Calling all Mac users

[Nate]

OK Yeah it does have a spreadsheet editor that can be saved as an excel file...but I just re-read your post and realized you said something about a "data analysis pack" - what exactly is that? what are you trying to do?

[Blue Apple Herps]

I have a 13" MB Pro running Snow leopard (10.6) and its great! No problems, I get about 5 hrs of battery life with moderate use. The newer ones are supposed to get even longer battery use. No issues what so ever.

The casing is also REALLY sturdy. I had a thick textbook fall off a shelf onto mine (luckily it was closed) and it put a big dent in the casing, but the screen and everything else was unaffected. I wouldn't intentionally drop it, but I have confidence that the case is sturdy enough to offer a good amount of protection. This is good, especially since I bring mine everywhere and after the first month I started just tossing/dropping it into my back pack.

I also use mine extensively with Adobe CS4 and they all run great and really quickly. So using it for that sort of thing shouldn't be an issue.

Just get it. You won't be disappointed. Apple makes top notch laptops. They're pricey, but you get what you pay for.

[Aleria]

One thing to remember with macs as well, there isn't nearly as much support for them as for windows pc's, its gotten a ton better over the years, but if you have to have it fixed you can't just take it apart and fix it yourself or take it to... *gags* Geeksquad..... You're pretty much stuck with your warranty, this may be different in bigger states but there is only 1 mac repair shop in all of the salt lake valley, once your warranty runs out make sure you've got someplace to take it to have it looked at if it craps out.

Don't be fooled by the people that say that you don't have to worry about virus's with macs either... Yes mac's are less prone to virus's because the mac OS doesn't share a common registry and the web browser isn't integrated (which is the biggest flaw with windows as far as malware/virus's go), but they are still out there .

Although people may still say that, also a myth. I was just as easily, if not more easily, able to take apart my first macbook, which was actually the first notebook I had ever attempted to work on internally, and found it super easy. I replaced the entire keyboard area of mine with the black one since I got tired of the staining issues, and replaced the bluetooth wire since they were having issues with the way they routed the original. It was super easy. But obviously for those that aren't used to digging around in the internals of a computer, yes, you would have to try to find a speciality shop that actually has people "smart" enough to work on a mac.
I think they've just been so over-hyped that people don't really realize that they're just computers too, same exact things in both to make them run, Apple has just found a slightly more efficient way of doing both the hardware and the software side of it. But down to basics, they are the same.
Also, just throwing this out there, there ARE supposed to be viruses out there for mac, but 1. they actually seem to make the news of any tech website the day they show up. 2. they usually only end up on your system if you've been naughty and are downloading things that you're supposed to pay for. Considering the OP is talking right from the beginning about buying the software, I don't see him in danger on that front. And even for someone like me that downloads absolutely everything I can get my hands on because I'm poor, still no viruses

But in summary, yes, it is still best to get yourself a good extended warranty unless you are used to doing the hands on tearing into computer work yourself because it can be more difficult to find a repair shop that can do it, and when you do they charge more than the thing is worth in the first place just to get it running again.

[jeff122573]

I just ran across this post. I'm crippled and my pc was running really slow. So I decided to get back into macs after leaving them back in 96.I now have a 27" imac quadro and I'm loving it. No more temp internet dumping, cookie dumping. Steve has come a long was since 96.And get this. If you never run windows on a mac you never have to buy a anti virus thats money saved. So yes buy the mac.

[jeff122573]

Macs are pretty much easy to take apart and fix. I remember taking apart a LC II I believe that was the brand. I'm kind of dating myself lol. I thought it would be hard. That was easy this stuff gets smaller and easier. Why do you think there are so many computer geeks out there getting paid. For something you could have fixed by yourself. Just my 2 cents

Although people may still say that, also a myth. I was just as easily, if not more easily, able to take apart my first macbook, which was actually the first notebook I had ever attempted to work on internally, and found it super easy. I replaced the entire keyboard area of mine with the black one since I got tired of the staining issues, and replaced the bluetooth wire since they were having issues with the way they routed the original. It was super easy. But obviously for those that aren't used to digging around in the internals of a computer, yes, you would have to try to find a speciality shop that actually has people "smart" enough to work on a mac.
I think they've just been so over-hyped that people don't really realize that they're just computers too, same exact things in both to make them run, Apple has just found a slightly more efficient way of doing both the hardware and the software side of it. But down to basics, they are the same.
Also, just throwing this out there, there ARE supposed to be viruses out there for mac, but 1. they actually seem to make the news of any tech website the day they show up. 2. they usually only end up on your system if you've been naughty and are downloading things that you're supposed to pay for. Considering the OP is talking right from the beginning about buying the software, I don't see him in danger on that front. And even for someone like me that downloads absolutely everything I can get my hands on because I'm poor, still no viruses

But in summary, yes, it is still best to get yourself a good extended warranty unless you are used to doing the hands on tearing into computer work yourself because it can be more difficult to find a repair shop that can do it, and when you do they charge more than the thing is worth in the first place just to get it running again.

[mr. s]

Had one since September for school and now I cannot live without it. I recommend them to everyone. I have had no trouble. Long battery life. Quick start up. Super user friendly. Etc etc etc.
Hopefully I will also be joining the iPhone club this summer.

[vjb]

I went to a Macbook 1.5 years ago after using PC's for 15 or so years. WOW.
Macs just work. I will never switch back to a PC.

[AndrewGeibel]

One thing to remember with macs as well, there isn't nearly as much support for them as for windows pc's, its gotten a ton better over the years, but if you have to have it fixed you can't just take it apart and fix it yourself or take it to... *gags* Geeksquad..... You're pretty much stuck with your warranty, this may be different in bigger states but there is only 1 mac repair shop in all of the salt lake valley, once your warranty runs out make sure you've got someplace to take it to have it looked at if it craps out.

Don't be fooled by the people that say that you don't have to worry about virus's with macs either... Yes mac's are less prone to virus's because the mac OS doesn't share a common registry and the web browser isn't integrated (which is the biggest flaw with windows as far as malware/virus's go), but they are still out there .

Why not? I've replaced a few parts on my MacBook Pro by myself. You can find parts not only cheaper than they would be through apple but also step by step guides with pictures on how to replace anything in the whole computer.