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Apple Macbook

 
Greenhorn
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Hi All,

I have always wondered why are Macbook's rated so highly.
Never used one or did know anybody who probably used a mac. Is it just the visual appeal or something else.

So what people have to say who have used Mac and swear not to used a Windows again !!!

I have used Windows OS like XP, Vista and Windows Seven and was more than happy with Windows Seven.

Regards
 
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If you are happy with Windows, why change?

Macs, including the MacBook, are popular with those of us who are not happy with Windows and would prefer a Unix-based alternative that's less cranky than Linux.

So it's more than just the machine itself (and merely picking a machine based upon style), but the fact that it is capable of running OS X (along with Linux and Windows as well, if preferred).
 
Rancher
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I am typing this on a MacBook Pro. Its a nice computer. I do not love it. I bought it for IOS development, which requires an OS-X machine.

I believe that OS-X is more consistent than Windows ever can dream of being. Apple forces its style on developers, and thus there is less learning curve than Windows. There is an "Apple way" to do things, and you will do it.

I don't love it because I'm old and cranky, and I have been using computers since punched cards. I want my personal computer to do things the way I want, not the way that the late Chairman Steve wants.

Before this Mac, I used Ubuntu laptops. But from what I can see, Ubuntu is losing it, they are going all user-friendly. My next laptop will probably be some Linux distribution, but not Ubuntu.
 
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Pat Farrell wrote:Before this Mac, I used Ubuntu laptops. But from what I can see, Ubuntu is losing it, they are going all user-friendly. My next laptop will probably be some Linux distribution, but not Ubuntu.


Ubuntu is losing it because it is becoming too user-friendly? I don't understand your reasoning. What's wrong with being user-friendly? Is OS X less user-friendly and therefore better?

I have a MacBook Pro that I bought about 2½ years ago. I could never get used to OS X and I certainly did not find it easier or more convenient to use than Windows 7 or Ubuntu. Ok, it's a Unix-like operating system, which is good, but things are organized differently than on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems, so its organization under the hood looks a little weird to me. Ofcourse the design of the hardware is great, the big mousepad and gestures are very nice, but how the desktop etc. works is not a world of difference compared to other operating systems (as some Apple-fans try to make you believe...). There are some things that I found annoying, for example the lack of Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys on the keyboard, weird and unnecessary keys like a paragraph-sign key (do people really need that so much that it warrants its own key?!). Some obvious functions such as right-clicking a file and choose Cut or Copy so that you can Paste it somewhere else are missing. I never found out how to easily move or copy files in the GUI (opening two windows side by side and dragging is cumbersome!).

I'm now using a laptop with Ubuntu 11.10.

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, there's no operating system that is clearly superior to the others.
 
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What is a "paragraph sign key?" Maybe this is only on non-US keyboards?
 
Bear Bibeault
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Sigh, not to get into a Ubuntu (or Windows) vs OS X fight -- I say use whatever danged OS makes you happy -- but I must point out a few things ...

Jesper de Jong wrote:There are some things that I found annoying, for example the lack of Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys on the keyboard


My keyboard has these. I believe that they are not on the small-form keyboard by design (that's what makes it small) but they are on the full-sized keyboard. At least the US keyboard that I use.

weird and unnecessary keys like a paragraph-sign key (do people really need that so much that it warrants its own key?!).


My keyboard doesn't have these keys. Perhaps Ernest has hit upon it and they're on the non-US keyboards for some reason?

Some obvious functions such as right-clicking a file and choose Cut or Copy so that you can Paste it somewhere else are missing.


Copy is right there in the context menu. Cut is not, and I agree with that choice.


I never found out how to easily move or copy files in the GUI


Easiest way to copy: Select file in Finder. Command-C. Select target folder. Command-V.

opening two windows side by side and dragging is cumbersome!


The spring-loaded folders make moving by dragging easy without having to have side-by-side windows.

Though I usually just use the keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste.

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference ...


Could not agree more.
 
Jesper de Jong
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Ernest Friedman-Hill wrote:What is a "paragraph sign key?" Maybe this is only on non-US keyboards?


My MacBook Pro has a key at the top left with the § sign. Here's a picture that I found online of an international keyboard and a US keyboard on an older MacBook Pro. In the international version you see the § key just under the Esc key at the top left.

 
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And Jesper, what "paragraph sign key" is supposed to do?
 
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what "paragraph sign key" is supposed to do?


Print a paragraph sign to the screen, one supposes.
 
Jesper de Jong
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It's just a character just like any other, if you press it then § is inserted in the text you're typing (it's not a special function key). I just find it strange that the keyboard has a key for that sign, because as far as I know it is not something that 99.9% of people need. Why have a special key for this character that almost nobody needs?
 
Akhilesh Trivedi
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Quite right, may be the hardware manufacture have developed their own internal programming language and that requires it. Just like we guys can't do without a semicolon ; symbol.
That is the only weird reason I can see, else they could have had some extra currency symbols instead.


 
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I think that sign may be used more frequently in German text; on German keyboards it's Shift-3.
 
Akhilesh Trivedi
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Tim Moores wrote:...on German keyboards it's Shift-3.



Hmmm.... http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/tphillips/german-keyboard-a.jpg
 
Sid Singh
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Jesper de Jong wrote:

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, there's no operating system that is clearly superior to the others.



Well after reading about the experiences it seems the bottom line.

Though it seems Ubuntu is quite good so would definitely like to try that out someday

Thanks all for your replies

Regards
 
Pat Farrell
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Bear Bibeault wrote:

Jesper de Jong wrote: for example the lack of Home, End, Page Up and Page Down keys on the keyboard


My keyboard has these. I believe that they are not on the small-form keyboard by design (that's what makes it small) but they are on the full-sized keyboard. At least the US keyboard that I use.



My 8 month old 15" MacBook Pro does not have these keys, and I miss them a lot. My Lenovo 14" machine had them, and it was a bit smaller than the MBP.
 
Pat Farrell
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Jesper de Jong wrote: Ubuntu is losing it because it is becoming too user-friendly? I don't understand your reasoning. What's wrong with being user-friendly? Is OS X less user-friendly and therefore better?



I meant that Ubuntu is becoming more novice user friendly, compared to older Ubuntu. IMHO, Canonical is driving it in an attempt to make it more MAC-like. Its a valid corporate choice, just not one that I like.

I find Unity to be a terrible interface. I hate it. Not just because its different and makes me learn new stuff just to keep up with the current released, but because it appears to be user friendly, but is in fact expert-hostile.

I expect that when I move back from OS-X to a Linux distro, it will be Debian or some other apt-based distro that is not drinking the Unity koolaide.
 
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