I want to buy a laptop...

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Haha oh, ok. I thought that because you mentioned Best Buy and geek within the same sentence that you were referring specifically to their Geek Squad. I think one of my friends actually used to work for them anyway (and while I think he's one of the smartest people I know, I wouldn't call him a geek ), so maybe I'll ask him.

And what is the difference between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air (besides size, weight and price), that would relate to my needs in a laptop?

(Btw.. I should have also mentioned that while I'm very good in dealing with the software side of computers, when you start talking about things like RAM and GBs, I need you to talk to me as if I'm a 5-year-old)

The only real difference is that you don't have any drives. If you don't plan to use any CD-ROMs or DVDs, then you shouldn't have a problem. I've never looked to see if it has a USB drive. (I would think it's too thin for even that.) BTW, HP is getting out of the laptop game.

[Xylochick216]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

BTW, HP is getting out of the laptop game.

Thank goodness. I had an HP that I bought in 2001 that I loved, but the one I got in 2008 died just after the 1 year warranty ran out. The computer ran a bit hot (which was normal according to HP support) but it ended up frying the motherboard. Same thing happened to my husband's. We've both switched to Macbook Pros and we're ridiculously happy. We got the Pro for the aluminum body, DVD-ROM, and USB and memory card ports. It took my husband about 2 days to get used to it (he'd never touched a Mac before, aside from one at elementary school in the 80s). We'll never switch back.

At my office, we just purchased Acer laptops that we dock during the day. It's a bit heavier than my Macbook, but I've been happy with it for the past 3 months. I switch back and forth between the Mac and Acer with no issues.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Xylochick216

Thank goodness. I had an HP that I bought in 2001 that I loved, but the one I got in 2008 died just after the 1 year warranty ran out. The computer ran a bit hot (which was normal according to HP support) but it ended up frying the motherboard. Same thing happened to my husband's. We've both switched to Macbook Pros and we're ridiculously happy. We got the Pro for the aluminum body, DVD-ROM, and USB and memory card ports. It took my husband about 2 days to get used to it (he'd never touched a Mac before, aside from one at elementary school in the 80s). We'll never switch back.

At my office, we just purchased Acer laptops that we dock during the day. It's a bit heavier than my Macbook, but I've been happy with it for the past 3 months. I switch back and forth between the Mac and Acer with no issues.

My mom had the same experience with a Dell. She got one for her birthday. Took a long time to boot up. Never worked well. Ran hot. Fried the motherboard. They actually replaced it. After a year, it died again. I think my dad bought her a different one and bought more than just the basement model. I think she barely uses it now between her iPhone and Kindle.

Originally Posted by unarose
I believe the MacBook Air does have at least one USB port

That's impressive. It's pretty dang thin!

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

That's impressive. It's pretty dang thin!

It's got 2 USB ports and a Thunderbolt, as well as an SD card slot.

I was shying away from the MacBook Air because it didn't have drives--but this is sounding better and better.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

It's got 2 USB ports and a Thunderbolt, as well as an SD card slot.

I was shying away from the MacBook Air because it didn't have drives--but this is sounding better and better.

In a lot of ways, you should consider the MacBook Air in the same vein as a netbook ... unless you're a "power user" you'll be using it in basically the same way.

Like most Apple products, it's smooth as hell though.

[unarose]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

That's impressive. It's pretty dang thin!

I might have considered the MacBook Air over the MacBook Pro, if the prices had been a year ago what they are now. I've only had my MacBook Pro about a year…but considering I use CDs and DVDs quite a bit, I probably would have still gotten what I did—I got the cheapest MacBook Pro, and have no complaints a year later. I also know quite a few people who've had Mac notebooks of some sort for 3-4 years who have no complaints, either. I mean, like any computer, you're gonna have things happen that may be due to wear and time, but I've heard nothing but good things about Apple's service.

Originally Posted by AGDee

I prefer Dells and Acers to other brands personally. I have a hard time dealing with Macs at all. I am firmly a Windows or Linux person but that's due to familiarity, I'm sure. I just don't know how to do anything on a Mac and I don't find it intuitive. If you need to interface with a work system, be sure that if you do decide on a Mac, that you can do what you need to do for work. Lots of people I worked with at my last job were very upset when they spent $1500 on a Mac to find that they still needed a Windows based laptop to work from home.

I actually still have my HP notebook—I've been letting my dad use it for the past year since I got my Mac. I do agree with your assessment of making sure the Mac is able to do the necessary things if it'd be for work purposes—especially if it's going to be the only computer you have.

I actually find now that I'm so used to my Mac that using a Windows machine requires more thought when it comes to shortcuts. This could also be because quite a few of my courses utilized Macs, as well, and I was using them in those before I even had one of my own.

[unarose]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The only real difference is that you don't have any drives. If you don't plan to use any CD-ROMs or DVDs, then you shouldn't have a problem. I've never looked to see if it has a USB drive. (I would think it's too thin for even that.) BTW, HP is getting out of the laptop game.

I believe the MacBook Air does have at least one USB port—and the good thing there is that if you really need more than one when you're at home, you can get a decent USB hub to plug into it. I have a hub for my MacBook Pro 13" because two USB ports isn't always enough for my mouse, printer, external hard drive, iPods, and my Droid phone.