Get the MacBook, the black ones are plenty professional and you can use the extra $600 to get something nice for Jessi is winning with 11 out of 27 votes

info@quimble.com (joshourisman) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:02:53 GMT

So I basically have three options for laptops:

Buy a new battery for the ThinkPad, and just stick with Linux (the OS that's currently on it). The problem with this is that I then show up as a Mac IT Consultant with a beat-up old PC laptop. Not really the best image, and can't inspire much confidence as it looks like I'm not even willing to use the products I'm supporting.
Get a MacBook. A 2.0 GHz MacBook with 2 GB of RAM (from Crucial, Apple severely over-charges on RAM), a 120 GB HDD (oddly enough getting that from Apple is the best deal), and AppleCare (not going to go without on a computer that I'm trusting my livelihood to; will also be keeping it backed up) will run me about $2200 (actually will be less because I can get a few discounts). Not bad at all. The downside of the MacBook is that it doesn't look as professional as the MacBook Pro, and it has no Express Card slot so I can't get an EV-DO card for it for mobile internet.
Get a MacBook Pro. A 2.0 GHz MacBook Pro with 2 GB of RAM, a 120 GB HDD, and Apple Care will cost me about $2800. So for $600 I get an extra 2" of diagonal screen space, a slightly more professional look, and the ability to spend more money on an EV-DO card.

COMMENT: And putting the added $600 into the compu

info@quimble.com (Pyk) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:02:53 GMT

And putting the added $600 into the computer will get you something worth your time, a MacBook is a children's toy ;)