MacBook Pro 13.3"

I bought one of those MacBook Pro's released earlier this year and I've got to say, although I'm a little behind, it's awesome. I basically got the cheapest version (1,199.00) and t works better than I imagined. Leopard did not disappoint. My transition from Windows to Mac was a swift and easy one. In as little as thirty (30) minutes I got used to my new everyday OS. "Finder" makes finding and using your apps and files much easier than does "Start", and my desktop can be both functional and uncluttered. Finder is also something that eases the transition from PC, by making it easy to find anything that is in your Mac, while stacks keeps your computer organized and an uncluttered desktop by keeping all your files at an easy reach without having to put them all in your desktop.

About the size and portability, this model exceeds in size, being so thin and having a screen that only measures 13.3", yet the weigh is a little off-putting. Because the machine is only 13" across, the weigh is not distributed making it feel a little heavier than it actually is. It's only about 5 lb, so it's really not that heavy, and when you put it in your backpack (or in my case a messenger bag) it feels pretty much like it's not really there. Something else I loved about this computer is that I can pretty much take it anywhere in campus and turn the thing off and on, not only leaving it on sleep, since I don't have to wait 5min every time I turn it on. When I used Vista I had to leave my laptop on (in sleep mode) so that I wouldn't have to wait the long time it took for it to reboot. That's a problem I have not yet had with my new MacBook Pro and I hope I never do. My PC has always (since day 1) been slow, it has always run Vista, and it has enough RAM for a Mac not to take long... but since Vista takes up so much, you barely have any resources left to have fun or do your school-related work. The PC's processor is dual-core, and has almost as much as my Mac's... but you can't make an Apple tree give you Peaches, I guess!

If you're thinking about getting a Mac, but can't afford one of the pricier ones, Apple always sells the refurbished older models for a fraction of the price. Almost as cheap as an HP laptop or something... okay... maybe not as cheap, but definitely closer to an affordable computer. On the other hand, if you have a slightly bigger budget, consider getting the 15" MacBook Pro, which in my opinion gives you most of everything. The 13" works better for people like me, who are still college students that need both a full laptop but at the same time small enough to be carried around so you can do your home-work or need to create apps for both Windows and Apple alike. A 17" MacBook Pro is a little more high-end for what I would mostly use it, and maybe I will need one some day but for now... I'll stick to my current 13" one. If you are planning on ordering it online (which is something I would do to avoid paying high tax rates, depending on which state you live in) I would suggest Apple.com considering you can also modify your laptop right there, unless of course you live in that place which Apple apparently hates (even though it has a pretty big fan base and large user number): Puerto Rico. If you are going to order from Apple's forgotten land, I would suggest ABT Electronics. They ship fast, are reliable, and treat their customers right. I had a wonderful experience with Abt and plan on using them as often as I can.