I'm far from an expert in anything having to do with computing, but I'd like to add something to what Macster said. Even a 2-gig iMac G-5 slows down appreciably when you run Virtual PC on top of OSX.

My experience is that a real-time, graphics-intensive data feed of financial markets information ran so slowly on Virtual PC due to processing latency that the prices displayed weren't real-time prices. The screen image resolved out of synch and in a very jerky-appearing way. This might be similar to how games would run in the environment.

More experience: Mathmatica (and its various add-ons) is a computational software. I owned a licensed Windows version of release 5.2. This ran less than half the speed on Virtual PC than it ran on my previous Windows PC. Some calculations involving principal component analysis and Monte Carlo sims were taking hours longer to run. I bit the bullet and bought the Mac OSX versions of the Mathematica packages I and found they run faster in the OSX environment than the Windows packages do on either Win 2K or XP Pro.

Most people making the switch from Windows to Apple's platform won't face these issues. Switching from the complex Microsoft computing environment to the straight-forward Apple computing environment lets me do more of what I actually want to do with a computer, rather than learn an entirely new profession in order to tend to the Microsoft operating system's incessant demands. Also, it's simply better-looking and more fun.

If anyone needs anymore help/tips/info on Macs, then you might like to try the MacFormat Forums.

Unconcered,

Just to clarify the "SuperDrive"; it's Apple's word for "DVD Re-writer". The Combo Drive in the 1.83 GHz MacBook will read CDs & DVDs and write CDs. The SuperDrive will read CDs & DVDs and write CDs & DVDs.

As for copying DVDs (of uncopyrighted material, of course ;) ), you wouldn't be able to do this on the 1.83GHz. Equally, you wouldn't be able to back up files onto a (higher capacity) DVD, but you could onto a CD. As I said earlier, it also means that you will be unable to burn from iDVD unless you can attach an external DVD burner (such as a LaCie).

AppleMacster

Thanks again for your help, AppleMacster. For someone whose first home PC ran in DOS, I'm beginning to wonder what I've actually learnt in the last ten years!

My main use for the new laptop is to edit a load of digital camcorder stuff plus the occasional bit of work. I presume that I would need iDVD to put the edited videos onto disc, so it looks like I need to go for the 2.0GHz model.

Right, deep breath time :eek:

Unconcerned,


Affirm! Edit in iMovie, burn with animated menus with iDVD. You could even make your own soundtrack with GarageBand, not forgetting to post to the web using iWeb!

Enjoy!

Applemacster

I think you're making me feel comfortable about this, AppleMacster.

Only think, though ;)

Once again, very many thanks to everybody who has helped. I'll report back and hopefully be a MacMan next time :p

OK, I give up. How do I get the iCal icon in the dock to show today's date without resetting it? :confused:

It'll only show you the correct date when you open the application. Pretty sucky.

Since up dating Skype I have l have lost the little icon that sat on my top toolbar. Does anyone know how to (re)place it?

(MacBook and Skype version 1.5.0.80)

Thanks in advance

Capt Chambo,

The best thing would be to download the latest version of Skype (2.0.0.6) and check the menubar option in the preferences, The latest version lets you use your built-in iSight to have video calls over Skype.

Applemacster

Thanks Applemacster all done, and I now have my little icon back!
No all I need to do is try the video function!

CC

The saga continues :{

Just to re-cap - I have a 90 minute train journey home each night and, having re-read all my favourite books, I decided it was time to edit all my old digital camcorder tapes.

Great advice here, settle on the 2.0 iBook and (having taken a deep breath) I pitched up in the incredibly crowded Mac store in Regent Street today. The only sales person I could grab thought I would need a memory upgrade from the standard 512 - but the only ones who could confirm that were the 'specialists on the tills' :bored: The tills had a queue a mile long and I was feeling dispirited (especially as a Mac memory upgrade is a lot more expensive than one on a PC which also starts off a lot cheaper).

SO..... (1) do I need an upgrade and, if so, (2) should I just stick with the Windoze flock and spend the difference on beer?

Yours in confusion and despair etc etc....

Awwww now I'm even more confused :{

I just checked the Mac website to cost out the memory upgrade and the 2 Gig model already has 1 Gig memory - as opposed to the 1.8 model's 512.

So.... was she talking out of her backside or was she suggesting I go from 1 to 2 Gig?

Give me strength, I was going to buy it today, honest......

I take it you have a Macbook (Black or white plastic ... little camera on the display?)

Buy your memory from http://www.crucial.com/uk/ .... Much cheaper.

Select the manufacturer (Apple), your computer model (ibook, macbook etc.) and then the memory you want.

The Macbook memory costs £180 for 2GB.

I highly recommend a minimum of 1GB.

Unconcerned,

Have you bought your MacBook already, or are you just looking for memory?

(and Willow)

Actually, the MacBook got upgraded yesterday. The 2.0GHz now comes with 1Gb of RAM and a new Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The RAM price has gone down as well. To upgrade to the 2Gb is only £120, which is much more sensible. It also comes with an 80Gb disk as standard with options up to a lofty 200Gb! The MacBook itself is also £20 cheaper. Mine's in the post!

Applemacster.

Yeah, they're sweet little machines. The 200GB drive sounds great and although it uses perpendicular recording, it only spins at 4200rpm. The difference might be negligible but it'd be good to have it a little faster.

For some reason I thought unconcerned already had his/her computer. In which case, buying 3rd party RAM makes much more sense. Check out Apple's RAM prices ... :rolleyes:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4...iceses8.th.jpg

*Big breath* (yeth - and I'm only thixteen...)

Nope, was going to buy it yesterday from the Apple shop, but I'm glad the sales lady confused me and I didn't!

As AM said, it got upgraded yesterday (hence the doubled memory appearing on the Apple website before it appeared in the shop).

The shop expects delivery early next week so I shall do the deal then. Very big thanks to all who have helped me :ok:

Well, since it's just us incestuous Mac freaks in here, I can't resist passing this on. It's not new, many will know of it already, but if any of you with an interest in music are still running Limewire on your Mac, get rid of it and install Acquisition. Downloaded it 24 hours ago and I've already paid the registration fee ($18). Best program I've ever run. :ok:

(Should I put in a disclaimer here? Those of you who have nefarious intentions involving cheating the world's musicians out of their richly deserved royalties should look elsewhere. I believe Metallica are worth every penny they get.)

Appleworks spreadsheet and links.
I wonder if anyone can help me with this one. I am trying to set up a quick reference type table using a spreadsheet. But imbedded in the table I want to create links for more information. Standard internet links are fine but I would like to insert a link that will direct me to my address book, or directly to a downloaded (usually word) document.
I have tried the help function but suspect that I am not asking the right question as I don't get anything useful back.
Alternatively if anyone can suggest a better way I am all ears!
Thanks in advance.
CC

I have inherited an Access database which I have to use. My student version of Office for Mac doesn't contain Access, so though I'm appalled at the idea of putting Windows on a Mac, installing Boot Camp would appear to be the only solution. So, a general question for all.

I have a wireless network, but if I only ever use Windows to run Access and never the internet, am I right in assuming that I won't be leaving myself open to the viruses and various nasties that love M$ so much? I've had a lovely two years without any anti-virus programs and I'd like to keep it that way. The answer seems relatively straightforward but perhaps I'm missing something?

Binos,

You are right, if you don't go online, you won't get any viruses on the Parallels virtual (Windows) machine, unless they already exist within the Access database or any other data you put onto the VM.

Applemacster

Thanks Macster. However I've been sitting here scratching my head over the Access file which is waaaay more complicted than what I will need it for, and I've decided to just create a very simple database of my own in Works using a limited number of fields.

The club I am making the database for will have a PC, but I want to be able to amend the file at home on my Mac, so the next question is, are Apple Works documents fully compatible with MS Works as is Office for Mac? I fear the worst here, as they are *.cwk files, whereas Office for Mac files are *.doc.

(And in case you're wondering, I've decided that Boot Camp is a grossly oversized sledge hammer to crack my little database nut.)

Binos,

Sorry, I completely mis-read your post re. Boot Camp. Of course, the virus issue still stands if you go online under Boot Camp, as it would on a Parallels VM partition.

As for Appleworks, I'm pretty sure it isn't compatible with MSWorks. However, you might be able to get some joy out of it by exporting the Appleworks document as ASCII text and importing the new file into MSWorks. I'm not au fait (naturellement) with MSWorks, so can't be 100% sure. Certainly, you can export the Appleworks database as ASCII and import it into Excel or Neooffice as a spreadsheet.

Applemacster