Macbook vs Macbook Pro
Macbook vs Macbook Pro – that is the big question. In the past these were two separate and distinct lines of Apple Mac laptops but these days that line has become more fuzzy and gray.
IMHO the starting point in this decision should really be screen size. The Mac Book laptop only comes with a 13 inch screen where as the MBP offers 3 different choices. If you are looking for something bigger than thirteen inch then the Pro is the one you want. Of course, there are various configurations to choose from within the MBP line and these options also need to be carefully considered.
If the smaller screen is what you need then you need to look closely at the MacBook and the MacBook Pro specs to figure out which one is right for you. The MB is considered the Apple.com “bargain” model but don’t let that fool you. It only comes in a white plastic housing – while the MBP of the same size is encased in aluminum. If looks are important to you then once again your decision process might just end here – pick the one that is more appealing. However, if what is under the hood matters (which it should) then the next step is to consider your desired usage – and buy a machine with enough power and memory to handle your demands.
Some general rules of thumb when deciding between a macbook vs macbook pro – if you use your computer to primarily surf the net, organize your life, and prepare word processing or spreadsheet documents, then the Apple MB should be able to handle those tasks with ease. In this case the size of the hard drive would be an important factor if you have a lot of info to store. External hard drives are a way to handle any overflow but are a bit inconvenient if you have to hook your notebook up constantly – after all the portability of a laptop computer is part of the benefit. If, however, you use graphics intensive applications like gaming, or heavy duty design, video editing, and photography work, then a souped up MBP may be more in tune with your needs.
One thing to keep in mind is that any of the Apple Mac computers can be made to order at the Apple.com website. Upgrades to the memory, graphics cards, hard drive, and more are options when you purchase online. The hardest part about doing it this way is the anticipation!
In summary, first consider screen size, then the overall look and feels, and finally the internal configuration.
A trip to the Apple Store if you have one close by may also aid in your decision. Actually seeing one up close and personal can give you an idea of how the screen looks and the keyboard feels. After all this is one computer that should last you many years to come.
Orange “Other” Bar on iPod
If you use an iPod with your Apple Mac laptops then you know what I am talking about.
That pesky orange “other” bar that shows up when you sync. Still don’t know what I mean?
When you sync your iPod with your computer a bar shows up at the bottom of your iTunes window that tells you how much available space you have on your device. This bar is multi colored. Music takes up some space, movies takes some more, applications is yet another chunk (if you use the iPod Touch), photos have their own color, and then that mysterious “other” piece that is colored orange.
What is this other? I really have no clue. And it was never an issue or problem for me because it didn’t take up much space.
That is – until I really started working with my iPhoto library. Of course these kinds of things are never apparent right away.
I had had a busy week on my Mac, updating to newer versions of iTunes and whatever else. I also started reading iPhoto ‘08: The Missing Manual
So, I started creating new events in iPhoto, splitting up old ones, and rearranging the pictures in my entire library which is about 7,000 photos strong.
At some point after this busy week, I synced up my 16GB iPod Touch – and my orange other bar occupied about 3GB of space.
Now I hate these kind of scratch your head moments. I never really noticed the orange bar before. Did it always take up this much space? No, it couldn’t have – I would have noticed it then, wouldn’t I have? Hmmm. Did the software cause the problem? Is there a problem? Maybe a new app, calendar or contact data? What could it be?
On top of that, the iPod Touch seemed a bit sluggish. Nothing I could put my finger on though. The programs seemed a little slow to launch. How do I call customer service on that one? What do I ask?
Up until this point, I had always synced up my entire iPhoto library onto my iPod Touch using Apple Mac laptops. But everything was split up by album. Before I noticed the large other portion I switched to syncing photos by event. Now that I had added all of these events maybe the organization structure of the events was taking up space.
So, I removed all of my photos from my iPod Touch. And what do you know – most of the orange “other” disappeared. Poof!
Now I know that in my case the other was related to iPhoto.
I have not added pictures back onto my device yet. While it was nice to have the whole library at my fingertips - I rarely used it. Once I finish working with my iPhoto library, I will sync up only the events that I need – maybe the most current ones, and see if that doesn’t solve the other problem.
I will let you know what I find out. Does anyone else out there have a problematic other bar and a solution as well?