The last time I bought a new computer, the Rockies beat the Mets. Today, the Rockies beat the Mets. And guess what I did? No, I did not buy a computer because Denver beat New York. (If that was true, I’d own many computers.) But I did replace my 2007 MacBook.
I ordered the new MacBook Pro, which was announced yesterday. I got the 15-inch version, with the 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7. This is the latest and greatest chip, which is a dual core, but is also hyperthreaded, so it’s more like a quad-core, sort of. And it has this new turboboost technology, so as long as you are not running hot, the system will overclock one or both cores up to 3.33 Ghz as needed. It also has both integrated graphics plus an NVIDIA GPU, and can intelligently switch between the two on the fly, which is new in this model. It also has a nine-hour battery, and the unibody aluminum case.
I did not spec up at all, so it comes with the stock half-terabyte 5400RPM drive and 4 GB of RAM. I also didn’t opt up for the new higher-res screen, or preinstall any optional software. I think I’m taking a big enough bump up in performance that I’ll be happy with what I get.
And because I was impatient, I went to the Apple Store at lunch to see if they actually had them in stock, and they did, so I cancelled my order online and picked one. And now the cruelty any new computer purchase: I have spent the last four hours with both new and old machines tethered together, slowly copying the last three years of my life through a cable and onto the new machine. And it does not look like it will finish by bedtime here, so I will have to play more tomorrow.
For those keeping score at home, that brings our household to two MacBook Pros, a MacBook, two iPhones, two iPods, and an AirPort Express. No iPad. I didn’t even get to check them out, I was in such a hurry to get in and out of the Palo Alto Apple Store. I saw one out of the corner of my eye, and it looked neato, but I think Apple has taken enough of my money for a bit.
So I guess it’s a good thing I have this journal on WordPress now; I can type away from my Samsung netbook while sitting in bed. I’d write a bit, but all of my writing is locked away on the Mac(s) until the transfer is complete. At least six hours of copying is better than six days of waiting on FedEx. Right?
BTW I don’t know how it happened, but I went from 10th place to 3rd place in my fantasy baseball league in a matter of days. I don’t think this will last long-term though, given that I don’t have a closer, I have two catchers in my active lineup, neither one getting more than like 35% of their respective teams’ starts, and my team’s batting average is just over the Mendoza line. Still, they’re doing better than a few real teams out there right now.