I've used both Microsoft and Linux operating systems. But Mac is now my favorite!

After many years of switching back and forth between various Windows operating systems, as well as Linux (RedHat, SuSe, etc...) mainly due to my dad's (and mom's) computer habits, I was finally free to make my own computer choices!
I appreciate Linux because there are no viruses! However, anything media-based is a shot in the dark when it comes to Linux. This is why I liked Windows. I was able to watch music videos, and install AIM without hassle. However, Windows is plagued with incessant "this program has unexpectedly quit" error messages, and the anti-virus software, which is supposed to make life easier, only makes the computer slower and harder to work with.

I'm currently a freshman in college - away from my parents, and a little more capable of making my own financial decisions. So I thought it was time for a change. I hadn't really given Macs much of a thought, but since I'm a graphic arts major, I figured Mac would be a fitting machine. I did research it heavily, comparing it with the other operating systems, and reading several of the reviews on this site. I was very encouraged by what I read, and what a few friends were able to tell me.

Long story short - I bought my MacBook on September 12, 2006. I've had it exactly 3 months and 1 day, and I still love it! I was a little hesitant at first, because I had never used a Mac operating system before, but it is very easy to get acclimated to if you have previous experience with Windows or Linux, and other OS's I should imagine.
The "sleep" function makes this a great computer to use on-the-go. You just lift the lid, and resume what you were doing at your previous location. Also, when the computer is "asleep" I've found that it eats very little to none of the battery power. The battery power, while in use, is also very efficient. I've had friends comment that their bar would have dropped 3 or 4 percent in ten minutes, while mine drops maybe 1 percent.
Another great feature of this computer is that you don't have to install any drivers when it comes to flash drives, digital cameras, etc. The computer just automatically detects them, and lets you get done what you needed to get done.
For those of you who cannot live without online games, movie trailers, and other media-related things, the MacBook has no problem handling any of these things. Since half the stuff is in Quicktime format anyway, no fear!

If you're seriously considering buying one, I would add in the RAM upgrade to 1 gig. It was only $50 more, and I definitely think it was worth it. You could also add more hard drive space, but I opted not to.

Other users have said that their Macs unexpectedly shut down on them. Currently, I've had mine running constantly for over 12 days (both in active use, and sleep mode) and I have never had it shut down on me since I purchased it.

Being my first laptop, I'm trying to practice good safety precautions. I don't know how many previous laptops these other reviewers have had, but I think it's safe to keep in mind that a laptop is a computer, and needs to be treated with a little respect, which means keeping it on a stable surface if you're going to use it for a prolonged period of time, and not just tossing it around.

There have been a few minor issues, such as Safari quitting unexpectedly, but it has only happened a few times (unlike Windows....). It can get a bit toasty if you've got it resting on your lap for a prolonged period of time. However, it does not become ridiculously painful, as others may lead you to believe. My only other complaint would be the lack of a good word-processing program. The MacBook comes loaded with a trial version of iWork, but it's only a 30 trial, and the other program, TextEdit, is difficult to use when you want to do much formatting.

Overall, I'd say this computer is one of the few that actually is worth it.