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MacBook Pro: Now Or Wait?
- Thread starter mvelinder
- Start date
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I'm a junior Computer Science & Engineering student, and although I don't think a laptop is necessary by any means, I'd much rather have a laptop rather than a desktop.
The conveniences and comforts in being able to take your personal computer wherever you need to, whether it's to get out of a noisy room, meet a group for a project, or to avoid using university-owned computers, along with other things, are worth the few downsides of a laptop vs. a desktop.
As far as waiting to get your laptop, if that's what you decide to do, I might wait until the summer to order it, but only so you can be sure that you know what you want, instead of rushing the decision, when you have plenty of time to think about it. However, if you're sure you want the new MacBook (as I am), I wouldn't hesitate to order it (as I did). I wouldn't worry about any issues due to it being a first-generation product. Also, if you're not doing anything incredibly specific and demanding, it would probably be safe to go ahead and get it now.
The conveniences and comforts in being able to take your personal computer wherever you need to, whether it's to get out of a noisy room, meet a group for a project, or to avoid using university-owned computers, along with other things, are worth the few downsides of a laptop vs. a desktop.
As far as waiting to get your laptop, if that's what you decide to do, I might wait until the summer to order it, but only so you can be sure that you know what you want, instead of rushing the decision, when you have plenty of time to think about it. However, if you're sure you want the new MacBook (as I am), I wouldn't hesitate to order it (as I did). I wouldn't worry about any issues due to it being a first-generation product. Also, if you're not doing anything incredibly specific and demanding, it would probably be safe to go ahead and get it now.
One more question about the tricky dates...
Are the MBP's going to be showing up in local Apple Stores in mid-February too? And will you be able to buy them once they show up in the local stores? Or will there be a period where they are at the local stores but not availible for purchase?
I'll most likely be buying it in the local store (Aspen Grove) a week or two after they release in that mid-February to make sure there are no dead pixels, and other stuff and try it out in the store. Would they be willing to let me try it out in the store do you think? I normally get the impression that they are all ******s in there, but maybe if I'm forking over $2499, they'll respect me a bit more.
Are the MBP's going to be showing up in local Apple Stores in mid-February too? And will you be able to buy them once they show up in the local stores? Or will there be a period where they are at the local stores but not availible for purchase?
I'll most likely be buying it in the local store (Aspen Grove) a week or two after they release in that mid-February to make sure there are no dead pixels, and other stuff and try it out in the store. Would they be willing to let me try it out in the store do you think? I normally get the impression that they are all ******s in there, but maybe if I'm forking over $2499, they'll respect me a bit more.
matperk said:
I didn't purchase Apple Care on my Powerbook. I planned on purchasing it towards the end of the factory warranty. I had a lot of work done on my Powerbook, I got a new logic board, new display, new case.. I got all of the work done by Techknowsphere, located in NYC. Everything was done quick, and I also had power adapters replaced through Apple, and I got a replacement in the mail after a day or two.
I ended up selling my Powerbook last week, and if I bought applecare, it would've been a waste of money. I never used the extended warranty.
When I get the MBP, I don't plan on purchasing applecare until the end of the factory warranty. Something can always happen and I might end up getting a new laptop.
MacsomJRR said:
ooooookay.
My sisters ibook, bondi blue 233mhz. Rev A:
Screw kicking around inside the case (!). Cracks in the lower part of the chassis. Sent it back to get fixed, arrived with someone else's harddrive! When I pointed this out, I was told to 'just erase it' (it had a lot of personal work data on it, which was very interesting to look over) but I was stopped in the parking lot by the shop owner who literally ripped it out of my hands. I never went back.
My Powerbook FW800 Rev A:
Spots on the screen, bend in the case near the dvd drive... and I found out after my hard drive started making strange noises, a _broken frame_. (!). I love it, but I can't stand this kind of damage. Not again.
Mac Performa 610, rev A:
Freaking CD caddy drive had a flange sticking out from the bottom, which sliced my hand deeply. I went to the clinic where they nearly gave me stitches. I was such a Mac head at the time I didn't even think of calling Apple and looking for retribution.
So, maybe I'm slow, but I really do believe the 'rev A = public beta' thinking is true. Your milage may very. I'll wait tll rev B or C from now on.
I am currently awaiting my MacBook Pro (en route as we speak.) I'm a junior biology major.
I would have waited for a rev B, but frankly I could wait. My PC laptop died several months back (2 batterys worn out in 3 years, 2 cd-rw/dvd drive failures, and 2 loud chipping screaming hard drive failures.) I've been limiting by on a unstable desktop PC, the other day it rebooted itself 4 times in 5 hours. Anyways it put me in the market for a new computer. Friends and family all have apples in one shape or form, so I limped by on a horrible desktop for months, because I knew apple was going to introduce intel within the year and had read the rumors that there would be intels in jan, so I waited. Then I argued with myself over and over back and forth between toshiba and apple. What pused me over the edge, those 2 failed hard drives were toshibas.
As I don't have an apple at the moment, I can't comment of the quailty of the macbook pro for you.
As for the PC vs Laptop. So far everyone is right, you can do perfectly fine with a desktop in college (hauling a thumb drive around), yes the desktop is cheaper, the desktop will be more powerful in most cases, and if you are in college then there is a good chance when you get out you will need a specific software (which may require a new computer or a PC even.)
I picked a laptop for a bunch of reason, but size and portability were the main two. A laptop takes up less space, which is at a premumium in a dorm (or a cluttered apartment like mine.) I travel, dpending on the GF's schedule I spend 50-100% of my weekends out of town (she has a laptop, but its a dull and we both need them over the weekend for school work.) And when I got home, well its a free for all, my sister has a thinkpad (when she is home) my parents have a gateway and both are always in use. Even around my apartment the laptop gets used as a mobile, either in bed before I sleep, out side on a nice day, at the desk to do papers and school work and in my lap to run things like aim while I am watching TV.
Sorry if this made no sense its kind of late for me and I'm having trouble putting my into words.
Cliffnotes: If you can wait to make sure that are no flaws in the macbook pro, then wait, just to be safe. As for laptop vs desktop, its just a matter of lifestyle and needs, I travel and need a computer that can go with me, plus i hate being anchored to a desk.
I would have waited for a rev B, but frankly I could wait. My PC laptop died several months back (2 batterys worn out in 3 years, 2 cd-rw/dvd drive failures, and 2 loud chipping screaming hard drive failures.) I've been limiting by on a unstable desktop PC, the other day it rebooted itself 4 times in 5 hours. Anyways it put me in the market for a new computer. Friends and family all have apples in one shape or form, so I limped by on a horrible desktop for months, because I knew apple was going to introduce intel within the year and had read the rumors that there would be intels in jan, so I waited. Then I argued with myself over and over back and forth between toshiba and apple. What pused me over the edge, those 2 failed hard drives were toshibas.
As I don't have an apple at the moment, I can't comment of the quailty of the macbook pro for you.
As for the PC vs Laptop. So far everyone is right, you can do perfectly fine with a desktop in college (hauling a thumb drive around), yes the desktop is cheaper, the desktop will be more powerful in most cases, and if you are in college then there is a good chance when you get out you will need a specific software (which may require a new computer or a PC even.)
I picked a laptop for a bunch of reason, but size and portability were the main two. A laptop takes up less space, which is at a premumium in a dorm (or a cluttered apartment like mine.) I travel, dpending on the GF's schedule I spend 50-100% of my weekends out of town (she has a laptop, but its a dull and we both need them over the weekend for school work.) And when I got home, well its a free for all, my sister has a thinkpad (when she is home) my parents have a gateway and both are always in use. Even around my apartment the laptop gets used as a mobile, either in bed before I sleep, out side on a nice day, at the desk to do papers and school work and in my lap to run things like aim while I am watching TV.
Sorry if this made no sense its kind of late for me and I'm having trouble putting my into words.
Cliffnotes: If you can wait to make sure that are no flaws in the macbook pro, then wait, just to be safe. As for laptop vs desktop, its just a matter of lifestyle and needs, I travel and need a computer that can go with me, plus i hate being anchored to a desk.
xPismo said:
Not to be excessively negative, but... one (or a lil more) word:
Rev A iMac G5:
midpanes, power supplies, fans... everything blowing up, cracking down or silently failing.
All of this highly documented everywhere on the net... except for Apple discussions where relevant threads would suddenly disappear.
And, obviously, I'll spare you the noise problem.
This said, I bought one, got it replaced three damn times
, wasted a couple of months on it and eventually found my peace of mind on a Mac mini... which I love to death, together with my precious iBook. 
Thought I might revive this thread; I'm going through a similar dilemma.
For me, I have to deal with a PoS Dell at the moment (see the above thread for details), so I really think that I should have an MBP as soon as possible, and I'm waiting until the end of March until I would get it to have (I'd get to use it for one night when I need it, then for homework when my parents say I can).
My situation is definately different, however, to the OP (unless you ordered it already), I say that you should hold off, unless you need the portability now. You've got OS X, be happy. Also, make sure you have the money for it before you get it; there's nothing like having to pay your parents back for something that expensive.
For me, I have to deal with a PoS Dell at the moment (see the above thread for details), so I really think that I should have an MBP as soon as possible, and I'm waiting until the end of March until I would get it to have (I'd get to use it for one night when I need it, then for homework when my parents say I can).
My situation is definately different, however, to the OP (unless you ordered it already), I say that you should hold off, unless you need the portability now. You've got OS X, be happy. Also, make sure you have the money for it before you get it; there's nothing like having to pay your parents back for something that expensive.
xPismo said:
This is also very true with even iPods. My friend got a 3rd Gen. iPod (15 Gig) and about 3 weeks later the 4th Gen.'s came out. At that time I got a 4th Gen. (40 Gig) iPod, and I like the "click wheel" design ALOT more than the "4 buttons and seperate wheel" design his 3rd Gen. had. And the awesome thing was mine was almost the same price as his!
Also I waited on getting my Rev. B iMac G4 because they introduced the 17inch models at the time. However, my poor little iMac was slapped in the face when the Rev. C iMac G4's came out. (My iMac's video card runs at 2X AGP, and this changed with the Rev. C's)