All or Nothing: Maxed out 2 GHz or stock 1.83?

[ieani]

I have an order in for the 2GHz MBPro with 7200RPM but its going to cost me over $700 more than a stock 1.83 after Amazon rebate. Ill also get the Amazon one faster.

I really do not have a budget. Any money I do not spend now will just be spent on college this fall or be put into a savings for my backpacking trip to Europe.

I am a biology major so I will only be using my computer for typing and entertainment.

I use my parents HP at 3GHZ with HT now, so if it would run at a similar speed as this does I do not think I would notice any difference.

It would take me a little over two weeks of working full-time to make up the difference in price.

I either want the completely upgraded system for all the speed benefits or the stock 1.83 with just an after market RAM upgrade for all the price benefits.

Should I future-proof myself with the fully loaded 2GHz or settle for the 1.83GHZ and put the saved money towards something more rewarding?

 

[Chundles]

To be honest, if you don't have a budget the decision isn't exactly the money or the box. The 2GHz Core Duo will most likely run rings around your folks' 3GHz P4 machine as would the 1.83GHz one but there would be more rings from the 2.0GHz model.

 

[budugu]

I have an order in for the 2GHz MBPro with 7200RPM but its going to cost me over $700 more than a stock 1.83 after Amazon rebate. Ill also get the Amazon one faster.

I really do not have a budget. Any money I do not spend now will just be spent on college this fall or be put into a savings for my backpacking trip to Europe.

I am a biology major so I will only be using my computer for typing and entertainment.

Get the 1.83 one.

 

[ColdFlame87]

Get the 1.83 one.

I Agree if you dont need it for any heavy duty work ie video editing, photoshop work, then get the 1.83, it will suffice your needs and from the looks of it youll get it a while before the 2.0. The extra 700 dollars can be used for anything else you want and may be more worth it as such.

 

[gman71882]

Low End 1.83

If all your using it for is typing and entertainment then get the low end 1.83 Ghz machine and Spend the leftovers on something great.
*** maybe the new video ipod when it comes out around April 1st****
or a PS3
or a Sony ericsson w800
or a Flat panel tv

tooooo.... much..... to.... buy... i need a better job!!!!!

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

I had both the 2.0 and the 1.83 (I ended up selling the 2.0), and I think the difference in speed is nominal.

Use the $700 to buy a 20" widescreen LCD monitor, a wireless keyboard/mouse set, and some decent speakers so that you have a great home setup.

 

[celebrian23]

I agree with everyone else basically. It's a waste of $700. There is nothing wrong with the 1.83, it's just the 2.0/2.16 are for those who are in more pro applications.

 

[godbout]

If I were you, like others have suggested, I would not "save the money for school" (who wants to do that!). Rather, you should buy cool stuff with it like a nice 20" LCD and a kicka** sound system for your room. The 1.83 is a nice machine and will do you just fine! One thing that is sort of cool about this mac that is often not the case is that it will actually get faster with time over the next year as UB's come out. Anyways get the 1.83

 

[ieani]

I already have a kickass sound system. I bought an infinity ts-350 5.1 system about two years ago. But its not coming to school with me. And I am not getting a monitor either as its a waste fo money for something I really do not need. I already have a wireless mouse, its a logitech v500.

The only thing Im worried about is if in a couple years Ill regret not having gotten the faster machine.

 

[Malfoy]

I already have a kickass sound system. I bought an infinity ts-350 5.1 system about two years ago. But its not coming to school with me. And I am not getting a monitor either as its a waste fo money for something I really do not need. I already have a wireless mouse, its a logitech v500.

The only thing Im worried about is if in a couple years Ill regret not having gotten the faster machine.

In a few years, I don't think those 170 mhz will make that much of a difference.

 

[munckee]

Or you could get an ibook/macbook for half the price and take a better and/or another backpacking trip...

You'll remember that trip LOOOOOONG after your computer is a useless pile of metal and plastic. You've said yourself that you won't be using it to its potential, so why not get something that fits your needs AND saves you a chunk of cash?

 

[ieani]

In a few years, I don't think those 170 mhz will make that much of a difference.

Its not the processor its the VRAM and 7200RPM HDD.

Or you could get an ibook/macbook for half the price and take a better and/or another backpacking trip...

You'll remember that trip LOOOOOONG after your computer is a useless pile of metal and plastic. You've said yourself that you won't be using it to its potential, so why not get something that fits your needs AND saves you a chunk of cash?

No, Ibook will have too small of a screen. And I do not want to be taking an LCD back and forth to college.

I wish I knew my exact financial future now. I could if I do get the job I should be getting where my college is easily get the laptop and still backpack for a month. I went to Europe for two weeks last fall and stayed with some friends for free, which i could always do again if I am short on cash next summer.

And I will not be using it to its full potential now, but will be doing so in two years most likely with the way computer technology progresses.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Get the stock 1.83. It will still do the job. Find some real benchmarks on the difference between the 7200 drive and extra video ram before you make your final decision.

 

[Erendiox]

For your needs, I would definitely go for the 1.83. Only while using pro applications or during extremely intensive use (ie. Rendering, heavy multitasking, etc.) will you notice any noticable difference between 1.83 and the 2.0 Ghz duo. Both are speed demons and I feel you won't regret saving $700 by going with the lower of the two. As a word of caution, though, I would be wary with going for cheap ram. If you're going to buy your ram from a third party, make sure you get it from a reputable seller and that it is ram configured for your system. A great site to get ram is: www.crucial.com

cheers

 

[ieani]

For your needs, I would definitely go for the 1.83. Only while using pro applications or during extremely intensive use (ie. Rendering, heavy multitasking, etc.) will you notice any noticable difference between 1.83 and the 2.0 Ghz duo. Both are speed demons and I feel you won't regret saving $700 by going with the lower of the two. As a word of caution, though, I would be wary with going for cheap ram. If you're going to buy your ram from a third party, make sure you get it from a reputable seller and that it is ram configured for your system. A great site to get ram is: www.crucial.com

cheers

I bought my RAM from the user topgunn, he had purchased it for his Imac. It is Mushkin brand.

 

[m-dogg]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. Get the higher end model that you already have decided on.

(for what it's worth, though, I'd just get the low end if I were you).

 

[ieani]

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. Get the higher end model that you already have decided on.

(for what it's worth, though, I'd just get the low end if I were you).

yes I have, but i need to make sure I cannot be convinced another way.

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

Wait two weeks and get a maxed out widescreen iBook. I'm sure it'll meet your needs and will cost even less. Although the MBPs have a "wow" factor, I think the new iBooks will even have a greater "wow" factor. Two or three years down the road, the maxed out 2.0 will only sell for maybe $100 or $200 more than the stock 1.83, so you're losing even more on depreciation. I think Apple overpriced the 2.0, but they're selling, so I guess not.

 

[miniConvert]

Get the top end maxed-out model. You don't need it, yet, but you want it, you have the money and it's going to last you longer that way. Plus you get more bragging rights.

 

[gunm]

If you don't have the budget for it, then don't buy it.

Save your cash and buy the model you really want later.

If you can't wait and need to buy something now, then get what you can afford.

 

[QCassidy352]

Wait two weeks and get a maxed out widescreen iBook. I'm sure it'll meet your needs and will cost even less.

I agree, unless you plan to play a lot of games on this machine. You said you would use it or "entertainment," and i'm not sure what you mean by that, but if you're not playing a lot of 3d games, get the macbook.

 

[After G]

Save the money.

Although it is nice to have top of the line hardware, Apple will probably come up with something else that you'll want a few months from now. Like iPod Video, Mac Tablet, true DVR/media center solution.

And that $700 you save now can go toward your next Apple purchase.

 

[theophilus]

If you really want an opinion...

Get the 1.83. You don't really need the extra power.

Give the $700 to some great charity. You can sponsor two kids for food, clothing, and an education for a whole year for $768 at Compassion International (or there are many other great charities). You get letters from your sponsored kids too. I have a mac mini 1.25. I'd love to have a faster computer, but I don't really need one, and the letters and pictures I get from my sponsored children make it well worth the small sacrifice I make.

Good luck either way!

 

[ieani]

I agree, unless you plan to play a lot of games on this machine. You said you would use it or "entertainment," and i'm not sure what you mean by that, but if you're not playing a lot of 3d games, get the macbook.

What I meant is ill be watching movies, listening to music, burning DVDs, burning CD's, editing pictures, instant messaging, writing papers etc. not any heavy video editing or graphics work.

As far as 3d games, Ill be playing World Of Warcraft and UT2007(if it can handle it).

I dont think $700 would make or break a trip to Europe, so Im sticking with my maxed out order. Im planning on picking up a second job in the summer anyways, specifically to fund the trip.

 

[ieani]

Wait two weeks and get a maxed out widescreen iBook. I'm sure it'll meet your needs and will cost even less. Although the MBPs have a "wow" factor, I think the new iBooks will even have a greater "wow" factor. Two or three years down the road, the maxed out 2.0 will only sell for maybe $100 or $200 more than the stock 1.83, so you're losing even more on depreciation. I think Apple overpriced the 2.0, but they're selling, so I guess not.

The ibook screen will be too small and If I think the MBro 1.83 is speced low the Ibook is definitely not going to be any better.

Save the money.

Although it is nice to have top of the line hardware, Apple will probably come up with something else that you'll want a few months from now. Like iPod Video, Mac Tablet, true DVR/media center solution.

And that $700 you save now can go toward your next Apple purchase.

None of that interests me. If I was to spend money on that, it would be no different then spending it on a better speced laptop.