Macbook or Macbook Pro?

[tranzformer]

If I were you, I would go with the Macbook 2.4GHz. The Macbook Pro is overkill in my opinion for what you will be using it for. I would also recommend getting the higher end aluminum over the white MB. You are only going to be paying ~$400-500 extra for the high end aluminum Macbook over the white when you max out the Ram at 4gb and get the larger hard drive. Also you get a better GPU, screen, faster processor, 1066 MHz FSB with the high end Macbook vs. 800 MHz FSB for the white Macbook, DDR3 Ram vs. DDR2, backlit keyboard with the high end aluminum, longer battery life, and about 1/2 pound less in weight. Really the high end Macbook is the way to go. In your position I might consider getting a larger monitor for when you are at home as you mentioned. Better going that route vs. paying the premium for the MBP 2.4GHz at 15in.

[focus]

I never followed up on this thread.

I ended up going with a 2.16 MB and upgraded to 2gb memory. Great little machine. Really happy with it. Does everything I want it to do. My only gripe is that the internal HD could be a little bigger. My usage is more or less the same as yours, monkeybones, minus the numbercrunching.

I also bought applecare and a techshell for it, both are a little necessary with two rambunctious toddlers running around.

I'm thinking about upgrading to 4gb (it will only address 3gb, but will see a slight performance+ with a matched pair, and memory's CHEAP), and maybe tossing in a bigger HD.

As long as it doesn't break, this machine should see me through the next couple years if not longer.

The new alu mb's look really nice, but my alu pb was a little fragile and its wireless range suffered. Maybe both are nonissues now, I don't know. I don't have any money at the moment, so it's definitely a nonissue for me.

[monkeybones]

Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions for me to think about?

[descender]

Get the Pro. You will spend massive amounts of time in front of the laptop and the extra screen size is well worth the cost. I also don't recommend glossy. I had a glossy monitor at work and it drove me insane, so I returned it for a matte.

[advres]

Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions for me to think about?

You can buy the last generation MBP for the same price as a new MP. It won't be the new brick style (which I don't like for a few reasons) but they are a tried and true laptop. I got mine the day after the new versions came out. You can get them cheaper then I did now.

One issue is you need to buy the Applecare. The MPBs come with a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics card. NVIDIA has stated that they are all faulty. Apple won't replace the card until it fails though. For someone surfing the web and doing office type shit, the card will last the life of the computer more than likely. Anyone doing highly intensive graphics, video or gaming (on a mac you say?), their cards will fail sooner rather then later. Mine just better fail before my 3 years of Applecare is up.

So in short, if you are going to spend $1299+ on a MB, you should buy the old version of the MBP instead. If not for your needs, do it for the resale value.

[Particle]

You can buy the last generation MBP for the same price as a new MP. It won't be the new brick style (which I don't like for a few reasons) but they are a tried and true laptop. I got mine the day after the new versions came out. You can get them cheaper then I did now.

One issue is you need to buy the Applecare. The MPBs come with a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics card. NVIDIA has stated that they are all faulty. Apple won't replace the card until it fails though. For someone surfing the web and doing office type shit, the card will last the life of the computer more than likely. Anyone doing highly intensive graphics, video or gaming (on a mac you say?), their cards will fail sooner rather then later. Mine just better fail before my 3 years of Applecare is up.

So in short, if you are going to spend $1299+ on a MB, you should buy the old version of the MBP instead. If not for your needs, do it for the resale value.

Can you get the old MBP through Apple still?


Nevermind, yes: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/hom...ce?mco=MTE3Njg

[focus]

My MB began to have issues in the past year. I'm working on my 8th or 9th applecare claim right now. The bad news is that the last 3 (now 4) have been for the same issue (screen randomly turning white, flickering, etc.) - the good news is that they're giving me a new computer, and I'm upgrading to a MBP (not that there's too much of a difference between the 13" MB and MBP these days).

So, overall - I'm happy. The old girl is pretty much brand new at this point (new logic board, screen, keyboard, trackpad, HDD, bottom case, and more in the past year or so). Disappointed that it turned into a lemon, as it's been a bit of a hassle. Applecare paid off, for sure, but I would have been happier if this machine just never had a problem in the first place - it does everything I need it to.

[Skipig25]

FWIW, neither of them are going to be worth shit in 5 years.

[focus]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Powerbook-...#ht_500wt_1102

Sold my 4 yr old PB for $500 a couple years ago

Dunno what your shit is worth, but my shit is definitely worth a lot less than $300 to $500. That's a pair of skis, dude.

Anyhow, this thread (and the original query) is a couple years old.