MacBook 13.3" 2.0GHz/2GB/160GB/GeForce 9400M/SuperDrive

After over 20 years of PC use at home and at work this is my first Mac and I'm bowled over by the ease of use, performance and design. We have a wireless network at home, my wife and daughter both have laptops but I was left with the desktop and thought it was time to update as the machine took several minutes to load Windows XP, connect to the network etc.

I thought about getting a mid-range laptop PC, but then saw these new Macs, tried one in an Apple Store and was sold, only having to decide whether to get an aluminium or white plastic one.

There is no doubt that these MacBooks are not the cheapest solution for simply surfing the web, e-mailing and doing relatively simple letter and report writing. But then a Jaguar, BMW or Mercedes is not the cheapest means of driving from place to place, but, if you can afford it, it is a much more pleasant means of travel. It is the same with a MacBook.

The white ones look fine when they are new, but if the material is anything like that used in my daughter's iPod, it will get quite grubby fairly fast. Also I was put off by reports of stress cracks in the case; So I went for the aluminium one.

The keyboard is very pleasant to use- although I miss the 'Delete' key and the white letters on black background can be a little more difficult to see in low light. The touchpad took a little getting used to, but once mastered is far better than the standard pads I've used before on PC's, providing lots of additional functionality. The case itself feels very solid and the unit runs very cool- I've yet to hear the fan start (if it has one).

But the glory of this hardware is the screen, it is so bright, sharp and clear. I've not found the gloss finish to be a problem, but I know that some people prefer a matt finish, so it would be worth checking in a store if you think that this might be an issue.

The software is excellent. The key for me is that it is easy to use and that the machine is quick to load. It now takes less than a minute from switching on to surfing the web- so, whereas in the past I would put off using my PC until I had several tasks that made it worth waiting for my PC to load up, now I don't hesitate.

Finally, I was worried that my PC-created documents might not be compatible with a Mac. I bought a copy of Microsoft Office for Mac, and have experienced no compatibility problems whatsoever. I simply plugged my USB memory stick in to my Mac, which read the files and converted them with no problems whatsoever, including pictures, tables, contents lists etc.

Overall then I'd say that this is a great machine. PC's often give the impression that they are simply a collection of bits screwed together with the software thrown in on top, whereas a Mac is designed as a whole. There are cheaper ways of computing, but, if you can afford it, then you'll have a much more pleasant computing experience by using this MacBook.

This is the first Mac I've had and I was worried about transferring from many years of using Windows. There's still a few things I need to work out but otherwise I absolutely love it. Why? The bright backlit screen means I can work with it outside; the feel of it - from the aluminium body to the touch of the keys, the magnetic power cable so you can't trip over it and smash the machine, iPhoto which enables you to do clever things with your pictures, and many more.
I hadn't been sure about paying the extra to get a Macbook - I'm glad I did.

When I try and fight the mac corner against my PC friends, there is so much that places the mac software, hardware and quality so far above the PC, that I am usually lost as to where to start
The main things (ps. I'm keeping this short and sweet):
- Software runs seamlessly, all applications are fun and above all intuitive to use.
- It never crashes or gets virus's
- Even this macbook (2.0Ghz, 2gb RAM) can run my heavy apps like Logic and illustrator at very fast pace. iTunes, Spotify, iPlayer, iPhoto, iChat are all accessible and easy to use.

Basically, if you buy this macbook, it will last you a long time, it will be reliable, you will have fun while using it, and it probably won't drive you mad. It is expensive compared to PC's - granted - but in the long run it is probably worth it. To provide context, we have a 2001 iMac, which still runs as good as new, and looks cutting edge (if a bit slow, but what do you expect)

I love my macbook, it does everything I want at amazing speeds, looks incredible, emits quality and will probably stay with me for many many years. Unlike my mates PC laptop which he got for christmas last year and has already had to get a replacement.
Thanks for reading!