Report after a few months with a MBP

I bought a used 17 inch MBP a few months ago. Previously, I had mostly owned PCs and still use them. Here are a few thoughts about what I like, don't like, or think are about the same with regard to a MBP.

Like Alot: I have never gotten a coherent explanation of why Windows OS computers slow down over time, but in my experience they do. So far, the MBP had not done this. A big plus.

General speed of the OS, another big plus.

Screen quality, ditto.


Like: Quality of hardware, qualify of customer support.


About the same: This is probably heresy for Apple users, but I don't find the external interface of the Mac OS to be better than that of Windows. Indeed, there are things about Windows OS (I have Windows 7) I prefer (especially what you can do with a right click). At most I would call this a tie.

Sort of don't like: As I was warned before hand, a MBP does not run windows as efficiently as it does the Mac OS.

While I think I have it sort of figured out, using the mouse while running Windows tends to be a hassle.

Some of the software I use will only run in Windows.

I wish more software was Mac compatible. There are also more choices of software for PCs. I have not found software I like as well as CC Cleaner for a Mac.

I find Itunes to be a bit clunky. I don't appear to be able to set up legitimate folders for the library, making it increasingly awkward to work with over time. Itunes does, however, have a great MP3 converter.

I have not used Iphoto much, but have also found it clunky. As a consequence, I do most of my photo stuff with Windows running. I have a Panasonic camera that can shoot vidoe clips. Windows 7 can recognize the clips, Snowleapord cannot.

That said, I am planning on keeping the Mac. The pluses outweigh the minuses for me. They would way outweigh them if Macs were more seamless in Windows.

 

ok this might sound like a stupid answer, but have you tried apps such as winebottler or crossover to run your applciations that are exculsive for windows?

 

Agreed, I run my Macbook Air on Windows at home and OSX on the road. I prefer Windows 7 to get work done. OSX is just.. prettier and better batter life.

Yep, for some of us, I bought system for the hardware, not for OSX.

I've been using Itunes on PCs for many years now and it is undisputably the best media organizer. What you need to do is learn how iTunes works. For example, I don't use iTunes for it's fancy library stuff. I create my own folders and drag and drop into iTunes and organize as I like, based on custom playlists, smart play lists, ratings, etc etc. Your "library" can physically be anywhere on your computer, you can add anything manually.

iPhoto is only useful to me for some RAW support if you don't intend to use proper photo software. Picasa is much better as a general manager and minor editor.

Yea, there are a few annoyances to using Windows, but stick a mouse and keyboard on and most of it go away for me.

 

Might be able to help if you could be more specific about the software you need.

Also, you don't want CCleaner for mac. CCleaner is a tool for windows designed to mitigate some of the problems with windows that snow leopard does not have. CCleaner also deletes internet history and files, but the browsers have that capability built in. You don't need CCleaner on a mac, that's for sure.

Itunes can manage the files for you and organize your music by artist, or you can do it manually.

 

what more can you do with a right click in Windows that you can't do with a right click in OSX?

 

Thanks for the feedback. I can easily believe that I just don't know enough about Itunes. Panda, I take it I can organize my files elsewhere on the computer and just move them in and out of Itunes readily?

I don't use CCleaner on the Mac. I have not found a full Mac equivalent, and so, say, web sites still remebmer me on a Mac even if I have run the cleaner I do have (which I don't always want the sites to be able to do). With CCleaner, that is wiped out.

 

Yep, drag and drop works great with Itunes. Organize your music within Finder or Explorer first, and then just drag them into whatever playlists, libraries etc you create in iTunes. iTunes won't alter the source files organization or move anything.

 

Just wondering, what kind of work are you talking about? Isn't OSX sufficient for most work?

 

I could probably do all of my day-to-day work activities on my Mac.