MacBook Pro first impresssions

Yesterday I received my new PowerBook Pro.  It is a $2000 laptop running a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.  It comes with a 120Gig HD, 15in wide screen (up to 1440×900), SuperDrive (DVD burning), Firewire 400 & 800 ports and a built in iSight camera.

There is a program called Photo Booth that uses the camera and allows you to capture photos and apply morphing effects.  It was a big hit with my kids.

The keyboard automatically illuminates via light shining from underneath the keyboard.  It is the bomb!  I had my whole family in the kitchen pantry showing off this feature.

The built-in iSight camera is so tiny (2 centimeters square) that I didn’t even notice it on the frame of the screen until I ran Photo Booth and saw the real time capture of myself in the window.  It is the bomb #2!

I had seen it before, but if you’ve never experienced the power chord for a MacBook, that would be the bomb #3!  The power cord attaches magnetically to allow it to disconnect quickly if the chord is tripped over.

I’m not still completely sold on the Mac interface (there are things I like and things I don’t like), especially in terms of it being far superior to Windows, but I am definitely sold on Apple’s latest hardware and the first-time experience of using a Mac.

Update Aug 6, 2007:

I like the fact that the power cord has an extension.  You can plugin without it or with it.  That means that I can keep the extension plugged into my power strip at work and keep the optional prong attachment in my briefcase (or at home).   To pack for home It’s easier to just disconnect the extension and take the power cord with me. A small convenience but worth mentioning.

Maker Faire

Sounds like a not-to-miss event.  October 20-21, Travis County Fairgrounds

Link to photos and a video

How to determine what version of .NET is installed on your computer

This microsoft articles explains how.

It basically says to paste this url

%systemroot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework

into a Windows Explorer address bar and view what folders are listed.  Released versions are:

• v1.0.3705
• v1.1.4322
• v2.0.50727
• v3.0

Software Development on the Mac

I'm starting some mac development. I'm reading "Programming in Objective-C" by Stephen Kochan. I also have "Cocoa Applications" by Simson Garfinkel & Michael Mahoney.

One way I justified buying a Mac Mini for Jane was the possibility of being able to do Mac development on it. It comes with all the development tools necessary. So hear I am.

I'll keep a log of my experience as a first time developer on OS X and post the most interesting comments on my blog.

GUI development on the mac vs the PC