Plans To Buy a MacBook

After working relatively hard this summer, I finally have enough savings for an Apple MacBook. It’s one speedy and terrifically designed computer, with its Core 2 Duo powering Mac OS X. There are really two reasons why I am planning on buying it: to replace for my aging Dell Inspiron 8000 (despite the fact it runs Windows XP, it’s rather slow and heavy), and to get me to the wonderland of Mac OS.

Just for starters, the base MacBook model comes with a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo, 1 GB of RAM, and an 80 GB SATA hard drive, which is pretty good for a laptop. Then add add the “etcetera” features, like Front Row (and the Apple Remote), and Photo Booth and iChat AV (powered by the built-in iSight camera), all of which aren’t my favorite features, and you’ve got a full-featured machine on the outside.

The real deal for me is Mac OS X. The entire philosophy that Apple applies to computing is reflected in OS X. To make a real-world comparison (and not to boil up another Windows vs. Mac argument), Finder is somewhat more productive than Windows Explorer, especially with its multi-pane view. Also, the Dock seems like a more efficient navigation device the the Taskbar / Start Menu combo (not counting the new Stacks feature in OS X Leopard). I’m not so sure about the single and universal menu bar, but Apple must have some reason for it.

My preferred purchase path is to buy a refurbished base model MacBook, which runs for $949 USD at Apple’s Web store. However, if anyone knows if you can purchase refurbished models at the retail stores , please let me know in the comments. (You can’t, as I found out on my last Apple Store visit.)