Couple of questions from new Mac Customer

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DonkeyKong

115 posts

Master Geek

#19852 3-Mar-2008 18:18

Hey

Just a couple of quick questions.

I'm interested in getting a MAC, I want the MacBook Pro or the Black Macbook.

I'm still deciding on which one I prefer.

The questions I want to ask are
1.I use my PC and connect it to my Sony Bravia LCD 32", I'm assuming that I need a adapter to do this. Hs anyone had any problems doing this, is it as easy to set up on a MAC as a PC?

2.I like to download video files from the likes of Utorrent. Will I still be able to do this on a MAC using video formats such as Avi and the different audio codecs needed to download to use on a PC?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm almost 100% positive I'm going to buy from Toshbuy.com they seem fantastic.

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Seriuously...........huh?

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36 posts

Geek

#114451 3-Mar-2008 21:52

DonkeyKong: Hey

Just a couple of quick questions.

I'm interested in getting a MAC, I want the MacBook Pro or the Black Macbook.

I'm still deciding on which one I prefer.

The questions I want to ask are
1.I use my PC and connect it to my Sony Bravia LCD 32", I'm assuming that I need a adapter to do this. Hs anyone had any problems doing this, is it as easy to set up on a MAC as a PC?

2.I like to download video files from the likes of Utorrent. Will I still be able to do this on a MAC using video formats such as Avi and the different audio codecs needed to download to use on a PC?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm almost 100% positive I'm going to buy from Toshbuy.com they seem fantastic.

0. It's Mac, not MAC - it doesn't stand for anything. For some reason reading MAC is way more irritating than it should be. Irrational, but there you go :-)

1. Just plug it in and it'll go. Presumably your monitor (or is that a TV?) has a DVI port so there you are - a nice digital signal. For the MacBook you'll need a Mini-DV adapter; this might come with the machine, I don't know.

2. Yup. Transmission is a good torrent client; there are others too, some with more features. For playback you want Perian, which gives Quicktime (and therefore iTunes and Front Row) the ability to play lots of stuff. There's also VLC. Both are free.

I don't know anything about toshbuy - their prices certainly look good but I'd be checking them out thoroughly before using them instead of Apple online. That claim about the worldwide warranty is interesting - it used to be only portables that had worldwide coverage.

Anyway, thank goodness that there's competition and we're not back in the bad old days of price gouging by Renaissance & co. But I digress.

chiefie

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#114460 3-Mar-2008 22:19

My suggestion is to get directly from Apple online store, not only you'll get the updated version but they also have it in stock and ready to deliver, with free shipping.

As for the display output to TV, you will need DVI-HDMI (for MacBook Pro) or mini-DVI to DVI and get a DVI-HDMI converter (for MacBook). If the TV has VGA, then you will need DVI-VGA (for MacBook Pro) or mini-DVI to VGA (for MacBook).

As for torrent client, any Mac-compatible be fine, and for playback, there are quite a handful of players which can easily support the widely use CODEC. VLC is one of the common ones, then there's DIVX/XIVD codec to download and playback in their respective player too.

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chiefie

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#114461 3-Mar-2008 22:21

Oh another thing... it is worthwhile to get Apple care pack for MacBook Pro (I think it's around $690 something) for 3-years full extended warranty directly from Apple for any fault or services which is a good protection to any unimaginable problem.

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DonkeyKong

115 posts

Master Geek

#114462 3-Mar-2008 22:24

Ahhhh that makes alot more sense.
Thanks for your answers

But I will continue to call it a MAC it stands for MUCH AWESOMER than my old COMPUTER :)

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Seriuously...........huh?

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lyall

36 posts

Geek

#114486 3-Mar-2008 23:39

DonkeyKong: Ahhhh that makes alot more sense.
Thanks for your answers

But I will continue to call it a MAC it stands for MUCH AWESOMER than my old COMPUTER :)

Heh, fair enough then.

Ditto on the AppleCare - prices for repairs and parts are scary. Good for the resale value too - AppleCare is transferrable. You don't have to buy it immediately - any time within 12 months of purchase.

I'd stick with digital (HDMI/DVI) unless a VGA input is your only option.

Fossie

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#114492 4-Mar-2008 00:16

I'd use azureus instead of transmission. More control.

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DonkeyKong

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Master Geek

#114602 4-Mar-2008 16:31

Yea I was always going to go with the Apple warranty plan.

No doubt about it, I got a extended warranty for my Laptop I got from harvey norman which is a PC andit faulted after a year and they replaced the whole thing

After looking at DSE and Noel Leeming today, I am going to go with the 24" iMac 2.4Ghz, 2GB Ram, 500GB HD etc.

Such a great deal for the money.

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Seriuously...........huh?

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MattD

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#115024 6-Mar-2008 17:15

DonkeyKong:
I'm almost 100% positive I'm going to buy from Toshbuy.com they seem fantastic.

Keep in mind that Tosh are parallel importers.

Also with the amount of authorised resellers recently offering 10%, you may even get it cheap, without shipping costs, and supporting the local region.

DonkeyKong

115 posts

Master Geek

#115035 6-Mar-2008 19:15

Thanks for that, after looking around a bit, I've decided to just buy online at the NZ apple store.

I can get my own configuration and free shipping stright to my house, so I would rather do that.

if something goes wrong with the unti where do I return it to? Is Magnum the Applecare warranty service centre inCHCH?

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chiefie

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#115039 6-Mar-2008 20:00

You'll contact Apple directly then they will let you know where to send to for warranty work. Be easier to deal directly with Apple for all your Apple Care.

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eeb41039

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Master Geek
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#115116 7-Mar-2008 08:54

RE: a mac bittorrent client, I still find azureus to be a bit of a pig on the mac, Transmission is good but way less control/features as Fossie mentioned.

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MattD

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#115123 7-Mar-2008 09:26

DonkeyKong:
if something goes wrong with the unti where do I return it to? Is Magnum the Applecare warranty service centre inCHCH?

First call is phone support with AppleCare. For repairs I have used Magnum Mac in Christchurch and Dunedin and for me their service has been outstanding!Twice they have got me out of a real jam with timely response and flexibility in service :) Thanks to all involved.

DonkeyKong

115 posts

Master Geek

#115699 10-Mar-2008 12:24

Hey another thing I want to know is,
I am on telstraClear LightSpeed 40GB 10Mbps download speed which ROCKS!

I'm using a Belkin Wireless G router.
After Looking at the Airport Extreme basestation, is that a better option over what I have?

Also any word if it will run with My xbox 360 and N95?

I heard it would be a little faster than the current one I have but the reviews on the Apple website are not that great.

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freitasm

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#115700 10-Mar-2008 12:26

It's no use to have 54 Mbps or 108 Mbps wireless router if your Internet connection is only 10 Mbps. It will not increase your Internet access. It's good however if you have more than one machine using wireless, or if you frequently transfer large files across (which I would recommend do over a ethernet connection any time).

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DonkeyKong

115 posts

Master Geek

#115806 10-Mar-2008 18:15

Well we currently have 2 Laptops running of the Belkin router and usually ny N95 and xbox is always on and they also use wi-fi

What difference would it make?

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