Macbook pro for sysadmin role?

[Alienwho]

Got a new job and my boss leans towards the macbook pro. I've never had a mac before. I'll be supporting primarily a windows/unix infrastructure and have to use windows remote desktop quite often.

Should I go ahead with a macbook pro or will it just be easier to stick with a win7 laptop? He also wants me to use the magic mouse I think it's called and that white chiclet keyboard cause he's convinced regular keyboards don't work. I don't want that crap I want a real mechanical keyboard and a legit mouse. Will those work or do I have to find a 'mac version'?

What do you guys think? I've always wanted a mac pro but it's not going to be worth it if I have to use crap peripherals and boot up into windows most of the time.

 

[VinylxScratches]

All the Linux admins at my job use macbook pros with VMware for Windows 7 needs.

 

[Kaido]

You can use standard Windows keyboards and mice.

Don't get the Magic Mouse, it's a pile of garbage.

 

[lokiju]

I was a Sys Admin at my last job for years with only Mac's as my systems.

Had a MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Pro.

I only worked on the Windows side of the house and Vmware and storage.

Current job I'm on a HP with Win 7.

It really doesn't matter since you're just managing remote systems.

 

[Kaido]

Macbooks make great sysadmin notebooks. They are durable, stable, safe from Windows viruses, and can run a variety of operating systems within VMware. Here is what I would ask for:

1. USB to SATA/IDE adapter (for reading in drives)

2. Drive upgrades:

a. SSD for boot drive: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_6G/
b. 1.0TB 9.5mm drive for secondary drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152291
c. 2nd drive adapter: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDAMBS0GB/
d. USB case for the internal DVD drive: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/VLSS9TOPTU2/

3. Protection kit:

a. Laptop shell: http://www.speckproducts.com/macbook-cases.html
b. Keyboard cover: http://www.iskin.com/products_macbook.tpl
c. Wrist pad: (lots of brands, this is just one) http://twelvesouth.com/products/surfacepad/

4. Virtualization:

a. VMware Fusion software
b. 64-bit Windows 7 Professional

 

[Alienwho]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'm gonna stick to my guns for the peripherals I requested (razer deathadder and filco ninja)

 

[Alienwho]

Oh I do have another question though. Is it possible to set up dual monitors on the macbook pro? Or should I just expect to hook up one monitor and do a desktop extension with the built in display?

 

[TheStu]

Oh I do have another question though. Is it possible to set up dual monitors on the macbook pro? Or should I just expect to hook up one monitor and do a desktop extension with the built in display?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/z...wo-hdmi-jacks/

That plus this;
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Or, Displayport allows daisychaining (which might be how that is working in some way) so you would just need a pair of monitors that supported displayport (higher end Dell Ultrasharps, Thunderbolt display, some HP monitors).

 

[rugby]

You can use standard Windows keyboards and mice.

Don't get the Magic Mouse, it's a pile of garbage.

That is your opinion, *I* think the Magic Mouse rocks.

 

[Emulex]

the thunderbolt chip in macbook air supports 1 screen, the rest support more than 1 screen. so you can use 3 (main screen, plus 2). not cheap. also the macbook 17" i have has a expresscard port which is essentially pcie x1 and thunderbolt can also do pci-express but probably x8 which would allow a docked "real" video card.

 

[lokiju]

That is your opinion, *I* think the Magic Mouse rocks.

I personally hate the Magic Mouse. Got it when it came out and couldn't get over how quickly it drained batteries and always felt like it didn't "glide" as smoothly as it should of.

Got the Apple Magic Trackpad when that came out and couldn't be happier.

Also helped with wrist issues I was starting to develop using a mouse.

 

[Kaido]

That is your opinion, *I* think the Magic Mouse rocks.

That is absolutely my opinion. I hate ALL Apple mice. I still have a grudge against those puck mice we had to use in graphic design class :awe:

I'm starting to warm up to the Magic Trackpad though :biggrin:

 

[vbuggy]

The tracking is dreck on all Apple mice. I still do really love the scroll ball on the Mighty Mice though, and I just wonder what people have on their hands when they compute given the really frequent mentions of the ball jamming through dirt.

It's funny how many people mention the durability of Apple notebooks and then immediately go on to list up stuff to cover it top to toe in protection without a hint of irony. Of such idiocy (and mention of viruses... really?) are Apple Fanbois made.

If it works in your job, then go ahead by all means. It doesn't in mine and I'm about a 70 rest - 30 Apple in terms of being an Apple shop in terms of volume of kit, but that will rise slightly over the next year. I expect to be unfortunately swapping my Lenovo's/VAIO's with Crapbook Air's as primary machines soon in terms of just practicalities - I'll need OS X too often to be carrying just a Windows rig with me so until OS X works as well under VMWare as Windows does under Fusion/Parallels I've no choice but to make Crapbooks my primary carry from now on, despite the fact that I'm in the process of upgrading my Lenovo X2xx's and VAIO Z's.

However if everything you do can run under Windows, you'll be running Windows for the most part - and you don't actually *need* OS X, I'd say there are definitely better options for the professional.

We could probably argue until the cows come home on whether Apples deliver on real-life durability, but they definitely do not deliver in terms of environmental tolerance (starting with poor cooling), mishandling tolerance, duty cycle and vendor support options just for starters.