I've been a happy Pc-er for the last couple years. That is, until a few months ago when my AVG failed me and my pavilion got all virused up... Twice. Ultimately I had to d-ban the poor thing. Since I was only 'mostly sure' I still had the original operating system disks, I have since been using my mom's mac. While I've been slowly getting used to the system (on a casual basis, no work yet, just internet) I still miss the windows format. My old tower is past it's prime, even with a new system. I'm about to become a student in English and am highly discouraged by previous Windows failings. Should I release the ghost and go with the more 'secure' mac? Or stick with my roots? I would like some advice on my next computer purchase. I'm looking for a laptop that can handle a students workload for the next... lets face it, many years, with minimal extras. The only thing it needs, is to be fast. I break things that go slow. I'm not looking to game (much) or download + store music (at all), I just need to research crap at high speed. All suggestions are greatly appreciated. Cheers!
posted by Miss Mitz on Nov 24, 2009 - 39 answers

Which laptop computer for making music? It's PC vs Mac with the usual provisos... [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Nov 24, 2009 - 13 answers

Is there any way to restore the glossy coating on a Macbook Pro screen? [more inside]
posted by bashos_frog on Nov 15, 2009 - 8 answers

My good friend just purchased a $3k Apple laptop, which she received today. I spent four hours this afternoon installing software and setting it up for her. Once we were all done, and ready to go out and celebrate good times, new laptops, and Friday nights, we high fived, and I shut the laptop gently...with the tiny, clear, flexible, plastic charger cap unknowingly inside. Now the screen is completely cracked, fractalled, damaged, and very sadly colorful. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by iamkimiam on Oct 24, 2009 - 29 answers

Which Mac laptop should I buy? Needs and specs inside. [more inside]
posted by misha on Oct 20, 2009 - 19 answers

DHCP giving out IP address leases with pre-existing DNS entries for the wrong machine causing network chaos on a mixed windows & mac environment, and it's the macs who are having the problems. [more inside]
posted by jmd82 on Oct 2, 2009 - 11 answers

I'm donating a Mac laptop, and it's loaded with 10.6.0. I want to upgrade it to 10.6.1, but then still have the computer start up for them "virgin" (i.e. with the "welcome to macintosh" rigamarole and with no other accounts appearing). [NOTE: you may believe that's a silly thing to desire. Your disdain has been pre-registered, but I stupidly persist in hoping for this result]. Is there any way to update the OS and then completely erase my own footprints? [more inside]
posted by jimmyjimjim on Sep 20, 2009 - 9 answers

Best time to buy a MacBook Air between now and mid November? Are there any speed bumps or price reductions on the horizon? [more inside]
posted by mosk on Sep 10, 2009 - 15 answers

My four year old Mac PowerBook suddenly (after behaving perfectly for this long!) won't run any programs--won't even open up system preferences or terminal. Help! What should I do？ [more inside]
posted by soviet sleepover on Sep 8, 2009 - 10 answers

I bought a MacBook Pro in June 2007. Since then, its needed a new hard disk drive, right cooling fan, and DVD read/write drive. Is this normal wear and tear? [more inside]
posted by uaudio on Aug 31, 2009 - 38 answers

Powerbook G4 won't boot up. I hear the chime, get a gray screen, but NO apple logo or spinning wheel. [more inside]
posted by DiscourseMarker on Jul 20, 2009 - 17 answers

I need to get a new laptop. I'm considering a Mac or a Lenovo (based on what I've read on AskMe), and I am in need of some advice. [more inside]
posted by Four-Eyed Girl on Jul 13, 2009 - 44 answers

Which MacBook should I get? [more inside]
posted by joshuaconner on Jun 29, 2009 - 25 answers

Please help me find the best laptops for our teens! Specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by misha on Jun 16, 2009 - 16 answers

When it comes to re-purposing old laptops, it seems like the only option people really talk about is to turn it into a picture frame. There's got to be more that an old iBook can do... right? [more inside]
posted by alexherder on Apr 2, 2009 - 20 answers

Is my iBook G4 dying? [more inside]
posted by Brachiosaurus on Apr 2, 2009 - 7 answers

Got a new Macbook, but not sure where to go from here... [more inside]
posted by nmaster64 on Mar 22, 2009 - 18 answers

I'm buying a new Mac iBook, iPhone, and accessories in a couple of weeks. How can I get the best deal(s)? [more inside]
posted by kimdog on Feb 4, 2009 - 15 answers

I've got a iBook G3(i think) blueberry clamshell which can just about handle running photoshop 4 and appleworks on it. think it has OS 8 on it too. The battery is pretty much shot on it and so only runs off the mains power supply. Currently it is sitting on my shelf doing nothing. Give me some fun / interesting / unusual ideas with what I could do with it. The more creative the better.
posted by gonzo_ID on Jan 10, 2009 - 8 answers

What New Laptop should I buy? [more inside]
posted by fogonlittlecatfeet on Dec 20, 2008 - 25 answers

Please help get my old iBook to be as fast as possible! [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Dec 5, 2008 - 17 answers

What are the Mac equivalents of great Windows software? This was a great question about what a Mac person should install on a Windows box. I'm going the other way, as my office kindly bought me a new MacBook Pro. I'm a scientist and haven't used a Mac since OS 7.5. For the past decade my machines have been Windows, Linux, or dual-boot. Freeware/shareware programs I use a lot under Windows: Cygwin, Essential PIM, FLVplayer, IrfanView, Maxima, Openoffice.org, Scilab, Winamp, Xemacs, Xplorer2 pro. Commercial software: Mathematica, IDL, occasionally Microsoft Office. I'm mostly interested in freeware or shareware such as great text and image editors, tex/latex, and other nerdware. Thanks! Naturally, the new laptop runs Leopard.
posted by lukemeister on Dec 3, 2008 - 40 answers

My girlfriend needs a laptop with Photoshop to do her freelance design work on the road. She uses an iMac at home and is worried about compatibility. Must she continue using a Mac? Or can she use a more affordable pc laptop? [more inside]
posted by mizrachi on Oct 8, 2008 - 18 answers

mac purchase advice: I'd like to pick up a used mac laptop on ebay for under $400. What specs or models should I look for that will give me the least buyers regret? [more inside]
posted by jak68 on Oct 1, 2008 - 14 answers

I know there are dozens of data recovery question on here, but nothing that appears to address my specific question. I have an Apple Powerbook G4 laptop running 10.4.1. In preparing to sell the machine I transferred a bunch of files across to an external drive, then deleted them, emptied the trash and deleted the entire user account (while telling it not to store a disc image of that account.) Since then nothing has been written to or deleted from the disk. Now I find that not all of my files were successfully copied to the external drive so I've lost a lot of data. In particular I would like to save just one folder full of Excel spreadsheets - my past few months of accounting. What is the likelihood of being able to achieve this, either myself or using a data recovery company?
posted by skylar on Sep 28, 2008 - 6 answers

Should I revive my Titanium Mac Powerbook? [more inside]
posted by blapst on Sep 14, 2008 - 11 answers

When and where should I buy a laptop (also: what kind?!)? [more inside]
posted by mustcatchmooseandsquirrel on Sep 11, 2008 - 16 answers

I will have $3000 saved by the end of this month. I am hoping to spend it on a high-end 15" MBP. I am currently a high school senior, and am looking to replace my aging P4 desktop with a laptop that will last me into college. When is it likely that Apple will release new MBPs? [more inside]
posted by nokry56 on Sep 9, 2008 - 58 answers

What's a good netbook or netbook-like computer for my mom and sister? [more inside]
posted by mccarty.tim on Aug 20, 2008 - 4 answers

Best keyboard skin for Macbook Air? Best shell case (not for carrying)? [more inside]
posted by jeffmacintyre on Aug 19, 2008 - 1 answer

My laptop recently died, and I need to replace it. I'm thinking of getting the cheapest macbook or an equivalently priced Dell or Lenovo. Help me figure out which. [more inside]
posted by signal on Jul 23, 2008 - 18 answers

I've had my Macbook Pro for a year now and I originally used it just for personal activities, the problem is, now I use it for work as well. [more inside]
posted by ISeemToBeAVerb on Jun 11, 2008 - 12 answers

A question about reselling an ibook g4 with a broken screen. [more inside]
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew on Jun 4, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm looking for instructions, guides, or suggestions of something fun to do with my camera or laptop during an upcoming cross-country drive. [more inside]
posted by hworth on Jun 4, 2008 - 8 answers

Is there a definitive source I can point to or glean knowledge from in order to justify the purchase of a Mac for web development and design? [more inside]
posted by Awkward Turtle on May 8, 2008 - 19 answers

Are the illuminated logos on post-G3 Apple laptops the same size? [more inside]
posted by ibechase on Feb 27, 2008 - 2 answers

What's the best strategy for buying new laptops and selling old ones? I usually buy a new computer once every five years or so and then sell my old one. Say I spend $3000 for a new one and sell the old one for $300. Would I be better off buying a new one every year and selling the old one each year? In other words, would I get more for the old one that it would make up for the depreciation in waiting five years? [more inside]
posted by moedym on Feb 14, 2008 - 17 answers

Help me diagnose my Powerbook’s power supply woes. [more inside]
posted by rtha on Jan 16, 2008 - 11 answers

which is the best laptop if you're working with graphics ? [more inside]
posted by sgt.serenity on Jan 11, 2008 - 21 answers

MacBook + Exchange + Air Force = trouble? [more inside]
posted by wheat on Nov 8, 2007 - 10 answers

Where can I get a replacement Macbook Pro power cord fast? [more inside]
posted by bradbane on Oct 20, 2007 - 9 answers

Another what-kind-of-laptop-should-I-get question. [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Aug 26, 2007 - 16 answers

It's time for a new laptop. I have very strong thoughts on this subject, but I need your help, suggestions, and guidance. [more inside]
posted by davidinmanhattan on Jun 7, 2007 - 29 answers

Help me save my theoretical new MacBook Pro from my Sweat of Doom! [more inside]
posted by Alterscape on Jun 7, 2007 - 20 answers

The tip (inside stem) of my power adapter broke off in my wife's computer (White iBook G4). Thus, its unable to recharge. How do I get it out? What are these parts called so I can look it up at an appropriate place? [more inside]
posted by GPF on Apr 24, 2007 - 16 answers

Is there any way that I can easily use my iMac Desktop (Current Intel Model) monitor as a second or primary monitor for my Powerbook using either the wireless network or a monitor adapter? [more inside]
posted by Bengston on Mar 14, 2007 - 6 answers

Are the displays on the MacBook Pro really as bad as I hear they are? [more inside]
posted by Venadium on Feb 27, 2007 - 28 answers

Ack! New long term contract position requires me to have a PC laptop! [more inside]
posted by Chuck Cheeze on Feb 15, 2007 - 15 answers

Is it possible for me to use my PowerBook G4 as a display -- meaning, can I connect some input source and view it just like I would an external LCD? [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Dec 2, 2006 - 5 answers

Macbook Pro graphics query: For a Photoshop user, is it necessary to get the 256MB graphics card?... [more inside]
posted by timnyc on Oct 21, 2006 - 23 answers