shortly before the holiday. A MBP Core 2 Duo 2.16 ghz, and it is a beauty. I was specifically waiting for the C2D models, else I would have bought one before. This is my first mac, but I have had previous experience was with school computers, dreaded macs, from just before Steve took the job back in the late nineties. OS X is beautiful, but I can see why many Windows users think poorly of macs after my experience with those machines.
I bought a mac (even though they're pricey) because the OS is basically linux, but with enterprise software support. I am frustrated at how many companies don't support linux, yet they tailor to every whim of the mac users. Case in point, I would have been happy staying with Ubuntu, but I honestly can't run any programs. If I want to create something in Adobe Flash, nope, can't do that. I could write Actionscript, but the things that I do require Flash Player 9.0, so couldn't have really tested anything even though I could compile. OS X is Open BSD with breast implants, a nosejob, lipstick, and lingerie on a waterbed. Not to mention that I am infinitely more protected and more of a power user than I ever was on my Windows XP desktop.
Everything is simple, intuitive, and, well, fun. The only unfortunate part about it was I blew my money on my 2k laptop and didn't buy anybody anything.
It helps to know a bit of *nix so you don't troll around saying "WHERS THE REGISTRY LOL??" However, even knowledge of linux won't prepare you for installing programs in OS X. Nobody expects computers to be easy, yet you simply *drag* and *drop*. Keyboard shortcuts are a bit tougher, but now apple+c and apple+v seem more natural, so when i switch to Windows (yes, I have bootcamp) or sit on a school box, It's more of a reach to hit control+c, et cetera.
Even though I don't get the privilege of building my own computer anymore, I am quite content, seeing how laptops are kind of hard to put together out of parts you bought at Fry's or pricewatch.
I love the thing, because it's a laptop, because its fast, because it has a draft-n wireless card, because it has a backlit keyboard, because it's not bloated, and because it garners the attention of chicks at starbucks ;D