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evanrousso

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 28, 2006
267
0
I am deciding between a macbook and a macbook pro. I am new to mac, and the only two differences I see between the macbook and the macbook pro are the screen size and video card. Is this the only difference. I am loading the macbook up with 2gb of ram, and a 120 gb hardrive. So if i get the 2.ghz dual core processor for both the macbook and macbook pro, the pro ends up being more than 500 dollars more expensive, so is there a larger difference between the two?


thanks
 
MBP-
Aluminum Casing.
Better graphics.
Bigger HD standard.
15.4 inch screen.
Much cooler.

MB-
Plastic.
Integrated graphics.
Small HD standard.
13" screen.
Tiny and plastic.




Don't believe the megahertz myth. :D
 
Just as a word of advice, regardless of which portable Mac solution you decide on, purchase your RAM through a reputable 3rd party - don't buy from Apple, they charge huge premiums for their RAM.
 
~Shard~ said:
Just as a word of advice, regardless of which portable Mac solution you decide on, purchase your RAM through a reputable 3rd party - don't buy from Apple, they charge huge premiums for their RAM.


what would you suggest? and is it difficult to install ram into a macbook?
 
evanrousso said:
what would you suggest? and is it difficult to install ram into a macbook?

No, it isn't difficult to install RAM into any Mac (except perhaps the Mac mini). Just take a small cover off, and pop it in. The Macbook also has an easily replaceable hard drive, but the Macbook Pro does not.
 
mduser63 said:
No, it isn't difficult to install RAM into any Mac (except perhaps the Mac mini). Just take a small cover off, and pop it in. The Macbook also has an easily replaceable hard drive, but the Macbook Pro does not.

well, with that being the case, can i put a hard drive that is larger than 120gb into my macbook or macbook pro?
 
I don't have a MBP, but I do have a PB (same case)
biggest problem with the PB style aluminum case is that it dents. Aluminum, annoyingly does that. Also sweat can corrode the aluminum so don't sweat on a MBP (seems weird, but i didn't have AC for a month in the summer).
 
evanrousso said:
what would you suggest? and is it difficult to install ram into a macbook?

No, not hard at all, Apple has made it easy with the MacBook models. as for where to buy, it partly depends on where you live. In general, DMS, Newegg and Crucial are excellent sources for quality RAM which is guaranteed Mac-compatible. However, if you live in Canada like me, CanadaRAM is by far your best bet. :cool:
 
evanrousso said:
well, with that being the case, can i put a hard drive that is larger than 120gb into my macbook or macbook pro?

It can be done but note that 160 GB drives are the biggest capacity available in the 2.5 inch form factor.
 
evanrousso said:
well, with that being the case, can i put a hard drive that is larger than 120gb into my macbook or macbook pro?

You'll have to open the case and void the warranty to do it on a MacBook Pro. On a MacBook, the hard drive is a user installable part, just like the ram. You basically take a small cover off, slide the old one out, and the new one in. Like bousozoku said, I believe 160 GB is currently the biggest 2.5" drive, although I'm sure that will change soon enough.
 
Yes but a Macbook looks OH-SO-SEXY!

desktop3.jpg
 
nitynate said:
MBP
Much cooler.
You must be talking about "cooler to look at", because after the SMC Firmware updates, my MacBook is much cooler to the touch than any of the MacBook Pros I've ever used. ;)

skubish said:
The Macbook Pro also has:

Firewire 800
AFAIK, only the 17" MBP has that, ... 15" doesn't.
 
I'd actually rather have the MacBook case- I tend to be clumsy. I've dented PowerBooks, never an iBook.
 
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