[Rhodes22-list] Another Computer Question

[Gregg J. MacMillan]

Slim--

Here is a good overview / review / available price / etc. of the Mac 
iBook and PowerBook:

http://tinyurl.com/dxrq4

You'll see that "Every iBook now has built-in Bluetooth 2.0 and 
integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking." 
What that means in small words is that you can take it to the local 
Starbucks (or other place that has WiFi), turn it on, and be 
connected to the Internet.

I just got my fourth PowerBook (actually my wife did since she's a 
teacher) and was pleasantly surprised that they have a program for 
students or teaches where in addition to the education discount, you 
can get a free iPod and a practically free HP printer. I already had 
an iPod, so I upgraded and paid a bit extra for the iPod that also 
has photos. Now I have several thousand tunes and photos in the iPod. 
The photo side works just as seamlessly as the music side. Plug it in 
and they load automatically.

Since I'm in the graphics business, we have both PC's and Mac's at 
work. We are an Authorized Adobe Service Provider, so we have all the 
current Adobe programs on both the Mac and PC. Some do prefer the PC, 
but most people in the graphics environment seem to prefer the Mac.

I do almost all my work now exclusively on the PowerBook and have for 
the last several years. You get used to the smaller screen. I use 
wireless at home thru our cable provider and at work thru our phone 
service provider and there are no problems switching back and 
forth...it does it automatically. The wireless at work is slightly 
slower than being directly connected to the Ethernet network, but 
only slightly. If I have a larger file to upload or download (meaning 
100 megs or more) I just plug into the network and it switches over 
automatically. Wireless at home on the hammock is pretty nice!

This is something you'd like. My PowerBook came with iLife, which 
includes GarageBand:

http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/

Not sure if it comes free on the iBooks, but it's not that expensive. 
Go to the Apple store in the Mall of America and try one out.

Hope this helps...

--Gregg

ps: If you really would like to use "the significant new programs 
that are now available first for the PC", you can always install 
SoftPC and run them on your Mac. I used to do that, but don't find 
the need anymore.

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