Blake’s Code Studio

A screenshot captured using my MacBook with the following shortcut: Command (Apple key) + Shift + 4.

I have installed Windows XP using Apple’s Boot Camp and created a dedicated NTFS partition. Some people might suggest using FAT32 but I must disagree. This is more so if you are like me, living in a multi-racial country and being expose to all kind of culture. In short, NTFS uses Unicode file names while FAT32 doesn’t. I got lots of mp3s in Unicode filenames… yes I might not be using them in Windows XP but… just in case. After installation, go ahead and do all the necessary Windows Update.

I couldn’t wait, so I purchased a license for Parallels Desktop for Mac. Forget about the extended blabla thingy which will cost you an extra USD$6.99 on top of the usual USD$79.99. You don’t need it, trust me. After that, don’t bother downloading from the link they provided. Because it’s a link to the VERY OLD stable version… download the RC3 release instead. Which is stable enough for me anyway, and the additional features are great. Follow the instruction provided for installation.

Alright, setting up a Virtual Machine using your existing Boot Camp partition might be a little tricky. You must select the custom option instead of the express option. Follow the instruction, and everything else will fall into place. But if you are like me, who encounter a problem with “parallels desktop cannot find necessery drivers to configure your boot camp”, checkout this thread to overcome your problem. Basically you need to copy sp2.cab (if you are using Service Pack 2, which you SHOULD!) from an existing Windows system to your Boot Camp’s Windows. Make sure you have at least 1GB of RAM in your MacBook and assign at least 512MB RAM to your Windows XP VM. I can’t imagine running Windows with any less.
After all is well and done, you will see the screenshot above. Below are more shots… =)

A screenshot in windowed mode.

The super cool Coherence mode. Look at how my Messenger Live just float on my Mac! I was searching up and down for a Messenger Live which works well in Mac (Video Cam and blablabla), now I don’t have to!

We are so used to Microsoft Office, well… how about running Microsoft Word 2007 with all it’s glory in a sexy looking MacBook! Yes yes yes, you can run Microsoft Project…. Visio….I guess you are running out of excuse NOT to switch to a Mac right?

If you look carefully at my screenshots you will notice that I have installed avast! antivirus (it’s free for home use btw). Yes the virtualization works so well, that it “virtualize” the viruses as well. It won’t infect your Mac partition but it’s not nice to email an infected file to you friend. So basically, I am using my Mac OSX to do my web surfing, blogging, emailing… and I use Parallels to run Messenger Live to keep in touch, and Microsoft Office suite to stay productive. I would probably swap my 512MBx2 for a 1GBx2 RAM. Why? Cause I still find it easier to do programming and testing using Windows.

A big thanks goes to Yen for helping me bring back a MacBook I purchase from Amazon.com. I gave my Dell 700m(not in production anymore) to my brother when he went to Chicago for his 2+2 degree program. After comparing the prices for a portable Laptop (under 14″), the updated MacBook with the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor is the most value for money.

There aren’t many laptops which falls under the 13.3″ size category. I have seen 15″ laptop in action, which is too big, and my previous Dell 700m (12″) is a little too small for my programming work. So, I am left with the new 13.3″ laptops. I did some research on the Sony Vaio C Series, the size is great, the design is not bad but it fails in term of specs and screen quality.

Sony VGN-C15GP
The 2.0GHz MacBook (MA700LL/A) is the one I got. I didn’t want to pay a premium for the black but it will sure fits well with my Black Perudua MyVi car :D. I am gonna compare this particular model of MacBook with the Sony C Series. There are 2 different specification in the C Series; VGN-C13G and the better VGN-C15GP. The main difference between this two Sony laptop is one comes only with a integrated Intel GMA950 graphics processor (same with MacBook) while the other comes with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400. Ok, I will just go down to business and list down the difference between the MacBook (MA700LL/A) and the SONY.

1. Both comes with Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Sony uses the 1.66Ghz 2MB cache, while my MacBook uses 2.0Ghz 4MB cache. On top of that, Vitualization Technology is NOT support in the Sony’s Intel processor! MacBook 1: Sony 0.

2. Sony, 512MB 533Mhz DDR2 Memory. MacBook? 1GB 667Mhz DDR2 Memory. The processor bus in Sony is running at 667Mhz, but their Memory Bus is 533Mhz… will there be a bottleneck there? I don’t know. All I can say is, 512MB is NOT enough to run Windows XP in a productive environment. Why? Cause in Windows XP, you need to be running AntiVirus, Anti-Spyware… and all those other applications. MacBook 2: Sony 0.
3. Sony comes with a built-in memory cards reader. MacBook does not. This is a bit sad, I think the next version of MacBook will come with a memory card reader. MacBook 2: Sony 1.

4. I have personally seen the display screen of Sony C Series and I am not impress. It looks dull and you better be viewing it straight on. The MacBook screen doesn’t look as good as my LG 17″ Flatron Slim but it’s better than Sony C Series definitely. MacBook 3: Sony 1.

5. MacBook comes with iSight! That’s a webcam by the way. In my opinion, laptops nowadays should come with built-in webcam. It looks ugly if we get an external one. MacBook 4: Sony 1.

6. With friends and family overseas, we all loves Skype. MacBook comes with built-in microphone. MacBook 5: Sony 1.

7. Sony comes with ExpressCard slot for expansion. Is this slot useful? Normally I just use USB for everything. But well, MacBook 5: Sony 2.

8. MacBook comes with Gigabit (1000) network port, Sony’s only (100). MacBook 6: Sony 2.

9. Sony has built-in modem. I like this one. With Malaysia’s unreliable broadband, using the good old dail-up did saved me in a number of occasions. MacBook 6: Sony 3.

10. Sony VGN-C15GP comes with dedicated graphic card, good for running Windows Vista. MacBook, well… I don’t need it. If you play games, this will be useful. But if you really want to play games, why use a 13.3″ laptop?? MacBook 6: Sony 4.

11. Design and Cool factor. This may be subjective…. but I am pretty sure most of us will give this vote to MacBook. MacBook 7: Sony 4.

Ok that’s enough. Final score, MacBook 7: Sony C Series 4. Seriously, if you want to compare value for money, MacBook is really the obvious choice. You are worried about not being able to run your favorite Windows program? Check out Parrallels Desktop for Mac! The Coherence feature will blow your mind away. My friend know the Malaysia’s distributor, so you can let me know if you want a copy. Not free la of course. Or you could use Apple’s free Boot Camp software. In the next few weeks, I will try to get a copy of Parrallels and use Boot Camp as well. Parrallels supports Boot Camp, so you don’t need two copies of Windows.

Ok enough of comparing…. here is first few things I did when I got my MacBook.

1. Run Update. =)

2. Replace Safari with Firefox.

3. I realise my MacBook was running quite hot, I was worried that it’s because Malaysia is using 240V … but the power adapter support 100V-240V… so technically it should be fine. I installed a temperature monitor anyway.

That’s it! It’s not easy to move away from Windows because we are so used to it. We also have Windows application which we depend on. But with Parallels and Boot Camp, it is easy to move away from PC (IBM campatible) to Mac hardware. =)
Mac being expensive is now a myth and if you just want to surf the web, chat with friends and chill at Starbucks… MacBook is the way to go. You are hearing all this from someone who have been using Microsoft since the first 286 processor.