Waiting for my MacBook Pro…
Well, I did it! 30th of April I placed my order for the new MacBook Pro 13″ in Apple’s online Store.
The line-up was refreshed the 13th of April, with better batteries and GPUs. The more expensive 15″ and 17″ models have got Core i5 and Core i7 dualcore CPUs now, while the 13″ range sticked with Core 2 Duo and got a little speed bump. All models now have 4 GB DDR3 memory by default.
My order
My order was for the 13″ model, since I need a portable notebook – and I really wanted a Mac. The price diff between a 13″ and a 15″ is 500 – 600 euros, which was outside my budget. So it was either getting the 13″ MacBook Pro or no MBP at all. A 15″ would have been great too, but this is why I went with the 13″:
- I don’t need a beefed up CPU/GPU, this notebook isn’t for gaming/video editing etc
- 500-600 euros for 26% more pixels (1280 x 800 vs 1440 x 900) isn’t worth it for me
- I don’t even have 500 – 600 euros extra to spend!
That’s why I ordered the 13″ model, but I increased the HDD size to 320 GB (instead of the stock 250 GB). This costed 39 euros or so and I couldn’t resist that!
<3
Dutch keyboard layout (NLD)
I noticed that when you buy a Apple notebook here in The Netherlands or order a default configuration online, you get a ‘Dutch keyboard layout’. Sounds fine eh? Well, it isn’t! Even though Dutch is our national language, all Dutchies here use the ‘USA/English’ layout. Differences are the enter, shift, tilde (~) keys and a few more. Even all laptop retailers here sell their laptops with USA/English layouts, but Apple doesn’t. To get the usual USA/English layout, you have to order a custom configuration (CTO / BTO) online. This also means that it will be built in Shanghai (China), so it takes a week or so before it ships.
So, my custom configuration consisted out of:
- MacBook Pro 13″ 2.4 GHz / 4 GB DDR3 / NVIDIA 320M
- 320 GB HDD instead of 250 GB
- USA/English keyboard layout instead of Dutch
Sleeve & spendings
Next to the notebook I also ordered a sleeve for 13″ MacBook Pros (Incase Neoprene sleeve, €39 euros). I got a student discount of 12%, so my total spending were €1085 euros. I’m fully aware that you can get a PC (Windows) laptop with better hardware specs for 50% of the money, but I wanted a Mac so badly after running it in dualboot / VMware and seeing it in the store etc. Mac OS X runs better on lower-specced hardware than PC laptops, because both the hardware and software (OS) are made by Apple. So the hardware is finetuned for the software and vice-versa. What I get now is a…
- Super portable, lightweight aluminium unibody Apple notebook with a 13.3″ LED-lighted screen
- Mac OS X, Apple’s operation system. I’ll dualboot it with Windows 7 though for when I need Visual Studio
- 10-hours battery (according to Apple, convert to real-world values… 7 – 8 hours, that’s ALOT)
- Multi-touch trackpad which is awesome, I have used it in the Apple Store and was amazed how awesome this is. Haven’t got a mouse with it, might connect a USB mouse for games
- Notebook sleeve (Incase Neoprene 13″)
Usage
This will be my first notebook (and first Mac) and I’ll be taking it to college (comp science) and where not. As I said, the order was placed the 30th. My bank payment was processed May 3rd and it shipped from Shanghai the 7th. The online Order Status says that it will arrive 21 – 22 May, but I expect that it will be sooner. Valve’s Steam (online gaming platform) will come to the Mac 12th of May, so when I finally get the laptop I’ll be sure to install Team Fortress 2 etc on it!
I can’t wait to receive the laptop and I’ll surely post more info on it when I get it. Heck, I’ll even make some pictures for you guys! 
I’d also like to thank all of you that have donated to me in the past weeks, these donations have greatly helped me in making this purchase. This notebook will be used for a long time before I pass it on to my brother/sister, so really: thanks guys! 
* Nils resumes F5′ing at the Order Status page
The fact that our staff…
did stock promotion over 60 years market trading and investing experience assures each and every client that we understand how to resolve various investor awareness, stock promoter and trading dilemmas….
Yet, as I read the report,…
I found the actions of an unnamed 28 year old graduate assistant very wrong, but sympathetic. Further, I found the actions of head coach Joe Paterno grossly wrong, but somehow reasonable. Both men, and many others, deserve whatever ramifications come t…
This applies to both renting a car and renting an automotive service…
When it comes time for you to formulate a budget for travel, it’s best to first prioritize by deciding what is most vital to you and what you possibly can reduce back on….
Others will likely be specified by totally different areas…
For instance, while some travelers would reasonably spend a more on a higher class of lodging, others would reasonably save money by staying at decrease priced inns or motels splurge on sightseeing or their food finances for the family….
Additionally examine the types of cars…
Most AAA offices promote discounted tickets for theme parks, museums and other points of interest inside driving distance, and most AAA workplaces sell discounted tickets to fashionable locations just like the Walt Disney World Resort, too….
abrades…
such a great information.Thanks a lot for this….
car stereo san diego…
If you should talk about pretty much everything there exists to convey within a issue you’re less likely to obtain folks putting their ideas mainly because you’ll have mentioned what they may have added….
Know the dimensions vehicle you’ll need…
Often you will see that nice offers on-line, similar to -for-one deals, free admission for youngsters, special diminished admission days, even discounts on food and lodging….
The first thing you have to to know is…
After getting a good idea of what you want to spend on each part of your journey, then it is advisable start buying round for the perfect deals….
With regards to selecting a car rental company…
The world of funds journey can be full of excitement and enchantment, and in our costly world in the present day traveling on a funds is changing into extra needed if you wish to journey at all….
Hi Webmaster,…
You need quality backlinks, so here is a affordable and potent solution – http://fiverr.com/cipango/give-you-12000-live-scrapebox-links-on-super-low-obl-blog-pages ….
Opine Honestly…
Put your thoughts and opinions with open heart. Pour out all your thoughts on the topic you are discussing. Your visitors are reading it because they want some good tips, tricks and resources from your post. When visitors are coming to your blog, it’s…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around online and found…
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing today I noticed a excellent article about…
Just rowsing…
BWhile I was browsing today I noticed a great article about…
late cruise offers…
While I was surfing yesterday I noticed a excellent post concerning…
Looking around…
I like to look in various places on the web, regularly I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
Youlanda…
I’ve to say that this may be a actually great looking weblog which is comparable to 1 that I wanted creating for me however the chap I asked needed way an excessive amount of money. Did you have this theme custom produced or possibly is it a premium t…
Anti Aging…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around online and found…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting information…
Acnezine user reviews…
Before you buy anything it’s a good idea to check what other people say about it. To see if Acnezine has worked for others….
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to piddeling around online and realized…
While {searching|browsing} Yahoo I {found|discovered} this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to messing around online and found…
Natural Swimming Ponds…
[...]further down you will discover the hyperlinks to a few website pages that we feel you’ll want to stop by[...]…
Proofread and Copy Edit…
Needless to say, before you click the publish button make sure you have checked the grammar, punctuations, commas and other mistakes in text of your post….
Tell your child’s teacher…
or caretaker about the infection so that extra steps can be taken to sanitize classrooms or day care centers….
Tummy tuck surgery…
is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image….
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really constantnly saying that its hard to procure good honest help, but here is…
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really forever saying that its hard to find quality honest help, but here is…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly saying that its hard to find quality help, but here is…
on a school with 400 students :…
There are actually plenty of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a great level to bring up. I offer the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you carry up the place crucial factor …
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly saying that its difficult to procure quality help, but here is…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate information but here I noted…
Looking around…
I love to browse around the internet, regularly I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
2012 Fashion ideas 12…
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I don’t think you can measure life in terms of years. I think longevity doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with happiness. I mean happiness comes from facing challenges and going out on a limb and taking risks…
Looking around…
I like to look in various places on the web, regularly I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Just Looking…
When I was browsing yesterday I saw a excellent post concerning…
Looking around…
I love to surf in various places on the online world, regularly I will go to Digg and follow thru…
Clearing up your internet image…
When it comes to search engines, businesses learned to be crucial to make a unpolluted general online persona in the realm you get with the world-wide-web….
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really forever saying that its difficult to find good honest help, but here is…
The group is also preparing for our weekend trip :…
Anson and the rest of the team Sounds like you are having an incredible experience. I am glad that Neuro has come in useful! Our thoughts and prayers are with you during the rest of your trip. RB…
I will share an exceptional story :…
Very important, accordingly, to ensure all untrusted written content of which kinds a natural part of an affiliate site turn out to be put using a distinct starting point rather than almost any susceptible content and articles upon which usually web pa…
Bing results…
While searching Bing I found this page in the search results and I didn’t think it match…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to piddeling around on the internet and realized…
News…
I was reading the Yahoo news and I saw this really interesting information…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
to 41% in 2005.” “Although online education…
continues to penetrate into all types of institutions, a relatively stable minority of Chief Academic Officers (28% in 2003 compared with 31% in 2005) continue to believe that their faculty fully accept the value and legitimacy of online education.” I…