Macbook or Macbook Pro?

[Felix]

I'm looking to get my first mac in the next few weeks. It seems to me like the benefits of the Macbook Pro 15 inch over the Mac book are...

- .1 GHz fast processor
- bigger hard drive (I have an external)
- better video card (I'm not a gamer)
- bigger screen (I don't mind small)


Am I missing anything? Is all that really worth the extra several hundred dollars? I'm going to upgrade to 4gigs of RAM, but I have to pay for that with either one.

Also, I know that anything will be obsolete within minutes anyway, but is now a particularly BAD time to buy a macbook for any reason?

Thanks

[Happy Trails]

Thanks for posting this question. I too have been wondering about these two models. My eMac is on it's last legs.

[LoveTractor]

I like the small footprint and portability of the Macbook and it's plenty fast enough. Just load it up with RAM and you're golden.
And they just came out with a new OS, so now is a perfect time to buy. The next models(coming out in Sep I thinK) will be completely aluminum if you wanna wait for those.

Or I'll sell you mine.

[C6H12O6]

If you are planning on editing video or making any DVDs out of pics/video/music, you might prefer the Pro. The video card on the Pro has it's own dedicated video RAM, rather than sharing the system RAM as on the regular MacBook. You don't have to be a gamer to see the benefit of the better video card. Talk to the Apple folks to make sure that is still correct on the current versions, but I'm sure it is.

If you aren't going to be editing any video or making DVDs from your pics, you might honestly not notice much difference between the two. You can max out the RAM on the MacBook and still end up cheaper than the Pro. The MacBooks are great machines for the money. Very fast and very stable, just not as sexy or perhaps as long-lived as the Pro.

I have the older PowerBook, which is the non-Intel version of the Pro. I dropped it getting out of the cruiser once when the strap on my bag broke. Hit right on the corner in the perfect wrong spot. Dented the corner in a little, but it bent back after a little prodding. No ill effects other than a little cosmetic ding. I couldn't believe it wasn't broken. Brushed aluminum over a magnesium frame is pretty tough stuff. I doubt the polycarbonate case of the MacBook would have fared as well.

Also, the Pro has a few better output options if you are going to be plugging it into a projector/TV/sound system. I love my PowerBook, so I won't talk you out of the Pro, even if you don't really need the juice right now.

[brownbear]

The normal macbook does video editing just fine as is.

I like smaller myself. Go with a regular macbook.

[GA Trevor]

I would wait to buy, Apple recently came out with their quarterly report and major changes that will lower their profits. Much of the speculation is that their will be an update to the Macbook and Mackbook Pro. Just my $.02

[Felix]

Originally Posted by C6H12O6

If you are planning on editing video or making any DVDs out of pics/video/music, you might prefer the Pro. The video card on the Pro has it's own dedicated video RAM, rather than sharing the system RAM as on the regular MacBook. You don't have to be a gamer to see the benefit of the better video card. Talk to the Apple folks to make sure that is still correct on the current versions, but I'm sure it is.

I think that's still correct. The fancy video cards on the Pros list a megabyte specification. Makes sense that it would be for dedicated RAM.

I just don't see myself doing much video editing, either. We don't own a video camera or plan to. And I'm not into slide shows. So, the most I'd probably do is edit photos and watch a DVD occasionally.

[OZCAL]

Originally Posted by Happy Trails

Thanks for posting this question. I too have been wondering about these two models. My eMac is on it's last legs.

Mine (1999) has speed wobbles when I turn it on. So now I leave it on 24/7 to avoid it.

Will buy a new mac within 12 months.

[Blue77FJ40]

Felix, best to wait as GA trevor suggests. Just read where Apple will be updating.

Apple to Resellers: Stock Up on MacBooks, iPods (PS: Good Luck Selling Them After the Refresh) | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

My suggestion is like a house, buy a bit more than you can afford at the moment, because you will appreciate more down the road. Go Pro. and welcome to the Mac fold. Once you go Mac, you never go back. (unless %$&*&^% work forces you to)

[DSRTRDR]

over the past 20 years that I have worked with Macs, I have always bought the bigger machine, which turned out to last me longer than a smaller model would have due to better features and greater memory capacity

so, while it is counterintuitive at purchase time, I found that the bigger model saves me more in the long run

I have run cycles of about 4-5 years on my office desktops and my laptops - I am just about ready for a new laptop myself but will wait until fall for the new models

[macneill]

I vote for the Pro.

More horsepower, bigger screen.

[swank60]

Originally Posted by DSRTRDR

over the past 20 years that I have worked with Macs, I have always bought the bigger machine, which turned out to last me longer than a smaller model would have due to better features and greater memory capacity

so, while it is counterintuitive at purchase time, I found that the bigger model saves me more in the long run

I have run cycles of about 4-5 years on my office desktops and my laptops - I am just about ready for a new laptop myself but will wait until fall for the new models

This has always been my experience, but I've always needed the pro features and power anyway for work. That said, I've got an '02/'03 model tower that still runs like hell at the home office. I figure it's probably got one or two years of hard labor left in it before it's totally obsolete (I bought it when it was a year old for about half the price it was from the factory - caught a lucky break on ebay).

The better half uses my old 2nd gen titanium G4 every day for dinkin' around on the internet, paying bills etc. She's managed to screw it up (she starts fooling around with things that she shouldn't mess with) and it still manages to scoot along.

[C6H12O6]

Ahhh... the old, "Wait to buy because there's a new computer model coming out soon."

As fast as these things change, you are NEVER going to get away from that feeling that you should wait just a little longer. If you can wait, you'll probably get even more for your money in a few months, but since we've already established that both current models will do everything you need (and then some), if you need to purchase right now, go for it and don't look back.

[phrogg4evr]

I've got the Pro, luv it!

Nice big screen and nice and fast.

[yooper]

I love my MacBook, it's blazingly fast, and nice and portable. A Pro wouldn't be worth it for me and it would be too big.

[LoveTractor]

Originally Posted by C6H12O6

Ahhh... the old, "Wait to buy because there's a new computer model coming out soon."...

Rumors are saying the new Macbook models with aluminum cases(tougher) and multi-touchpads(like iTouch/iPhone) will be out within 6 to 8 weeks.
There's also a rumor that they're gonna use Centrino processors though. I hope that rumor is wrong.

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[greytandy]

Go Pro. I found I've always ended up needing/wanting a bit more than I bought. You may not have a video camera now, but you will if you have kids.

[ed97fzj80]

I've never regretted having more CPU or RAM than I need. If nothing else it adds a year or two to the life of the machine.

[GA Trevor]

And they are releasing an UMPC with cocoa touch pretty soon supposedly.

[Darby Darrow]

Originally Posted by Felix

I'm looking to get my first mac in the next few weeks.

snip

Am I missing anything? Is all that really worth the extra several hundred dollars?

Thanks

One other item to consider. If you do presentations a pro will allow you to use an extended desktop rather than mirroring the presentation. With the Macbook you will have the same screen that the audience is seeing. With the pro Keynote will allow you to see the upcoming build as well as the time, elapsed time and notes.

If you don't do presentations, then don't sweat it.

[rabid]

I have a pro at home for freelance video editing, and it is an amazing machine. I looked at the macbook, but knowing I will be cutting HD in the next year, it was not really up to par. The difference between the two can be a LOT of money, however.

I bought the 17 for the real estate needed on the screen for video programs (FCP, after effects) =, but if you are not cutting video, I would stick with the 15. the 17 is just a bit on the bulky side.

[TJDIV]

Originally Posted by phrogg4evr

I've got the Pro, luv it!

Nice big screen and nice and fast.

x2.

a bit big for traveling, but still nothing compared to the DELL ( ugg..and Toshiba ) I was used to.

been using a Pro for about 6 months...great for picture editing, video editing, etc.
overkill maybe if you're not ever going to use it.

[Felix]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I think I'm leaning towards the macbook based on size and the belief that I really won't need the extra video prowess. No presentations, no video editing, no kids (don't jinx me, Dave). Just surfing the net, working with photos, and other personal stuff. I'll check them out at the Apple store, though. If the Pro isn't THAT much bigger, I might just make the leap.

Still the question of timing. I guess I don't NEED it now, since my seven-year-old Dell desktop still technically works. It's just so damn slow that it's making me insane. I'm also thinking about this "free iPod" promotion they've got going on for teachers and students (my wife's a teacher). Buy a laptop by Sept 15 and get a free ipod Nano or 8GB iPod Touch. Or $300 off an ipod touch with more storage. I was planning on getting a new ipod anyway since my brick was stolen out of the 40 a few weeks ago. So, that's 300 I save by buying now.

Of course, the day after that promotion ends in Sept, they'll probably release the new laptops.

[Felix]

So, I went with the Macbook Pro, 15 inch. Just got home with it, and I'm surfing with it now.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Terrax]

I like the Macbook Pro, regardless of what you get make sure you get Fusion from VMware (my employer) yes, I'm pimping them. Slick program to run Windows and Mac at the same time.

[LoveTractor]

Originally Posted by Terrax

...make sure you get Fusion from VMware (my employer) ...

Cool! VMWare is a great program.