New Mac and Snow Leopard

For about the last 6 months, I have been debating when and if to get a new laptop. See, my laptop is a huge tool for me...I am on it at least a couple of hours daily, usually more, surfing the web, writing email, reading news, chatting, and all kinds of other things. And I will be back in class this week, which means more papers, web assisted discussions and the like.

The week before last, I had to take a cab home from CSP one afternoon, and I decided to detour to the mall because I needed some pants. While I was there, I decided to pop in the Apple Store for the second time in a month to look at new MacBook Pros...and I finally caved. The combination of a free iPod Touch and interest free financing got me and I walked out with a new 13 inch, 2.53 Ghz MB Pro...and I love it.

My one complaint though, has been with Snow Leopard. I was sent an upgrade for $10 through their "Up to Date" program, and while there are some improvements, there are also flaws:

1. I spent over 45 minutes on the phone with AppleCare on Friday to solve a problem with my screen going black and the computer becoming unresponsive during installation. Turns out the install disc is designed to run with factory presets, and because I had dimmed my screen slightly it didn't properly respond.

2. My HP DeskJet will not work with the new OS. HP claims the model is supported, but Apple doesn't have the drivers available yet and rumor is it could be weeks or months before they are. Completely maddening, stupid, and may make it necessary for me to buy a new printer because I refuse to be without for that long.

So...verdict is:

MacBook Pro rules, but if your machine is not preloaded with Snow Leopard it may be to one's benefit to wait a month or two to upgrade...let them get the bugs out.

Upgrade Time

Last night I upgraded my MacBook to Leopard.

Fun stuff.

Why Apple Care is Worth It

The other night I was burning CDs and got a sudden error message. My drive stopped reading CDs entirely, all it did was spit them out.

Yesterday I spent an hour plus on the phone with Apple, and made an appointment to visit my local Apple Store tonight. They quickly diagnosed that my SuperDrive motor had burned out, and luckily had a replacement in stock. The repair was done in a half an hour.

As an added bonus, they cleaned my machine up and replaced the top case, which had become stained, as is somewhat common with white MacBooks.

Cost for all this? $0

Lesson? Go for Apple Care extended warranty up front, it will pay for itself when the inevitable happens and something needs fixing.

Apple's MacBook Air

Today, Apple released several new products. Among them is a super thin new laptop dubbed "MacBook Air"

The laptop looks neat and is indeed ultra-portable, but I have to wonder if it will appeal to very many average consumers, at least initially. The price is significantly higher than other MacBooks, and there is no optical drive or wired ethernet connection point. So, unless you've got wireless AND a second machine to use simultaneously while installing software and etc. you're out of luck.

Cool product indeed, but I doubt it will be an instant "must have" like iPhone.

BSU Mac Project Gets Major Buzz

Last year, my alma mater began making the transition to an all-Mac campus. Some recent articles on the topic:

Apple Education-Bemidji State University

Campus Technology-BSU Standardizes on Apple Hardware for Dual Boot Initiative

Pretty cool, in my opinion.

(Note: This is the 600th post on "Berne's World")

MDN: Business School Goes All Mac

Not long ago I noticed this article on MacDailyNews:

SMU Cox School of Business dumps PCs for Apple Macs

This is interesting to me, as BSU has been considering a similar move...the SuperLab is already all Mac. As the article suggests, the Mac switch provides the most options for users.

A smart move by SMU Cox.

Report: Apple Mac on the Rise Among College Students

Recently saw this on MacDailyNews:

Apple Mac on the rise among U.S. college students

According to a recent survey by SurveyU.com, Dell is currently the most popular computer brand among college students while Apple is building momentum due to the strength of their student purchase program and the halo-effect of the iPod.

SurveyU is a survey research organization that has established a representative panel of college students within the United States who share their opinions on a wide range of issues. The SurveyU community has been meticulously constructed within the United States. Our bottom-up methodology enables levels of accuracy on campus, state, regional and national levels that were previously impractical - either online or offline.

The success of Apple’s student program is a significant contributor to its on-campus momentum, with more than 4 out of 5 (83%) of Mac-owning students having purchased
their Mac under a student plan that includes an iPod with Mac computers sold to students. Slightly less than a third (30%) of Dell’s collegiate sales are made under a student plan, while the remaining computer manufacturers have not fully leveraged the power of student purchase programs.

The impact of the iPod on computer purchase decision-making is undeniable, with current iPod owners more likely to be current Mac users (29% versus 23%) as well as future Mac purchasers (52% versus 44%). Computer brand choice varies by gender, with female collegians more likely to choose Apple, Sony and Toshiba and male college students preferring Alienware, Dell and Lenovo brands. College students are mobile and their choice of desktop versus laptop reflects their demand for portability. More than 4 out of 5 college students use a laptop as their primary computer.

“US College students have spent an average of $1,290 on their computers, resulting in more than $22 billion spent by those currently in college.” said Dan Coates, co- founder of SurveyU, in the press release. ‘”Given that colleges are swelling to accommodate the massive Millennial generation, PC manufacturers would do well to get in front of this critical consumer segment."

One thousand online interviews were conducted between Thursday, October 18th 2007 and Sunday, October 21st, 2007. Respondents participate in the SurveyU panel of U.S. college students which has been meticulously constructed to represent college students nationally. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic composition of college students nationwide according to statistics published by the NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics).
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When I was selling Macs at BSU I did indeed notice more people switching over from PCs, as I did myself a little over a year ago. Apple is definitely doing something right reaching the college market.

Why I Own a Mac

In addition to Matt's extravagant sweater admission, Froyd also addressed his preference for PCs on my post regarding Mac OS X Leopard:

"you could save that money and spend it on a computer that is more substance than hype...like, I don't know, a PC?"

I have talked before about why I own a Mac, I believe. As most of you know I was a Gateway Guy at one time.

Some reasons why I made the switch:

• I can do anything I used to do on my Windows based machines as well or better on my Mac.
• My MacBook is sleek, lightweight and super-portable when it needs to be.
• Macs are easy to use.
• Macs play nice with networks.
• The Mac OS is stable and less apt to contract viruses...unlike Vista, which by most accounts is one of Microsoft's bigger messes.
  
• Apple, Inc. supports education
• Mac hardware is built to last, and when it does go down, the customer service and support is strong.
• Yes, Macs do look cool.

And of course, the Mac can act like a Windows based PC if the user so chooses. If that is not substance I don't know what is.

I Want Leopard

Yesterday Apple announced that OS X 10.5 Leopard arrives Friday the 26th.

Occasionally I find myself wanting the next big thing. This is one of those occasions. Sure, my trusty MacBook works well now, but I want to be totally up to date. I want to play with the new features.

Problem: the $200 pricetag. (I would buy the multi user version to bring the parents' house iMac up to date as well)

It seems a bit of an extravagance to spend $200 on new software when I'm unemployed and not exactly flush with cash. Still, the devil on my shoulder says "treat yourself, you rarely do" and it is taking major willpower not to go visit the Apple Store online and place an order.

Another Convert

I want to welcome Steph to the wonderful world of Mac.

The grass is greener in the "Apple Orchard", isn't it?

MSUSA's 40th, Other News

Attended the MSUSA reception last night. It was good to see folks again...some for the first time in over a year...fun to catch up. I was reminded, as always, what an excellent group of students, alums and staff they've got. I put a lot of myself into that organization over the course of five years, did a lot of great things and met great people in the process.

In other news:

• Realized I left a couple of folks out of the list when I redid my links. Should be fixed now.
• Discovered The Apple Blog...check it out.
• In other Apple news, the iPod Hi-Fi is dead. Personally, I found it to be overpriced, bulky and only OK sounding. Obviously, people shared my view or they would have bought it. Declaring it "end of life" is a smart move by the company.

New iPods

Apple released new iPods today. They look pretty cool.

Check Them Out.

Apple's New iMacs

Check out a review:

iMac Gets A Makeover

See it:
Apple

News Flash...iPods and Lightning Don't Mix

Experts Warn of Lightning Strike Injuries With iPods.

You mean I'm not supposed to use an electronic device in a storm?

DUH!

My Parents Enter the 21st Century

After months of talk, Mom and Dad are FINALLY getting a new computer! And they settled on an iMac as a replacement to our junker PC that hasn't worked in years. And with it, they will leave dial up behind. The Christiansens are going hi-speed.

An excellent choice, if I do say so myself.

Catching Up: Round One Successful

In the week since I last posted...

Teaching:

True show time was Thursday…my first full lesson of my own design with both sets of 9th graders, and the first observation by my University Supervisor in 4th.

Both periods went pretty well, although I did make some minor changes to 4th based on what happened in first. Overall, I got pretty positive comments, and we discussed some things to work on:

-Timing: too little group time in first, but almost too much in 4th.
Interaction-Because I stand to the left of the overhead and lean on that desk, I sometimes don’t give that side of the room enough attention…we came up with a couple of strategies to combat this.

I also realized 4th hour might have been more responsive because I have been in front of them three times this week, whereas today was my first experience teaching first. The class that is more familiar with me probably was more comfortable responding.

Big surprise? How quickly a period goes by when you are actually doing the teaching.

Today was an inservice day...I enjoyed the sessions I attended on Apple Universal Access and podcasting. Keynote speech was kind of dull.

T-minus one week until I take over 9th grade on a daily basis. Yikes.

Senate/MSUSA:
Had a good conference in Winona, although it was not without the requisite bumps that always seem to accompany them. I always enjoy seeing my colleagues. Having the day off on Friday was also nice as I was able to catch up with campus errands and visit with Pat about my thesis, and also with Mark.

iPhone

Yesterday, the folks at Apple unveiled the much anticipated iPhone. An intriguing product, to be sure, even to folks like me who question the need for "smart phones."

The three biggest problems:
1) Cingular Wireless...have not heard good things about them.
2) The $599 price tag
3) The fact it isn't even available till June.

Not So Mighty?

Last night, the scroll ball on my Wireless Mighty Mouse quit working.

This morning I spent an hour on the phone with Apple.

They are sending me a new mouse.

Hopefully it will be mighty enough to last more than a couple of months.

Back on Mac

Yes folks, it's official. I am now a true "Mac Stud" as opposed to the "Gateway man" I was in the early days of this blog. After contemplating the purchase of a MacBook since their release in May, I got a deal I couldn't pass up and brought home my shiny new laptop yesterday.

What promted the switch?

• I used Macs until 10th grade and have always liked them.
• I realized I don't do anything on my computer that can't be done on a Mac.
• I worked on Mac on an almost daily basis for 2.5 years in the Ed Lab.
• I am friends with Cody, Bob, and John...all of whom have told me of the virtues of Mac.
  
• I've been selling them to people since January...once you've pitched the ups and downs of Mac vs. PC you start to develop an idea of what you believe to be the winner.

And...they're solid products that are just plain cool.