MBP Vs. MB for a College Student

[mduser63]

-edit- by the way when is Leopard suppose to come out? and how much do u think it cost to upgrade from the current Mac OS X --thanks!

The last anyone's heard it's supposed to come out late '06, early '07 right around the same time as Windows Vista. If it's like the last few OS X releases, it'll be $129 regular price, $69 for students.

 

[Demon Hunter]

I would buy a MacBook. You will be distracted, so the GMA 950 will hold you back. The dual-core T2500 and magnetic latch kick ass. Sell the PC. Gaming is not your friend. You've been warned.

Taking notes on a laptop, for me, is a godsend. All my files in one place, audio recordings, papers, handouts, you name it. It depends on how you use it, of course.

 

[Josias]

Go for an MB. It's ultra-portable, has as much power for gaming as MBP (the X1600's are underlocked, and though I can't find that site now, there was a thread here showing equal performance between MB and MBP). If you want a larger screen, buy yourself an external. It'll still be a lot cheaper than MBP.
1100 (1.83 GHz MacBook)
100 (1 GB RAM upgrade)
50 (80 GB HDD upgrade)
250 (external monitor)
300 (digi-cam)
20 (video-adapter)
1820 bucks
for 1.83 GHz MB with 1 GB RAM and 80 GB HDD, digi-cam, external monitor, and a digi-cam.

2000 2.0 GHz MBP
100 1 GB RAM upgrade
2100 bucks
for 2.0 GHz MBP with 1 GB RAM and 80 GB HDD, and nothing else.

The MB will easily run WoW

 

[chuckee]

okay so from what i gather... i think my setup would be a mac laptop and bringing my PC for the computer science tasks... you might think thats overkill but id actually prefer to not use bootcamp until its fully implemented into the new OS X - kinda weary about how the beta will end with bootcamp - plus i heard of rumors of possible virtualization included in the new OS ...

so most likely a macbook would fit my needs - and i do like how its a small laptop - but severly dislike the glossy screen (not enough to break my decision though lol)

second thought - i might use bootcamp ...maybe i will put XP on the macbook as long as i get a nice big hd in it ...

i guess my situation is just hard because i LOVE the mac operating system yet am in a major which requires windows lol .... at least intel processors ease the gap between the two

 

[wxboss]

I've been a long time desktop user, and I must say that the MB would be a good choice for a college student. It's features and size make it a great choice and easy to carry around with you where ever you go.

Also, check out the program Schoolhouse (available as a free download on Apple's site). It's a nice tool with many useful features tied up in a useful program.

 

[MacDonaldsd]

Ive just finsihed my first year doing computer science at uni.

You will be able to do all of your programming in Xcode, but I had to use some PC only apps like MS Access which means Windows.

I think macbook makes sense for what you want to use it for, just make sure you have enough RAM

 

[Timepass]

okay so from what i gather... i think my setup would be a mac laptop and bringing my PC for the computer science tasks... you might think thats overkill but id actually prefer to not use bootcamp until its fully implemented into the new OS X - kinda weary about how the beta will end with bootcamp - plus i heard of rumors of possible virtualization included in the new OS ...

so most likely a macbook would fit my needs - and i do like how its a small laptop - but severly dislike the glossy screen (not enough to break my decision though lol)

second thought - i might use bootcamp ...maybe i will put XP on the macbook as long as i get a nice big hd in it ...

i guess my situation is just hard because i LOVE the mac operating system yet am in a major which requires windows lol .... at least intel processors ease the gap between the two

To tell you the turth it will not be so hard. By the sounds of your post you are not full of windows hate and understand out to use it.
But since you are going to be going both a desktop and a laptop there are some things you going to want to get and need to know and a few suggestion.

1). Laptop is for school so that means do not install any games on it and I recomend agaist putting any of you music libary really on it. Use your ipod or other media player instead (less destration). Also dont really put to much extra software on it that can distract you from your school work.

2) you are going to want to have a wireless router just so network your 2 computers easily and it also a nice way to help protect your PC because it only take ONE infected PC to attack all the other computer that are plug into the school/dorm network and with that many computers and idoits who do not know basic system maintaince some one will get infected and then it will get all the unprotected ones (yeah I spent a good amount of time fixing other people computers) But the as long as you computer is up-to-date you will be safe. I would recomend agaisted getting an airport just because they are overprice and expensive. I like linksiy personsally but general any of the name brands are going to be good. Plus I think the interface PC side of the non airport ones are easier to work with.

3) I think you will tend to find your self over time using your desktop more and more while in your room over the MB because desktop monitor keyboard/mouse and speakers are all going to be better and easier to use than a laptops. Plus you not always going to want to plug in everything into you laptop. But that just desktop vs laptop. Your laptop can go places. I think a lot of people who duel both a laptop and desktop will tell you that general how it goes. If they are in there room where the desktop is they are going to use the desktop over the laptop. even if the laptop is more powerful.

As for software (like M$ office) dont buy it yet. Contact the college you are going to be going to and see what they offer. A lot of them you can get M$ for dirt cheap to even free. I know here at Texas Tech students can download all M$ software for free including XP pro and Office 2k4 for OSX and we can buy hard copies for 5-20 bucks for each program.

Also I think you will find the desktop laptop set up is a lot nice than straight laptop. Just make sure the imporant files are kept upto date on both. (your school work that moves inbettween make sure that both have the most recesnt copies on it. It a pain in the rear when you go to find a file you need and you find out that the verson/file is on the other computer. Not so bad when your on your desktop when taht happens because you can pull it from your laptop. but when it the other way around normally you are SOL for a while.)

 

[steelfist]

it sucks to be missing out on the newest games out there for the pc, like neverwinter nights 2, prey, and other games already released like quake 4 and doom 3. imagine not being able to play it at full quality, the way it's supposed to be.

i'm a heavy gamer, so my next mac should be an imac or macbook pro.

 

[bbrosemer]

Wait till august and see if the Memrom's are put into the new MBP's then buy a refburshied original. They will still be awesome and probably around the price of the MacBooks, and you will be given that slightly more powerful GPU. You will be craving that extra screen space that the MBP's give you.

 

[Josias]

Wait till august and see if the Memrom's are put into the new MBP's then buy a refburshied original. They will still be awesome and probably around the price of the MacBooks, and you will be given that slightly more powerful GPU. You will be craving that extra screen space that the MBP's give you.

Why would the refurb price fall? The refurbished PB G4's are still as expensive as the MBP refurb.

 

[bigandy]

i'd get the MBP, because you never know when you may need more than the (actually, perfectly decent) IIG.

i started at uni with an iBook and quickly needed to upgrade to a PowerBook, because of Final Cut Studio - i'm the first president of the uni's TV station that's not doing a Film & Media major - so i needed a little more power.

you never know what you'll end up doing, so be prepared

 

[bbrosemer]

Why would the refurb price fall? The refurbished PB G4's are still as expensive as the MBP refurb.

The G4 price didnt fall becasue it is still a PPC chip it isnt outdated technology, well it is but apple would never say that, once the Core 2 Duo comes out, the Core Duo will be outdated and the only way the refurbs will sell is if there is a price drop. Otherwise anyone who would want a refurb would buy it already. Also its all about supply and demand when the demand for the original MBP drops, so will the price.

 

[Josias]

The G4 price didnt fall becasue it is still a PPC chip it isnt outdated technology, well it is but apple would never say that, once the Core 2 Duo comes out, the Core Duo will be outdated and the only way the refurbs will sell is if there is a price drop. Otherwise anyone who would want a refurb would buy it already. Also its all about supply and demand when the demand for the original MBP drops, so will the price.

Not out of date??
On this site Apple shows the benifits of Core Duo over PPC. 5x faster, consumes less power, dual core...

Just because it is a different processor family*, the PowerBook is still out of date. They don't sell them anylonger, and it is officially the pre-decessor to MacBook Pro.

*Core Duo and Core 2 Duo are also different families. Yonah and Merom.