I like multi-tasking, although the latest Guru-Du-Jour Eben Pagan says it’s a “no-no”
So having eaten my lunch while MythBusters was playing on Discovery, I finally opened up the box containing my new MacBook 2.1 Ghz machine (a freebie bundled together with my new 10mbps DSL plan).
While Jamie and Adam are firing machine guns into the side on a car on the screen, I’m pulling the polycarbonate-sheathed laptop out of the box.
First reaction: This thing is pretty heavy compared to my Fujitsu Lifebook ultra-portable.
Second reaction: The graphics are really pretty (I can see why Sam Harrelson and Shawn Collins get into their Asus eee/Apple/Dell Vostro bickering matches)
Third reaction: I don’t quite like the tactile feel of the keyboard. The keys don’t have the “sink” of a traditional keyboard (but that could be easily remedied with a regular-sized USB keyboard). I am just wondering why the Apple developers don’t include the “double tap” on the touchpad simulating a mouse click – that would greatly enhance productivity.
Fourth reaction: I’m not too certain what the Mac equivalents of “control-a”, “control-c” and “control-v” are on the Mac. I think it’s the “open Apple” button.
My first “proper” computer ever was an Apple ][e and I spent 3 years as a desktop production editor working on Apple Quadras in the early 1990s, so I think I’ll be able to make the transition.
I’m still mulling over Geordie Carswell’s advice to ditch the default 1GB of ram and go for the 4GB max.
The MacBook seems to have a proprietary interface for connecting an external monitor, so I still have to figure that one out.
And yes, the absence of a mouse is sorely missed.
As far as I’m aware, Google AdWords Editor does not run on OS X, unless you’re running Basecamp or Parallels or some other cross-platform…It’ll all have to wait till tax season is over and I’ll have time to fiddle with it.
The iSight built-in webcam seems to take pretty killer pictures though…
At times like this, I’m glad that my skype contact list is filled with a host of Apple geeks.
More updates after April 15th.
