MacBook Buying Questions - Urgent - about to order!

[Legacy]

Hello I think I named the other post wrong so people didnt bother looking

I am just about to dish out for a MacBook

I own a 12" 1.33/1GB/60GB/Combo which I plan to sell

Here are the two configs I have:

CD 1.83/512MB/60GB/Combo = £644
CD 2.00/512MB/80GB/Super = £806

Basically I am paying £156 extra for a faster proc, superdrive and 20GB extra space. Is it worth this price difference (esp for the HDD)

I am planning to upgrade the RAM myself, after reading posts with a 1GB stick to give a total 1.25GB RAM. Will this be better than two 512MB sticks from Apple (costing +£60)


Regards and thanks alot, urgent advice would be required

 

[Sun Baked]

Superdrive is probably worth the price boost.

Otherwise if you don't want a Superdrive, get the biggest drive you can and upgrade the RAM yourself.

The speed bumps generally aren't as big a factor.

But a warning, the Superdrive will make backup a lot easier -- and easier backups are worth the money if you actually do them.

 

[jsw]

I think the processor speed won't be noticed, but the extra HD space is always a good thing, and so I'd recommend you seriously consider dropping back to the 1.83 and spending the money on HD space and possibly the SuperDrive. I prefer to have at least one DVD burner available, and if you have no others, or if disks are your only backup medium, then the SD is definitely worth it.

1.25GB is better than 2x512MB on an Intel Mac, IMHO, because those things are memory pigs (I have the mini, iMac, and MBP). The dual-channel speed increase is meaningless when you're swapping, and the 1.25 GB option is an easier path to 2GB later on if you decide to do so.

 

[Legacy]

I think the processor speed won't be noticed, but the extra HD space is always a good thing, and so I'd recommend you seriously consider dropping back to the 1.83 and spending the money on HD space and possibly the SuperDrive. I prefer to have at least one DVD burner available, and if you have no others, or if disks are your only backup medium, then the SD is definitely worth it.

1.25GB is better than 2x512MB on an Intel Mac, IMHO, because those things are memory pigs (I have the mini, iMac, and MBP). The dual-channel speed increase is meaningless when you're swapping, and the 1.25 GB option is an easier path to 2GB later on if you decide to do so.

You cant get the SuperDrive if you opt for the 1.83Ghz, thats the thing. I dont have any other DVD-RW at home, just CD-RW on my PC. My last backup too quite abit of time to do. I had to transfer data from my Mac to PC over wifi!

How much data can DVD's store? 4.7 or 9.6?

 

[celebrian23]

I'd go for option 2. I think a superdrive automatically makes 2 a better deal without even accounting for the larger HDD. It's not even something I'd have to think about- even if you think you won't use the superdrive, you might change your mind. And 20GB is a considerable amount. The speed bump on the other hand doesn't really make a difference.

 

[TheBBP]

To be quite honest, you won't notice much of a speed bump from the 1.83 to the 2.0 processor. If you need a DVD-R/RW at a later date, you can always buy a external one. That is what I will probably do.

 

[Legacy]

I'd go for option 2. I think a superdrive automatically makes 2 a better deal without even accounting for the larger HDD. It's not even something I'd have to think about- even if you think you won't use the superdrive, you might change your mind. And 20GB is a considerable amount. The speed bump on the other hand doesn't really make a difference.

I am just thinking, as I will get the 36 months warranty, I probably wont sell the thing for another three years from now, so would that merit me upping to a SuperDrive + 80GB HDD?

Is the SD Dual Layer?

 

[jsw]

Sorry, hadn't noticed the SD requirement for 2.0GHz.

The SD is dual-layer, BTW, and also, if you didn't know, you can get AppleCare any time within the first year of ownership, so you don't need to buy it now.

 

[Legacy]

Sorry, hadn't noticed the SD requirement for 2.0GHz.

The SD is dual-layer, BTW, and also, if you didn't know, you can get AppleCare any time within the first year of ownership, so you don't need to buy it now.

No, its not AppleCare, its just a 36months Parts+Labour warranty for the machine itself, its free for Edu customers So it wont be at an extra cost

 

[DarkKingz]

No, its not AppleCare, its just a 36months Parts+Labour warranty for the machine itself, its free for Edu customers So it wont be at an extra cost

What?

So if i was a student in Canada buying the laptop on education discount, i get free 3 year warranty even without the extended apple care?

 

[MRU]

I am planning to upgrade the RAM myself, after reading posts with a 1GB stick to give a total 1.25GB RAM. Will this be better than two 512MB sticks from Apple (costing +£60)

at 1.25 you wont be running in dual channel memory. There would probably be more benefit to 1gb dual 512 than 1gb + 256mb....

I decided to go for 1gb and I'll upgrade to 2gb at a later date....

 

[Legacy]

What?

So if i was a student in Canada buying the laptop on education discount, i get free 3 year warranty even without the extended apple care?

Its UK only

 

[drlunanerd]

The hard drive is easily upgradable apparently, so no point paying Apple for a bigger HD at this point when you can pop a bigger and faster (e.g. 7200rpm) drive in cheaper yourself.

It's accessible via the battery compartment. This is a major point and shows up the MacBook Pros to be even poorer value IMHO.

 

[Legacy]

The hard drive is easily upgradable apparently, so no point paying Apple for a bigger HD at this point when you can pop a bigger and faster (e.g. 7200rpm) drive in cheaper yourself.

It's accessible via the battery compartment. This is a major point and shows up the MacBook Pros to be even poorer value IMHO.

Wouldn't upgrading the HD void the warranty? I know RAM doesnt

 

[drlunanerd]

Wouldn't upgrading the HD void the warranty? I know RAM doesnt

I can't confirm that, but I don't think so if it's a user serviceable part. The TiBooks HDs were.

 

[mrichmon]

I can't confirm that, but I don't think so if it's a user serviceable part. The TiBooks HDs were.

The TiBooks did not have a user servicable hard drive. But the TiBooks were easier to get into when compared to an AlBook or a Mac Book Pro.

Apple's waranty service has been discussed to death all over these forums. Basically, if you break the machine while trying to replace the hard drive then the broken parts are not covered under Apple's waranty. (Neither is the new hard drive for obvious reasons.) But it sounds like there is little chance of breaking a Mac Book while replacing the drive so it is not likely to be a concern.

 

[Legacy]

I've decided on getting a Super/80GB, the only concern I have atm is over the memory - should I get 2x512MB from Apple, or get a 1GB stick to make it 1.25GB ie: Dual Channel vs Single Channel

 

[crazzyeddie]

Dual Channel is very important for the integrated graphics. Much more important than 256MB extra, IMO, unless you're planning on upgrading to 2GB sometime soon by removing the 256MB chip.

 

[Legacy]

Dual Channel is very important for the integrated graphics. Much more important than 256MB extra, IMO, unless you're planning on upgrading to 2GB sometime soon by removing the 256MB chip.

Is 1GB of RAM okay? Is it like 1GB on my iBook G4...if so I'll go with it

 

[jsw]

I disagree, as in the related thread, about the benefits of matched RAM vs more RAM, particularly because matched RAm will only speed certain things (games, etc.) up in any noticeable way, whereas more RAM will speed up everything if you'd otherwise swap.

And, with integrated graphics and Rosetta, you will swap at 1GB more than you'd expect.

 

[Legacy]

I disagree, as in the related thread, about the benefits of matched RAM vs more RAM, particularly because matched RAm will only speed certain things (games, etc.) up in any noticeable way, whereas more RAM will speed up everything if you'd otherwise swap.

And, with integrated graphics and Rosetta, you will swap at 1GB more than you'd expect.

OK I'm going to get:

1GB ram, tke out 256 to make it 1.25, and then in a few months when I have some cash, U/G it to 2GB. I would be satistied with the performance under 1.25 yes? (Compared to my iBook...)

 

[jsw]

OK I'm going to get:

1GB ram, tke out 256 to make it 1.25, and then in a few months when I have some cash, U/G it to 2GB. I would be satistied with the performance under 1.25 yes? (Compared to my iBook...)

Yes, I think 1.25 would be fine (1GB would probably be fine too, but it's a bad upgrade path, and I wish my mini had more than 1GB).

 

[Legacy]

Yes, I think 1.25 would be fine (1GB would probably be fine too, but it's a bad upgrade path, and I wish my mini had more than 1GB).

Ok, thanks