Laura

Wait until June if you're looking for a MacBook. The WhiteBook just got bumped today: - Processsor speed bumped from 2.0 GHz to 2.13 GHz. - RAM speed bumped from 667 MHz to 800 MHz. - Hard drive capacity increased from 120 GB to 160 GB. Build-to-order options up to 500 GB are now available, up from a previous maximum of 320 GB. Notably, the aluminum MacBook and MacBook Pro continue to offer maximum hard drive capacities of 320 GB. Still $999USD, $1599AU. The Aluminium MacBook/Pro should be updated during WWDC, June 8th-12th if this bump is any notion. People reported unplayable game FPS with GTA, though. I know the MacBook is capable of running Crysis and CS:S, if that's any indication, as I haven't found anything on the others (nor have I heard of them :P ). EDIT: Here's something you might like, should the current Pro's be to expensive if you're considering a Mac (although this one goes above your budget as well).

At the current time of writing, there are no viruses for the Macintosh. Most antivirus software only scan for Windows viruses, despite being on a Unix platform, alongside the small pool of trojans currently known. The chances of the user being infected with these items are too small, in my opinion, to warrant a decline in system performance. So long as a competent user is sitting at the computer and doesn't allow a random picture on the internet into the user's root files (which, if something other than an application asks for, you should be cautious) the user will be safe based on their own accord.

Which is why I suggested, should the OP want half the boot speed, to have a 32GB SSD with a larger HDD. The SSD for Windows and important files and the HDD for things like music and other documents.

Really? He can go to msconfig and deselect some startup programs, and it will make his windows load much faster. Also a defrag. The HDD is going to be the real bottleneck though. If he's serious about wanting fast boot times he might consider it; it was a suggestion. And if he just installed Windows there should be little need for defragmentation. My computer is fairly old, and I myself have had it at least a year and a half, almost two years, so I didn't just recently install windows. But, 17 seconds? Mine takes at least 5 minutes to boot up, and longer before I can get anything going... I was speaking about if and when you build a computer. :P Yeah, really fast boot times. My 5,400RP HDD gets me 38 seconds.

Really? He can go to msconfig and deselect some startup programs, and it will make his windows load much faster. Also a defrag. The HDD is going to be the real bottleneck though. If he's serious about wanting fast boot times he might consider it; it was a suggestion. And if he just installed Windows there should be little need for defragmentation.

I just dismantled an old laptop from the 90's running a Pentium II. I've asked this question before some two years ago but I wanted to know, now that the screen is disconnected from the motherboard, if there was any way I could use the screen as a stand-alone monitor. Something that could potentially convert the cables to a video input such as VGA. I'll gladly take some pictures of the cables when I find my camera if needed but my phone's 2MP doesn't do it justice. I don't suppose anyone knows of anything? The motherboard itself has a VGA input and output option. EDIT: The VGA output only has two rows of pins rather than three.

To increase your boot times into Windows you'll want a solid state drive. The boot time on my Mac was 17 seconds using the slowest OCZ Vertex which I had to RMA for stuttering. If you're going down the SSD path, I'd only recommend the OCZ Vertex with the with the newer Indilinx controllers. It would also be wise to make a boot drive+important files SSD drive alongside a larger HDD so that way you get the most value for your money. The cheapest OCZ Vertex at 32GB is $130 for 230MB/s read and 135MB/s write. If you're looking for straight performance, the Intel X25-E is the best on the market at 32GB for $393 with sustained read at 250MB/s and write at 170MB/s. Which, as the numbers don't show, has a much higher "random" read/write than OCZ. You'd also need a 2.5" to 3.5" enclosure. As it stands, it seems that both may be out of your budget.

What operating system? :P

Humans. Money is a good start, but it's only relative to what those around you have.

If by "two button mouse" you mean having a left and right click... that's exactly what the mighty mouse has, and has had for a couple years now. Yeah, but it's still a single button and you have to lift your left (or right finger) finger to initiate a secondary click, as was my understanding. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's not what most consumers usually conform to.

Many people have systems that require DDR and most memory manufacturers are A. making smaller quantities, B. holding them in response to demand, and/or C. moving onto future memory standards. I believe that it's a combination of all of them. Supply and demand.

Yes. If you payed $100 more to get a new Mac Mini, you would get more value for your money. You'd get a faster processor, better graphics performance, faster RAM, more hard drive space, a SuperDrive, new standards such as Mini DisplayPort, and a more energy efficient model (which would probably cover the cost of $100 over a ~two years). You'd get a much better experience on the latest generation. Even then, if you up the RAM to 2GB, you'll get x4 graphics memory versus the model that you're looking at. The 9400M tops Intel's solution by far. EDIT: I couldn't find the model you're looking for on Apple's website. I assume you're buying it somewhere else? This is the closest I found, but it has a smaller HDD.

Yes, no matter how you look at it. I'd suggest buying a new hard drive or solid state drive or perhaps just getting rid of old junk.

I strongly advise you don't download antivirus, actually. There are no viruses that currently affect the Macintosh and antivirus software only scans for Windows virus codes anyways. If you somehow allowed a trojan (because they can't work without your username and password, meaning that you have to know it's there) Norton or any other AV program wouldn't do any good. And no, they don't produce a two button mouse. A shame really, because lifting up your left finger to right click is a pain.

Am i the only one that thinks slippery surface+trampoline sounds incredibly dangerous? Guuuuys you make me sad. Who cares if it's dangerous if you can get girls in bikinis sliding around all wet and soapy in your garden?!?! You call yourselves men. :thumbdown: Women don't look so good covered in bruises and bleeding noses : , even if they are wearing bikini's. Say that I disagreed? *Waits for Adrenal*

What operating system do you use? For Windows, you could just open up Microsoft Word, paste the image and shrink it, keeping the aspect ratio while being rather simplistic. While I understand you already have the picture you want, it's an easy way to do it if you ever want to do it again.

Of course I do. I value my life over being fashionable.

I love trampolines, but they're extremely dangerous. You'd have to make your argument with an enclosed one. Netting or not, however, it can be very dangerous and I can see why your parents wouldn't buy you one.

Your hard drive failed (right?). There are two reasons to move on, A. it's a Dell and B. it's seven years old. I suppose you could just by a new HDD/SSD though.

All current Mac systems use 1066MHz DDR3 RAM and the iMac supports up to 8GB. Use the Crucial memory adviser as with the information we have now, we cannont determine what model you have. I am assuming the 2.66GHz 20" with the 9400M? To check click on the apple in the top left corner and select "About this Mac." Select "More Info," you should now see what the clock speed of your CPU is (EX: Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz). Take note on your following post and scroll down (on the left side) to "Memory." Paste it here (EX: BANK 0/DIMM0: Size: 2 GB Type: DDR3 Speed: 1067 MHz Status: OK Manufacturer: 0x802C Part Number: 0x31364A53463235363634485A2D3147314631 Serial Number: 0xDC4A1E86) Finally, just to confirm, scroll back up to graphics/displays and paste the GPU (EX: Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M) Or if you already know the model, just state so. I think this may be the RAM you need. I suggest downloading Adium (a IM service sans webcam support), Mercury Messenger (I believe it support iSight, but I couldn't get it to work), VLC Player (you don't need it if you download Flip4Mac and Perian), Flip4Mac (plays WMVs), ShadeScreen (assuming that you use a second external display other than the Apple Cinema Display), Safari Beta 4, and Perian (another codec for QuickTime). I don't have any others, but my tastes may differ. Oh, and CandyBar if you want to mess with the dock/icons. By the way, are you using Might Mouse? It is corded/cordless? How is the accuracy and overall feel?

Mind if I ask what type/model bag it is? I wouldn't mind a new one. As mine only had three headless pockets with a main laptop compartment meant for a 15" laptop (mine is 13.3").

The reason is it's a guy pretending to be a girl :wall: I've always wanted to be a fighter pilot for the airforce, but that's pretty unlikely, so I don't think I'll be doing anything with the military. Yeah, so I heard. :P

I'm wondering if the word "limited" was used intentionally. If so, then I would like to hear the reasoning behind it.

Everyone here now says to confront him directly. I'm wondering the percentage who actually would. It's not that easy for a lot of people, myself being one of them.

Eh, I like the new haircut. It makes him look more mature. :D