Comments on: Apple MacBook Pro 13" vs Acer Aspire One http://james.cridland.net/blog/apple-macbook-pro-13-vs-acer-aspire-one/ Radio futurologist and beer drinker Thu, 17 May 2012 16:38:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: William T http://james.cridland.net/blog/apple-macbook-pro-13-vs-acer-aspire-one/#comment-2348 William T Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:17:11 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/?p=1653#comment-2348 iCal does have plenty of keyboard shortcuts for jumping around (e.g. cmd-T for 'Today') - but I take your point. Its syncing with Google calendar is much better since Snow Leopard (really does 'just work'.) I highly recommend the 'Reminder' dashboard widget - you can just hit the dashboard option, ask it to reminder you about something in an hour / at a set time, hit return and its added - http://www.gravityapps.com/reminder/ Keynote is indeed excellent - I've just taken Apple's certification exams for iLife and iWork - I used to think (only had a Mac since January) that they were frankly all fairly superficial apps - but if you spend a week or so learning them properly you realise just how many features are under the surface and how comprehensive the integration is between them. Pages can really hold its own against Open Office and MS Word, in my opinion, and the flexibility of layout stuff in Numbers is excellent, even if it doesn't have Excel's Macro stuff. By the way, the Magsafe power adaptor is 261 grams* in the 'short' configuration (AC plug only) or 397 grams with the full length AC cord attached. This compares to 269g for the power lead of the Asus eee 901 I'm currently selling on Ebay - which, surprisingly, has a ridiculously high level of interest despite the number of revisions Asus have produced in the last year. --- * My Weigh 7001 DX scales - they are brilliant actually, very precise and loads of clever design features, little accessories like buckets and attachments to measure cylindrical things, etc. And a 30 (thirty) year warranty! http://www.myweigh.com/scales/medium-scales/3001p-and-7001dx-series iCal does have plenty of keyboard shortcuts for jumping around (e.g. cmd-T for ‘Today’) – but I take your point. Its syncing with Google calendar is much better since Snow Leopard (really does ‘just work’.)

I highly recommend the ‘Reminder’ dashboard widget – you can just hit the dashboard option, ask it to reminder you about something in an hour / at a set time, hit return and its added – http://www.gravityapps.com/reminder/

Keynote is indeed excellent – I’ve just taken Apple’s certification exams for iLife and iWork – I used to think (only had a Mac since January) that they were frankly all fairly superficial apps – but if you spend a week or so learning them properly you realise just how many features are under the surface and how comprehensive the integration is between them. Pages can really hold its own against Open Office and MS Word, in my opinion, and the flexibility of layout stuff in Numbers is excellent, even if it doesn’t have Excel’s Macro stuff.

By the way, the Magsafe power adaptor is 261 grams* in the ‘short’ configuration (AC plug only) or 397 grams with the full length AC cord attached. This compares to 269g for the power lead of the Asus eee 901 I’m currently selling on Ebay – which, surprisingly, has a ridiculously high level of interest despite the number of revisions Asus have produced in the last year.

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* My Weigh 7001 DX scales – they are brilliant actually, very precise and loads of clever design features, little accessories like buckets and attachments to measure cylindrical things, etc. And a 30 (thirty) year warranty!

http://www.myweigh.com/scales/medium-scales/3001p-and-7001dx-series

]]> By: David Siegel http://james.cridland.net/blog/apple-macbook-pro-13-vs-acer-aspire-one/#comment-2347 David Siegel Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:15:14 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/?p=1653#comment-2347 I think the Acer Timeline 13" is comparable to the 13" MBP -- I own the former, my sister the latter. The MBP is undeniably gorgeous and beastly, but I love the Timeline for its price, battery life, and super lightweight yet sturdy chassis. PS: Thanks for the GNOME Do shout-out! Cheap shot: according to Wikipedia, the last stable release of Quicksilver was 21 months ago, and the last Do release was 2 months ago ;) I think the Acer Timeline 13″ is comparable to the 13″ MBP — I own the former, my sister the latter. The MBP is undeniably gorgeous and beastly, but I love the Timeline for its price, battery life, and super lightweight yet sturdy chassis.

PS: Thanks for the GNOME Do shout-out! Cheap shot: according to Wikipedia, the last stable release of Quicksilver was 21 months ago, and the last Do release was 2 months ago ;)

]]> By: Adam http://james.cridland.net/blog/apple-macbook-pro-13-vs-acer-aspire-one/#comment-2346 Adam Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:28:52 +0000 http://james.cridland.net/blog/?p=1653#comment-2346 I would love a little netbook to carry round for the same reason you do. I've only heard good things about Acer too so I'm on the lookout for a bargain! Great blog! I would love a little netbook to carry round for the same reason you do. I’ve only heard good things about Acer too so I’m on the lookout for a bargain!

Great blog!

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