The Apple MacBook: A Dainty But Fierce Machine

Honestly, I never had the desire to have another laptop, after I wrecked my dad’s old IBM Thinkpad by taking it apart… Until one week when I realized that I had much too much to do, that I was wasting time waiting in between classes in school, and that it would make my life easier if I had a portable machine.

In the back of my mind, I always wanted an Apple machine. But I believed it was much too expensive for my budget. So I decided to just buy a Mac later when my finances permit it.
Meanwhile, I scanned the Internet for suitable Mac alternative. With the horror stories of my friends’ laptops breaking down, keyboards getting stuck and rendered inoperable after only a few months of use, I decided I wanted a stable machine that would last me at least two years. I settled on looking at the brands Toshiba and IBM/Lenovo.

I particularly liked the Lenovo 3000 V series for its small size (12 inches) and sleek silver exterior. However, when I realized that it cost more than the cheapest MacBook in the market, I said, “What the heck, I’m getting me a MAC!!!”

Software

When I got my Mac, I was comfortable with the OS’ environment almost immediately, having had experience using Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntu and OS X Tiger bear a lot of similarities, that’s why using the Mac OS wasn’t so hard for me.

What I immediately noticed on the OS X Tiger was that it was so much more organized than Ubuntu Linux. The file system was tidier, and installing new programs was much easier. Though it’s definitely not Windows where you can install programs with your eyes closed, it’s much, much easier compared to Linux. I’m just happy that I need not use up too many brain cells in the process of installing my programs!

But to be honest, there are times when it is easier to install on OS X, as you just drag and drop the application icon in the Applications folder!

However, if I need to organize file systems, I would still go for Windows. Dragging and dropping could be such a headache sometimes. But despite this headache, OS X Tiger makes up for it by providing a really useful help file/program.

One thing that I totally adore about OS X is that I really need not worry about viruses. But one thing about OS X is that it also experiences software crashes. I frequently have my Mozilla Firefox crashing on me, because I open too many tabs!

Another thing that I don’t like is that Neo Office on OS X is way too slow for my taste. But then if I had to use Microsoft Office for Mac, I’d be cringing every single time anyway, because it has such a horrid interface!

But apart from these gripes, I just love all the applications and the OS X system itself. My only wish is that iPhoto be given as much photo editing capabilities as Adobe Photoshop!

Hardware

Now for the juicy part!

Besides the computer’s sheer beauty as a laptop, with its smooth white exterior that attracts stares, and the glowing Apple logo that makes people just do a double-take, the MacBook packs power in its 12.78 x 8.92 x 1.08-inch body.
Instead of a latch to lock it, it uses a magnetic lining. So if you are using a cellular phone, you better keep it away from your MacBook, if you still hope to get messages or calls from people!

The keyboard is just awesome! It is so silent when you type on it, and it just feels so good to type on the Mac! My only complaint is that there are no “home” and “end” keys, thus making my typing life a little bit harder.
The trackpad is also wonderful. When you scroll using two fingers, or with one finger just pressing firmly while the other one scrolls, you can already scroll up or down or even from side to side. It is large enough, and very sensitive and intuitive. I always thought that I would have trouble using a trackpad, what with my past experiences on other people’s laptops, but when I used this baby’s trackpad, I
was hooked!

There is only one mouse button, as is a standard in Apple machines. It definitely makes life less complicated, but when you’d need the right mouse click, it’s a nuisance. Lucky me though, as I discovered how to do the right-click by pressing the ctrl key and then clicking the link or the webpage or any other application. I think I got that tip either from Mac Help or on some website somewhere. Either way, I still have to find the shortcuts for “home” and “end”.

Moving on, we go to the display. The display is crisp and clear, with a glossy finish. The colors are richer and more vivid on the MacBook’s LCD display. It is capable of displaying millions of colors, thus, a picture on the MacBook looks much more realistic than on my desktop’s CRT monitor.

The MacBook is also equipped with an iSight camera, which takes 640x480-pixel pictures. The pictures are crisp and vivid, as compared to other entry-level webcams, or VGA cellular phone cameras. The iSight camera adds more fun to the MacBook experience, as the software bundle comes with the Photo Booth application, where you can take pictures of yourself or your friends in front of that sweet, dainty MacBook.

The MacBook has several hardware specs to choose from, but mine, the entry-level version, comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.83 GHz processor, a 60 GB hard drive, a combo drive, and 512 MB of RAM.

It comes with a MagSafe power adapter, which “simply breaks away cleanly1” when someone trips over the power cord. This nifty adapter lets you avoid a crying session: while a trip makes a lesser laptop come crashing straight back to repairs or to your trash can, your MacBook sits poised and calm despite the fact that someone would have delivered a fatal blow to it, had it not been hooked to a MagSafe power adapter.

Lastly, it comes with an Apple Remote, which lets you watch movies and videos on FrontRow in a cinematic experience. No more fumbling with clicking through or toggling through the windows to get your movie up and running. It’s just you, your honey, the popcorn, the Apple Remote and your beloved MacBook, having a lazy evening at the movies.

Before I go
If it isn’t already obvious that I am completely smitten with my pristine MacBook, I am telling you, don’t be fooled by its dainty looks. Inside is a powerful machine, one that you will definitely want to carry around for showing off. But not only does it look great, it also works beyond par. Now, if only it came with its own bag or at least a foam/insulating sleeve, everything would be perfect!