MacBook Buying Advice

[dmw007]

Well, it looks like I have found a buyer for my 12" 1.33GHz iBook G4, so it is time for a new Apple notebook!

I am looking for advice on what laptop I should buy.

#1- 1.83GHz MacBook, 512MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, Combo Drive.

#2- 2GHz MacBook, 512MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, SuperDrive.

I will simply use this laptop for the internet, M$ Word/Office, and some occasional gaming (I have my Power Mac G5 for any serious gaming that I want to do). Plus, with a new MacBook I will be able to sell my Dell PeeCee and use BootCamp to run my Windoze games/software.


Is there really going to be a noticeable difference between the two MacBooks? I don't think that there will be....

 

[Zman5225]

For your computing purposes, probably the 1.83 would be a great fit. The only thing that I could think of that might swing the difference is if you ever think you might need the superdrive. The average computer user is NOT going to notice the speed difference of 2g vs 1.83g.

Heck i'll even go one further and say get the 1.83 in original config, spend the money you save on memory to upgrade that instead of the HD, and later add on a external HD.

Again, if you don't ever think you'll need the superdrive. Pretty much the same decision i'm going through right now. Wish I could find a buyer for my iBook, guess I need to start advertising soon.

Z

 

[dmw007]

For your computing purposes, probably the 1.83 would be a great fit. The only thing that I could think of that might swing the difference is if you ever think you might need the superdrive. The average computer user is NOT going to notice the speed difference of 2g vs 1.83g.

A SuperDrive would be nice- but not necessary. If I need to burn a DVD, I would do it on my Power Mac G5 which has a 16X DL DVD Burner. Although, being able to burn DVDs on the go is a nice feature- I just probably will never use it.

Heck i'll even go one further and say get the 1.83 in original config, spend the money you save on memory to upgrade that instead of the HD, and later add on a external HD.

I plan on buying an extra 1GB of RAM third party (for a total of 1.25GB).
I think that I need at least 80GB of HDD space (~60GB for Mac OS, and 20GB for Windoze).

 

[Eidorian]

MacBook away then. When I get my next Mac it'll more then likely be a MacBook. (MWSF 2007 or whenever 10.5 comes out.) Not carrying around a SuperDrive won't be annoying since you have your workstation to get all that burning done. It's a super fast and huge 5.25" drive for you too.

 

[dmw007]

Here is another option for me-

#3- 1.83GHz MacBook Pro, 512MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, SuperDrive. $1,599 on Apple's refurbished site.

My concern with going this route is that this MBP might have an issue with the dreaded whine, heat problems, etc...


Oh, and being a student, I get an education discount; so option #1 = $1,111
and option #2 = $1,261.

 

[Eidorian]

Here is another option for me-

#3- 1.83GHz MacBook Pro, 512MB DDR2, 80GB HDD, SuperDrive. $1,599 on Apple's refurbished site.

My concern with going this route is that this MBP might have an issue with the dreaded whine, heat problems, etc...


Oh, and being a student, I get an education discount; so option #1 = $1,111
and option #2 = $1,261.

So you've been taking my advice on that refurbished MacBook Pro?

It's a nice machine with a bit more power and expandability then the MacBook. Apple should have fixed the problems with it but you can still give them hell if you haven't. There are already reports of whining MacBooks.

 

[dmw007]

MacBook away then. When I get my next Mac it'll more then likely be a MacBook. (MWSF 2007 or whenever 10.5 comes out.) Not carrying around a SuperDrive won't be annoying since you have your workstation to get all that burning done. It's a super fast and huge 5.25" drive for you too.

You make a good point Eidorian- I don't need a SuperDrive equipped notebook because I do have a workstation to handle that very task.

Do you think the extra 340MHz (170MHz per core) will make any difference?

 

[Eidorian]

You make a good point Eidorian- I don't need a SuperDrive equipped notebook because I do have a workstation to handle that very task.

Do you think the extra 340MHz (170MHz per core) will make any difference?

Only on your wallet. 170 MHz will end up being what? A few seconds? You're going to do hours long work on the PowerMac anyways.

 

[dmw007]

So you've been taking my advice on that refurbished MacBook Pro?

It is a tempting thought!

It's a nice machine with a bit more power and expandability then the MacBook. Apple should have fixed the problems with it but you can still give them hell if you haven't.

It does give more power- but for my stated tasks, I probably would not need it. Its just the fact that the MacBook has integrated graphics that bugs me....

There are already reports of whining MacBooks.

True, but the verdict is still out on that one.

 

[SuperSnake2012]

Depends on what you plan on doing with it. My parents have a DV cam so I want to be able to record movies and videos and make them in iMovie and record them on DVD. If you have no interest in that, go with the combo.

 

[dmw007]

Only on your wallet. 170 MHz will end up being what? A few seconds? You're going to do hours long work on the PowerMac anyways.

Good point.


Heck, even my G5 is overkill for me- the most demanding thing I do with it is running folding@home and a little gaming on occasion. Most of the time I simply use it for iTunes, Internet (MR mainly ), running M$ Office, etc...

 

[dmw007]

Depends on what you plan on doing with it. My parents have a DV cam so I want to be able to record movies and videos and make them in iMovie and record them on DVD. If you have no interest in that, go with the combo.

This seems to be the consensus.


Guess that I should just settle for the 1.83GHz MacBook. Still open to other suggestions though.....

 

[Eidorian]

This seems to be the consensus.


Guess that I should just settle for the 1.83GHz MacBook. Still open to other suggestions though.....

I'd go with the base 1.83 GHz MacBook then if the refurb Pro model is offering to much and your PowerMac G5 is overkill already too.

 

[dmw007]

I'd go with the base 1.83 GHz MacBook then if the refurb Pro model is offering to much and your PowerMac G5 is overkill already too.

You are right, I think that I will go with a 1.83GHz MacBook.


It should provide a huge boost in performance over my iBook G4!

 

[dmw007]

Today is the day! I plan on going to the nearest Apple Store today and purchasing a MacBook. Any last minute suggestions before I go and buy a new laptop?

I am still leaning towards going with the 2GHz MacBook- even though I recognize that the 1.83GHz model would work just fine for me. I can not help but to think that the extra MHz might help the MacBooks performance when playing games (especially, since the gpu in the MacBook is integrated). Decisions, decisions.....

 

[Xander562]

DMW, is you mention in a post towards the beginning of the thread that since you have a student discount, your price is even less. are you getting an additional discount for being a student after the refurb discount? i did not think this was possible, if it is, tell me how to do it for myself.

 

[dmw007]

DMW, is you mention in a post towards the beginning of the thread that since you have a student discount, your price is even less. are you getting an additional discount for being a student after the refurb discount? i did not think this was possible, if it is, tell me how to do it for myself.

No, you can not use an education discount on top of the refurbish discount (would be nice though ).

 

[nem3015]

Today is the day! I plan on going to the nearest Apple Store today and purchasing a MacBook. Any last minute suggestions before I go and buy a new laptop?

I am still leaning towards going with the 2GHz MacBook- even though I recognize that the 1.83GHz model would work just fine for me. I can not help but to think that the extra MHz might help the MacBooks performance when playing games (especially, since the gpu in the MacBook is integrated). Decisions, decisions.....

Get the 1.83 just as it is then upgrade memory to 2 Gb and a disk of 120/160 Gb from third parties (not the Apple store)

 

[dmw007]

Get the 1.83 just as it is then upgrade memory to 2 Gb and a disk of 120/160 Gb from third parties (not the Apple store)

Well, I went to the Apple Store today and bought a 1.83GHz MacBook Pro.
I was going to go with a MacBook, but I liked the MBP better.

This thing is fast- it puts my iBook G4 to shame and it even seems to rival my Power Mac G5! I am still transfering over files and installing programs, but everything I do just feels snappy on the MBP.


It only has the stock 512MB DDR, but I am going to buy an additional 1GB of RAM third party (for a total of 1.5GB DDR).

 

[Demon Hunter]

Well, I went to the Apple Store today and bought a 1.83GHz MacBook Pro.
I was going to go with a MacBook, but I liked the MBP better.

This thing is fast- it puts my iBook G4 to shame and it even seems to rival my Power Mac G5! I am still transfering over files and installing programs, but everything I do just feels snappy on the MBP.


It only has the stock 512MB DDR, but I am going to buy an additional 1GB of RAM third party (for a total of 1.5GB DDR).

Nice choice! You can't beat that aluminum shell.

 

[SJK123]

I am thinking about picking up a Macbook as my first Apple. I will use iTunes MS Office and the web. My concern is about the HD size. My iPod alone is a 30 GB although I am only currenntly using about 15. I may want to partition it to use XP also that would be another 15-20 MB. That would leave me with 25-30 GB for OS X and apps. Do you all think that would be adequate?

 

[dmw007]

Nice choice! You can't beat that aluminum shell.

Thanks. And I agree, once I saw that beautiful aluminum case, I fell in love with the MacBook Pro!

I am thinking about picking up a Macbook as my first Apple. I will use iTunes MS Office and the web. My concern is about the HD size. My iPod alone is a 30 GB although I am only currenntly using about 15. I may want to partition it to use XP also that would be another 15-20 MB. That would leave me with 25-30 GB for OS X and apps. Do you all think that would be adequate?

If I were you, I would go for a larger internal HDD and perhaps consider purchasing an external HDD as well.

 

[Abulia]

I am thinking about picking up a Macbook as my first Apple. I will use iTunes MS Office and the web. My concern is about the HD size. My iPod alone is a 30 GB although I am only currenntly using about 15. I may want to partition it to use XP also that would be another 15-20 MB. That would leave me with 25-30 GB for OS X and apps. Do you all think that would be adequate?

You can aftermarket add a 100 or 120 GB drive; the MacBook's hard drive is easily replacable if you feel comfortable doing so.

My friend just purchased a 100 GB 7200rpm Hatachi for his black MacBook. So more space and better performance.

 

[SJK123]

You can aftermarket add a 100 or 120 GB drive; the MacBook's hard drive is easily replacable if you feel comfortable doing so.

My friend just purchased a 100 GB 7200rpm Hatachi for his black MacBook. So more space and better performance.

Since I will be new to OS X, how hard is it to change hard drives and then reload the operating system and drivers? For a new user it seems like a scary proposition. In windoze it is a nightmare.

 

[SJK123]

One more question. Will I be able to boot XP from an external drive if I want to do it that way. Maybe I can keep my music, photos and xp on an external drive to save space. Or, wold that be defeating the purpose of a portable computer? problems problems...