David Herron .com

Keep your Windows machine 2010-08-04

Reviewer: Tugsan Topcuoglu

I purchased my MacBook Pro about a year ago. I also have another laptop which has Windows and Linux installed on it. I am not an Apple fan, and this is the first and only Apple product I have purchased.

The reason I got this machine was the Garageband application. I'm an amateur musician and I wanted to record my band practices, as well compose new songs. In that respect, it served the purpose. It's also good at storing pictures and editing videos.

However, be warned: It takes a while to get used to the Mac OS. It's very different than Windows. Second, do not get rid of your Windows machine. You will need it!

This is not a product that once you take it out of the box, everything will work. For instance, I'm from Europe, but MacBook does not play the DVDs from other regions of our global world, something even the cheapest Chinese DVD players can do! (To be more precise, you need to select a region at the beginning and stick to it). It also keeps giving errors when I try to play any copied DVD. There are ways to bypass these kind of issues, such as installing other players, but the options are more limited compared to Windows. Also, most of my external hard drives do not work with MacBook.

I find Apple more controlling than Windows. It's operating system wants you to do things the way they want. Of course, it's more stable, faster, and less vulnerable to viruses, but all that comes with a cost.

Overall, do not expect too much. Keep your Windows (or Linux) machine nearby. It's far from being perfect.

Switched from Windows to Mac, Love the Compact Pro 2010-06-28

Reviewer: rawfruit

I was a windows user all my life, never used a mac, thought it would be complicated and difficult. My husband has always used mac, and so when I needed a new computer we got a mac because we work from home and it's much easier when we both need to use the same files or programs, it's just more efficient that way.

I had originally got a Macbook Air 13" because we are traveling a lot and wanted a lightweight computer. But after using it for 2 weeks I was so angry and frustrated at it that I wanted to sell it. So we did. It was SO slow. This was brand new and it could not even load youtube videos, even on a fast internet you could not watch them. It would freeze when having 3 or 4 browsers open, no other programs. Forget using Skype simultaneously while having any other program open, it's going to bogg down the computer. Also you cannot play any games on it because the graphic processor is so slow it's all choppy and is pretty much pointless. Having no CD rom made it impossible to use programs that need the CD to run. Not buying an external CD drive to travel with, that's ridiculous.

So back to the 13" pro. I really like that I can do everything I need on it. It's much faster than the Air, I can watch youtube, use skype, play games, run word or pages and multiple browsers at the same time. I thought 13" would feel too small for me, like a mini computer. But after going from a 17" beast to a 13" laptop I can tell you that I enjoy having this size as it does not crush me when I'm working on my lap. It gets hot yes, so don't sit it on your lap, but I prop my knees up and it rests on my stomach and legs so it gets air and doesn't over heat. The sound is not too bad on it either, the Air had speakers that were a joke, so quiet you could not play a movie and hear it. The 13" pro is not too heavy either and fits in small backpacks which is great for traveling.

I'm definitely glad I have mine. It makes my husbands 15" feel like a monster in comparison, it's a lot heavier. So for portability go for the 13" pro.

Simple... as adverticed 2010-06-23

Reviewer: Willy Arnaez Serrano

There are no more words, exactly as they adverticed it. This is an awesome computer.

I really want to love it... 2010-06-13

Reviewer: "Father of Four"

I really want to love my 13" Macbook Pro. I really do. However, the glare that I am experiencing is intolerable, especially when the Web page has a black background. I tried a matte anti-glare screen protector but to no avail. The protector removed the glare but caused white backgrounds to be extremely pixelated, so much so that my eye strain was even worse than without the screen protector. I am not against all glossy screens...I love my Macbook Air's screen. However, the extra layer of glass on the Macbook Pro causes these horrible reflections that can not be mitigated by adjusting the screen angle. Furthermore, even at the brightest setting, I see both the keyboard and my hands reflected in the black, glass covered bezel. Perfect solution would be to use museum glass or no glass at all with a black, non-reflective bezel. When Apple offers that, I will buy it. Until then I'll keep using my Cube and 20" matte LCD display for my desktop (and hope it doesn't die) and the Macbook Air for my laptop.

Love it! 2010-05-15

Reviewer: Hector Perez

There is nothing to do; Mac is the best, easiest and more attractive computer around; I keep the old one for the car instead of the Itouch; the perfect companion in the car riders line at the middle school when my little one is coming out of school. The new one for my daughters homework. Excellent laptop, fast, reliable, now battery lasting longer, another plus for Mac.