Macbook (not macbook pro)

[Pandamonium]

My GF's iBook (G4 or G3, I really have no idea) is probably on its last legs. She's currently borrowing my laptop so she can get through finals, but she will need a new laptop in the next month or two.

Admittedly, I'm only in the preliminary stages of figuring out the ordering process. (like student developer pricing) Her mother read in an article published in the WSJ recently that urged apple laptop purchasers to hold off on such purchases until next year sometime, when they'll be "vista compatible." She kept saying something about bootcamp not being the best solution. I stay relatively up-to-date on the tech side of things, and there's nothing I can think of that would hinder one's Vista experience on a currently available Macbook.

They're using C2Ds and DDR2. Motherboards might be EFI, which might explain the need for Bootcamp (the last I heard, Vista would rely on BIOS and would not support EFI). Other than that, is it safe to say that there will be little difference between purchasing a Macbook in 3wks vs purchasing one in 15wks?

Also, has anyone taken advantage of the student developer one time 20% hardware discount? I know you get the best deals when you buy higher end stuff, but my GF wants a laptop for portability, not for power.

 

[chcarnage]

All Macs use EFI now, they never used BIOS and there is no reason to believe that they are going to do this just for smoother Vista compatibility. Apple might improve Boot Camp with more drivers or Microsoft might implement EFI into Vista on a later date, but there is no reason why only the next generation of MacBooks could profit from that.

According to MacRumors Buyer's Guide it is not likely that Apple will update the MacBook during the next 15 weeks, but this is purely based on statistical data.

 

[TheStu]

From what I have heard the current versions of bootcamp will allow boot camp to install. Strictly speaking, Windows XP does not support EFI either, that is why bootcamp exists. Plus, I have also heard that the bootcamp drivers can be used in Vista. I have not had a chance to test it yet since Vista hasnt dropped onto my school's MSDN library yet. I will post again when i have a chance to test it.