So, having taken a look at my options and my bank balance, I'm feeling marginally better (though still not *good*) about buying a new computer. I'm very tempted by the pretty black MacBook, but trying to tell myself that the extra 20gigs is not necessary, and that the whiteness is just as pretty. Anyone wanna help with that?

Also, a few of my friends have educational discounts--is there any advantage/disadvantage to them doing me that favor vs. me buying a "refurbished" one from the apple store (I'm scared of that, but it's way cheaper than regular-brand-new!)? If my friend buys it, and I want the applecare warranty, can she do that and switch it to me? Can I do that without her? I'm a little fuzzy on how this all works...

Having seen both of them side-by-side in a non-Apple-store location (the lighting there is tricksy), I personally think that the white MacBook is significantly prettier than the black one. The black one looks like a Dell. I actually thought it was a Dell in my friend's room.

I put an Apple sticker over the Dell logo on my PC laptop, and now everyone thinks it's a Mac.

meara, I would get your friend to purchase the MacBook using the school discount. It's a couple hundred bucks difference in the price. You can have her purchase it, and then register it youself with Applecare online. It would be the same as if she had purchased it as a gift for you. Talk to Steph--when she purchased her iBook she did exactly the same thing.

I've had nothing but positive experiences with Apple's refurbishment, though. And you can get Applecare on that as well to cover it if it goes south for some reason. It just depends on what you want, really.

I've purchased quite a few refurb Macs and have had very good luck with them.

From Mad Rumors: Google Pushing Its Mac Software?

A Google-sponsored blog concerning the company's Mac development efforts appeared yesterday. In it, the writers (including Google's Mac project manager) express their mission objectives for creating Google's Mac software:

We're pretty serious about [our] mission, including the "universally accessible" part. It means making products that everyone can use – including Mac users. We want to provide great products and services to the tens of millions of Mac users around the world, because it's the right thing to do, and because Mac users inside and outside Google demand it. That's why we've recruited some of the best, most passionate Mac people out there for a Mac Engineering team.

The post directs readers to a Google download page, where users can freely download 5 applications/add-ins or a set of Dashboard widgets.

all, I have been having intermediate problems with gmail off and on over the past 4-7 days. anyone else?

It's actually looking like the refurbished stuff is a better deal than the education discount (refurbished is about $200 off, whereas school is about $100 off). Huh.

And you could probably get a MacBook Pro refurbished, or a Powerbook not unlike the one you had already, if you didn't want to get just a MacBook.

My computer here at work seriously sounds like an airplane taking off whenever I tax the memory even *slightly.* It's insane. Loud, annoying, ridiculous, and insane. Stupid HPs.

Huh. I have an HP at home, and mine is very loud too. It seems worse now, or maybe I've gotten used to quiet Macs.