It's time to break the news. I have a Mac!
Happy Happy Joy Joy!
I've had it for 2 weeks now. It's a 2nd hand iBook, a cute little 12" piece of laptop art, with 384MB of RAM, running on a 500Mhz PowerPC G3 processor and just enough hard disk space. It's running Mac OS X, with all the MS Office suite, Adobe software and other must-haves (iTunes, Safari etc).
They say Macs are idiot-proof. Meet the ultra-idiot. I managed to crash this machine twice. The good thing is that when a Mac chooses to crash, it just freezes. No funny hex code error messages, no english-sounding goobledygook. It just freezes. And all I had to do was press the power button long enough to shut it down. Restart, and it works like a charm (if I'm doing this wrong, someone please tell me now!).
I haven't had the chance to fully test this machine. There's still a couple of things I need to fix - like the loose power connector and additional RAM requirement. The machine currently takes a while to start up, but once it's up and running, I have no complaints.
There are two modes of display on my iBook - thousands of colours and millions of colours. At first glance at the former setting, I was already hooked. Then I saw what my plain old website looks like in millions of colours. Wow!
I ran Safari and IExplorer side by side. I also ran Safari against the IE on my office notebook. Yes, there is an obvious difference in how both browsers load pages. Safari is by far a faster and more elegant way to surf the Internet.
I've been playing my songs while I surf - no additional speakers required. The sound that comes out of little 'Molly' (temporary name given by Meesh until I decide to keep it) needs no retuning and no reinforcements.
Molly has built-in wireless that takes no effort to configure. One other Mac feature that impressed me was how simple system preference options were, and how well the OS protects your installation (any modifications can be password protected).
As for the perceived hassles of switching between the two environments on a daily basis? I know heaps of people who toggle between Windows and Linux everyday. Windows and Mac is much easier to manage - all I have to remember is to press that little 'apple' key instead of 'Ctrl' for my shortcuts.
p.s. As with all things this beautiful (I can't stress the word enough!), we must learn to take care of it properly. I've enlisted the help of Mac Master, Hadiee, to teach me the ins and outs of Molly. =)
p.p.s. Selamat Berpuasa Everyone. And to the non-Muslims, enjoy the empty food courts while it lasts! ;)
Posted by Najah Nasseri at 2003年10月27日 02:30 | TrackBackWelcome to The World of Macusers!I have been using my iBook 15" G3 for a year and I love it.If you have any questions, you can post them at the mailinglist http://groups.yahoo.com/group/imacuser
or at recently created macusers forum:
http://atomic.itsamac.com/~MMUG/forum/
You also can see some pictures at my website(imac affairs) about the recent launch of The Panther.
Posted by: Pak Adib at 2003年10月27日 06:13hey Najah!!
Welcome to the Mac world...and Haniff, the day any OS do not crash on me, it is the day that OS attain perfection. But at least the Mac OS do not crash as much as Windows.
And Najah, next time it freezes, try Apple Button - Option - Escape first before doing that reset.. :)
Which OS X are you using?
And Pak Adib, I din know you are a Mac user too!
Posted by: ervan at 2003年10月27日 06:38i hv never tried a Mac but i install dual-boot linux and windows on every PC that I lay hands on.
if yr Mac has Wi-Fi, u can be swept to more joy.
It is advisable to try every kind of trick you can on yr Mac to learn its full capability when it has nothing important inside, before you reach a stage where wiping out full range of software and important data becomes a pain.
I currently use Dell laptop with 3-mode OS installed, win98, XP and linux.
Posted by: bill at 2003年10月27日 07:26There is so much to love about the Apple! It looks great and works even better! And OS X is the best thing ever - iTunes, iCal, Safari, iMovie, iPhoto -there's so much to love. And Mail. I love Mail. I love how I can delete stuff before it even completes downloading! :) I'm hyperventilating!
Posted by: spit at 2003年10月27日 09:48Ahhhhh ... so we have converted you too. It takes a while to get used to but once you get the hang of it. It's a breeze.
I cant wait what Panther will bring to the table.
Are you getting an iPod since you now have an iBook & iTunes...
Posted by: kijal at 2003年10月27日 10:44Kijal: Your question is very dangerous... I've been fighting the temptation for a while now...
Posted by: Najah at 2003年10月27日 11:49Welcome aboard! I'm a 21months-old-switcher and hv never regreted of switching except when I'm at the office where WORK requires me to use Windoze aka Pee Cee! And Yeap..if u hv the cash, get the iPod. It's really "cun", sexy,awesome and terrRRRRific. GrrRRrr.
Posted by: jaii at 2003年10月27日 14:12ervan: I'm using 10.2.8. I've tried the apple + option + escape, but it didn't work. I noticed that it hangs whenever I launch a couple of safari windows, Yahoo! Messenger, Acquisition and iTunes. I have since reduced my desktop refresh to hourly, instead of every 5 minutes, and tried not to push Molly too far, yet. I am awaiting a 512MB slab...
Posted by: Najah at 2003年10月27日 19:21To reduce freezing,I upgarded my iBook to 640 RAM.
The additonal 512RAM will cost you RM 700.
I also got problems with Safari but my son format the harddisk and now we don't have that problem anymore. I am NOT suggesting you to format your hard disk. Pls get better advice from someone else.I am no techie;-)
Now, I am dreaming of having my own iPod...
Posted by: Pak Adib at 2003年10月27日 21:10Najah,
The latest iPod (20 & 40GB) is much slimmer and sleeker than the 1st gen. that Apple introduced earlier. I'm beginning to like the iTunes on tis Compaq Evo N400c.
It's either I get my iPod tomorrow or never...
Posted by: kijal at 2003年10月27日 21:50To the Mac users,
Apparently Panther Final is available from bittorent sites...
Posted by: kijal at 2003年10月27日 21:53I'll have to eat instant noodles everyday in order to save my hard-earned Petronas loan to get a Mac. That's how expensive it is!
Posted by: haniff at 2003年10月28日 07:08Najah,
I am still using OS 9, but well, I know Yahoo Messenger just love to do some things on me.. so perhaps it is one of the reason? he he
Adding RAMs might help, other than that.. no idea :)
Posted by: ervan at 2003年10月28日 20:25hey bill - dont know if you'll read this, but i've got questions, i'm installing XP/2000/linux on my dell laptop and uh need help. If you read this - pls drop me a mail :)
Najah - check out this video about Macs and what else could go wrong ;) http://www.ancientspear.com/mac.wmv
how much did you pay for the 2ndhand ibook?
Kijal: Do not tempt me... I'm tempted as it is to buy the iPod!
Prema: the 2nd hand ibook was such a steal, I promised not to reveal the price online... (don't want to spoil market!)
Ervan: Yes, I'm left-handed.
aahh..no wonder no complains from Najah regarding the USB ports being on the left side of the iBook
And I think Rizal will get the powerbook... :D
there is a new iBook G4 too now.. droooolllllll
Posted by: ervan at 2003年10月29日 13:32