@planner dude said:
Thanks to everyone on these forumes that put up with my hardware questions.
Yesterday I put in and order for the SR 2.2GHZ Core2 Duo Macbook Pro with a matte screen. I am excited! This will be my first mac.
Hey Dude Planner, you won't need those thick
glasses and you'll find you won't be pulling
your hair out so you'll have to post an new
avatar 
Mike
@planner dude said:
Anyone have a preference for matte or glossy lcd screens? Does one scratch easier?
Planner,
I faced that choice also. I opted for the matte
after checking out the glossy. While glossy is
probably better for movies, matte is far better
for graphics.
Mike
@mr s said:
Hi,
I hope I don't come across as too sad a person but I am really fussy about what mouse I use with my computer.
Not sad at all ! I also think the mouse is a very important
piece of equipment.
I have a collection of them and my current favourite is the
MS Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000. The wheel has a very
smooth action and its mid size so it also works well on a laptop
surface. There is also a handy 'under thumb' 4th button which
can be activated in Windows, I have not figured out, yet, how
to use it with the Mac.
The link is, http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=045
At least MS is useful for something
Mike
Hi PD,
The new MacBookPro with the (quote)'NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT delivers exceptional graphics processing power. For the ultimate creative canvas, you can even configure the 17-inch model with a 1920-by-1200 resolution display.'
I'm currently using a MacBookPro 17" (Intel) with the ATI GC. While its fine with the 1680x1050 Res I do think the screen could easily handle 1920x1600. This resolution would be an added bonus to graphics work. Also I imagine Apple must think that the NVidia is the faster / better card if they are now using them ?
The new machine also takes 4 Gigs of RAM. It's my understanding that this along with the CPU help to speed up SketchUp. I have also thought about trying one of the Mac programs that allow programs to be run solely in RAM, supposedly much faster results!, I could be wrong about this !
Mike
@unknownuser said:
I was not that keen on Mac Finder either BUT I found
Macintosh Explorer, works a treatmike,
is it shareware, freeware or what? i am so used to the finder that I cannot really see in which way any explorer-type app ca be better. could you just give me an example?
regards.
edson
Hi Edson,
After jumping into OSX I must admit I missed some of the
'old ways'. I have however located quite a few Mac programs
and utilities that helped to ease the transition and Mac
Explorer is one of them. At €15 I think its good value.
The Rage Site explains the features of Mac Explorer far better
than I could, so I'd suggest that you have a quick look. The
link is here, http://www.ragesw.com/products/explorer.html
Another utility that I'm using permanently is Sticky Windows.
This utility allows me to 'grab' a program window and 'slap'
it to the edge of the screen. It sticks there as a tab !
I think this is a better alternative to the 'Dock' as I like
to leave the dock clean, just to be used for programs. You can
check out Sticky Windows at
http://www.donelleschi.com/stickywindows/ BTW this firm does
a few other useful little utilities, Cunning Fox being one of
them.
Mike
@ross macintosh said:
Mike I switched from Macs to pc and I'm glad I did. With the name Macintosh I was for a number of years a serious Mac-addict. I'm glad I was cured.
Recently someone in these forums posted a screenshot of the mac finder. I cringed! Yikes! Talk about info overload! For me it is just bad interface design. I much prefer Microsoft's fairly intuitive 'file explorer' approach.
I'm glad there are multiple OS choices for consumers. Hopefully each computer user can find the OS that makes them most comfortable. To each his own.
Regards, Ross
Ross,
I was not that keen on Mac Finder either BUT I found
Macintosh Explorer, works a treat 
Maybe you would consider doing a Double Switch
Mike
@unknownuser said:
Viruses are virtually unheard of for the mac.
Might have been unheard of (or rather scarce), but you still get them, plus the threat is growing...
http://software.silicon.com/malware/0,3800003100,39167424,00.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12537279/
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000737.htm
Take note, this last link says that if you're running emulation software on your Mac (and obviously running MS Windows), then you can still get a virus on your Mac.[/quote]
On the last link, it states,
'Most of the virus writers are familiar with the IBM platform and Microsoft Windows, and therefore are only going to be able to create a virus for that platform.'
Hey ! I wonder does this mean that its 'nicer' people that use Macs and would not dream of writing a virus
I'm bloody well glad that I made the switch and stongly advise any 'fence sitter' out there to take the leap of faith ...... I've yet to hear of an opposite switcher Does ANYONE know of one 
As far as upgradability goes on a Mac, well I use
laptops for the most part and its difficult to
upgrade CPUs or V Cards on these machines be they
PCs or Macs.
However I am aware that many Apple Stores, the ones
located in cities mostly, will quite readily take in
an older Mac as a trade-in ! This in my opinion
should be quite an attractive inducement for users
that want to stay on the cutting edge of graphics
orientated machines.
To check this out all one has to do is look up
an independent Apples Resellers Site and they usually
have a sellection of 'Used Hardware'. I think the
reason this works so well is bacause of the Apple /
Graphic Design link. The Apple Stores are often
located in cities that have Art Colleges and there
is always a ready market of Art / Graphics students
on tight budgets looking for Macs
Far better that trying to flog the old laptop on
Ebay 
Anyone interested in a Dell M90, a Eurocom Enigma
or a Dell M60
Mike
..... but Macs can now run Windows, so it has
to be the best of both worlds. There is now
no argument as one can use either OS
I would have changed years ago if there was an
ACad Mac Version. However its only after the
'switch' that I now see that there is a very
wide range of Mac programs. Maybe not a lot of
games but this does not bother me.
I would suggest that for anyone that really wants
to learn / understand what Apple has to offer they
should pop over to the http://www.Apple.com site and ...
eeerrrr 'enjoy' the site. Then pop over to the
MS site and 'stumble' around trying to find
information
The simple truth is that we would all be using
Macs if Apple like IBM 'opened' their doors but
they didn't, again maybe a wise policy. The same
could be said of AutoDesk, I wonder how big ACad
would be if AutoDesk had not decided to allow 3rd
parties to produce add-ons ?
I really believe that many many PC using designers
will be 'switching' in big numbers over the next
couple of years, its just a matter of coming to
one's senses as price is not a big issue any longer.
Mike
Dylan,
Yes you are might about the Ram. Computer
manufactures seem to price Ram way over the
top, including Apple. I actually bought
extra Ram from Offtek at a low price.
Kelly,
Good advise, thanks. Anyway a always have
a daughter looking to swisk away what I have
in the line of Apples
Mike
I should have waited a while longer before
buying my MacBookPro 
The 1680 x 1050 ATY,RadeonX1600 has been
replaced with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
delivering 1920-by-1200 resolution 
Also t can now handle 4Meg of Ram and the
CPU has been upped to 2.4GHz from 3.33GHz.
I don't know how much of a difference that
would make
The 1920x1200 would be nice to have for
occasional use but doe normal use the
1680x1050 is easier on the eye 
The good thing, for me anyway, is that the
guys that I purchased from offer very
good trade-ins BUT I will have to get some
more value from my 'silver slab' first
Mike
Thanks 3eighty, good tip, will check it out.
Have you tried it out yet and if so could you
post a sample, please.
Mike
PS: Where is your Avitar ????
Some pics of the Carver Test Drive last week
Great fun at 40 degree tilts around Roundabouts
Mike
@ross macintosh said:
I can picture Mayor Mike driving a Chameleon Trike.
Thanks Ross, but the way people drive around here I don't think I'd
chance it ....... still have a hankering for a Carver though
http://www.carver.nl
Maggy, I'm much the same as Ross. I have a
Space Traveller sitting in it's box. I tried
it but went back to the mouse. I think it
would be very valuable BUT it requires some
determination ...... 'back bone'
Mike
I spent that last few days in London. Met up with Tavi (TBD)
and Dave Wayne (Oh Yeah CAD).
Tavi and I took trip to Watford to test drive the Carver on
open road. I was quite impressed with the Carver BUT cannot
justify the price £30,000 plus !
I did a quick search to see what was available on the market
of late and found the PIAGGIO MP3, here are a few links to this
wonderful looking 'scooter',
http://www.gizmag.com/go/5644/
http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/ ... io-MP3.htm
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic10373.html
The price is more acceptable even for the 500cc version which
has a 0-100kph under 7 seconds ! It appears that this little
machine is very stable on the sort of roads that I would be
facing.
It's sort of a cross between a scooter and a trike which opens
up some off-road possibilities and FUN
Mike
