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Low vs Mid Macbook

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dingdongbubble

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 1, 2007
538
0
I want to buy a Macbook and I was wondering which one should I buy? The low end model seems alright to me. I dont really burn DVDs so the SuperDrive would not be an issue and my dads PC already has one so thats no problem.

I can upgrade the HDD later right without voiding the warranty and is it is easy to find MB HDDs?

What other reasons can there be for buying the mid MB?
 
dingdongbubble said:
I want to buy a Macbook and I was wondering which one should I buy? The low end model seems alright to me. I dont really burn DVDs so the SuperDrive would not be an issue and my dads PC already has one so thats no problem.

I can upgrade the HDD later right without voiding the warranty and is it is easy to find MB HDDs?

What other reasons can there be for buying the mid MB?
Click to expand...

Personally, I think the difference between the two is negligible. I took delivery on my base model MacBook on Friday and I'm extermely pleased with it. I can give you more detailed real-world performance specs if you like.

You can update the HDD yourself yes, but I'm not sure if you will void your warranty. I know that adding your own RAM won't void it, but not sure about HDs. You could always tack an external drive on later if you need to.

Hope this helps.
 
Upgrading the HD in a laptop is not easy. I've done it a couple of times (but not in a macbook), and it's always a pain. There's lots of parts to disassemble and possibly lose. It takes a lot of time. You need to have some way of transferring data from the old HD to a new one, and that costs money -- usually you'd buy an enclosure for the drive.

My advice is to get the biggest HD you can possibly afford, and try to manage HD space so you don't have to upgrade down the line. For $75 you can upgrade to the 120 GB HD on the low-end macbook.
 
wordmunger said:
Upgrading the HD in a laptop is not easy. I've done it a couple of times (but not in a macbook)
Click to expand...

It is really easy to do in a MacBook.

I went with the base model when they came out and I love it. Fast, sleek and small(ish). I wouldn't pay for the mid range model.
 
I bought the mid model, because... I said I burn DVDs, once in a while, and well, the faster processor. The Superdrive, is dog slow. Is noisy, even for playing... so I don't use it. The harddrive is easy to change, just remove the battery, remove 3 screws (with a small, but good quality Philips screwdriver), pull the stripe gently, and it is in your hand.

I will replace mine... when the new drive arrives, any SATA 9.5 mm thick, 2.5" harddisk will work, the bigger the better :), as usual, depending on your needs.

The only thing I'd buy (again) the mid model is the processor. If 8% more performace does not matters (I does not, I think), get the base, and with the difference, up the RAM and the harddisk.

If you have any other computer with a DVD burner... the Superdrive does not matter.

:apple:
 
koobcamuk said:
It is really easy to do in a MacBook.

I went with the base model when they came out and I love it. Fast, sleek and small(ish). I wouldn't pay for the mid range model.
Click to expand...

Cybergypsy said:
Its super easy on the macbook :)
Click to expand...

Well, that's good to know! But you still have to buy a new HD and enclosure and copy everything over in order to upgrade. That's going to cost more than $75! (however, then you'd have a handy backup HD -- but it would be smaller than your original HD, so not very useful).
 
I just bought the mid level one, myself. I'll probably ever burn like 4 DVDs, but I'll be glad I have the Superdrive instead of being, "ah crap, I could've used that."

Also, Ill probably never use more than 120 GB, so it was a good move for me.
 
wordmunger said:
Well, that's good to know! But you still have to buy a new HD and enclosure and copy everything over in order to upgrade. That's going to cost more than $75! (however, then you'd have a handy backup HD -- but it would be smaller than your original HD, so not very useful).
Click to expand...

External SATA enclosure: $14.99 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163063

And, if you look, you can get good deals on bigger and faster HDs than Apple offers.
~Thursday
 
dingdongbubble said:
I want to buy a Macbook and I was wondering which one should I buy? The low end model seems alright to me. I dont really burn DVDs so the SuperDrive would not be an issue and my dads PC already has one so thats no problem.

I can upgrade the HDD later right without voiding the warranty and is it is easy to find MB HDDs?

What other reasons can there be for buying the mid MB?
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat as you. I am going to buy the base model MB sometime before the back-to-school sale ends. I think 999 for a MB and an ipod is a pretty fare deal. I built a "gaming" PC about 3 years ago for $400 less that the pro, It is still powerful as ever, runs fine for anything that I want to play, so there is no need for anything more that the base model MB. All I plan on doing with the MB is surfing the web, writing papers, keeping track of my finances, and storing music/pictures. There is no way I could ever justify spending 2000+ on a laptop because its pretty, or the keyboard lights up. Yes, I know it is a quality laptop, but I am an education major and there would be no need for any photo editing or graphic intense programs so it would just be overkill.
 
I got the mid range for the drive and the little bit of speed I got from my version when I bought it. The RAM I replaced after 3 weeks to 2 gig and it was like I had bought another computer. Def get 2 gig but not through Apple.

As far as the HD, I think it is simpler than replacing the RAM.
 
wordmunger said:
Well, that's good to know! But you still have to buy a new HD and enclosure and copy everything over in order to upgrade. That's going to cost more than $75! (however, then you'd have a handy backup HD -- but it would be smaller than your original HD, so not very useful).
Click to expand...

I use mine for eyeTV recordings and another backup of all my work documents. I also use it as a massive portable storage device as I got a USB enclosure.
 
I actually saw this show on G4 tech tv where they upgraded the ram AND the hard drive in the macbook in under 10 minutes! he wasn't even working that fast because he was explaining what he was doing. Mind you he already had the screw driver, the ram, the HD, etc, etc. But it doesn't seem to be that hard.
 
(He reveals himself by finally stepping from the shadows):D

I have been surfing these forums for some time now but didn't want to post unless it was necessary.

I too am in the market for a Macbook (my first Mac and first self-owned computer). I have been swaying back and forth on whether I should get the base model or the mid-level Macbook. I thought I had definitely decided to get the mid-level. Here is what I will use it for:

  • Internet
  • Watching movies
  • Listening to music
  • Writing
  • Possibly some Garageband recording

I planned on getting the mid-level for the extra HD space and the .16 in processing power. Both the 2.0 C2D and 2.16 C2D are 64-bit capable, correct? I will not use the Superdrive at all in the forseeable future. I really am looking for longevity. I want to be able to use my Macbook without problems 4-5 years down the road if need be. Based on the information above. Does the extra HD space and processing power justify the $200 difference? Any advice?

Thanks ahead of time.
 
NO WAY IMO

Save your money and when you need the extra space, upgrade the HDD which is easy to do.

Actually the speed increase is not .16 it is in fact 0.32 because the MB is a dual core computer. This speed increase IMO should not be noticeable but maybe it will trim a few mins or something in a CPU intensive task. Not somthing worth $200. And like you, I dont think I will ever need to use the DVD drive. The low end is the way to go.
 
I decided on the MacBook 2.16...

just last week after visiting the Apple Store 4 days in a row. I liked the education discount and the 30GB Video Black iPod. I didn't need the MacBook Pro; 2GB RAM or 200GB HD, so I went with the 2.16 and left the Final Cut Pro HD, Adobe Creative Suite 3, and iTunes to my MacPro Desktop (aka: Workhorse). I did get external HDs (Seagate) with 500GB for the MacBook and the MacPro. I find that my iTunes and videos take up GB like they are growing on trees! The MacBook 2.16, 120GB HD, 1GB Memory was all that I needed for "on the go" schoolwork and surfing the net. I love this MacBook!
 
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