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low-end macbook vs. mid-level macbook

T

turnstylez18

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 25, 2007
193
0
Toronto, Canada
i am definitely going to get my first mac this summer...i will deciding between which macbook i want to get...

i was initially going to get the low end macbook with 2.0ghz and 80gb hd....
in CANADIAN prices..itll cost me 1309cdn with taxes and the education discount.....

should i go for the mid-level macbook instead? with the 120gb hd and the double layer superdrive....itll cost me 1537cdn with taxes and education discounts....

is it worth the 230 more?

all i will be using it for is surfing the web, going on msn, using music files/itunes and office for my school work (most likely going to use neooffice)

the bigger hd is nice..but i dont know if ill necessarily need the dvd burner...

let me know ur opinions..itd be great..thanks
 
If you're going to be using the MB for the next few years I'd say it's worth spending a couple of hundred bucks more to get a DVD burner and extra HD space.. I'm sure they'll come in handy sooner or later.

Or, unless you already have a desktop with super drive just get the base model.. But consider upgrading your HD.. :)
 
i was in the same boat recently and in the end chose to go with the more expensive option. I put it down to the larger harddrive with the extra space been used for XP should i ever need and the convience of having a burner.

I'd say go Mid level.
 
well, question: do you think you might start playing around with video editing just for fun?? Or need to possibly burn a few GB of data onto a disc, you will want the DVD burner. When i bought my ibook i didn't think i would do movie editing, but i did and then wished that i had something better and something faster. But don't worry about speed cause they are both plenty fast enough. The hdd space you will probably want after a while if you do any minor movie editing, recording or want to dual boot into windows using bootcamp, or just take a lot of photos in your spare time. :)
 
im planning to have the mb to last as long as i can...as of now i have a ibm thinkpad which is near death..and it only came with a 20gb..and that has done fine with me...

im in my last year of university so ill pretty need office for my last year...after that...just all music files on my hd and just surfing the web pretty much...

so spend the extra money? i want this as long as possible...as this would be my only computer....i have other desktops in my house that my brother and parents use...but i never use them myself
 
i know for a fact i wont do video editing...i do want the bigger hd..but 200 is a lot...

my original budget was about 800 and i was gonna get an acer...
but i read how horrible they are...i decided to go to mac since ive heard good things and their build quality is better than most...

i will be getting apple care btw
 
A much cheaper option, and best of both worlds would be to buy the low-range model and install a bigger HD yourself. The harddisk is a self-replaceable part so your warranty won't be voided..
 
not sure if i would like to get a separate hd and do it myself...
im not the type of guy to take things a part and install hardware...

i prefer to get everything all in one...and at once...

appreciate it though
 
depends... If you're not going to use the dvd-burner buying a seperate HD is much cheaper! Today I ordered my own macbook and i've chosen the low-end model and bought 2x1 gb ram sticks and a 160 gb HD and it's still cheaper for me then the mid-range model. Don't know about the prices in your country though since i live in the netherlands..
 
k i was on the apple.ca site...and what if i got the lowend macbook without the dvd burner...but upgrade the hd to 120 for 82cdn more...

its 40more gb worth the extra 82...

since taxes r high in canada...the 120gb hd would be 100 more...
i dont know if i even need the extra hd space

so far my options are...

low end macbook $1309

low end macbook with just 120gb hd upgrade $1403

mid lever macbook $1537

btw..taxes r ridiculous in canada...14%...
 
I was in the exact same position you are in now. For me it was worth it to get 2 gb of ram and 160gb HD instead of 1 gb ram, 120gb HD and the superdrive. As I can use my mother's pc to burn dvd's when needed, and more ram is far more important to me, i've chosen the low-end macbook. If you don't have an other pc to burn a dvd with it might be a better choice to get the mid-end, but that's up to you!

BTW: You shouldn't be worried about those taxes:) Here in holland we pay 19% taxes!!
 
wow...19%?? i thought canada was bad...

to upgrade ram and the hd it would cost way more than getting the midlevel..but that was through apple.ca

did u get ur extra ram and hd elsewhere or through apple?
 
I got my HD and RAM elsewhere. Whereas UPGRADING on apple store to 2 gb/160 gb would've cost me 320 euro's, i got them BESIDES my macbook for 167 euro's. That's about 160 euro's cheaper and I can use that 80gb HD for external storage or something if i get a casing..
 
k that clears things up..question though....is 80gb sufficient for me? i will only be storing music files...nothing else...

i dont want to spend more for space i wont be using...
 
If you're just using it for office work and music 80gb will be more than sufficient. If you don't wont to spend more money on the mid-range model for more HD space and the superdrive, you could also consider to take the low-end and buy an external dvd-drive for burning dvd's.. The only disadvantage of this is that you can't burn dvd's on the road.. But i doubt if you would need that:)
 
thanks soo much..that helps...

as of now..i will be getting the low end macbook...but i will keep my options open

i will definitely be upgrading the ram when i can...

and if i need a bigger hd...ill either get an external hd..or install a brand new one...
 
ok, good luck with your order!:) keep in mind that when you install a new HD, you must backup your files first!:)
 
turnstylez18 said:
thanks soo much..that helps...

as of now..i will be getting the low end macbook...but i will keep my options open

i will definitely be upgrading the ram when i can...

and if i need a bigger hd...ill either get an external hd..or install a brand new one...
Click to expand...


does amazon.com (or amazon.ca) offer rebates for the macbooks?

amazon usually has a $75 rebate or something like that. and without taxes and free shipping, amazon.com might be cheaper than the apple store (with the edu discount)
 
k..i changed my mind again...i will be getting the midlevel macbook...

i will be having this mac for a long time...so it would be useful to atleast have the dvd burner...

and on a side note...my girlfriend will give me the extra money to help pay the difference between the low end and mid level macbook...
 
i was actually going to get my macbook at the store since its only 20 min from where i live...

amazon.ca doesn't have macbooks for sale...canada is limited in everything...
 
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