Anything to know before I buy a Macbook?

I've been using desktop PCs all my life and I'm tired of having a big tower in my room so I'm looking for a desktop replacement laptop. I've always wondered what the big deal about OS X is, so I'm thinking about picking up the 2.0ghz aluminum Macbook, especially since the Live.com deal is still going on. My main uses are listening to music, watching movies, school work, and some light gaming.

My main concerns are:

Are there any good DVD rippers for OS X? I like to back up my DVDs to my computer with DVDFab on Windows. Does anyone know if this program will work under Parallels/Fusion or Bootcamp?

Is the Macbook's 9400M adequate for some Team Fortress 2 every now and then?

How well does OS X play with Windows? I have an HP printer connected to another Windows XP SP3 computer on the network that I print through. Will I have trouble printing to it?

Are battery replacements available for the aluminum Macbook?

I'd be grateful if someone would address my concerns, because the Macbook looks like a really nice laptop!

 

You can use mac the ripper to rip dvds in osx, any program that works in windows will work in vmware or bootcamp the same.

yea 9400 should do tf2 fine.

as far as i know, osx should recognize the printer over the network, but im not sure, i havnt used windows shared printers personally.

and yea, at some point theyll have extra batteries out for the new laptops. Not sure if they're out yet though.

 

I don't know how installing OS X goes, but do does Apple include an OS X disk with a Macbook (I want to get a bigger hard drive...which doesn't have OS X preinstalled on it)?

 

Yes you will get a disc.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't expect much out of the 9400 for TF2. I'd estimate that you'd have to lower the graphics quite a bit, but if that's ok with you, by all means go for it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPT5xp5GdqM

 

I prefer Handbrake over Mac the Ripper for OS X. So there's another suggestion for you to try. Your Windows programs will work fine under bootcamp.

I've had zero trouble connecting my MBP to any Windows printers. I doubt you'll have many problems.

Yes, you can buy replacement batteries from Apple.

 

the macbook should do the required task ut don' expect too much from the 9400m....its slightly more powerful than the 8400m but its still weak

 

That's good stuff, the 9400 sure surpassed my expectations. That only means the 9600 will kick even more butt. I wonder if the 9600 can do 1920x1200 with TF2...(thinking about future 17" mbp)

 

Another question, can the Macbook handle being on 24x7 for weeks at a time? I'm used to just leaving my desktop on and rebooting it when needed. Will the Macbook overheat or anything?

 

Just shut the lid of your Mac when you're not using it. OS X wakes up from sleep in a few single digit seconds.

 

I gotta put a vote in for Mac The Ripper. I tried Handbrake, but MTR puts it to shame in my opinion. With MTR I just rip the Main Feature to my Movies folder, then can open and watch it with Front Row. Simple, easy, and fast

 

9400M is adequate to play COD4 at med-low settings (mac-version), and Crysis Warhead (bootcamp WIN XP) at minimum settings and perfectly fine with Farcry 2 (bootcamp WIN XP) if you were wondering how they fare with the new titles. I will try COD5 sometimes later on which is based on COD4 engine

 

Well if you have never used OS X before once you first load it and get to your desk top, you will probably sit there for 5 minutes wounder "What do I do now?" like I did.