[Ham-Mac] A MacBook for Ham Radio Apps

[K6LMP]

Dan, I concur with the other posters that your best bet would be an  
Intel-based MacBook or MacBook Pro.

I own a Powerbook G4 Titanium (15" screen PC4 processor).   There's a  
lot of really good ham radio software that runs on the Mac (most  
notably, I would say, DogPark Software's MacLogger DX, which is the  
best logging software I have seen for either Mac or PC platform).   
However, there is a LOT of ham software that is available only for  
the Windows/PC environment.  Take a look at all the software package  
in the ARRL Antenna Handbook CD, for example,  ALL Windows or DOS  
based.  This stuff runs under Virtual PC, but it is painfully  
sloooooooow.

If you're hell-bent on getting the lowest price and don't care so  
much about the warranty, there ARE used MacBooks and MacBook Pros for  
sale on eBay, for perhaps $500 under the new "street" price for an  
equivalent machine.  If I were in the market, I would definitely go  
for a new machine, because of the warranty protection.

73
Lew K6LMP



On Jan 12, 2007, at 7:33 AM, Dan KB6NU wrote:

> Please excuse me if this is a FAQ, but I've just subscribed to this  
> list and don't see how I can access the list archive.
>
> For the last couple of years, I've been using a Dell laptop in the  
> shack, but it seems to be dying on me. I thought about just buying  
> another used PC laptop, but since I converted over to the Mac for  
> work use, I'm thinking that a Mac laptop would be a better choice.  
> We have an outfit here in Ann Arbor who sells used stuff, so I'm  
> thinking buying a used one would be a better deal.
>
> With all that in mind, does anyone have any recommendations and/or  
> advise?
>
> 73!