Maxed out MB or basic MBP

[polevault139]

I'm torn between getting a MB or a MBP.

The Mackbook is the top of the line white model w/ 2GB RAM and 120GB HD
The MBP is the lower end 15" with 2GB RAM and 120 GB HD

I will be using it for all the basic things, word processor, excel, internet. So your thinking MB right. Bu there is one thing I cannot live without. Photoshop. So are the integrated graphics of the Macbook going to slow me down? I get the education discount, so the price difference is a little less than $500. My aunt is getting one for me for my graduation present and I have made a deal with her that she would buy me the MB, but I can convince her to let me pay the extra $500 for the MBP. So my real question is it really worth it to go Pro?

The only thing I'll miss from the Macbook is the keyboard, I love that thing.

I'll have to run some windows programs because I will need some thermodynamics programs FYI.

Too bad there is nothing in the middle yet...

 

[Kodex]

I would go with the MBP.

First off its a pro machine and historically they hold up better.

•Larger Screen
•Backlite keyboard
•Choice of Matte finish on the screen
•Firewire 800
•PC Cardbus
•Lots more =)

 

[aaronw1986]

I agree, MBP all the way.

 

[Zman5225]

Another vote for the MBP! I think you'll end up regretting not getting it in the first place. I'm saving up for one right now.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

go with pro

 

[dwd3885]

Funny, cuz the lower end MBP is as good spec-wise as the MacBook. I was torn between the two and went with the MBP C2D. You won't regret it!

 

[vanzskater272]

Get the macbook pro for sure

 

[iW00t]

My vote: Macbook

I'm torn between getting a MB or a MBP.

The Mackbook is the top of the line white model w/ 2GB RAM and 120GB HD
The MBP is the lower end 15" with 2GB RAM and 120 GB HD

I will be using it for all the basic things, word processor, excel, internet. So your thinking MB right. Bu there is one thing I cannot live without. Photoshop. So are the integrated graphics of the Macbook going to slow me down?

There is not even a single vertex shaded by Photoshop, so... no.

Besides the Macbook Pros display plain suck, you don't want that don't you?

I get the education discount, so the price difference is a little less than $500. My aunt is getting one for me for my graduation present and I have made a deal with her that she would buy me the MB, but I can convince her to let me pay the extra $500 for the MBP. So my real question is it really worth it to go Pro?

For the price difference you can almost get a 20" ACD...

The only thing I'll miss from the Macbook is the keyboard, I love that thing.

I'll have to run some windows programs because I will need some thermodynamics programs FYI.

Too bad there is nothing in the middle yet...

Get the Macbook, it has good specs for its money. The Macbook Pro is just a average laptop with a screen worse than what you get in $900 laptops and an aging and obsolete GPU chip.

 

[iBorg20181]

My vote: Macbook

Besides the Macbook Pros display plain suck, you don't want that don't you?

Get the Macbook, it has good specs for its money. The Macbook Pro is just a average laptop with a screen worse than what you get in $900 laptops and an aging and obsolete GPU chip.

Take iWoot's advice with a BARREL of salt - he's a well-known Apple-bashing, Dell-troll ... do a search by his moniker, and follow his endless rants about the screen, and almost everything else. (Look at his sig! I don't know why he trolls here, when he's so obvious a Dell fanboy?) Go to an Apple Store and check the screens yourself - my MBP's screen is the best notebook screen I've ever had (and I've owned a variety of Apple and PC notebooks to compare!)

For $500, get the MBP, it's an obvious choice, unless you need the smaller form-factor of the MB. Even at $1000 difference, a large segment choose the MBP for a variety of reasons: larger screen, decent graphics chip, FW800 and ExpressCard 34. Both are great notebooks - choose the one that suits your needs.

Good luck!

iBorg

 

[SmokyD]

tough choice

It's a tough call. Both are beautiful machines. But iW00t is right about the screen issues with the MBP. Plenty of people have had various problems with the screens. From what I've seen at the local Apple stores, the MB screens are a little more even and have less vignetting in the corners. That's just my impression though, from the Macbooks I've seen.

The MB keyboards are cool and the machine feels really solid. It's also slightly more portable than the MBP. It's a good deal for the money. I think it will handle Photoshop fine if you put 2 GB of memory in it. However, running lots of other programs will eventually slow you down, as all video is shared with your memory.

If you plan to get a new computer in about two years, you probably won't need much in the way of expansion, and for your needs I'd go with the Macbook and save your money. The extra RAM in your Macbook will do the job for most things. However, if you want three or four years out of the notebook, plus expansion capabilities, or plan to use any graphics programs for engineering courses, go for the MBP.

Personally I'd choose the MBP as long as it has a good screen. Check it the the Apple store before buying.

 

[iW00t]

Take iWoot's advice with a BARREL of salt - he's a well-known Apple-bashing, Dell-troll ... do a search by his moniker, and follow his endless rants about the screen, and almost everything else. (Look at his sig! I don't know why he trolls here, when he's so obvious a Dell fanboy?) Go to an Apple Store and check the screens yourself - my MBP's screen is the best notebook screen I've ever had (and I've owned a variety of Apple and PC notebooks to compare!)

For $500, get the MBP, it's an obvious choice, unless you need the smaller form-factor of the MB. Even at $1000 difference, a large segment choose the MBP for a variety of reasons: larger screen, decent graphics chip, FW800 and ExpressCard 34. Both are great notebooks - choose the one that suits your needs.

Good luck!

iBorg

Do a search for iBorg's posts. All my posts are backed by facts, all iBorg's posts are... fueled by his blind faith in Apple

It is your money.

I rest my case.

Personally I'd choose the MBP as long as it has a good screen. Check it the the Apple store before buying.

polevault139 should listen to this. Take a look at it first.

If you are like iBorg with mediocre requirements and easy to please with "torch mode" backlighting alone, you will be pleased with the MBP easily. Just take a stock 15" MBP, install Bootcamp and load Windows XP on it, then put it alongside a $900 Dell.

You will be surprised who is the winner. Hint: not the $1999 computer. ***** colour reproduction, poor colour banding, poor colour saturation, excessive graininess and screen artifacts. Best screen amongst the laptops you owned? Wow you must have had very lousy luck previously and seriously lucked out buying Steve Job's personal prototype unit.

 

[other]

I vote for the MacBook (as long as you get one that doesn't whine):

• $500 Cheaper (like someone said, buy an external display or something with the money you save)
• Smaller and lighter
• Easy to replace harddrive
• Better WiFi reception
• Magnetic latch
• Better keyboard

The MacBook Pro definitely needs a design update (function wise, but aesthetics would probably have to been changed to achieve better WiFi reception)

Maybe I should add, I had the same dilemma, and I went with the MacBook.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

I agree with the Macbook recommendations, for what you do a MBP is simply overkill compared to a MB with a 20" widescreen as external monitor.

And iBorg's argumentation is flawed. You cannot argue against the advice of the Macbook by insulting the advisor. That's just a horrible way of trying to win an argument.

 

[nyzballa12]

MBP all the way! Expecially if you need it for ps like you said. I would have said if you didn't need PS then get the MB and a refurbed ACD. But since you are using PS then you will need the vram in the pro

 

[polevault139]

Thanks for all the replies, as of now I think I am leaning towords the Macbook. Right now I have the basic iMac (with the GMA 950), and even though photoshop is a little slow its not that bad. And plus I will have 2GB of memory instead of 1. I think that the keyboard is keeping on the Macbook side.

 

[10-Dee-Q]

i have
MBP 2.0G CD
and
Just bought
MB Black 2.0 C2D yesterday

To be truthfully, i'm really impressed with the build quality of MB
my MBP screen did not align well when closed and also sometimes i got electric shock
My Black MB build is very solid everything perfectly aligned and somehow it "feels" more solid than the MBP.

I dont games at all ,
and i just have my black MB for 1 days so i havent do much on it yet
but from my 1st day evaluation, i think i might sell of my MBP cause i loved the MB black more
and also INMHO the design of MB os much sweeter than the MBP even the white one

but i miss the backlight keyboard and sensor that automatically dimm the screen when i close the lights on my room
and also the speakers on my MB is Sucks big time compared to MBP

so both are lovely machine ,
u just need to follow your heart to get what u really want

 

[10-Dee-Q]

anyway my specs are:

-MBP 2.0 Ghz Core Duo
2 GB RAM
256MB Ati Radeon X1600
160 GB Seagate mommentus 5400 rpm

-MB "Blackbook" 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM
Intel GMA 950
160 GB Seagate Mommentus 5400 rpm

for me there's no noticable different in terms of proccesing speeds on both machine.

Hope it Helps

 

[thebeephaha]

iWoot, in your signature for the screen you got for your macbook pro, its technically spelled "Matte" not just "Matt"...

 

[djejrejk]

I vote for the MacBook .... [*]Better keyboard

The MacBook Pro definitely needs a design update (function wise, but aesthetics would probably have to been changed to achieve better WiFi reception)

Maybe I should add, I had the same dilemma, and I went with the MacBook.

I think that the MacBook Keyboards look pretty cheesy. Must be a bit@# to clean. I know that those cases are really strong but that plastic still feels cheap to me. No way i could justify 2000$. Go with the MBP.

 

[Mac'Mo]

i would have to really say that it depends on your lifestyle. If you need to travel a lot then the MBP might not be your best choice because i find even the 15" to be quiet bulky and not AS mobile as the MB. I am a commuting college student and I find the MB serves my purposes. There are pros and cons to both.

 

[DigitalN.]

I think that the MacBook Keyboards look pretty cheesy. Must be a bit@# to clean. I know that those cases are really strong but that plastic still feels cheap to me. No way i could justify 2000$. Go with the MBP.

the macbook keyboard in no way is any different from a regular old keyboard. The only difference is the fact that the keys aren't concave (they are flat) and the fact they dont slope off the side of the keys, and go straight down. This makes for a much better typing experience, since it is hard to hit the wrong key unintentionally.

 

[iW00t]

iWoot, in your signature for the screen you got for your macbook pro, its technically spelled "Matte" not just "Matt"...

Thanks for the heads up, but I hit the character limit so something else would have to go

 

[iPegboy]

if you've got the money, go with the macbook pro.

 

[DavoMrMac]

I would go maxed out MacBook and a nice 20-inch display or a 21-inch Samsung 215TW (awesome). You then have the best of both worlds.

Good portability.
Nice magnetic latch.
Good 13.3-inch compact screen.
Nice dual display set-up when you need it.

The MBPro is nice and the graphics card helps with high end work, and you get a slight performance bump, but I think the smart money is with a portable, dual screen set-up.

 

[Lomaxfairchild]

But since you are using PS then you will need the vram in the pro

No he really won't. The graphics are only an issue if you're gaming, 3D-rendering or the like.

I was in a similar position and went for a black MB with 2GB RAM. It's much more portable than the 15" pro. You obviously get more screen space on a Pro which is important if it's your only machine (given Photoshop's myriad of pallettes). I use an external monitor at my desk so this isn't generally an issue - as someone else pointed out, you could use the price difference to fund the same.