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If you had the money for a macbook pro, would you buy it rather than a macbook?

100 % MBP

you just can not beat the aluminum casing and the keyboard is a dream.

I don't know why people say that the MB/iBook is more durable than the MBP/PowerBook, I've had my PowerBook for over 3 years now and it still looks like new (when I clean it :) )

Go with the MBP and if money is an issue then get a refurb MBP core duo.

If still unsure ask yourself this question: Do I want my laptop to be Full Metal Jacket or flimsy plastic carbon thingy ?

S
 
ozontheroad said:
100 % MBP

you just can not beat the aluminum casing and the keyboard is a dream.

I don't know why people say that the MB/iBook is more durable than the MBP/PowerBook, I've had my PowerBook for over 3 years now and it still looks like new (when I clean it :) )

Go with the MBP and if money is an issue then get a refurb MBP core duo.

If still unsure ask yourself this question: Do I want my laptop to be Full Metal Jacket or flimsy plastic carbon thingy ?

S
Click to expand...

Now, I'll grant you that the Macbook is "Full Metal Jacket", however, the Macbook is anything but flimsy. The polycarbonate book is a pretty tough piece of hardware. But one thing I will say about the MBP's and Powerbooks is that they are a bit more prone to denting. I've seen Tibooks with dents too, but they were abused quite a bit. This is hardly any defining factor for me, since I NEVER drop any of my equipment, as paranoia has given me telekinetic powers. The case is not enough for me to warrant the pricetag. I have to actually want the graphics card double layer superdrive matte display and so forth. I prefer the smaller size, albeit marginal. The keyboard is not as flashy, but it's truly a nicer design ergonomically. The fact that the macbook's HD is easily swapped gives it a huge selling point for me, and that's part of the reason why i bought one. I considered buying a pro, but decided my money is best spent investing in the blackbook i have now. with max RAM and HD capacity, and an external display, my macbook would be friggin sweet.
 
I must say that I had a hard time choosing, but since I develop, and don't do much gaming/3d stuff, I couldn't justify the premium of the MBP over the MB.

After getting the MB, I have no regrets whatsoever. Love the size, screen, and _especially_ the keyboard and interchangeable hard drive.

I've reduced three machines to one, with the MacBook running XP, Linux and, of course, OS X. Parallels rocks.

I just frigging love this machine. And, contrary to some others, it really is purty.

BTW: To me the MacBook really epitomizes the 'Industrial Design' strengths of Apple.
 
Macbook over MBP anyday. The price difference alone would be reason enough, only because for $1099 you get a whole lot of mac power! I like the removable HD as well, that and they keyboard is much better on the Macbook.

MBP is too expensive.
 
I have and I didn't.

For what I need a MacBook is perfect, and it exceeds a MBP in certain areas such as battery life (vital to me being on the go a lot)
It's also smaller and lighter than the MBP and easier to lug about
 
I had the macbook and now think i will go to the 15" pro, 120g hardrive and the case is awesome, the white macbooks tend to scratch and yellow even after six months.........and in 6 months i will buy another mac :)
 
I'm considering selling my (2nd..haha :p ) MB in order to get the baseline MBP.

Since this summer, I went from a PB to a white MB to a black MB. I loved my PB, hated the white MB, and love my blackbook. Buuut.. sometimes I miss my PB (probably just a sentimental thing, though).. the extra features and now the hardware improvement really make the MBP appealing. If I join the student developer, I could get the baseline MBP for $1800, after taxes, and after the $100 developer cost. Considering how much eBayers pay, for my maxed out blackbook, I'm fairly certain I could cover the entire cost.. maybe even make money. :p

I'm torn though. I love the size of the MB. I hate how finger-printy it gets (though that's not too big of a deal.. easy enough to clean). As far as durability, my PB never had any dents or anything, so I don't really consider that any less durable. I miss having a good graphics card, though the MB's integrated is fine.

Who knows though. But I guess it just goes to show that the MB definitely has it's selling points! Otherwise these types of decisions would be easy!

Man, I miss the days of the iBook vs. PB. It was so easy back then! :rolleyes:
 
The new MBPs are great computers but I would prefer a MB myself. The main reason is portablity, I find anything bigger than 13'' too big to carry around everday. My next portable will definately be a macbook. :D
 
Man, I miss the days of the iBook vs. PB. It was so easy back then! :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Hands down the macbook is way beyond ibook territory. And with intel rolling out new chips faster and faster, and the higher demand for faster meaner hardware, the macbook, no doubt will always be at the heels of the macbook pro. My black MB loads files and boots up just as quickly as the rev A pros do. With 2GB of RAM and a faster or max capacity HDD, it could sit comfortably next to C2D MBP's and be anything but inferior. it was definitely easier to choose whether or not you wanted an iBook or a Powerbook. The iBook looks a bit cheaper than the macbook, probably because of the thicker form factor, and the large off-white top casing assembly that is now flush on the macbook rather than extending over the sides(and a lack of screws on the display housing compared to the iBook). But i will have to mention that easily swapped HDD again, because for the ibooks powerbooks and macbooks alike doing this procedure is like performing surgery. It's not that hard mind you, but it takes a great deal of care, whereas all i need now is a small phillips head screw driver. :D
 
The size is the major drawback of the MBP, for me. Heck, I had a hard time making jump to the Macbook from the 12 inch iBook (yes, I know that the size of the macbook and ibook is very similar, but it's not just the size, it's also the shape.)

Is it just me, or does it seem like what passes for small, these days, keeps getting larger and larger. I had a Sony Picturebook, that was small. Then I got the iBook, that was considered small. I have a Macbook, which is now considered small. My computers keep growing, yet everyone of them had size as a big selling point.

Sorry. I'd go with the Macbook over the Macbook Pro, because of size.
 
If I had the money, I'd get the MacBook Pro. I'll gladly deal with extra weight in favor of more computing power.
 
Seasought said:
If I had the money, I'd get the MacBook Pro. I'll gladly deal with extra weight in favor of more computing power.
Click to expand...


yea a whole 4 oz....will put a real strain on your back, however the MBP is thinner....lol
 
if i had enough money to set up a MBP well (up the RAM, GPU and HDD), then i would go for that.

If given the same amount of money as above for a MacBook, i would max the RAM, give it more HDD space, and maybe even a 20/23" ACD. I would get similar computational power (bar the GPU), and an external display as well.

i would get the MacBook :D
 
I'm also trying to decide between a MB or a MBP. The portability and durability factors are really important to me, so really I have no choice but to choose a MB. I wish Apple would make a smaller pro model, like they used to. Sigh. I wonder if the Blackbooks are a bigger seller, than the 12" Powerbooks used to be.
 
I think you might want to wait until the end of this month at least, because the MB is the next computer that Apple is going to update to the C2D processor...;)
 
For me,it was easy.I thought about what I use my computer for daily,and when I wrote them down,I realized that I don't need the extra horsepower of the MBP.That's why I went with the Macbook.For what I do,it's more than enough for me.I am going to put a gig of ram in (on order),go with a larger external drive and DVD burner (that I both put together) and I am good to go. And even when Leopard comes out,it will still run,albeit on a 32bit processor. So I have no regrets,nor do I have "processor envy";) At some point,you have to realize that technology is state of the art/top of the line for a very short time.
 
scott523 said:
Perfectly said. As for my opinion, I would prolly buy a MacBook and save my money for something else since I am in favor of the MB in #1,2, and 3. I'm like 5'5" and I hate to lug something big that I don't need.
Click to expand...

I agree that it's a good, valid list of advantages to the macbook. That said, if money were no object I would definitely get a MBP, no question about it. And I say that as the (happy) owner of a macbook.

The increased screen size/res, dedicated grahpics, backlit keys, and nicer case/KB do it for me. :)
 
vi2867 said:
I think you might want to wait until the end of this month at least, because the MB is the next computer that Apple is going to update to the C2D processor...;)
Click to expand...

I'm definately going to wait for another update. I'm not really in any rush, as my iBook works flawlessly, runs cool, and has great battery life. But I'll be traveling for a very extended period of time beginning next year, so I will need windows for testing websites in IE. Right now I just test them on a PC at home.
 
MBP for me.

Better Video, Bigger Screen, Some higher performance parts. Being System Performance oriented (Waiting for a C2D 17" MBP with the 7200RPM Drive) the MBP is what I need. At times I Max Out the CPU for hours or chew up every bit of Ram for an interesting algorithm concept proof (Before Optimization). If I used the computer more normally like less geeky people the MB may be good for me but I say the MBP.
 
For rhe last week i was thinking of getting a new pro, However I really love my macbook and refunded the money from the person i was going to sell it too........I am happy.......
 
well I do have the budget for a MBP - but my choice is the MB

Like others have said - portability - I need to carry it around all the time, my diary (iCal) is the most important thing next to 'Merlin' (project management).

I get a kick out of using technology to its enth degree, that is using every millimetre of it - that's including 'value'. I have no qualms about taking a MB anywhere - with a MBP I may think twice - as it is worth more, is less robust in casing etc.

A MB is a portable workable machine you can fit in tight spots, grab out and put your lap for an impromptu meeting etc. longer battery, less precious feeling etc. If I had 17" MBP for example, there would be no room for me to use it at most meetings, without invading the space of my colleagues to the left and right of me. The 15" feels just as big in that space.

In fact (I'm using a borrowed MB right now as my portable) and I find whilst most of my colleagues have portables too - they look to me to get out my MB for a quick reference to something - as it's way less hassle then their larger machines. That could be purely psychological (or laziness etc) but the MB (even over the MBP) feels far more accessible in such applications.

If....(price would be a factor) a 12" PB equivalent would emerge - I'd think about that too.

My bank balance and my intellectual property is worth more (to me) than any computer 'property' - so unless the MB fails to make me productive - I would feel I was 'wasting' my money on something that was more than I needed. We all like a bargain don't we?

Edit: It's been my observation (just observations and talking to ppl - hardly representative though) that ppl who earn a living with a computer as their main tool - seem to be going for the MB and iMac combinations. I'm talking about academics, writers etc. I find that interesting... If I walk around uni I see allot of student males with a MBP, yet ppl who may we say are being more productive (financially) are using MB's. I'm excluding IT considerations here. But something makes me wonder about the gender factor in the MB/MBP choices.
 
Zadillo said:
But really, they are both pretty portable. When you look at them on top of each other and side by side, the MacBook Pro is only little wider and longer.
Click to expand...
I completely agree. As an owner of a 12-inch PB, I was leaning toward the MB for the smaller size. But when I actually compared the MB with the MBP in real life, I realized that there is actually not a whole lot of size difference between the two. I put in my order for a MBP earlier this week.

I guess the 13.3 widescreen format is what Apple considers "compact" now, but I'll definitely miss the 12-inch PB, it was compact enough to hide under a sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper but still had a dedicated graphics card, aluminum casing, etc. The MacBooks are a nice upgrade from the iBook line, but they aren't a fitting replacement for the 12" Powerbook, IMO.
 
rackbreaker said:
I completely agree. As an owner of a 12-inch PB, I was leaning toward the MB for the smaller size. But when I actually compared the MB with the MBP in real life, I realized that there is actually not a whole lot of size difference between the two. I put in my order for a MBP earlier this week.

I guess the 13.3 widescreen format is what Apple considers "compact" now, but I'll definitely miss the 12-inch PB, it was compact enough to hide under a sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper but still had a dedicated graphics card, aluminum casing, etc. The MacBooks are a nice upgrade from the iBook line, but they aren't a fitting replacement for the 12" Powerbook, IMO.
Click to expand...

I am having a similar dilemna, and keep going back and forth between a fully specced out MacBook or going all out for the 17" MacBook Pro. I was previously the proud owner of a 12" PowerBook, which was replaced with a 15" MacBook Pro which I promptly sold the day before the C2Ds came out.

I keep debating between a MacBook and a MacBook Pro. Mobility needs are really between the office and work.

I would buy the MacBook from the US Edu Store and the MacBook Pro from the ADC Store. Basically, after fully speccing out the machines (2GB RAM, 120GB on the Macbook, 160GB on the MacBook Pro, getting AppleCare, and a Mighty Mouse Wireless), the difference is around $750.

Although money is not a HUGE issue, I keep debating which one to get. There is nothing the MacBook Pro does/has that I need, but I do like the casing, the extra screen real estate, the backlit keys, and the larger (and faster?) HD. That, couple with the C2D chips has me inclined towards the 17" MacBook Pro, but I keep going back and forth... any insights???
 
For me I would go for a MacBook Pro,

I want bigger display, I like the old style keyboard, durability from the pro model.

But I only have enough money for the MacBook and it didn't let me down :rolleyes:
I still love it, but if the time come when I would go for a MBP
 
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