Which to choose.. [Archive]

jUeLz23

07-14-2008, 04:41 PM

ok so im startin college.
looking to get a laptop. but im not quite sure as to which of the ones on the apple site do i want to get. the price really doesnt matter. im kinda leaning towards the mac book pro.
what are your takes, which laptop would you choose as your first.
thanks for the help.

ArEa_CoDe_415

07-14-2008, 04:52 PM

If price doesn't matter then a MacBook Pro would be a good choice. My first laptop was a MacBook.

jUeLz23

07-14-2008, 04:58 PM

its not, but i just want to make sure im gonna pay for things that i will use.
like basically whats the main difference between the 2?
also i have never used a mac computer been a windows head all my life lol.

ArEa_CoDe_415

07-14-2008, 05:04 PM

This (http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_a_MacBook_versus_MacBook_Pro) gives a good comparison between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.

Saverino

07-14-2008, 05:54 PM

IMO, get the MacBook Pro.

I currently have a MacBook and my cousin has the Pro. I really regret not getting the Pro. The plastic on the MacBook is very cheap and it feels a lot cheaper quality wise than the MacBook Pro. Also, the plastic on the MacBook shows a lot more scratches than the aluminum on the Pro. Also, my MB's trackpad click button thing barely presses anymore. Like, its sunken into the computer. My cousin, whose had his MBP longer, the trackpad click button thing still feels like the first day he got his.

phsycology

07-14-2008, 06:19 PM

I think a Macbook. It seems to me that the simplicity of the macbook's design, makes it more stable than the Macbook Pro, for every-day usage. If you are going to be lugging it around school in your bag, then definitely the macbook. The Pro is too delicate and frail IMO.

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 08:15 AM

so i think im close to make my desicion.. the macbook..
im gonna go to the apple store this weekend and play around with it.
i might come out with it who knows? lol
thanks for all the replies.

phsycology

07-15-2008, 10:29 AM

so i think im close to make my desicion.. the macbook..
im gonna go to the apple store this weekend and play around with it.
i might come out with it who knows? lol
thanks for all the replies.

I will also be purchasing one very shortly, possibly tomorrow morning. :D

gotpancakes

07-15-2008, 12:22 PM

i went with macbook pro when i made my choice... i love this thing!! and the backlit keyboard is sweeeet! IMO bigger is better and this beautiful 15 inch screen takes the cake..
hope u enjoy your choice!

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 01:15 PM

and with the student discount i can get it for 100 less.
so yeah i think ima stick to the black macbook
and do these come wit like word already installed? or something to that extent?

phsycology

07-15-2008, 07:50 PM

Just got my macbook. Posting on it now. I. Love. It. Period.

No for this you should purchase iWork while in the store, you can also get an education discount on this. :)

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 09:04 PM

^how much was ur total and which macbook did u choosE?

phsycology

07-15-2008, 09:15 PM

^how much was ur total and which macbook did u choosE?

I chose the 2.4GHZ Black Macbook with 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive, with an incase case, and iWork.

MacBook: £807.66 Ex. VAT £949.00 Inc. VAT

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 09:24 PM

I chose the 2.4GHZ Black Macbook with 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive, with an incase case, and iWork.

MacBook: £807.66 Ex. VAT £949.00 Inc. VAT
english please.
lol

phsycology

07-15-2008, 09:27 PM

english please.
lol

It was basically £949.00 lol

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 10:54 PM

jus started watching the mac videos on the apple site on like the apps it brings and stuff..
and honestly im falling in love lmao

jUeLz23

07-15-2008, 11:42 PM

one more question.
did u guys purchase the applecare protection thing?
or do u guys think its not worth it.

phsycology

07-16-2008, 10:31 AM

one more question.
did u guys purchase the applecare protection thing?
or do u guys think its not worth it.

My dad will be purchasing it in September when he starts back at University, because he gets a massive discount on it.

projectdarkside

07-23-2008, 10:56 AM

I'd definitely go for the Power of the MacBook Pro
-but if your gonna be the typical college person where your classes are situated all around the campus, then the portability of the MacBook will come out on top :wink:

Whats your major?

acosmichippo

07-24-2008, 04:15 AM

If you plan on doing any kind of gaming, or hardcore picture/videoeo-editing (hmm... poor choice of words there), then the Video card and high-resolution screen in the MBP will definitely help you out. On the other hand, if all you're doing is writing papers, surfing the net, listening to itunes, etc, then a nice high-spec macbook should suit you just fine.

A lot of people say that if you need portability, go with a macbook (13"). Thing is, a 15" MBP isn't exactly a ball-and-chain. I take mine with me to my classes just about every day. Fits in my bag with plenty of room for other books and notes. If i were really interested in a super-portable laptop, i'd get a MacBook Air. now THAT is portable.

projectdarkside

07-24-2008, 04:53 AM

^^
Yeah but I see the Air is around the same price as the MacBook Pro, and its just to close in price for me to choose a laptop that although is ultra portable, over the laptop that is totally built for performance and power ya kno:wink:

PepeRB29

07-24-2008, 06:48 AM

dude as men our dna is to always get the best thing possible. why do we need to go out and get corvette's? not cause we are gonna drive them to their potential, but because we could if we wanted to. get the macbook pro, i'm in college, have it, LOVE IT, and it does everything i could want and more. i learn new stuff about it every day. not to mention it has started a couple good conversations with some ladies who say something like "omg i've always wanted to try a mac" and i'll show them the comp and some cool features while they lean over and expose most/if not all of their breasts in my face.....

projectdarkside

07-24-2008, 11:11 AM

^^
Definitely a +rep to him:laugh2:

phsycology

07-24-2008, 06:28 PM

See, I totally disagree with people recommending the macbook pro. I moved from my dad's old iBook,to my dad's old Powerbook, and experienced nothing but problems. It cost me (well, my dad) around £300 in repairs with Apple, and it is now sat collecting dust underneath my wardrobe, as it's screen no longer works, whilst my brother still uses the iBook, which is still going strong, around five or six years after my dad purchased it. After that experience, I would never buy the "Professional" version of the laptop, but regardless of all of that, I trucking love my macbook!!!!!!! *Dribbles*

acosmichippo

07-24-2008, 11:03 PM

understandable, but you have to realize that is one isolated incident. Just because your dad's powerbook was a lemon, doesn't mean macbook pros are less durable than macbooks.

anyway, i'm not really pushing one or another at this point... the OP hasn't said what they're going to be using the computer for.

Youngbinks

07-25-2008, 12:06 AM

I chose the 2.4GHZ Black Macbook with 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive, with an incase case, and iWork.

MacBook: £807.66 Ex. VAT £949.00 Inc. VAT

Ugh, VAT is ridiculous. I was looking at cars when I was last over in Germany and the VAT made the car almost twice the price of the same exact car in the States. /threadjack

I say that if you need the power and performance then go for the MBP. I have the MBA because I wanted something ultra portable. The MB is a great middle ground of portability and performance.

phsycology

07-25-2008, 05:53 AM

Ugh, VAT is ridiculous. I was looking at cars when I was last over in Germany and the VAT made the car almost twice the price of the same exact car in the States. /threadjack

I say that if you need the power and performance then go for the MBP. I have the MBA because I wanted something ultra portable. The MB is a great middle ground of portability and performance.

Tell me about it!

And I agree, i really do love my MacBook! (I keep saying that don't I) :p

tesh

07-27-2008, 07:09 PM

thanks for all the posts on this thread guys! i've been looking pretty seriously at Macbooks/Pro's and your inputs help - i'll be switching over from a PC platform overall, though ive got a iphone and two ipods, so at this point it only seems natural to get a Mac (good marketing ploy Apple!!)

i'm thinking Pro right now (base 15" model) my only hinge being the better videocard, bigger screen and multitouch pad over the Macbook...

got my fingers crossed...i'll be probably picking up my Pro on monday! :)

acosmichippo

07-27-2008, 07:39 PM

are you going to be doing any gaming or photo/video editing?

projectdarkside

07-27-2008, 10:24 PM

I heard the gaming, well macs selection of games atleast, wasnt that great:gasp:

Saverino

07-27-2008, 10:25 PM

I heard the gaming, well macs selection of games atleast, wasnt that great:gasp:

Its true. There are WAYYY more games out there for Windows, than there are for Macs.

acosmichippo

07-27-2008, 10:27 PM

you know you can install windows on macs, right?

Saverino

07-27-2008, 10:38 PM

you know you can install windows on macs, right?

Yes. I have XP on mine right now. But thats not what he was asking :wink:

acosmichippo

07-27-2008, 11:53 PM

the point is still valid, though. You CAN play any windows game on a mac.

projectdarkside

07-28-2008, 12:40 AM

tesh

07-28-2008, 02:39 PM

are you going to be doing any gaming or photo/video editing?

nah, not gaming (ive got a ps3 i dont play already...haha)
photos: some edits (not photoshop, very simple stuff) mostly storage and digital 'scrapbook' type stuff + some timelapse work
video: timelapse + general edits of raw video into something a bit more presentable sources: miniDV, SD cards (at 720i resolution)
audio: simple cut/edits, maybe dabble in remixing, but mostly storage, sync
dvds: ripping down to mp4, flv conversion, general dvd burning i'd say...

leaning to the pro for:
dedicated video card
bigger screen
multi-touch trackpad
supposedly runs xp a bit smoother than the macbook
better audio from what ive heard
love the case
illuminated keys
good price @ educational discount (1699+taxes including free printer and itouch)

*edit*
and to be honest, if i went with a macbook, id go for the black one, just because. i like the case so much better; and what fun is a laptop if you dont enjoy looking at it right? haha.. so for around a 300 difference between the Black mac and the low end pro, i'd go pro for the main features + full size dvi (for my 22" monitor)

dturner

07-28-2008, 06:39 PM

so for around a 300 difference between the Black mac and the low end pro, i'd go pro for the main features + full size dvi (for my 22" monitor)
I went with the Pro and don't regret it for a second. It is my first mac and decided on the Pro for the same options you listed.

tesh

07-28-2008, 07:31 PM

I went with the Pro and don't regret it for a second. It is my first mac and decided on the Pro for the same options you listed.

seems like what im hearing about the pro day in an day out... right now they've got a promo for 100 off a printer and free ipod so it seems like a good time to buy.. though ive heard a rumor of upgrades coming up which make me think to wait...

dturner

07-28-2008, 07:37 PM

though ive heard a rumor of upgrades coming up which make me think to wait...
Well, the updates that come out this time of year are usually very minor and IMO not worth the wait. They are usually cosmetic and have nothing to do with performance. The big updates come out in conjunction with macworld.

tesh

07-29-2008, 10:39 AM

Well, the updates that come out this time of year are usually very minor and IMO not worth the wait. They are usually cosmetic and have nothing to do with performance. The big updates come out in conjunction with macworld.

i definatley have more to learn about the world of mac's in general too - seems like even the rumors won't be any more defined in a month or two , so i'm going to go ahead and get the Pro. Ive been looking on apple's website and it looks like i'll go with the base setup as the upgrades aren't really worth it (ram is overpriced, so is hdd)...

off to the store today hopefully! :) thanks all for your input and posts!

acosmichippo

07-29-2008, 03:43 PM

the upgrades are definitely overpriced. you can score 4GB of RAM on newegg for ~$100, and get killer deals on HDs too. The only thing i'll mention is that it is a PAIN to replace a HD on a MBP, and will void your warranty if you do so (the casing must be taken apart). Of course, that didn't stop me... i did it a few weeks ago. My theory is as long as i keep the original HD, if something goes wrong, i can just pop it back in before i get it serviced.

phsycology

07-29-2008, 06:31 PM

i definatley have more to learn about the world of mac's in general too - seems like even the rumors won't be any more defined in a month or two , so i'm going to go ahead and get the Pro. Ive been looking on apple's website and it looks like i'll go with the base setup as the upgrades aren't really worth it (ram is overpriced, so is hdd)...

off to the store today hopefully! :) thanks all for your input and posts!

I'm gonna get some mroe RAM for my MacBook from www.crucial.com - much cheaper!!!

JoHnOfDaDeAd

07-30-2008, 05:57 PM

I want to get a MBP also, but I am hearin of rumors of a new model:( Which one would you get?(e.g. Wait for new one or get the settled in and reliable one?)

phsycology

07-30-2008, 06:57 PM

I think that any upodates will be minor. I was in the same predicament as you a few weeks ago over a MacBook, but decided to get it........and......I.......LOVE........It!!!!!!!!!

JoHnOfDaDeAd

07-30-2008, 07:48 PM

Which notebook did you get?:)

I think I may jump on it.(Even it is completely new being that there would be tons of bugs...) I would be able to resell the free iPod Touch to help pay it off also.

tesh

07-31-2008, 03:02 AM

Which notebook did you get?:)

I think I may jump on it.(Even it is completely new being that there would be tons of bugs...) I would be able to resell the free iPod Touch to help pay it off also.

i picked up a fresh new MBP 15" (base) - loving it!
all the perks are as i'd hoped - on top of the fact that i'm doing everything i'd do with my pc, without the BSOD haha...

within the time of a full charge i pulled off a few skype and ichat calls flawlessly, the audio was superb :)

i had to jump on the deal since the college bookstore in my area was offering another 100 off on top of the education discount, so why not?

anyway, thanks for all the input! i'm definately happy w/it

(got the matte screen and i think its great - matches the dvi monitor i have already and is still as sharp as can be... beautiful)

phsycology

07-31-2008, 06:36 AM

Glad you like it!

Welcome........to the world of Mac!!!!!!!

i picked up a fresh new MBP 15" (base) - loving it!
all the perks are as i'd hoped - on top of the fact that i'm doing everything i'd do with my pc, without the BSOD haha...

within the time of a full charge i pulled off a few skype and ichat calls flawlessly, the audio was superb :)

i had to jump on the deal since the college bookstore in my area was offering another 100 off on top of the education discount, so why not?

anyway, thanks for all the input! i'm definately happy w/it

(got the matte screen and i think its great - matches the dvi monitor i have already and is still as sharp as can be... beautiful)

JoHnOfDaDeAd

07-31-2008, 08:08 AM

Lol that is another ordeal: picking between matte or glossy. Which one would you pick frm experience? My current Gateway laptop is a glossy screen. Any reason to go matte?

tesh

07-31-2008, 10:56 AM

Lol that is another ordeal: picking between matte or glossy. Which one would you pick frm experience? My current Gateway laptop is a glossy screen. Any reason to go matte?

i was in the same dilemma for nearly a week - i read forum after forum, googled countless reviews... it comes down to:

'personal preference'

worst answer, right? lol

well, i've got matte on the MBP and had gloss on my hp (14.1" wide, HD screen too) and between the two, i think matte is the way to go - unless there's something specific you personally like about gloss, matte is an all-weather screen imo. yesterday i sat in light from 3pm-night and the matte didn't distract me once; i know that with my HP, the gloss would have reflected the objects around me, my face, and little 'shards' of light it would be picking up at the time. Gloss may be great for overall viewing quality as some may say, producing images that look almost 'true to life' because of the sheen - but really, with the brightness up on a matte, i could hardly tell the differnce, except for that my screen had no glare.

the short of all that ^ there, matte: 'all-weather', works great in any lighting situation, outdoors or in. gloss - great if you're indoors more often w/indirect lighting, outdoors you might need to turn the brightness up a notch or readjust the power settings to allow the screen to go full bright (if on battery)

acosmichippo

08-02-2008, 04:58 AM

matte notebook screen plus glossy external monitor.

best of both worlds.

Witness

08-04-2008, 06:17 PM

aenti

08-04-2008, 07:16 PM

I know you can install windows on a Mac
-I'm just alittle worried about how they would perform, performance wise ya kno:gasp: Cause my laptop(HP) that I'm posting from right now has crashed 4 times in the past week and each time it crashed I grunted to myself "If I had a Mac this wouldnt be happening :angry:

You don't want to game Windows on a Mac. You are in for bad times if you do. I'm not going to even bother installing Windows on my future MacBook. Too much potential for crap.

projectdarkside

08-05-2008, 02:56 AM

After I get a MacBook I will never ever buy another windows computer, after the horrid experience I've had with my HP!! :angry:

acosmichippo

08-06-2008, 04:51 PM

You don't want to game Windows on a Mac. You are in for bad times if you do. I'm not going to even bother installing Windows on my future MacBook. Too much potential for crap.

not true. I've had a bootcamp partition installed since February on mine for gaming and a few other apps, and have had no issues so far.