decisions, decisions, decisions

[coday182]

Ok I am 99.9% sold on getting a mac notebook once leopard (spelling?) comes out. Now I really want the Macbook Pro 15 inch but I don't know if I would be just as happy with a less expensive model. These are the 4 I have designed at apple.com...

White Macbook - $2,106.
Specifications

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
120GB Serial ATA drive
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
iWork '06 preinstalled
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook/iBook - Auto-enroll
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth

15" Macbook Pro - $2,478
Specifications

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
120GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
iWork '06 preinstalled
15.4-inch TFT Display

Other 15" Macbook Pro - $2,947
Specifications

2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 - 2x1GB SO-DIMMs
120GB Serial ATA drive @ 5400 rpm
MacBook Pro 15-inch Glossy Widescreen Display
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
Backlit Keyboard/Mac OS - U.S. English
iWork '06 preinstalled
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro/PowerBook (w/or w/o Display) - Auto-enroll
15.4-inch TFT Display

Or finally A deal that the college I'm planning on attending (Purdue Univ.) has made. It's a White Macbook with the 2.0 GHz processor, 1 gb ram, 60 gb HD. I could also pay to upgrade the ram and HD. It also comes with a 4 yr warranty and an on campus service/technical support, and a "extensive Mac software suite." WIthout the upgrades, it is 1,647.90 + tax

So yeah I got a tough decision to make. I have enough money to afford the most expensive one plus I will have the graduation money. Most of all I just want it to be lightning fast so thats why no matter what I am gonna get 2 gb of ram. How much differnce would there be between a 2.0 and a 2.16 gHz processor? I am going to school for business and I am also going to be working at an office. I will be using the computer for school, work, and fun. You can probably imagine what the school and work would be and fun would eventually be web design, photo music and video editing, podcasting, pretty much the works. As far as the screen size, 15" would be perfect. I looked at the 13" macbooks and they seemed a little small. Remember this notebooke will be for entertatinment too. THe only way I would get a 17" was if somehow I aquired a lot of money between now and then. lol. There are probably other things I haven't thought of but thats it for now. So waht do you guys think? Sad thing is after WWDC I might be having to make completely new decisions. lol.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Can't you wait until you get to college and then get your educational discount with Apple on the models that are current at the time? It might be worth the wait.

 

[QCassidy352]

You said you are set on buying after Leopard comes out. That probably will not be until the first half of next year. It is being previewed at WWDC, but released considerably later. So if you stick to waiting for Leopard, all of your options are going to be different by the time you buy.

 

[pianoman]

just curious: if you are going to college in the fall and you want to wait until leopard comes out (which everyone says will be in jan 2007), what are you using in the interim?

 

[coday182]

You said you are set on buying after Leopard comes out. That probably will not be until the first half of next year. It is being previewed at WWDC, but released considerably later. So if you stick to waiting for Leopard, all of your options are going to be different by the time you buy.

Well I am starting my senior year in higsh school but my dad is a high school teacher and he can get the same discount that I would get once I am an official student in college so In a way yes I can get the student discount before I start college. I wasn't going to wait till college to buy it but I was hoping to get it sometime second semester. Worse case scenario I have to wait till next spring to use my graduation gift money. Do you think my options will be more or less expensive when leopard comes out? Also... can someone post a link where I can find more info on leopard?

 

[xfiftyfour]

by god, hasn't anyone told you, never buy ram from Apple! And ESPECIALLY don't max our your machine from them!

if you buy a macbook: buy the ram and hard drive elsewhere and install it yourself. it's really easy, there are videos you can watch first to follow, and it will save you looooooads.

if you buy a MBP, the hard drive is tricky to replace, so if you must have a bigger one, i'd probably buy it from apple. but the ram is easy, so ^^ still applies.

but, by the time you're actually going to be buying your machine, who knows what options will be available...

 

[coday182]

but, by the time you're actually going to be buying your machine, who knows what options will be available...

That's the problem... I'm looking forward to getting one but I don't even know what to look forward to yet lol.

 

[BAspecialCake]

Seriously, everything will be different come leopard...

Woodcrest FTW.

 

[JackSYi]

Get the MacBook.

 

[zap2]

Wait for College discount and merom, then get the middle MacBook Pro