- Joined
- Apr 29, 2008
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Location
- Seattle, WA, USA
- Your Mac's Specs
- MacBook Air, iPod Touch, iMac 20" 2.4 GHz
Hi! My name's Alicia.
Well, my current laptop (a three year old Gateway) is kind of falling apart a bit (one of the keys has come off and I can't snap it back on!). It still works alright but gets hung up a lot more often than it used to and certain programs I use and need crash a lot. So basically I'm looking at getting a new laptop when I'm on break back in the States in June.
I know I want to switch to Apple, that's a given. My dilemma is whether to choose the MacBook or the MacBook Air. I'm studying in London (ie traveling heavily with a quarters worth of stuff), and go to school almost every day. I wouldn't mind taking my laptop with me to use between classes/at lunch/in the library if it didn't add so much weight in my bag. I'm also applying to law school this fall so I'll probably continue to be using this computer in the same manner there as well (if I get in). I guess what I'm getting at is portability is a huge point for me and is really causing me to lean towards the Air, although I do recognize the MacBook is nearly as portable. I've asked other places and have universally heard "don't get the Air, it's not meant to be someone's main computer!" I recognize that it's largely to due to the lack of optical drive which is why I'd plan to buy the superdrive. I also know the specs of the Air aren't as strong or as upgradeable as the MacBook or MBP. Lastly my school here and both the law schools I've looked at have campus wide WiFi as well as my home so that's handy either way. I have the money for either really.
All I'm truly planning to do is surf the 'net/research, word process, watch a few DVDs, maybe hold my 2.5 GB iTunes library and a few photos I might take. I'm not asking a whole lot out of it really. I'm also most likely getting an iMac this fall, I've wanted a desktop for a while and I recognize a larger screen will be easier on my eyes when working my thesis (my program allows us to do our thesis from home during the quarter following the completion of full time study). So either way the laptop will likely be a part time computer after October.
OK...so here's my questions:
1) Am I missing anything major that should swing my opinion to one side or the other between the MacBook and MacBook Air? I admit I've by and large made up my mind, but I am still open to other opinions. I'd like to see what the new MacBooks look like (if that rumor is true) but I don't think I could deal with this laptop for another quarter here at school (it's difficult enough waiting until June!) and by this fall I might as well wait until next year and get something brand new for law school.
2) I may end up putting Windows on either or both of the computers using BootCamp, would the Air be able to support that? One of the schools 'highly recommended Windows laptops' but I see that there is a way around it if it becomes an issue. I almost wonder if they didn't say that because the school is located in Seattle n' all.
3) One of my favorite computer game that I do play is The Sims 2 (and will probably want the Sims 3 when it comes out next year). This would definitely go on the iMac. I see that almost all the expansion packs and the base game are available on Mac but I've already paid for the Windows version and it seems silly to double dip if I don't need to. Does anyone know if I'd actually need to install the full version of Windows to run my current Windows versions or would Parallels be able to do that without rebooting? How does Parallels work anyway?
Anyway, sorry for the long post but I'm hoping the background information will help a little bit in giving me advice. Thanks in advance!
Well, my current laptop (a three year old Gateway) is kind of falling apart a bit (one of the keys has come off and I can't snap it back on!). It still works alright but gets hung up a lot more often than it used to and certain programs I use and need crash a lot. So basically I'm looking at getting a new laptop when I'm on break back in the States in June.
I know I want to switch to Apple, that's a given. My dilemma is whether to choose the MacBook or the MacBook Air. I'm studying in London (ie traveling heavily with a quarters worth of stuff), and go to school almost every day. I wouldn't mind taking my laptop with me to use between classes/at lunch/in the library if it didn't add so much weight in my bag. I'm also applying to law school this fall so I'll probably continue to be using this computer in the same manner there as well (if I get in). I guess what I'm getting at is portability is a huge point for me and is really causing me to lean towards the Air, although I do recognize the MacBook is nearly as portable. I've asked other places and have universally heard "don't get the Air, it's not meant to be someone's main computer!" I recognize that it's largely to due to the lack of optical drive which is why I'd plan to buy the superdrive. I also know the specs of the Air aren't as strong or as upgradeable as the MacBook or MBP. Lastly my school here and both the law schools I've looked at have campus wide WiFi as well as my home so that's handy either way. I have the money for either really.
All I'm truly planning to do is surf the 'net/research, word process, watch a few DVDs, maybe hold my 2.5 GB iTunes library and a few photos I might take. I'm not asking a whole lot out of it really. I'm also most likely getting an iMac this fall, I've wanted a desktop for a while and I recognize a larger screen will be easier on my eyes when working my thesis (my program allows us to do our thesis from home during the quarter following the completion of full time study). So either way the laptop will likely be a part time computer after October.
OK...so here's my questions:
1) Am I missing anything major that should swing my opinion to one side or the other between the MacBook and MacBook Air? I admit I've by and large made up my mind, but I am still open to other opinions. I'd like to see what the new MacBooks look like (if that rumor is true) but I don't think I could deal with this laptop for another quarter here at school (it's difficult enough waiting until June!) and by this fall I might as well wait until next year and get something brand new for law school.
2) I may end up putting Windows on either or both of the computers using BootCamp, would the Air be able to support that? One of the schools 'highly recommended Windows laptops' but I see that there is a way around it if it becomes an issue. I almost wonder if they didn't say that because the school is located in Seattle n' all.
3) One of my favorite computer game that I do play is The Sims 2 (and will probably want the Sims 3 when it comes out next year). This would definitely go on the iMac. I see that almost all the expansion packs and the base game are available on Mac but I've already paid for the Windows version and it seems silly to double dip if I don't need to. Does anyone know if I'd actually need to install the full version of Windows to run my current Windows versions or would Parallels be able to do that without rebooting? How does Parallels work anyway?
Anyway, sorry for the long post but I'm hoping the background information will help a little bit in giving me advice. Thanks in advance!