Just wondering if I could get some advice as I am due for a new portable computer.

I am a teacher and mainly use the computer for record keeping using excel/word and do a little video editing of footage taken during school events on a jvc video camera.

We are going away and was thinking of packing it with movies/music to keep usentertained on the trip.

Features I am looking for are:
portability
battery life (looking for 6+ hours)
compatability with windows software as education department is contracted to it
the ability to do some video/photo editing

I am pretty good with computers but have had limited experience wth Mac.

Suggestions, reviews, etc welcome.

Toni

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#185

Toni,
For video, music and movies you cant go wrong with a Mac
Best to pop into the Apple Store in Perth and have a play
The new Macbooks have battery life for 7-8hrs
With software you can get Office for Mac 2011 and just use VMware, bootcamp for Windows OS if you need to run native Windows Apps

edit: Also consider looking at refurbished Macs as they are genuine Apple and come with full warranty. We bought our MBP from there in '08 and never had an issue with the laptop.
Link:
http://store.apple.com/au/browse/hom...mco=OTY2ODY2NQ

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MY00 GT Forester with STi goodies

Hey mate,

As above Macs are nothing to fear, they have amazing battery life (mostly because Apple battery technology is about 2 years ahead of its competition). If you’re open minded when you first start using it I guarantee two things: A) You’ll fall in love with it B) You’ll be a pro at using it within days.

Also as above I would stay away from Netbooks, the keyboards are tiny and hard to use, they almost exclusively have integrated graphics and therefore there is no WAY you could use it for video editing (without wanting to jump off a large bridge).

Boot camp and VMware can be very good on Macs, but if you’re a teacher who deals with school IT people (people who aren’t used to Macs) I might steer clear of them, if something goes wrong and your IT guy doesn't know anything about Macs, you can find yourself in a tricky spot.

Disclaimer: I'm not Mac hating, I'm certified by Apple and I love them.

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Front and back Whiteline Swaybars, GFB StealthFX BOV, 3" Stainless Steel TBE.

macbook

/thread

+1

13' macbook pro

Macbook air if you want portability. I've been using one at work for a few days now and it's amazing. Very fast with the flash drive and it's reasonably priced for what it is.

As others have mentioned you can use Bootcamp to install Windows on it (We have done this with Windows 7 Pro).

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you mirin?

+1
i'v got macbook pro 15'' and i'm loving it
ill never go back to any other brand.
once u get use to it its sweet as

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True fun come from suspension mods, not engine!!

Just use parallels rather than bootcamp for simple windows 7 software.

Bootcamp if you have to run higher processor intensive software.

Macs are great but not infallible.

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MacBook pro ftw! I have a 13" and ill never buy anything else ever again if i can help it

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Wow, not a single plug for Windows so far. I must be one of the brainwashed majority out there, and/or the MS fans are staying quiet for some reason?

On a supportive note to Apple, I will be the 1st to admit that Win has a lot of bloatware in what we know as the registry amongst other things; apparently Mac doesn't have this? Or izzit Linux I'm thinking of?

In any event, I will be having a lot closer look at a Mac next time round

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