1. Firefox web browser

Now, you must understand that I spend many of my waking hours on the web, and I’ve spent several years of my life building web applications and websites, sometimes I feel like I practically live inside the tubes of the Internet!

I’ve heard Camino is great, much more mac-like, and I vow to give it a try… but as a developer I can’t live without my Firefox plug-ins. If you haven’t tried Firefox yet, it’s FREE give it a go today!

2. Skype

If Skype is a game-changer, then Skype on a macbook sets the benchmark.

Incredibly easy to install, out of the box Skype works with the built in iSight and microphone, no tweaking with soundcards and drivers like our poor Windows cousins.

Within minutes I was having a live video conversation with my friend across the globe, no hands, no headset – this is how it’s meant to be! (If only it was full screen!)

Next I made a call to my domain name provider in the US (I’m in Australia), I just typed their normal 1-800 telephone number into Skype – and the next thing I know I’m talking to them – all for free!

Skype works on any platform, and their international call rates are very low… it’s the cheapest way I know to make international calls.

If you haven’t already, now is the time… give it a go today!

A successful first day with the Macbook : )

Initially I had a few reservations…

Firstly there’s the lawsuit over the display!

Then there’s the reports of chronic overheating, listed among a plethora of other faults at appledefect.com.

Could I continue to function as a human being without Microsoft Office? Will there be a viable alternative in this new world of OS X? (the answer is Yes!)

My last notebook was a Dell Inspiron which I’ve had for three years, and I have to say it’s been excellent. It’s gone wrong a couple of times, but the Dell three year warranty is amazing. A couple of emails is all it takes to get Dell engineer to turn up at your home or work with a replacement part and your up and running again.

Another reservation about Apple is the warranty; you have to send your precious computer away should it need repair. Let this be a reminder to me to be more religious with my backups!

I’m buying a new computer to go traveling.

I’m taking a 4 month mini-sabbatical, half of which will be around Eastern Europe. My 17″ widescreen Inspiron simply had to go!

I needed a small, light notebook with an international warranty. It must be good for Skype, programming, updating websites, storing digital photos, web browsing and a little bit of spreadsheets and word processing.

I particularly like the macbook for a number of reasons. The built in isight and mic is excellent for Skype – Initially it’s quite bizarre using your laptop as a hands-free phone (this is way cool).

The display, despite claims to the contrary, is actually pretty good. Although it’s by no means ultralight, it is a fairly light weight notebook, and it is very thin.

The DVD burner, standard 1GB RAM, 160GB disk and 2.16 Core 2 Duo processor are impressive specs for such a small machine (no wonder it gets hot!).

All this seems pretty good value already, but Apple also throw in iLifr 07, which includes the excellent iPhoto (ever seen iPhoto for windows?), if you’re at all musical Garage Band is hours of fun

But what finally clinched me, was the Front Row remote control. At the touch of the shuffle-like remote control button, your desktop graciously falls away to reveal a media center interface to iTunes, iPhoto, a DVD player and Quicktime to play your movie files.

All this and a solid Unix based OS to boot?

I’m going on holiday, and I’m taking one of these with me.