me only Apple or IBM (now Lenovo) come on to the radar.

I had a very nice Powerbook 12" myself but sold it when I was made redundant a couple of years back but kept hold of my now rather ageing ThinkPad T40. (5 years old, first generation Pentium M/Centrino)

I think this post sums up that if I did go for a new notebook and money wasn't an object I'd also go for the MacBook, decent keyboard, shame about no trackpoint but I could live with it quite easily. They also feel robust as hell, just like the old iBooks.

Then I return to the thought that, no I am not running Vista but dual booting XP and Linux (Ubuntu) on the T40, it's not that bad, P-M 1.5GHz, 160GB HD and 1GB RAM and it does everything I need which is namely Photoshop, Notepad (or GEdit) and a whole bunch of web browsers. Especially with Firefox 3 which just zips along.

But I too hope they don't mess up the MacBook with too much new fangled stuff.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

Snakedoctor1 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:15:49 GMT

@j4m you need to spend less time building PeeCee's and more time learning what is out there. I did not know people still built their PC's, outside of the fringe Overclocking lets try to get 500FPS in the latest FPS PC game, groups.

At the current price points for Dell or HP desktops they are practically disposable. I mean I built my own PC's when I actually used a desktop 4 years or more ago, and it was drastically cheaper to do so, which paid for my time.

Mac to 360.......www.nullriver.com/.../connect360

for the PS3 as well..www.nullriver.com/.../medialink

TV to your Mac or all Macs on your home network...

www.elgato.com/.../product1.en.html

A replacement for AD..www.apple.com/.../features run it on a mini, with a couple of Firewire 1 TB drives and save some power.

I too would never run a 360 in my bedroom. You kill me with your hardware failures not being acceptable and then you bring up the 360??????

I bought my 360 in May of 2006, and its been wrapped in a Microsoft coffin twice since then on its way back to Texas I think. My live account runs out in August and the first good PS3 sale I see for the holidays will replace that blow dryer of a 360.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

DRWAM — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:17:36 GMT

j4m3s0n79, do you use any X-10 controls? I have Active Home [on my custom built by me, PC]. I have an 8 button Keypadlinc in the Master bedroom and Family room that controls many outlets and switches inside and outside. Of course, the provided remote does that too [as well as the TV, DVD,VCR, etc..], but it's so easy for the wife and kids to turn on lights or outlets in any room just from the two main rooms in the house. For example, the outside front lights or patio lights can be turned on from the bedroom as well as at each local switch, and all are controlled by a little timer box [serial port connection] programed by my PC. Active Home is great, but I am curious to know if the newer USB control for Active Home Pro, works with VMware. The Mac software version is costly and I think has less function as the timer may not work without the Mac powered on. The PC can be turned off and it will still turn on and off any switch as well as create scenes.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

daveinla — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:37:49 GMT

@j4m:

"If apple supported the same range of HW devices that could replicate my home network controlled with an Active directory server, all on machines built by me, with the same external access, plugins and apps that comprise my ultimate experience" So you want Apple to be just an OS vendor right ? I don't think the board of Apple will find that idea compelling (and the vast majority of Mac users too!)

"Can your apple do that?" Yes it can: www.elgato.com/.../product1.en.html

Sling has a client for mac too as well as tivotogo.

As far as Xbox in the bedroom... no thanks !! I don't enjoy much the hairdryer while watching TV ! The good thing is you don't have to bear them for long as they die quicky ! LOL

A Macmini with Frontrow is much more silent and powerful.

re: I bought a new MacBook ... to run Windows. Why?

j4m3s0n79 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:20:07 GMT

@ snakedoctor1

Well, I build my own PCs which is really ultimate control of the hardware and software experience. I am not saying that Apple's products are lacking, I am just saying that it's funny that apples (computers, anyway) are considered 'counter culture' when the experience on each of them is essentially the same. The famous 1984 ad was about revolting against the norm, but in my experience, the little apple drones with their macbooks and apple t-shirts have really become the mindless vessels today.

Again, I respect apple in the CE market, but I just dont think it's a compelling platform..period. If apple supported the same range of HW devices that could replicate my home network controlled with an Active directory server, all on machines built by me, with the same external access, plugins and apps that comprise my ultimate experience..than I am all ears. Hell, my HTPC can record content from cable card tuner, and sling my hd episodes recorded from hbo to my xbox360 in the bedroom.

Can your apple do that? Prolly not....mebbe your tivo, nope, not that either.