Mac attack -- Time to start prosletising!

As I mentioned in the GQ thread where I wondered how accurate UPS’s delivery dates were, I bought a Mac PowerBook.

My original laptop computer is a screaming 133mHz. Not bad, for the time. I took it to Arizona with me when I visited my mom for Thanksgiving so that I could check my e-mail, read SDMB, etc. I could not check my e-mail. It’s still loaded with Win95, and its older version of Explorer will not support the encryption in my web mail service. It’s basically useless at the moment. (I can load a new OS. It will still have a slow processor, of course; but it would at least be usable.)

When I went to L.A. a couple of weeks ago, we really could have used a computer so that we could check for hotels, get directions, and so on. I’ve been meaning to get a new laptop, and this gave me some incentive.

I decided on a PowerBook. Why not a PC? The business I’m getting into uses Final Cut Pro to edit videos. FCP is for Macs. I want an iPod. May as well get a computer from the same company. The PowerBook will give me Internet access when I’m on the road, and it will also allow me some ability to edit. Today I bought a 200gb external drive, on which I can store the projects I’m working on.

The computer has Bluetooth, and so does my Motorola phone. Groovy. I can dial in (yes, I still have a dial-up – I don’t want to lose my webpage) from anywhere, or my friend can connect when we’re driving. But…

I haven’t been able to connect over the mobile phone. I linked both Bluetooth devices successfully, but could not connect. The local Mac gurus (where I bought the external drive) were unsure how to do it. We re-linked the computer and phone, and I entered the correct dial-in number. When we tried to connect, there was an error of some sort.

I was hoping to get the AirPort Extreme at the store, but they were out of stock.

I took the free iMac my friend gave me to see if they could get the modem to talk to the ISP. They said I’d have to check it into the shop. (Hey, I just bought a pricey piece of equipment; they could have at least given it a quick look. If it needed more time, I could have left it – but I just wanted a once-over.)

So the good thing is that I have the Mac, and I got the external drive. The bad news is that I cannot connect with Bluetooth using my mobile phone, they did not have an AirPort, and I still can’t connect with the iMac.

Re: Prosletising: There was a white-haired man there who lived on Whidbey Island. Gave the impression of someone who has a lot of money. Liked to talk. A lot. He did show me some neat stuff, but he just wanted to go on and on and on to the Mac Newbie. He actually did say at one point, ‘This is acting like a PC!’

I may have committed a faux pas. Someone told me to have fun with the new drive, and I pointed to my friend and said that he was going to make me work! Turns out that the guy has his own videography business. My friend offered him a 50% share in his own company at no cost (same as he did with me). Just bring his equipment (same as with me). Aparrently he’s not doing all that well, since he has to have a ‘real job’. Meanwhile, my friend has had to buy more equipment (including lots of stuff from this store) to keep up with business, the guy who does the DVD cover art has had to come in and get equipment from them, and here I come along and quip about being put to work! My friend said the guy was probably kicking himself for not jumping in when he had the chance.

And now, to load Final Cut Pro…

I got a Powerbook a couple of months ago, and it’s pretty amazing! I keep finding nifty new tricks. I’m not a new Mac convert–I’ve been using Macs for over 10 years. I do a lot of graphics work, so it makes more sense to use a Mac.

I’d like to say I don’t do Windows, but I have to use Windows at work, and I don’t like it very much.

I’ve had some problems with Bluetooth. I got a wireless mouse, and it was really easy to set up, but if I leave it on when I put the computer to sleep, Bluetooth crashes, so I have to turn Bluetooth off. There’s probably a solution to this, I just haven’t had time to find it yet. I’m too busy doing cool things with my Powerbook!

My friend loves Macs. They’re absolutely essential in his business. But he says that they are now so good for the administrative tasks. For example, he said that the Mac version of Excel doesn’t work as well as it does on a PC. He also mentioned (today) that he bought a Mac camera so that he can video-chat. He says that other Mac users have no problem seeing him, but the PC users sometimes can’t. I don’t know why that would be, if the images are standard format and are going through a server anyway.

The lack of Bluetooth connectivity bothers me. That’s one of the other reasons I opted for a Mac. I may have to take the computer and the phone to Cingular to see if they can work it out.

Am I the only one who hoped that this would be a thread extolling the virtues of Big Macs? :frowning:

:smiley:

I may be wrong here but I don’t think you’re supposed to use the Bluetooth connection to dial into your ISP.

I think you’re supposed to purchase an internet/data plan from your mobile phone company, and then the PowerBook should be able to access the internet through the cel l phone over Bluetooth.

Talking to your cell phone provider, as you suggested, would be the best option.

Another option is to buy an “Air Card” from, uh…I think it’s either Sprint or Verizon (I can look it up in the morning). It’s a PCMCIA card you put in the laptop, that directly accesses the mobile network. Better still: in some cities, it’s available in BROADBAND!! Granted, I think it costs something like $75 / month for the service, but that would be very, very cool to have.

I love my Mac, (and my Big Macs!) too…I’d love to get a PowerBook someday.

Good luck with your BlueTooth issue…

The way it’s supposed to work is that you choose Bluetooth to log on with the computer, and it dials the phone for you. There are two options: First is to use the mobile providor’s broadband service, and the other is to dial a specific dial-up number.

Wow, that’s pretty cool. So how does that work from a billing standpoint on your cell phone? When you dial into your ISP, are you just paying for your cell phone minute (as if it were a voice call), or does it require an extra plan of some sort?

If you get this working, let me know…if it doesn’t cost extra money, I might go that route myself.

According to Cingular when I asked them (before I got the laptop), it counts as a regular phone call.