Introducing the Newest Member of the Sprague Lab!

So this is us tonight:

*This photo was taken at an earlier date. But the smiles are the same. ;)

Well. It kinda went down like this. We have been trying to decide how to replace our OLD (oh man, I mean OLD) laptop, not loving Windows Vista, not loving the lappy options out there right now, but basically using our clunky old-man machine for a paperweight, especially after upgrading our wireless internet.

So we went to the Apple store today, so Jared could look at upgrading his iPhone. 16 GB. GPS. Tons faster. What’s not to love. But we were warned by the Apple guy that it might not be so easy to switch from the old iPhone to the new, and all of a sudden, Jared, who had been wandering around the store while I played with the kids at those GENIUS kid-computers with the squishy ball-chairs, says, “What can you tell me about the laptops?”

Well, a short walk over to check out the sexiness (which I have seen lots of times, having been friends and associates with Ali and all her Mac gadgetry for awhile - and Molly, and Shell, and well, freaking EVERYONE, right?), and Jared asks a few questions about being able to install and dual-boot Linux, and could we put in 4 GB of RAM, and suddenly (after we thought about it over Chick-fil-a in the food court), we are the proud parents of this:

I have been laughing like a madwoman for about an hour now. I know! Jessica Sprague is a MAC owner!! Holy crap!

I really, truly never thought I “got” the Mac mystique. I rolled my eyes at everyone who (with that gleam of fanaticism in their eye) would tell me how EASY it is to use, how BEAUTIFUL the graphics are, how SMOOTHLY it runs, and etc. and etc.

But given the real trouble right now finding a really solid laptop to replace our Old Grandpa laptop, and having a real need to see how things run on Safari/Mac for our business, and seeing how excited Jared was, the logical side of me said, “Okay.”

And the aesthetic side of me is doing backflips and cartwheels and squealing and running around in circles.

Now don’t worry - I am not replacing my hand-built mega-WindowsXP-monster quad-core with 4 GB of RAM and dual monitors anytime soon as my main machine - BUT don’t be surprised if you see me carrying the Sexy Machine with me at an event, if I can pry it away from Jared for long enough :D. And I am looking forward to being able to truly answer Mac questions instead of pawning them off on Molly.

So only one thing remains. Okay, two. We need a name, and we need a case.

Help us Name the New MacBook!

He arrives next week, so we’ll need a name for him. We’d love your help!

We’ve always named all of our machines after Tolkien characters. Right now we have our file server, whose name is Durin (and the main file share is Moria - ha!). My computer is named Shadowfax, since it’s the fastest one Jared has ever built. Jared’s main computer is Beren, and our Vista laptop is Luthien. So in keeping with the tradition, we’d like to give the new compy a Tolkien name. :D

Whichever name gets the most votes, will be the new name for the new compy! Thanks for casting a vote! :D

Update on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 11:13AM by Jessica

Seth asked about specs:

We got the 15-inch, 2.5 GHz, 4GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive (all of our data is stored on Durin, the file server), anti-glare display. We ordered it through the Apple web site, because we had 2 kids at the Apple store and no stroller, and didn’t want to wait for them to put the extra 2GB RAM while we waited. So now we wait for a week for them to ship it to us. :D

Comments

[Corie in Indy]

You will NEVER regret your Mac purchase! You'll never go back to that decked-out PC, no matter how many awesome add-ons you have! (But watch out...some Web site content management systems - if you have reason to use them - don't care for Macs much. Big bummer there.) Still, you're gonna love that thing. Congrats on coming over to the brighter side! :-) (Sorry - don't know Tolkien characters. Am I missing something fabulous?)

[kelly purkey]

i just got my macbook about a month ago and have been in love ever since! but my poor guy doesn't have a name yet :(

[Lee]

C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!!!
We bought our first Apple laptop (PowerBook G4) in 2005 and loved it! So much that in 2007 we bought a MacBook Pro!
You will never regret the move.
Enjoy!!!
;o)
- Lee

[Michele M]

I just bought an iMac yesterday. I'm a windows person normally, but the coolness factor of the Mac got me. I LOVE IT...although it took me an hour to figure out how to right click. Fortunately apple has a great section on their site about switching from pc to mac...

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/ (just in case you need it).

Have fun!!!

[Amy]

ummm seriously our whole wireless network is named after the Lord of the Ring Trilogy. our hard disk drive is Rivendell, something else is Helm's Deep. My iPod is Arwen...LOL. My husband would get a long great with you guys!( I already love ya!)

[Amy]

I chose Eowyn cause she kicks some butt!

[Tori]

My DH who is a HUGE Tolkein fan thinks you should name it Bombadil or Strider. Strider sounds perfect for that new sexy machine.

[Britiney]

I'm sooooo jealous! I love my nearly one year old iMac. It has rocked my world. When I showed my hubby the picture of you and yours and told him, "I could be this happy if you'd just buy me one of these . . . " he told me I got a hernia repair instead (which he had yesterday). Not nearly as fun. Stick with the macbook. Trust me on that one. Can't wait to hear about all of the fun you're going to have with it. Welcome to the cult, baby!

[Jackie Wood]

Ah, welcome to the Mac, there is nothing quite like it! Of course computers are precious in our household too, my ten year anniversary present was an 8 core desktop Mac. In my opinion way better than diamonds!!!!!!!

[Megan]

you've been sucked into the vortex. We'll just SEE how long you stick with that ol' 4 gb dual monitor pile of microsoft now. (i'm stuck with mine for at least another year.)

[Amy]

Wow! I can't believe you weren't using a Mac before now. You will love it. Congrats and have fun!

I'm a new reader to your blog and really enjoy it. Great work.

-Amy from Texas

[Jools]

Congratulations - once you go Mac you never go back :D

I'd call it Legolas - just because it's so gorgeous looking!

[Denise Rose]

We have never had anything but Macs in this house (hubby is in graphic design and Mac is the thing and always has been) so I have no clue how to even USE a PC! haha!

I'd call it Sunshine...because you always remind me of sunshine when I am around you (in classes) or reading your blog. I also think Sunshine is the light that you will feel when using the Mac! I will also be happy you can answer Mac questions now too!

[Jan C.]

I just got a MacBook Pro in May, and I love it. The only problem is, I'm on it all the time and carry it everywhere, and I'm starting to get carpal tunnel!

Let us know how you get around organizing your digi supplies on it. I find iPhoto and Bridge are imperfect because of the way the file folders display, so I'm trying out Shoebox right now.

Good luck!

[Steph]

OMG - you went Mac on me!!!! :O

Can't wait to see your reviews - I've bought my last two computers based on your recommendations here, so I'll be watching this. :)

[Tanya]

You're gonna LOVE LOVE LOVE your Mac! I have access to one most of the time to play with, but I haven't personally taken the plunge just yet (still paying off the new Dell's that we bought a year ago) because I didn't know I'd like a MAC until it was too late. BUT...as soon as the PC is paid for...I'm goin' MAC!

[Jackie]

Well, I guess I am in the minority. I have used a MAC in the past and had nothing but problems. And I don't know how anyone can live withouth the right click. Just can't do it. Vista is quite a learning curve but I have loved it so far. It does help when your son is a software engineer though.

[Jessica C]

Oh, Lordy. I've been on the Mac fence for a while now, and I think and official Jessica Sprague endorsement might have sent me over the edge. :) OR, I'm using you as a convenient excuse to buy the new laptop I've already picked out! Hope you enjoy.

[Terri (lucysmom)]

Wasn't gonna say "Holy Crap", but how about.....

"WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It's the freaking greatest thing evah! I love mine. I was so NOT a computer person before my Mac, and now BF says I am better than him on the compy! (I think your classes had a teeny bit to do with that!)

Glad you took the plunge. You may be sorry for, oh, about a week until you figure out the button pushing. And then you'll never look back!

[maclark]

If you put your surname into the elvish name generator (http://chriswetherell.com/elf/) it comes back Séregon ...another option!!!! Enjoy !!

[michele]

hee hee hee ... linux progression to mac is a documented phenomenon. or, it is at my house. marc had to buy henry a new computer over the weekend (a serious issue in this house ... we never BUY computers! only build them, by golly!) and it came with vista. and hasn't yet worked right. but this is about macs ... marc loves his little mac book. so will jared. oh, and marc's main computer is named "xunil." creative. heh. (missed you in chicago!!!)

[Laurie]

Holy crap is right! You got sucked in by the sexy-ness, didn't you? Didn't you?? Have fun with your new baby!:) BTW, I got a new baby. I went ahead and splurged for the new Epson printer you told me about. Because we both deserve these things, right? ;)

[Seth]

Galadriel or Lorien popped into my mind. Beautiful, sleek, mysterious, powerful, revered. I've been thinking about getting something new for home here too. Looking at a Mac book. So what model is it? Specs?

[Molly]

Hahhahahahahaa!!!!! I think it's PIPPIN fantastic that you bought a Mac! (that's my vote)

You won't be able to get your hands off that sleek aluminum case-smooth & silky.

Weeee!!!! I hope you still need me, though ;P

[Jana]

HOly crap is right! Woo Hoo GF! You're now a Machead too! (It's about time!) You are sooooo gonna fall in love head over heels, that's it's only a matter of time before you go totally Mac at the Spraguelab. Yep, you wont' be able to stand not having the whole enchilada! Oh, do have fun Jared & Jessica! You're gonna love that new Tolkien!

[heather (h2)]

LOVE it.....switched to mac this year...it started with the laptop. Once you go MAC-you never go back...hehe!!

ENJOY!

[Joan]

Wow, You have just entered the world of total coolness. Bought my 24" iMac in March and turned off my PC laptop shortly after. Turned it on the other day and I thought I was in Hell. Anyway went to the good old Apple store yesterday and picked up one of those cute little Macbooks. Had to have it for CPR in Conn. Oh I have to give my cute little book a name too. Enjoy, you are going to love it.

[ScrappyGuy]

You already got me seriously thinking about the R1900. Am I going to have to get a MAC too? I so want to be Jessica Sprague when I grow up!!
I vote for Faramir. He was bold, strong, and loyal. What more could you ask for from a lappie?

[stacy t]

i want you to call you computer Jack the Mac. i got my macbook pro in april & feel in love. i will never go back to pc. ever!

[BeachMama]

For years I resisted the temptation, but as my last laptop was crashing daily, I finally made the switch. I have never regretted the decision and only wish we could turn the whole house into a Mac network. I guess we will do it one computer at a time. Don't be surprised if you make a switch for your regular pc as well.