MacBook for me

Approximately two months ago, I purchased (OK charged) a new MacBook. The plan was to automatically pay off the purchase with my tax refund and "economic stimulus" check. I'm still waiting on both checks to arrive, but that is neither here nor there (nor is the fact my brakes went out and I've incurred a few other expenses along the way... nope... no here nor there at this point).

First and foremost, I dig this computer. It is head and shoulders above the Vista-based laptop I've used over the last year (loaned to me by my place of business). And it is head and shoulders above the last computer I purchased, an iMac (bought back in 1998). I went with the slightly higher processor speed and larger hard drive, but I didn't feel the need to upgrade to a MacBook Pro. The only practical benefit I saw with the Pro was a slightly larger screen.

I bought Norton's virus protection software and Final Cut Express. I also went ahead and purchased a wireless mouse, which I confess I don't use nearly enough, though I should since trackpads have never been my preference. I bought adaptors that allow me to connect to both an overhead projection system (at work) and any TV with either a standard video or S-Video input (at home). I bought the Airport Extreme wireless network for my apartment, which I concede is overkill. My work also provided the latest version of Microsoft's Office suite of software (we have a site license). I installed Firefox (version 3.0, thank you very much), Adium, Skype, and of course iTunes, not to mention a few games from the good folks at download.com (or perhaps it should be Download.Com... never quite sure how to include web sources in written text).

I have owned Apple computers since the late 1980s, and used Windows-based PCs since the early 1990s. I'm not about to get into a whole Mac vs. PC debate. Suffice it to say, Macs are better for me... that might not be the case for everyone on the planet, though the Vista operating platform will almost certainly send people to the Apple store. In any case, I know both formats well and have used them extensively for apx. 20 years.

What I want to do now is sing the praises and point out the flaws in my MacBook. No computer is perfect. In fact, many computers are obsolete before they are even purchased. It is worth noting what works well and what needs improvement, and that includes user error as much as any factory-related flaws.

I'll start with what most users find themselves doing upon purchasing a new computer: transferring files, documents, and applications from their old computer. This proved staggeringly easy. In fact, a few years ago I installed Adobe's Creative Suite onto my old iMac and, long story short, I no longer have the installation discs. I was certain copy protection would prevent me from transferring the software from one computer to another, but everything went like clockwork.

One sidenote about the older Adobe software... it is the only software on my new MacBook designed for the earlier version of OSX (and the earlier processor). The boot-up process is flawless, though it takes a few seconds longer. One thing worth noting is that for these earlier applications, double clicking on a file will open the application, but not the specific file itself. It is, if not exactly a glitch, at least an inconvenience.

I also feared copy protection would prevent me from copying my extensive iTunes library (found on two computers, since my work computer played video clips while my old iMac did not), but I encountered no problems at all. I was particularly worried songs and videos purchased off of the iTunes store (as oppose to media copied from my CD collection) wouldn't transfer, but they did with ease. I am, however, still reorganizing the media since iTunes folders don't transfer. A different version of iTunes also doesn't recognize that podcasts have been played elsewhere, so I have a lot of podcasts marked as unplayed.

File organization now more or less mimics the Windows Explorer directory system (though it can be switched to Mac's more traditional folder view). "Spotlight" replaces the older method of finding files, and I confess I'm still getting used to that. One key difference is that I am very often trying to locate a file, not to open it, but to copy it or move it to another folder. Clicking on the file in Spotlight doesn't take you to the file... it opens it instead. There may be a way to change the default on that, but I haven't found it yet.

Setting up the Airport network wasn't as easy as I expected it to be given the plug-and-play feature of most Apple products. It took me a few attempts to set the network name and password before everything worked properly. Personally, I assume the extra grief is due to the fact the Airport is designed to work with both Mac and PC laptops, and nothing is easy when it comes to PC-based installations. For the record, the wireless mouse took me less than a minute to set up and use.

A few Apple features still bug me. To me, iPhoto is a big waste of space, and I find it annoying so many things one does with pictures automatically defaults to iPhoto. Pictures can be stored in folders and Preview can run a slideshow, so organization and viewing are easier elsewhere. For those of us with Photoshop, iPhoto becomes utterly useless. And both Expose and Spaces do nothing for the average user. Garage Band and Photo Booth are mildly entertaining wastes of time... nothing more. For PC users, a chief complaint about Macs is the cost. Take out a few of the "cutesy" features, drop the cost a bit, and I would suspect sales would increase.

Having spent the last 10 months getting aquainted with Office 2007 for the PC, imagine my surprise that Office 2008 for the Mac is a dramatic step backwards. For the first time since its creation, Office for the PC made sense. Though it takes some getting used to, the ribbons are a much better alternative to drop down menus, and items are placed more intuitively. Office 2008 for the Mac has none of the user-friendly environment of its closest PC cousin. Commonly used features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are buried under submenus. I can only assume Microsoft did this as a last ditch effort to keep Windows users from switching to the Mac platform. In my case, it is making me become better acquainted with the online suite of applications offered free of charge by Google.

My favorite feature so far has been the $11 adaptor that connects my laptop to my television. I've watched several programs on Hulu, and to be able to instantly see on a TV screen any video editing I do is well worth the minimal cost. It is also neat to Skype on a big screen.

So far, though I admit I have not dived in too deeply, I am displeased with both iMovie and Final Cut Express. I am blessed with the sort of brain that instinctively understands how software works without the need to pour through manuals or walk myself through any tutorial process, but Final Cut has me stumped. I am going to have to devote serious time to that program. And the latest version of iMovie is... just... so... different. I guess for someone like me who first learned video editing using linear analog tape-to-tape equipment, I struggle with the "freedom" that comes from non-linear thinking, which is what the latest version of iMovie seems perfect for.

Like I stated at the top, some of these problems stem from the factory, while others are the fault of the user. But overall I am pleased with the purchase. My MacBook has already become an electronic extension of my brain, altering my work and play habits in much the same way my iPod did five years ago. Hopefully, what works well will continue to thrive while what needs improvement will either be fixed or replaced by something as yet unthought of.