T-Man

I'm(as many of you know if you see this in this topic) getting a Mac soon and I've got some questions I want to know before I get my hands on OS X.

1-Can the Dock's colors be changed?
2-Can you easily download 'Themes'/'Skins' to have something other than Aqua and Graphite?
3-Is Airport XPress/XTreme WiFi compatible? And if not, will it work w/ a D-Link router?
4-How do the '4 Corners' work'?
5-Can the 'TaskBar', at the top, be moved anywhere else like the Dock?
6-Can I put .zip files of pictures on a CD in Windows, than open those Pics on a Mac?
7-Does the Apple on the front light up?
8-Is it easy to hold the PowerBook with one hand?
9-Does the underside of the PowerBook get REAL hot, or just warm?)w/ normal use)
10-Can the screens be read 'okay' in sunlight?
11-Is the Right click, 'Ctrl+Click', easy, or does it feel like you have to go out of your way to do it?
12-Are the Aluminum PBs painted or white plastic?
13-Do the speakers sound good?
14-How long do Macs tend to last?
15-Can I keep this PowerBook for 1 year, and its value price will be no more than $500 below bought price?($2000)And if more or less, how much?

I decided to post all the questions I could think of in one thread instead of posting a thread for question I thought of...I know most of these can only be answered if I actually use a PB, but I want to know what you think since that'll be a little while.

Timm

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BobHarris

Not sure. Search over at MacOSXHints.com

Search MacOSXHints.com

it is 802.11g. It should work with just about every 3rd party WiFi base station. However, there have been reports of some D-Link units needing a firmware upgrade if they do not work.

Are we talking about dragging the cursor to one of the 4 corners of the screen? If that is what you mean, then you can use the System Preferences to configure the corners to control the screen saver and expose.

What task bar? The menu bar at the top is always at the top of the screen. Or are you talking about some feature in a window? Or is there a specific item in the menu bar you are talking about? I guess I'm just confused.

Assume you format the CD as something the Mac can read. ISO and some FAT file formats the Mac can read. But Windows sometimes likes to create some really proprietary formats. Drag the .zip files onto Applications -> Utilities -> StuffIt Expander and the .zip file should be uncompressed. I'm also making an assumption that your pictures are in a non-proprietary format. But if Applications -> Preview will not open them, then get Graphics Converter (Shareware with trial period) and it should be able to handle them.

The Apple on the Laptop Lid of a Powerbook or iBook will be lit by the screen backlight.

If a waiter can balance a huge try of food or dirty dishes, then you can hold a Powerbook in one hand. But if you drop food dishes, it is a lot less expensive to clean up Also it depends on what you intend to do holding the Powerbook in one hand. And you need to take into account the heat coming off of the bottom of the unit. It can get rather warm if the CPU has been crunching on something.

It can get rather warm. One of the reasons I got an iBook was because of the heat. I use my iBook in my lap and after spending a lot of time in an Apple store holding various units, I decided that the heat generated by the Powerbook was more than I wanted to deal with, but because of it sitting in my lap, and because heat is a by-product power consumption, and I wanted a long battery life, which the high power usage of the Powerbook was not going to give me.

Sort-of. Direct sunlight on the screen will make most screens difficult to read. If you can position it so that the sun is not in your eyes, and it is not shining on the screen you should be able to see it. But I'm not sure it will be as easy to read as indoors.

First, you do not really do Control-Click all that often. And some applications will do the same thing if you just hold the mouse down for a few seconds. Also in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) you can use the Keyboard System Preferences to change the CapsLock key to be a Control Key, thus giving you an easier key to hit with you left pinky finger. Versions prior to TIger could use uControl or DoubleCommand to perform the same capslock to control key service.

They are burshed aluminum metal. The iBooks are while plastic. As far as I know, there is no paint involved (except maybe for logo's and such).

Bose speakers they are _NOT_. The Powerbook 15" speakers are better than the iBook speakers. The Powerbook 17" speakers are bettern than the PB15" speakers. External speakers are even better, and can be much louder. If sound quality is important then, use headphones, or get an Airport Express and send your sound to a stereo system via WiFi.

Long. I just last week retired a PowerMac G4/450MHz that was originally my brother's, then my nephew's, and then mine. I've been using as my workstation at work (if you can take you own "Cross Pen" to work, then why not your own Mac; they are both being used to write stuff ). It is at least 6 years old, and it is still useful, but I was pushing it too hard, and I craved more and could aford to upgrade. I'm most likely turn it into a server or something.

We have an even older Blue&White G3/400MHz PowerMac at home that I use as a test system for new versions of Mac OS X, and for other odd tasks every once in a awhile.

My 14" iBook G4/1GHz (typing on it now), is about a year and a half old, and it going strong. I do not have any desire to upgrade it.

That is a much more difficult question to answer. Macs tend to retain their value, but with the Apple switch to intel coming next year, it is difficult to predict. If for example, Apple releases a Pentimum-M low power Powerbook running a high speeds, and offers it for a much lower price than the current Powerbooks, then it will undercut the prices of existing systems. If Apple does not release new intel laptops for 2 years, or if the price is similar or more expensive, then existing models will retain their value longer.

And if Apple releases a new line Powerbooks in between now and the intel switch then that will automatically cut the price of existing models. How much depends on what neeto features are offered and if people consider it worth it.

Reading crystal balls is difficult. You could go to something like eBay and see how Powerbook prices are holding up. Look at the MHz/GHz speeds, and make a guess as to how old they are and how they have ratained or lost value. Assume if the MHz/GHz value is close to yours that the prices were similar. If they are much lower speeds, then it may even be possible they started with a higher price (I know, my year 2000 Pismo Powerbook cost my $3200 for a G3/500MHz, and you are most likely getting for your $2000 a G4/1.25GHz or 1.33GHz, or even faster model, so take that into consideration when making guesses about value retention).

You can always go back to an Apple store and play some more (well you can't re-skin a Mac in the store, but you can check out some of your questions that way).

Bob Harris

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Mac OS X, MissingSync, and iSync
PowerMac Dual G5/2.5GHz by day & 13" MacBook by night.

dragonsgames

Your unanswered questions:


You can use TransparentDock to do this. Purchase for $8 at http://www.freerangemac.com/TransparentDock2.html


You can purchase Shapeshifter for $20 at http://unsanity.com/haxies/shapeshifter

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Sony Clie N760c -> Sony Clie TG-50 -> Treo 600 -> Sony Clie NX80, Fossil wrist PDA-> Sony Clie UX50 -> Sony CLIE VZ90 -> TG50, iPod 5.5 Gen -> Sony CLIE UX50, Sony PEGA-EB40 -> Sony CLIE PEG-TH55/E1, Samsung A900 (Blade) -> HTC Touch -> Palm Pre -> HTC Hero, Apple MacBook -> HTC Evo ->Nexus S 4G, Apple MacBook Pro

I like iSpin, it's my favorite launcher!!
I am the 2nd top 1src poster!!

T-Man

Thanks for evrything.

I was talking about those four corners, it should be something interesting to use. By Tsk Bar I ment Menu Bar, sorry, I dont know all the Mac terms yet, just Windows...I wanted the Apple to light up . And with holding it in one hand, I ment like...lets say I was going to take it outside in front of the house, Can I just easily hold it by the edge with one hand and hold my LifeDrive or something else? I'd imagine it cant be to hard, becasue 6lbs. is lighter than my 8.2lb Sony VAIO. Now with the heat issue, will I be able to put it on my lap while I'm on my bed and not feel like its 100 degrees in here? I use my laptop almost everywhere, and when its not on my desk its usually on my lap, or on a table. And I'm wondering if heat will be an issue while its on my desk? If I have to I'l put like a small stand underneath it, and I'll just use a keyboard. I'll look at ShapeShifter and TransparentDock, and see what else I can find at MacOSXHints. I would go to an Apple store but the closest one is like 2 hrs away.

BTW, I forgot the Intel Macs were coming, but I'll probably keep my PB for a long tim and just upgrade the OS. Is Leopard coming next Spring? Anyway, theres no reason to upgrade your computer every year like your handheld, right?

Timm

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[size=1]From my head, to my palm

BobHarris

Yes you can easily carry it from room to room. I was just wondering if you were going to try typing and surfin' and game playing and video conferencing, etc... all while holding it in one hand.

In the summer time you would notice the heat more. In the winter time (assuming you live in a location where it gets cold in the winter), then the extra heat is welcomed (haven't gone to bed with cold feet for 5 years, ever since I got my first Powerbook laptop ).

I do no think you want to wear shorts and have bare skin next to the bottom. Also if you are going to use it from bed, then avoid resting it on the covers as you will kill some of the heat disapation needed for cooling.

You may want to get a laptop "CoolPad". Do a Google search, and you will find several sources.

Oh well. I'm lucky, there is one about 1/2 hour from me in Salam, NH, plus 2 more in the greater Boston area I could go to if I really had to.


Apple has indicated they want to run an 18 month to 2 year cycle on Mac OS X upgrades now that they have gotten most of the Major changes made in moving from the Mac OS 9 generation of operating system. Then again, it may be desirable/necessary to have a major upgrade with the release of intel boxes. Of course the developer boxes are running Tiger, so we know it work on the current generation and my only require point releases for new hardware, and not a major upgrade.

Bob Harris

dragonsgames

That's how long it takes for me too. The closest store is at the mall downtown.

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Sony Clie N760c -> Sony Clie TG-50 -> Treo 600 -> Sony Clie NX80, Fossil wrist PDA-> Sony Clie UX50 -> Sony CLIE VZ90 -> TG50, iPod 5.5 Gen -> Sony CLIE UX50, Sony PEGA-EB40 -> Sony CLIE PEG-TH55/E1, Samsung A900 (Blade) -> HTC Touch -> Palm Pre -> HTC Hero, Apple MacBook -> HTC Evo ->Nexus S 4G, Apple MacBook Pro

I like iSpin, it's my favorite launcher!!
I am the 2nd top 1src poster!!

T-Man

So then I guess my new PB will come in handy in the Winter I'm not usually outside in the summer much anyway, so that shouldnt be a problem. And the one hand thing, I'd only do all that w/ one hand on my LifeDrive. I doubt I'll be to an Apple store til I go back to Queens, New York sometime next year(although I wish I could live there til I get my PB...)

Timm

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[size=1]From my head, to my palm

T-Man

Ok, I thought of some more questions I want to know what programs are equalt to, better, worse, or there-isnt-even-one for the Mac


NotePad-???
WordPad-??? {I heard of Appleworks, but now know that it isnt on the powerBooks}
Paint-???
Command Prompt-???
Task Mgr-???
Character Map-???(StrtMnu>Accessories>Systm Tools)
Run...-???(In Start Menu)

And, what games does OS X come w/? I liked Pinball and Spider Solitare, any chance theres one of those? I dont like(well, mostly dont know how to play) Chess.


Timm

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[size=1]From my head, to my palm

jjesusfreak01

Notepad and Wordpad=Textedit
Paint=GraphicConverter (I believe it comes with most Macs)
Command Prompt=Terminal (Its just a command promt)
Task Manager=Force Quit (There may be something else, but I dont know about it)
Character Map=Special Characters (Same as character map, available selectively)
Run=Im not really sure. Maybe terminal could count for this too.

Chess is the only game on my system. Its possible that desktop Macs have more.

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Sony TG-50, Sony TH-55, Palm TX...TH-55 still the best

T-Man

Thanks jjesusfreak. Darn, I'm going to miss my Pinball, the only thing I'll miss from Windows Maybe I'll try to learn it, especially since it can use Speech Recognition and I just cant wait to use that.

Timm

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[size=1]From my head, to my palm

dragonsgames

My iBook came with Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and Marble Blast Gold. I think the Powerbooks come with these also. Tony Hawk is a fun game, and Marble Blast Gold is easy for me to hack the levels so I can cheat.

__________________
Sony Clie N760c -> Sony Clie TG-50 -> Treo 600 -> Sony Clie NX80, Fossil wrist PDA-> Sony Clie UX50 -> Sony CLIE VZ90 -> TG50, iPod 5.5 Gen -> Sony CLIE UX50, Sony PEGA-EB40 -> Sony CLIE PEG-TH55/E1, Samsung A900 (Blade) -> HTC Touch -> Palm Pre -> HTC Hero, Apple MacBook -> HTC Evo ->Nexus S 4G, Apple MacBook Pro

I like iSpin, it's my favorite launcher!!
I am the 2nd top 1src poster!!

T-Man

Very different games preinstalled. Not very interested in Tony Hawk but I'll have to try Marble Blast Gold

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[size=1]From my head, to my palm

jjesusfreak01

Is it on the included CD? My Powerbook came with nothing but Chess. Nothing at all. I think I even had to install the iLife apps. I think I might have to download some of those.

__________________
Brad Green - Enthusiast Extraordinaire...

Sony TG-50, Sony TH-55, Palm TX...TH-55 still the best

dragonsgames

Marble Blast was built with Torque Game Engine, which I am making a game with. Reading and editing the code is simple once you learn it. Go to http://www.garagegames.com.

__________________
Sony Clie N760c -> Sony Clie TG-50 -> Treo 600 -> Sony Clie NX80, Fossil wrist PDA-> Sony Clie UX50 -> Sony CLIE VZ90 -> TG50, iPod 5.5 Gen -> Sony CLIE UX50, Sony PEGA-EB40 -> Sony CLIE PEG-TH55/E1, Samsung A900 (Blade) -> HTC Touch -> Palm Pre -> HTC Hero, Apple MacBook -> HTC Evo ->Nexus S 4G, Apple MacBook Pro

I like iSpin, it's my favorite launcher!!
I am the 2nd top 1src poster!!