Buying Guide to the Apple MacBook

I have been a pro-Apple/anti-PC guy for some time now; I have much experience with both PCs and Apples. I am only 22 but grew up around both styles of computer-point being, I know what I am talking about. My brother, 24, was into PCs only, from day one, until about a week ago. We had a discussion about the differences, applications, power, reliability etc. After said discussion, my brother did some mulling and decided it was time he experienced the wonderful world of Apple. He purchased a new Apple MacBook for $1,049 (student discount) or reg. price $1,099. He has had this laptop not even a week, and he has already told me he will never buy another PC. Ever. So it appears for once I have come out on top of the sibling rivalry. Hurray for me.

So, Apple's brand new line of laptop computers has arrived. The MacBook, little brother to the MacBook Pro, cruised onto shelves a little over a month ago to replace the incumbent Apple iBook. The MacBook promises to be the "the superfast, blogging, podcasting, do everything out-of-the-box" laptop computer. With help from the new Intel Core Duo chips, the MacBook, keeps good to its promises: open the box turn on the computer, watch a short introduction on what the computer does, name the computer and it is ready to use. Every MacBook comes with iLife '06, which includes a slew of applications, including a few new ones native only to the MacBook family, including a folder full of games and even a comic book maker called "Comic Life." I make a lot of music and a lot of video. All Apples as well as the new MacBook helps me do this seamlessly. If the user is a pro, they may look to Final Cut, or Pro Tools. If the user is just beginning, Apple offers a plethora of very simple, easy-to-use music and video editing applications.

In the past I have heard many-a-gripe about Macs being bad computers because their operating system is hard to use. I am here to tell you that is simply not true. I will admit, they are set up differently than Windows, but they are certainly not difficult by any means. Come to find out, none of these people who complained to me set aside any time to actually learn what a computer does. Apple's do not require a high IQ in any way, but a person does need to sit down and figure out what things are-but that is no different from a PC. Example, throw a PC in front of someone who has never seen a computer, think they will know how to use it? Doubtful. Apples are on the same learning curve as a Windows PC, "user friendly" should not be in anyone's vocabulary any more.

Okay, here are some concrete reasons why a MacBook should be anyone's next computer purchase. One: they are incredibly powerful and fast. Every MacBook comes with your choice of 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo or 2.0 GHz, 512MB memory (2x256MB SODIMMs), 60GB or 80GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, Combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW) or SuperDrive which includes the aforementioned as well as DVD Burner. Two: They are infinitely more secure than a PC, simply, it is incredibly, incredibly difficult to get a virus on your MacBook. To illustrate, read this splendid little quote "Having a PC is like leaving the front door to your house open with all your valuables laid out in the open. A Mac will lock the front door, put all your valuables in a safe, to which only you know the combination." (This is all without virus protection) Simply, this is saying, with the new MacBook, the only way to really get a virus, is if you deliberately put it on the computer, it is very difficult to get one by accident. If I may deviate for one second, since I am on the topic of viruses, let's say John Doe (not from the band 'X', but a consumer) is on his MacBook and someone sends him a virus-infected email. John, not being incredibly computer savvy, downloads the attached file and the virus is on his computer. Chances are, this virus was written for a PC, not a Mac, (since PCs are owned by more people) and therefore the virus will show as a blank, un-open-able file on his desktop. Oh, before I forget, I will just go ahead and mention that since the inception of Mac OSX, not a single, again, not a single virus problem has been reported to Apple. I'll let that sink in. Good. Three: the MacBook is cost-effective as well has an incredible resale value. PCs are notorious for being very quickly outdated, weak machines. It seems the only way to stay on top of the technology game would be to by a new computer, roughly, every 60 days. And behind (slightly hidden) door number 2, would be the option to build your own PC. This entails buying all the best parts, and assembling it alone. Since we cannot all be genius computer aficionados, slightly hidden door number 2 seems unfeasible. Most people need a computer for email and work-related purposes and can't find the time to custom build a PC. Or, overt door number 3, get an Apple! But let us entertain the idea that we do indeed have time to waste on customizing a PC, you will spend at least 2,500 dollars if you don't know what your doing-then several hundred more for virus protection and so on, so the poor thing is not infected an average of 90 minutes later once connected to the internet. So reader's eyes don't start bleeding, I'll begin a new paragraph.

My brother built a PC 2 years ago, it's worth around 2,000 dollars and still not as good as his MacBook which was half the cost. If he were to sell his PC, he would receive a small fraction of what he spent on it, because the machines simply do not hold up. If he sells his MacBook in 4 years, he will receive half to ¾'s the cost because it is still sturdy and reliable like no other machine on earth. Real life example, a friend of mine I work with bought an Apple PowerBook in the year 2000, sold it four years later for 1000 dollars. Enough said?

So if you are looking to be cheated, have files randomly lost or become corrupted, and spend a lot of time on the phone with the nice folks at Dell attempting to resurrect your slain computer from malicious code, by all means stick with PCs. But if you're looking to spend a little extra money upfront, and reap the benefits of having a fantastic computer for years to come, get the new Apple MacBook, or any computer from the Apple tree; you'll never buy another PC.