Okay. I need help picking out a Mac Book Pro...

[armyowalgreens]

I'm going to be getting it through ASU. I get a free ipod and a printer.

But I cannot decide between a 13 inch or 15 inch screen. I watch a ton of movies and spend a good chunk of my day working on the computer for school.

I'm also thinking about upgrading to a larger hard drive.

[Deja Q]

1. 15", no contest

And while the OS uses like 120MB of RAM (yes, 120MB!), get 4GB if you're planning on doing photo editing. Otherwise 2GB is more than dandy. (Adobe AfterEffects craves RAM...)


(120MB active RAM, it does use 300MB of RAM to cache things but if I ever use the full RAM complement it'll flush the cache, of course... )

And with Snow Leopard, I'd expect RAM requirements to drop a teensy bit too... :D

[armyowalgreens]

2. I'm not sure why, but it is over 300 dollars more for the 15 inch model...

Same processor, ram, hard drive, graphics set up etc...

Is it worth spending an extra 300+ dollars for the bigger screen?

[Deja Q]

3. That is the ONLY difference?!

:wow:

In which case I wouldn't spend the extra dough, but surely there's got to be more to the 15" model... higher resolution? Longer lasting battery? (I think only the new 15" version has the funky fresh 8hr battery...?)

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=715205
A poster there has a similar quandary - I liked some of their responses (for both models :( )

[armyowalgreens]

4. They have the same battery. The 15 inch has a slightly higher screen resolution...

But only slightly.

Both have 7 hour+ batteries.

I'm not sure if it's worth getting the 15 inch. I might have to go to a store and test out both sizes.

[Deja Q]

5. Aye, going to the Apple store might be for the best:

(Or best buy, they treated me well with their service plans...)

I wish I could trade in my current Macbook pro for the new 15". Extra battery life would be wonderful, but if Apple offers a replacement battery then I wouldn't otherwise care...


Is the integrated video card on both models identical, down to RAM capacity? (A higher resolution would benefit from a faster graphics subsystem, and on the 15" it might have dedicated RAM too - BIG plus)

[armyowalgreens]

6. I just feel really bad spending sooo much money on a computer...

My high end hp cost 1000 dollars. The cheapest mac book pro that I'm looking at is 1500. That's a big difference.

I just need to know that it's worth the extra investment.

[Deja Q]

7. Keep in mind:

1. HPs are notorious for being cheaply made plastic junk
2. Like most Windows vendors, HP subsidizes costs with "crapware". If you go to osme tech forums, some of the idiot "journalists" whine and mewl in articles they write, saying computer companies should put the "crapware" on a separate CD. (Sorry dumbwads, they pre-install it for a reason... these FOOLS want it both ways...)
3. Performance is MUCH faster on a Mac, thanks to a tightly written OS that doesn't throw in useless garbage - MUCH faster than Vista, I'll dig up my comparison benchmarks one day
4. The unibody case cools the laptop better than the fan in your Windows laptop
5. no registry
6. no product activation subsystem that may or may not blow up the moment you update a video driver
7. Every update Mac puts out is smooth and automatic. Much faster/easier than a PC
8. Apple may praise Snow Leopard as being "more reliable", but compared to Vista or XP, Snow Leopard's predecessor is already VERY reliable.
9. Consumer Reports constantly rates Apple at the top of their lists. They're usually worth taking notice of.

With luck, Apple will sell the high end battery for the rest of us. Macs are VERY reliable, but at the same time it's silly to upgrade just because of... a battery (3 hours is adequate, yes, but eking out twice as much is rather nicer). One needn't the fastest CPU just to keep the OS from running slower than a valium-snorting turtle. Note to self: Write Apple. :D

[armyowalgreens]

8. hmmm that's good advice...

Thanks:pals:


I've heard that MAC OSs use a lot less memory than windows. Which explains why their isn't always a need for 4 gigs of ram.

I just drove down to the apple store and checked out the computers. I think I'll go with the upgraded 13 inch mac book pro.

I'll be doing some photo editing in the future (once I shell out the money for a nice camera). But I don't think I'll be using it enough to justify paying an extra 300 dollars for the larger screen. The 13 inch screen looked pretty good when I was checking out sample photography.

Plus, the 13 inch is much more portable than the 15 inch.

[geek_sabre]

9. Do you *NEED* a pro?

If all you're using it for is school work, internet, music, movies, and photoshop, you really only need a MacBook. Its not as shiny, sure, but it is powerful. And you can get more for your money.

[armyowalgreens]

10. Well I could opt down to the base 13 inch pro...

That's only 150 bucks more after the student discount. You get a better processor, screen and ram. Then I could simply purchase an extra 2 gigs of ram and have it installed.

I also don't like to admit it, but I do enjoy playing games. I was originally looking for a laptop that could handle COD4. But it seems that they would be quite pricey so I lowered my expectations. But with that in mind, the difference between a macbook and macbook pro is substantial enough to warrant the pro. I can at least play BF2 or Spore. And I have heard on occasion that macbook pros with the 9400M can handle COD4 on the lower settings. Which would be awesome.

I've met a lot of people that have had issues with the structural integrity and durability of the standard macbook (whitebook).

It wears much faster and the whitebook gets extremely dirty. The clicker is kind of annoying. And the screen is of poorer quality than the new mac book pros.

Also, an extremely important necessity is a computer with a long battery life. The base macbook has up to 5 hours. The macbook pro has up to 7 hours. And from what I've read, the difference is even more substantial in real world applications. On some days I have one class after another that last for more than 5 hours total without access to a plug (lecture halls). So the extra battery life is extremely important.

I don't know. I'll have to go back in and look at all of them again.

[geek_sabre]

26. FWIW I have a 15" pro

got it just over three years ago. It still works great! My brother got a 15" pro about a month ago, and they've only gotten better. Its a great machine! My brother uses it for hard core graphic design, me not so much, which is why I suggested the Macbook.

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11. buy the most outrageously expensive one. oh, wait... they all are...

[armyowalgreens]

12. I use to think that. Then I realized that they aren't pieces of shit.

And it becomes fairly obvious that the extra investment pays off when you don't have to replace hardware or the entire computer only 1.5 years after purchase.

I've had nothing but problems with PCs. Everyone I know that has a mac loves it. The worst problem I have heard of is premature battery failure. And that was one person that had a battery go out after less than 2 years. Which is still better than my acer.


The build quality of mac's are just incomparable to other notebooks.

[1]

13. not my experience, but spend your money how you want...

i have never had problems with a pc. the hardware works. the batteries are fine and if they do fail, cheap to replace.

i have replaced a pc when the hardware is obsolete. which happens every few years, technology being what it is.

but go ahead and spend 2 to 3 times more than you have too.

this is america. its all about the freedom...

[armyowalgreens]

14. 2 to 3 times more? Let's not exaggerate.

No doubt, it is more money. You will notice the difference in price. But it is certainly not as substantial as you make it out to be.

[armyowalgreens]

15. Also, I always hear PC users defending their computers...

When someone brings up Apple.

But on an individual basis, I never stop hearing PC users loathing over their unreliable money pits.

[1]

16. hey, like i said... its your money, spend it how you wish...

and i never stop hearing of mac users attempting to justify their spending way more than they have to.

people shop at whole foods instead of local farmer's markets as well.

whatever makes you happy...

[armyowalgreens]

17. oh jeez...

While I enjoy your metaphorical slaps to the back of the head, I think you are like the many other PC users that despise Apple products for no certain reason.

I agree that macbooks are slightly overpriced when you consider the features. But compared to other notebooks, the quality of materials is substantially better.

I've never personally owned a mac. I have used them in school for newspaper layouts and they worked exceptionally well. But I'm not some wide-eyed apple fanboy. I have many years experience with owning HPs, Dells, Sony's, IBMs, etc.

[1]

18. why do you post and ask for comments? is it validation you seek?

i'm not slapping anyone to the back of the head, metaphorical or otherwise.

if you think a mac is superior, by all means buy one.

or as you would say... oh jeez...

[armyowalgreens]

19. I posted asking for a discussion on macbook pros...

Someone asked me if I would be okay with a macbook. That question was fine because it at least pertained to the discussion.


You, however, came in here to talk shit. Which is of no help to me. Like clock work, an apple basher had to come in and take a dump on the discussion.

To that, I say oh jeez. But if you'd like, I can give you a "Jesus fucking christ" or "You've got to be shitting me".

[1]

20. buy your mac. 15" screen. the most expensive you can find. no shit. that is the one for you...

i have to concede... you are the smartest motherfucker i have ever posted with.

you know!

because any idea other than that held by you is "talking shit."


heh.

good luck with that in life. you are sure to succeed.

heh...

[armyowalgreens]

21. "Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives"

I'll take your substantial increase in sarcasm as a signal of your realization that you are making a fool of yourself.

Congratulations on disturbing the peace of a laptop selection thread. If you really need to argue, I'm sure that someone in GD would gladly participate in a pissing contest with you.

[1]

22. one can only guess, being told post after post to do what you want to do, why do you continue?

need i say it again? will it help?

with you, i don't think so.

you need to stop focusing on me and walk up to the nearest mirror. take a good hard look and ask yourself about you, not me. you need help.



ok. for the fifth fucking time. buy a mac. please...

[armyowalgreens]

23. ...Are we suppose to fuck now?

:shrug:

I feel like our relationship is maturing.














(FYI: I'm aware that I need help. Half the world knows that I need help)

[1]

24. buy a mac. i will not fuck you...

[armyowalgreens]

25. oh well...

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