Originally Posted by PIT_Flyer
Thanks for the responses.
I gather that you can load XP using Bootcamp AND using Parellels. What's the difference? Which method is preferable? I'd rather avoid making a partition to load XP, but if I simply have to, so be it...
I also take it that the jury is still out on the value of an Expresscard slot...I will most likely NOT use this computer for gaming, so a Macbook should suffice?
One last question (for now): How long does the battery last on Macbooks vs. Macbook Pros for regular use (Wireless, internet, Word, etc.)?
both are going to require SOME diskspace for the windows load. It IS just a bit more seamless and transparent using parallells. I have tried both, and since I don't multitask with both open at the same time, I went back to bootcamp. parallells is an emulator, that runs IN OSX meaning, you can go back and forth seemlessly. BC, requires a restart to load the windows partition. With BC, you really are just lauching a windows instance. Really a DUAL BOOT system.
I find BC worked faster than parallells, but parallells is no slouch at all.
Battery on the MB runs longer than the MBP in my experience. I have done ALMOST two DVDS across country, so just a tick less than 4.5 hours of DVD playback. I would say one could eeek out 5-5.5 hours with no optical disk use, kill the wireless, drop the brigthness, and leave something open so the disk activity is less. Also, having more RAM will make this better, less disk accessing.
IF you are not going to be gaming, the MB is just puurrfect, save some $$, get some RAM, up the HD, buy a nice case, etc.