MacBook vs MacBook Pro

matt_shaw · January 7th, 2007, 10:19 PM

So I need a new computer for school and decided to go the mac route, but am having trouble deciding what I should get. Right now it's between the 2.0GHz MacBook with 2GB memory and a 120GB hard drive for $1,712CND or the 2.16GHz MacBook Pro with 1GB and a 120GB hard drive for $1,999CND.

I'll need the computer to last for about three years. Not really a power user, maybe a bit of Photoshop and video editing but again nothing serious.

COMPUTER GODS OF FINALGEAR.COM HELP ME!!!

Firecat · January 7th, 2007, 10:55 PM

I've been thinking of the same, but the only real difference I saw between the standard and the pro was the superior video card (and larger screen size). It's unlikely I'll do much gaming, which is why I plan on going for the standard model.

Most likely the 1,299 (USD) model (1GB mem 120GB HD) vs. the 1,999 (USD) pro (1GB mem 120GB HD).

The extra savings could go towards something like a PS3 etc...

monkeymax · January 7th, 2007, 11:51 PM

Hi Matt,
I was in the same position 6 months ago before starting my research degree. I went for a MacBook Pro in the end as I decided the screen size was perfect, I may want the Graphics card and I definitely wanted it to last three years... Plus I'm doing some pretty heavy processing on it so figured the extra speed would be worth it. However, the differential between this and the standard MacBook was a bit bigger back then. Speed as well as features.

If I was buying now, I reckon I'd probably go for the standard MacBook. They're plenty fast enough, significantly cheaper, and probably a bit more durable - given I carry my MBP to uni and back everyday I am a bit worried about a bit of damage. I don't think I'd worry anywhere near as much if I had a standard MacBook (given the price). Not to mention the worry of theft.
In my experience, the only things I'd miss on this computer if I'd got the MacBook would be the light up keyboard, the keyboard itself (I hated the keyboard on the standard MB, doesn't feel right, whereas I love the MBP keyboard to bits) and ummm... yeah, that's about it. The MacBook now has everything else that the MBP has; Frontrow, Magsafe connector, dual-display support (I needed this too, MB didn't have it before), Core 2 Duo (mine is standard Core Duo - bought it a couple of months before Core 2 came out on the MBPs... images/smilies/sad.gif

).

Also, don't forget as a student you should qualify for a student discount which is a really good saving!

I hope that helps...

matt_shaw · January 8th, 2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeymax

Hi Matt,
I was in the same position 6 months ago before starting my research degree. I went for a MacBook Pro in the end as I decided the screen size was perfect, I may want the Graphics card and I definitely wanted it to last three years... Plus I'm doing some pretty heavy processing on it so figured the extra speed would be worth it. However, the differential between this and the standard MacBook was a bit bigger back then. Speed as well as features.

If I was buying now, I reckon I'd probably go for the standard MacBook. They're plenty fast enough, significantly cheaper, and probably a bit more durable - given I carry my MBP to uni and back everyday I am a bit worried about a bit of damage. I don't think I'd worry anywhere near as much if I had a standard MacBook (given the price). Not to mention the worry of theft.
In my experience, the only things I'd miss on this computer if I'd got the MacBook would be the light up keyboard, the keyboard itself (I hated the keyboard on the standard MB, doesn't feel right, whereas I love the MBP keyboard to bits) and ummm... yeah, that's about it. The MacBook now has everything else that the MBP has; Frontrow, Magsafe connector, dual-display support (I needed this too, MB didn't have it before), Core 2 Duo (mine is standard Core Duo - bought it a couple of months before Core 2 came out on the MBPs... images/smilies/sad.gif

).

Also, don't forget as a student you should qualify for a student discount which is a really good saving!

I hope that helps...

Awesome post man!

So I guess the stuff that it comes down to are the screen size, keyboard and graphics card. I'll be using a 20" Dell in the dorm room, and I am sure the 13" screen will be big enough for notes and other work on the run, so that's not really a problem. The keyboard I can learn to live with. So I guess it just comes down to the graphics card. I don't plan on doing any gaming as I'll have a Windows desktop, but you never know. What other graphics intensive things could I be doing with a nice graphics card?

Firecat · January 8th, 2007, 12:52 AM

Wait a second...the standard model doesn't have the ambient keyboard?!?!?

Darnit!

Zuhaib · January 8th, 2007, 3:01 AM

Well one thing to note about apples is the screen resolutions are pretty lower when you compare them to PC's, like Dells. When i switched to my Macbook Pro, even with the 15in screen its feels so much cramped compare to my 15in dell notebook i was using. But i think the Macbook Pro has a lot of good ups, like the dedicated video card, the keyboard, the larger screen, and the ExpressCard so you can add things like 3G cards.
My cousin has the Macbook standard and its great, really good for its size but i cant stand the screen res being that low. Not a lot of real estate to work with for me, i still even find the 15in to be small.

cvrefugee · January 8th, 2007, 3:53 AM

Hmm, my school is selling the older MacBooks (Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo) for $700. Nah, too much still!

cdbob · January 8th, 2007, 5:44 AM

I have both and I would recommend going for the MacBook Pro.

matt_shaw · January 8th, 2007, 7:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdbob

I have both and I would recommend going for the MacBook Pro.

Why?

monkeymax · January 8th, 2007, 2:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt_shaw

So I guess it just comes down to the graphics card. I don't plan on doing any gaming as I'll have a Windows desktop, but you never know. What other graphics intensive things could I be doing with a nice graphics card?

Depends on whether your work will require you to do anything graphically intensive. I don't know if video editing uses the GC, but I reckon that the CPU is plenty to manage this on its own anyway. The operating system needs some graphics power, but this is covered by the GC in the standard MB. I've done quite a bit with my MBP but don't think I've taxed my GC at all yet - but then I've not played any games on this machine yet...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuhaib

Well one thing to note about apples is the screen resolutions are pretty lower when you compare them to PC's, like Dells. When i switched to my Macbook Pro, even with the 15in screen its feels so much cramped compare to my 15in dell notebook i was using.

I strongly disagree with this. I suppose it's horses for courses, but my 15" widescreen MBP runs at resolution of 1440x900 . I was considering getting an external screen as well for my room (I previously used a 4:3 19"CRT on my old PC so that shows how much I down graded) but the resolution on a 19" Widescreen LCD is the same as this Mac's display, in spite of the extra estate. I'd have to go significantly larger for any more pixels, and to be honest this screen has been great for me since I bought the computer and I'm perfectly happy continuing to use it on it's own. It's a fantastic LCD panel in terms of quality and size as far as I'm concerned. Any larger and it'd be too big to carry around.
It may be a different story with the 13" Macbook.
Zuhaib, I use VirtueDesktops when I'm at Uni - essentially it gives me four screens as I can switch effortlessly between them (a few Linux distros have the same and I use it on mine too) - if you find you're running out of space I recommend yu give it a try...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvg

Hmm, my school is selling the older MacBooks (Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo) for $700. Nah, too much still!

That's a great deal - I'd buy one at that price, even with my MBP!

Firecat · January 9th, 2007, 7:45 AM

Does anyone know of a new model or something that is planned on being released soon? Because I'd hate to buy one now and have something different (or better) come out a month later.

cvrefugee · January 9th, 2007, 8:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firecat

Does anyone know of a new model or something that is planned on being released soon? Because I'd hate to buy one now and have something different (or better) come out a month later.

Apple? Release new models frequently? NEVER! images/smilies/lol.gif

They put out new stuff every six months it seems, so buy it now if you need it, buy it later if you want it.

Firecat · January 9th, 2007, 8:46 AM

lol...darnit, I don't need it....but want it so bad.

I'll think it over....

chaos386 · January 9th, 2007, 10:13 AM

At least wait until after Macworld is over.

evoWALO · January 11th, 2007, 4:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firecat

Does anyone know of a new model or something that is planned on being released soon? Because I'd hate to buy one now and have something different (or better) come out a month later.

Use Intel mobile processor releases as your indicator whether or not Apple will offer updated notebooks.

mmap · January 11th, 2007, 5:20 PM

I'm getting a new Pro tomorrow... The only thing is that they need a minimum of 2gigs of memory, otherwise they are hopelessly slow at EVERYTHING. The new software updates coming this spring should help with the emulation problems currenty slowing the new Intel macs down but still...

monkeymax · January 12th, 2007, 1:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmap

I'm getting a new Pro tomorrow... The only thing is that they need a minimum of 2gigs of memory, otherwise they are hopelessly slow at EVERYTHING. The new software updates coming this spring should help with the emulation problems currenty slowing the new Intel macs down but still...

Where are you getting that information from?
I'm running development software for my uni research project just fine with the 1Gig stick in my MBP...
I can see where 2Gigs would help and it'll be one of my soon to do upgrades. But it's definitely not a necessary upgrade. Hopelessly slow at everything?! Waay off there.
Don't know which emulation software you're on about either. OS X runs natively (Universal version) as does most of the software I run. Photoshop may be the exception (and it does annoy me that the fan comes on whenever I use that app) but personally given how little I use that program, I can live with that. And it still runs fairly fast.

mmap · January 12th, 2007, 4:19 PM

^^information is from pesonal use and our IT department trying to fix it (only thing that helped was adding memory...) I got a brand spanking new Mac 2 monhts ago and it is HOPELESS.

Well, I do deal with fairly large databases for work, but nothing that "non-intel" Macs would have any problems with.

evoWALO · January 12th, 2007, 4:42 PM

I'm thinking the app used on the Intel Macs are PPC binaries running under Rosetta.

Firecat · January 21st, 2007, 12:25 AM

Alright...i'm doing it this weekend. Gonna go for the standard model for 1,199 or 1,399 (the price after student discount of 100 bucks, which is why i'm buying online not in-store).

Not sure which one though...the more expensive has a larger hard drive and it's black. Not really interested in the hard drive..so...

Is it worth paying 200 bucks more for the black?....or is the white better?

January 7th, 2007, 10:55 PM	#2
Firecat Politically Charged Joined: Mar 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 3:02 AM Posts: 4,448 Rep Power: 48	I've been thinking of the same, but the only real difference I saw between the standard and the pro was the superior video card (and larger screen size). It's unlikely I'll do much gaming, which is why I plan on going for the standard model. Most likely the 1,299 (USD) model (1GB mem 120GB HD) vs. the 1,999 (USD) pro (1GB mem 120GB HD). The extra savings could go towards something like a PS3 etc... __________________

January 7th, 2007, 11:51 PM	#3
monkeymax Joined: Dec 7th, 2004 Last Online: March 3rd, 2009 Location: England Age: 26 Posts: 1,023 Car: Toyota MR2 Mk1, Toyota MR2 Mk1 SC, Peugeot 309 Rep Power: 23	Hi Matt, I was in the same position 6 months ago before starting my research degree. I went for a MacBook Pro in the end as I decided the screen size was perfect, I may want the Graphics card and I definitely wanted it to last three years... Plus I'm doing some pretty heavy processing on it so figured the extra speed would be worth it. However, the differential between this and the standard MacBook was a bit bigger back then. Speed as well as features. If I was buying now, I reckon I'd probably go for the standard MacBook. They're plenty fast enough, significantly cheaper, and probably a bit more durable - given I carry my MBP to uni and back everyday I am a bit worried about a bit of damage. I don't think I'd worry anywhere near as much if I had a standard MacBook (given the price). Not to mention the worry of theft. In my experience, the only things I'd miss on this computer if I'd got the MacBook would be the light up keyboard, the keyboard itself (I hated the keyboard on the standard MB, doesn't feel right, whereas I love the MBP keyboard to bits) and ummm... yeah, that's about it. The MacBook now has everything else that the MBP has; Frontrow, Magsafe connector, dual-display support (I needed this too, MB didn't have it before), Core 2 Duo (mine is standard Core Duo - bought it a couple of months before Core 2 came out on the MBPs... ). Also, don't forget as a student you should qualify for a student discount which is a really good saving! I hope that helps... __________________ Yup, two too many cars, but I love 'em: 1991 Peugeot 309 - owned it for four years, currently the only runner and the daily driver... but great fun to drive! French though, so gotta treat her rough to keep her happy. 1989 Toyota MR2 Mk1 - owned it for two years. Love it loads. Currently undergoing a suspension upgrade... 1987 Toyota MR2 Mk1 SC - A project car that had Headgasket issues when I bought it. I've never driven it... yet...

January 8th, 2007, 12:52 AM	#5
Firecat Politically Charged Joined: Mar 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 3:02 AM Posts: 4,448 Rep Power: 48	Wait a second...the standard model doesn't have the ambient keyboard?!?!? Darnit! __________________

January 8th, 2007, 3:01 AM	#6
Zuhaib Joined: Dec 11th, 2003 Last Online: 12:03 AM Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 777 Car: 07 VW GTI, 06 S500, 05 HD Softail Rep Power: 40	Well one thing to note about apples is the screen resolutions are pretty lower when you compare them to PC's, like Dells. When i switched to my Macbook Pro, even with the 15in screen its feels so much cramped compare to my 15in dell notebook i was using. But i think the Macbook Pro has a lot of good ups, like the dedicated video card, the keyboard, the larger screen, and the ExpressCard so you can add things like 3G cards. My cousin has the Macbook standard and its great, really good for its size but i cant stand the screen res being that low. Not a lot of real estate to work with for me, i still even find the 15in to be small. __________________ I am Pakistani And No! I do not own a 7/11! And my NAME is not Apu! "MPG describes riding like biology describes Sex" -- Harley Davidson Ad Zuhaib's Blog

January 8th, 2007, 5:44 AM	#8
cdbob Joined: Dec 1st, 2006 Last Online: November 19th, 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 19 Posts: 1,648 Car: 1987 Volvo 245 DL Rep Power: 30	I have both and I would recommend going for the MacBook Pro. __________________ Thanks to everyone who has made sigs for me

January 8th, 2007, 3:53 AM	#7
cvrefugee Joined: Aug 16th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Corona, CA Age: 29 Posts: 3,761 Car: 2005 Scion xB Rep Power: 86	Hmm, my school is selling the older MacBooks (Core Duo, not Core 2 Duo) for $700. Nah, too much still!

January 9th, 2007, 7:45 AM	#11
Firecat Politically Charged Joined: Mar 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 3:02 AM Posts: 4,448 Rep Power: 48	Does anyone know of a new model or something that is planned on being released soon? Because I'd hate to buy one now and have something different (or better) come out a month later. __________________

January 9th, 2007, 8:46 AM	#13
Firecat Politically Charged Joined: Mar 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 3:02 AM Posts: 4,448 Rep Power: 48	lol...darnit, I don't need it....but want it so bad. I'll think it over.... __________________

January 9th, 2007, 10:13 AM	#14
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 23 Posts: 4,609 Car: 2009 Seat Leon FR LFS Status: Rep Power: 144	At least wait until after Macworld is over. __________________ "Shit, that's a busy table cloth." -matt2000

January 11th, 2007, 5:20 PM	#16
mmap Joined: Sep 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 30 Posts: 1,302 Car: BMW / Suzuki VX800 Rep Power: 23	I'm getting a new Pro tomorrow... The only thing is that they need a minimum of 2gigs of memory, otherwise they are hopelessly slow at EVERYTHING. The new software updates coming this spring should help with the emulation problems currenty slowing the new Intel macs down but still...

January 12th, 2007, 4:19 PM	#18
mmap Joined: Sep 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Finland Age: 30 Posts: 1,302 Car: BMW / Suzuki VX800 Rep Power: 23	^^information is from pesonal use and our IT department trying to fix it (only thing that helped was adding memory...) I got a brand spanking new Mac 2 monhts ago and it is HOPELESS. Well, I do deal with fairly large databases for work, but nothing that "non-intel" Macs would have any problems with.

January 12th, 2007, 4:42 PM	#19
evoWALO Joined: Nov 11th, 2004 Last Online: November 19th, 2009 Location: Philippines / Naples, Florida Age: 29 Posts: 783 Rep Power: 27	I'm thinking the app used on the Intel Macs are PPC binaries running under Rosetta.

January 21st, 2007, 12:25 AM	#20
Firecat Politically Charged Joined: Mar 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 3:02 AM Posts: 4,448 Rep Power: 48	Alright...i'm doing it this weekend. Gonna go for the standard model for 1,199 or 1,399 (the price after student discount of 100 bucks, which is why i'm buying online not in-store). Not sure which one though...the more expensive has a larger hard drive and it's black. Not really interested in the hard drive..so... Is it worth paying 200 bucks more for the black?....or is the white better? __________________

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