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Up to Discussions in Portable Macs
13 Replies Last post: Oct 8, 2007 1:13 PM by Typhoon14  
Click to view mariailona's profile New Member
mariailona
13 posts since
Jul 28, 2007
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Jul 28, 2007 9:00 AM

When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I am wondering when I should buy my new Macbook, and if I should get any upgrades.

I am a teacher, will be new to Mac, and am looking to buy my Macbook sometime by the end of Sept. I will be using it mainly for work (documents, possibly spreadsheets) and internet use, with some minor photo-editing and iTunes use. I do intend to be working abroad within the next few years, and would like it to last at least four to six years.

Reading different posts, I am a little confused about whether I need to upgrade memory, hard drive or anything else. I am currently considering the Macbook 2.16 Ghz, mainly because I want to be able to burn dvds as well as cds (as I can on my desktop). Any thoughts?

Am I better off buying it before the educator's discount (free nano, etc.) expires mid-Sept, and using the time to get used to the OS X environment? Or should I wait until Leopard comes out? Would I miss out if I don't get Leopard? I won't be upgrading to Leopard if I buy now. Or is there a significant chance the Macbook prices will drop after Leopard's release?

On a different note, on my current pc, I have software called Deep Freeze installed, which I love. It is not an antivirus program, but essentially (as I understand it) restores my hard drive to its initial 'frozen' state with every reboot. (I can turn it off to load new software, then turn it on again.) This program has kept my Windows environment relatively problem-free. Since I will be running Windows to access my years' of work in Word documents, will my MacBook be exposed to typical Windows problems? Should I install Deep Freeze in my MacBook?

I can't wait to get my first Mac!
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Click to view MacCheetah3's profile Old Hand
MacCheetah3
6,635 posts since
Apr 2, 2001
1. Jul 28, 2007 9:19 AM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Hi
If you want it to last, you'll definitely want to get a 2.16GHz model. There aren't usually price drops in the Apple realm. Apple usually just replaces a model with something better and keeps the same price. You can keep an eye on the Special Deals section of the online Apple Store for discounted items but than you can't get the perks like free iPod or other promotions.

If you install Windows, you can certainly install your Deep Freeze program on the Windows side if it makes you more comfortable. A note about your use. There is M$ Office for the Mac and there are free alternatives like NeoOffice. So, if this is the only reason you feel you need Windows, I'd suggest getting the Mac OS X native version.

Upgrades, the 120 and 160GB hard drives in the 2.16GHz models should do you fine, I would think but does depend on the sizes of your current music and photo libraries. The 1GB of memory that's standard seems to do a good job but if you can afford it, 2GB wouldn't hurt if you plan to use multiple applications simultaneously on a regular basis.

Leopard... I feel it has some very cool and very useful changes / additions from Tiger but you be the judge for yourself...

Apple - Mac OS X Leopard

Apple has a significant gallery of videos, photos, and text on Leopard features.

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com
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Click to view radnuf's profile Member
radnuf
231 posts since
Oct 3, 2006
2. Jul 28, 2007 4:02 PM in response to: MacCheetah3
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
I agree. I just got the MacBook 2.16 model with Tiger. It will do everything you want and then some.

Don't know about Deep Freeze.
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Click to view sandbagger's profile New Member
sandbagger
155 posts since
Dec 3, 2003
3. Jul 28, 2007 4:35 PM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
unless the education "discount" is larger on the hardware than I remember, don't bother waiting. You can do better online - especially when you consider that you probably won't be paying sales tax. And discounts on bundled software, printers, cases, etc can add up to a lot more. How about Parallels for 10 bucks? That's what MacMall is offering, for starters. (I just bought a new MB Pro from MacMall.)

From what you've described, however, you don't need Windoze. Just get the "Student/Teacher" version of Office Mac and you'll be just fine. $100 at MacMall.
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Click to view moose_n_squirrel's profile Old Hand
moose_n_squirrel
2,852 posts since
Sep 16, 2004
4. Jul 28, 2007 4:55 PM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required?
I don't think Deep Freeze is on the Mac, but SuperDuper has a Sandbox feature that sounds similar.
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Click to view mariailona's profile New Member
mariailona
13 posts since
Jul 28, 2007
5. Jul 29, 2007 9:44 AM in response to: sandbagger
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Thanks for all the advice!

A few more questions - Is there a specific reason I should buy the teacher/student Os version of Windoze instead of just installing the XP home version I already have (purchased at a deep discount from my school board for a teacher's home computer)?

Does anyone have any experience with SuperDuper/Sandbox? One of things that I like the most about Deep Freeze is that it removes all my trails on the internet. Each visit to a website is like new. I prefer it this way. (I am guessing that this has to do with removing/erasing cookies - but it seems more in-depth than that). I don't like data-gathering, etc. Is SuperDuper similar?

Thanks again!!
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Click to view chrislaf's profile Member
chrislaf
328 posts since
Feb 16, 2001
6. Jul 29, 2007 11:03 AM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
mariailona,
I'm also a teacher. I work in Barrie. I recently purchased a Refurbed MacBook in May from the apple online store. My wife, also a teacher, purchased her refurbed MacBook in February. Both of us got our MacBooks for deep discounts (even better than the educational discount). My wife's MacBook is a 1st generation, mine a second generation. You're looking at a third gen one.

If I was you, I would not wait to buy. If you buy before school starts you can get your system set up now and work out any transition problems you may have. Also, the money you save buying a refurb could be used to upgrade to Leopard when it comes out or purchase more memory.

As far as backup goes, I use SuperDuper and it works great. I backup my complete HD every night. Don't know anything about Deep Freeze.

Also, I use my MacBook everyday in my classroom (eTeacher, filemaker databases, etc.)

Hope this helps,

Chris
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Click to view jroller's profile New Member
jroller
98 posts since
Jun 26, 2007
7. Jul 29, 2007 11:18 AM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
I, too, am a teacher. I agree with the notion of looking at the refurbished models; it is something I regularly recommend as it is often overlooked. Great machines, often a great savings over the original list price. Go to the Apple store online and click on the Special Deals link on the right sidebar. As a new user, I would suggest these two sites to help you with the transition:

iSwitched (there is also a link to the refurb site here)
Switching to Mac

As for Deep Freeze, there is a Mac version.

iSwitched: A Guide for Switchers
AppleBytes: Apple Tees and more
Fix My Mac
Apple Buyer's Guide
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Click to view smax013's profile Old Hand
smax013
1,520 posts since
Jul 6, 2007
8. Jul 29, 2007 12:50 PM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Quote:<hr />
Thanks for all the advice!

A few more questions - Is there a specific reason I should buy the teacher/student Os version of Windoze instead of just installing the XP home version I already have (purchased at a deep discount from my school board for a teacher's home computer)?

Does anyone have any experience with SuperDuper/Sandbox? One of things that I like the most about Deep Freeze is that it removes all my trails on the internet. Each visit to a website is like new. I prefer it this way. (I am guessing that this has to do with removing/erasing cookies - but it seems more in-depth than that). I don't like data-gathering, etc. Is SuperDuper similar?

Thanks again!!

<hr />


I believe the previous poster was referring to the Student & Teacher version of Micro$oft Office...NOT the Windoze OS. There is no such thing as a Student & Teacher version of Windoze XP (the operating system). You can likely get educational discounts for Windoze XP Home or XP Pro, but there is not a seperate "version" for Students and Teachers.

The point of that person was that you don't need to run Windoze (in Parallels or VMware or Boot Camp) in order to access your old Word, etc documents from your old Windoze PeeCee. You can get the Mac version of Micro$oft Office (i.e. the Student & Teacher edition) and have complete access to all those old Word documents from your Windoze PeeCee.

With regards to your Deep Freeze question, if you primary reason for such a thing is the web browsing tracking/data retention bit, then you should be aware that Safari has a feature that is called Private Browsing. It basically wipes out your trail of browsing (i.e. cookies, web page history, etc). You can find some information on it here.

Member of the "Crazy Mac Users who run Anti-virus on their Macs" club - come join us and you too can be snickered at!
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Click to view mcbane666's profile Member
mcbane666
396 posts since
Mar 11, 2007
9. Jul 29, 2007 12:59 PM in response to: smax013
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Quote:<hr />
Quote:<hr />


With regards to your Deep Freeze question, if you primary reason for such a thing is the web browsing tracking/data retention bit, then you should be aware that Safari has a feature that is called Private Browsing. It basically wipes out your trail of browsing (i.e. cookies, web page history, etc). You can find some information on it here.

<hr />


FireFox Also has this Option
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Click to view mariailona's profile New Member
mariailona
13 posts since
Jul 28, 2007
10. Oct 7, 2007 10:15 AM in response to: mcbane666
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Just a quick note to say thanks for everyone's input!

I have purchased a MBP and am happily working my way around!!

In the end, I went with the 2.2ghz MBP bec I was going to upgrade the memory and processor anyway, and when the price went down with the release of the new 2.4ghz, it just seemed right. I am happier with the video card in this version as well.

All your advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks to all who contribute to this fabulous site - all the info available make a huge difference to newbies.
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Click to view Typhoon14's profile Old Hand
Typhoon14
2,152 posts since
Feb 2, 2001
11. Oct 7, 2007 1:51 PM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Deep Freeze is available and supported on the mac (all the macs on the campus network here use it). That said, you really shouldn't need it. In fact, you were using deep freeze in a rather unusual way. Deep Freeze is designed for network admins of public systems so that they can keep a huge number of machines in identical condition by preventing any lasting modifications, without introducing permissions that are so strict they prevent effective use of the machine. I really can't fathom using it on a personal machine. All those files you've been working on and saved? Gone forever the instant you restart.
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Click to view mariailona's profile New Member
mariailona
13 posts since
Jul 28, 2007
12. Oct 8, 2007 12:58 PM in response to: Typhoon14
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
It's good to have friends who know about computers. I had my drive partitioned so that documents, esp. Word and Powerpoint which are at low risk were saved onto a partition which was not frozen, and so Deep Freeze just wiped everywhere else except in that partition.

The unintended effect however, was greatly appreciated by me.

So far, I'm going without Deep Freeze or any anti-virus, although a colleague has me considering it.

cheers
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Click to view Typhoon14's profile Old Hand
Typhoon14
2,152 posts since
Feb 2, 2001
13. Oct 8, 2007 1:13 PM in response to: mariailona
Re: When to buy a Macbook? Is Deep Freeze required
Yes, you really don't generally have to worry too much about messing up your system. One thing that does get new mac users from time to time: Whatever you do, don't rename your "Home" folder (the folder with your username that contains things like documents, movies, etc). Apple has rather foolishly declined to do anything to prevent easy renaming of this directory. Renaming it will cause the system to be unable to locate your user settings, so that when you login, your files and settings will appear to be gone (nothing is actually lost, but restoring access can be a bit of a chore). That's one of the few instances I can think of where a new user could easily mess up their system inadvertently.
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