MacBook CD Hard Drive and Memory choices

[Spanky Deluxe]

Ooh, I'm really excited because I've just won a MacBook off of eBay. Financially it probably wasn't the wisest idea but it was such a good deal that I couldn't resist. Its the 1.83Ghz 512MB White Model but it doesn't include a hard drive. I'm wondering what to get for it. My choices are:

120GB 5400rpm - £52.66 delivered
100GB 5400rpm - £48.08 delivered
80GB 7200rpm - £60.90 delivered
80GB 5400rpm - £40.54 delivered

Ok, so I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the ones in bold, either the 120GB 5400rpm or the 80GB 7200rpm drive and if anything, I'm leaning towards the larger drive because its cheaper but has 50% more storage space than the 7.2k drive. All of these are Seagates because I'd rather go with them than anyone else.

Now, secondly, its only got 512MB RAM, which is no way near good enough for an Intel machine these days. My choices are:

1GB (2x512MB) for £28.19
2GB (2x1GB) for £58.74

I'm leaning towards the 2GB though. I'm not decided whether I'll keep this machine for myself, replacing my iBook, or whether I'll give it to the girlfriend to replace her iBook, selling mine and taking hers for mine. If it goes to her (which in all honesty is the most likely of situations unless she doesn't want it because of the size) then it'll be her only computer. Her current 'Book is a 1.2Ghz G4 with a 5400k 100GB drive in. If I end up keeping it then it would be my second machine, accompanying my Mac Pro.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Better prices for RAM and HDs?

 

[netdog]

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Lose the girl?

(netdog steps into his flame-retardent suit)

 

[lil' brudder]

Personally I'd go for the 80GB 5400 or 120GB* drive and 2 GB RAM for the macbook, but, you might need more storage space than I do.

And, depends on your relationship. If I were you I'd say getcho own dang macbook, fatty! OK...no don't do that....bad idea.

*go for this one

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards the 120GB hard drive and the 2GB RAM. I don't really think a 7200 drive would be that much quicker than a 5400 drive during actual use and it'll probably eat battery life for breakfast. Getting the 120GB hard drive and 2GB Ram is only about £50 more than the cheapest hard drive and 1GB RAM. That's only a couple of nights out.

I'd be tempted to keep the mac for myself but I'd feel a bit guilty. I already have a really nice desktop and she's only got her one laptop. I want her to have nice things, you know. It also means that we can video call with iChat when I'm back down South and she has to stay up at Uni for a month longe. Who knows though, she might prefer the smaller size, she does really like the size of her 12" 'book.

Whoever gets it, it'd be a good deal for me. Either I get an upgrade of .2Ghz, 40GB more HD space and a much better battery in the form of an iBook or I get a MacBook. Since this MacBook should actually cost all in all less than it looks like I could get for my 'Book on eBay, its pretty good either way.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Ok, I ended up going for the Seagate Momentus 5400.2 120GB S150 8MB and some Corsair memory instead of the Crucial stuff, Corsair Memory 2X1GB 200 SODIMM PC5300 CL4 DDR2 UNBUFFERED.

The Corsair memory was £15 cheaper than the equivalent Crucial memory and has a lower CAS rating (not that I expect a MacBook to make use of it). As an added bonus, as I went through the checkout process Dabs said "You have an unused voucher ready for use!".

It turns out Dabs are doing some deal at the moment where you get three vouchers to use before the end of the month. One for if you spend more than £75, you get £10 off, one for £20 off a spend of £150 and one for £75 off a spend of £1000. So I got an unexpected extra £10, not to mention the cheapest prices for the hard drive and memory I'd found on the net anyway!

So I've got 2GB RAM and a 120GB laptop hard drive on their way to me for only £87.92. Bargain!