That's all I have used it for but noticed other features today when I looked for their website. Geographic location of websites is an interesting feature.

let's see, ever since I got a mac, I acquired two more, and four versions of the pocket edition, 1st gen ipod touch which led to the original iPhone which led to the iPhone 3G and finally the iPhone 3GS.

How good is it? it's not good, it's freaking awesome! Viruses are a thing of the past. I don't think about them, i don't waste money on security software. I moved all my gaming to my xbox360 so no more worries there. safari is awesome, macs are so easy to use, i thought itunes was great on windows, it's even more awesome on macs. And the cost is way better bang for your buck. to even get a competent PC, you'd be spending the same as a mac, and the mac is just so much better. I do have XP installed via bootcamp on my iMac and I use it maybe 9-10 times a year for maybe 30 minutes or so at a time. For that little use, i don't bother with anti-virus software, i'll just re-format my drive if needed.

Along with everyone else here, I don't know the specifics of the "restricted" feature, but features of applications like this often depend on OS support. It's quite possible that this feature depends on something Windows does that the Mac OS doesn't. Or, if they both do, they may work so differently that writing one app for both isn't practical. Either of these situations could, via communication errors as information gets passed along from one person to another (and perhaps "dumbed down" for a non-technical audience) until it finally reaches the end user, have ended up coming across as an Apple "restriction" - even though it isn't one in the usual sense of the term. "Apple prevents us from doing X" could just mean "Mac OS doesn't have the facilities we need to do X, or to do it the way we know how to." In other words, it may not be a deliberate lie.

After 15+ yrs of PCs, I am considering becoming a "switcher." Thinking I will buy my first Macbook Pro or Air refurbed from the Mac store.

Any opinions on buying a refurbed unit from Apple? Can I still buy AppleCare from eBay?

fduvall

refurbs are complete and come with the same one year warranty, the only difference is it ships in a generic box. sometimes it's just last year's model being cleared out, not a return. on occasion you might even get a higher spec unit than what you bought, typically extra memory or a larger hard drive. it doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

get applecare from someplace other than the apple store - it's much cheaper. shop around. ebay can be ok but beware of scammers who send out bogus codes via email or opened boxes that have already been registered. check their feedback very closely. also, if you are associated with a school (or know someone who is), you can get a decent discount that way.

checkout the ebay applecare thread on macrumors, they report who it good and who ISN'T for ebay applecare plans, but indeed one can save 100's.

Applecare from eBay is generally a bad idea - typically sellers will get Apple to refund the balance of the Applecare months after you pay for it, so even a seller with good feedback for 6+ months can be a scammer.

(That said, I'm sure if you're careful it can work OK - it seems to me there's quite a big risk, though.)

I bought Applecare for my MacBook Pro from Amazon.com. I believe I paid about $80 less than the Apple store was charging.

I've done it more than once, including the PowerBook this is being typed on (and that has accompanied me to five continents, or six if you count Central America separately). Never a problem. Needed warranty service once*; no hassle, did it at my local Apple store while I wandered the mall for a bit.

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*Keyboard replacement when the oil from my fingers, combined with a heavy touch, wore the paint off some of the more-frequently-used keys. That is, or was at the time, a downside to their internally-illuminated keyboard. If you see that becoming a problem, get a keyboard skin. It has the side benefit of providing a bit of protection against small liquid spills.

I've always bought refurb accessories (Airports etc) over new ones, and they've always been fine - actually once I had 2 Airport Expresses dead out of the box in a row, at which point they just gave me a brand new one at the Apple store. I've had numerous friends buy refurbed laptops without trouble.

I think it's also worth pointing out that if you live near an Apple store (at least in the US - the one in central London was always very hard to get appointments at) the customer service is excellent, with problems often sorted out on the spot, often by just swapping out with new equipment. The contrast to e.g. Sony where you have to have your laptop couriered away for them to even look at it is pretty dramatic.

Thanks for the feedback...bought a refurb Macbook Pro 13" on Friday. Eagerly awaiting delivery!

fduvall

Yes, do it and follow the advice above. I was a power Windows user from 95 through XP, I mean 6 hours a day.

I made the switch simply because I thought the Macs were cool and I liked the challenge of something new to stimulate my brain. But DO STICK WITH IT. There will be frustrations but in the end, worth it. I now have two MacBook Pros, an IMac and a Mac Pro and love the ease of use, network ease and so on.

Just a couple of thoughts:
1. Wait til the new IMacs come out which I think is quite soon.
2. If you use office applications and exchange files with other people on Windows, spring for the MS Office for Mac. Apple's office suite only interchanges with MS "sort of."
3. If you're serious with the photo part, get Aperture or Adobe Photoshop Elements.
4.They are not crash proof. No blue screen but the "spinning beach ball of death". That said, mine have been awfully stable.

DEFINITLY WAIT, new MACS coming out in about 30 minutes!!!!

updated: yes, new imacs are out, lovely, except of course for the continued CRAPTASTIC GLASSLY SCREENS!