When is a computer not a computer?
…when it’s virtualized! I’ve been experimenting with running Windows 2003 Server R2 via VMWare Fusion on my new MacBook Pro. So far, everything’s been running much more smoothly than I anticipated. However, I found that trying to run a server OS as a workstation OS is full of its own quirks (like having to fill in a reason/description every time you power off). I just (about two minutes ago) finished installing Windows Vista Ultimate via Boot Camp and am going to try Fusion’s new beta feature that allows running a Boot Camp partition as a VM. I’ll let you know how it works out!
Macbook Pro Impressions
My search for a new laptop ended abruptly yesterday, as I took a trip to the local Apple Store in the Burlington Mall (about 15 minutes north of Waltham on Route 95/128). After having read about so much awesome Mac software like MarsEdit (which I’m using to write this post), Coda (really cool one-page web development software from Panic), and OmniGraffle (think Visio, but much easier to use), I decided to take the plunge. I realize that there’s a Centrino 2 revision on the horizon, but at the end of the day, I figured the best of the present-day was fine for my purposes. Yes, I purchased a 15-inch Macbook Pro. 
The machine is pretty zippy, having the following specs:
- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo “Peryn” with 3MB L2 cache
- 2GB DDR2-667 RAM
- 200GB 5400RPM hard drive
- 1440×900 LED-backlit screen (matte finish)
- 802.11a/b/g/n wireless and Gigabit ethernet
- GeForce 8600GT-M with 256MB of VRAM
- Slot-loading DVD+/-RW burner
The first thing I noticed about the Macbook Pro was its all-aluminum construction. I’ve never used a notebook whose body was completely made out of metal (Lenovo’s high-end ThinkPads with their magnesium frames come the closest). It’s extremely solid, although the metal does tend to heat up more quickly than the plastics on my old notebooks have. The screen is the real shocker; this is the first LED-backlit panel I’ve used, and it is downright awesome. Not only is the screen super-thin (for something real crazy, go take a look at the Macbook Air in person), the colors are rich and the contrast and brightness are worlds-above what my X61 tablet could manage. I’m really liking the feel of the keyboard keys. There’s no flex to the keyboard at all, and when it’s dark in the room you’re typing in, the keyboard backlight automatically turns on to help you see. The only real issue I’m having has to do with my transition from Windows - I keep pressing Control-C/V/X to copy, cut, and paste (it’s Command-C/V/X on the Mac).
The speakers are better than the mono one on my old ThinkPad, but (as you might expect from a notebook with no subwoofer), they’re lacking in the bass department. I haven’t tried plugging in my headphones yet to listen for any line noise. The slot-loading DVD drive is a nice touch as well, but it’s pretty noisy, and I feared that my discs were getting eaten judging by the noises I first heard. Apparently, after some research, I found that slot-loaders DO tend to cause more wear on your discs after awhile. We’ll see how everything goes.
OS X is very shiny; there’s a lot more gloss spread around than there was on XP (or even Vista). I can see how the general experience is geared towards “creativity.” It’s almost like OS X is pushing you to just jump in and start making something (Apple has bundled movie, audio, and image creation apps right into the OS). I’m going to start playing around with GarageBand, so expect to see some horrible loop-generated music hitting the blogs soon!
I suppose my only real complaint so far is how expensive the 3rd party software is. Parallels (the virtualization software) runs $80 per copy, and other awesome apps like Apple’s iWork suite and Panic’s Coda run $80 per copy as well. I’d like to get copies of all of these things, but $240 is a lot of money for software.
So far, I’m liking what I’m using! I’ll keep putting up any additional thoughts as they come into my head.
The hunt for the new notebook
I just sold off my Lenovo X61 Tablet, and I’m in the market for a new notebook for home and school. The problem is that I’m torn. My inner gamer, having used only portable computers with crummy integrated graphics, is clamoring for something that could handle TF2 on the go. On the other hand, this thing is going to be moving all over the place, so I’d prefer something that didn’t have a 17 inch screen and weighed as much as a small elephant. I have something hovering around a $2000 budget, so I’m fairly flexible in what I could go with.
That being said, I basically have three options that I’ve narrowed myself down to.
The lightest (and also the most expensive) would be a new Sony Vaio Z-Series. It’s powerful, portable, and has discrete graphics that don’t completely stink. Not so sure about the very MacBook-like keyboard, but the quality certainly seems to be there.
The middle-of-the-road model (and likely the most inexpensive) would be a Lenovo IdeaPad U330. It’s not a slim or light as the Sony, but the keyboard is the rock-solid ThinkPad one (I love ThinkPad keyboards) and it’s pretty powerful. The only issue (apparently) is that the “mirror-like” screen can cause headaches.
And finally, the heaviest option (at 7 pounds) is a Clevo M860tu (aka Sager NP8660). The bang for the buck ratio here is simply incredible (this thing is basically better than my desktop, crammed into a laptop shell). The quality appears to be top-notch as well. Again, the only issue at the end of the day is the weight (really heavy).
In a perfect world, LG would sell their P300 in the United States, but (despite what they’ve said), that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon.
Thoughts?
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Katt and I went on a trip (with her family) to the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI today! While I didn’t remember having much fun at the zoo when I was a kid, it was actually really entertaining today. I brought my camera, and the better shots from my trip are up on Flickr. Take a look and let me know what you think!