Questions about the Macbook (Black)

[Sicarius]

Ok, I was planning on getting a Macbook Pro for a while now, but one of my jobs fell through, so I only have one. Thus, I'm thinking I should go cheaper, like a Macbook. My questions are:

What are the real differences between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro? (Real meaning, differences that influence how it performs.)

Is the case sturdy? I dunno what exactly it's made of, so.

Will a Macbook with 2.0 GHz, 1GB RAM, 100GB HDD, -vs- a Macbook Pro with the same specs show a big performance increase?

 

[andrewmulligan]

The main differneces are the case, video card and screen size. If you're going to be doing a lot of video/photo work with Final Cut, Aperture, or the likes I would recommend the MacBook Pro. Otherwise the MacBook is good for just about everything. With more RAM you can do almost the same stuff (I said almost. ) with the MacBook Pro.

The case on the MacBook Pro is Aluminum while the MacBook's is a strong plastic material. I've found the MacBook/iBook case to be more durable (the MBP/PB's can dent )

So if you're going to be doing basic stuff and maybe some higher end stuff a MacBook would be good, but for mainly high end stuff get the MacBook Pro. They're both awesome machines and with enough RAM they both fly.

 

[WildCowboy]

If money is an issue, you might want to go with a bumped white MacBook. You're paying $150 just for the black color.

The MacBook Pro is definitely a step up from the MacBook, but you'll have to let us know what you're planning on doing with it for us to give you a better idea of whether the MacBook is sufficient for your needs.

 

[MikeyWord]

It really depends what you are doing. There are lots of posts dedicated to these differences. There is a very popular Mac benchmarks site that escapes me atm... lol.

I think the case is much sturdier as "plastic" in the MacBook doesnt dent as easily as the aluminium MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro will have better 3D graphic performance as it has a dedicated graphics card (doesnt bogard your RAM). The MacBook has a integrated graphics card. If you arnt doing video heavy work, that is, 3D video heavy work, the MacBook should be fine. The MacBook Pro has a faster processor etc... really, this quite simple information to look up.

If I had the money, I would buy the MacBook Pro.. even though it looks crap IMHO compared to the MB

 

[Sicarius]

Well, here's the deal. I've never had a computer with a CPU over 1.0GHz, or a HD over 30GB. So, I don't know if I would actually do video editing, because I've never done it before. I originally thought I would game, but then I found out computer games aren't really my thing (I'm a console guy). I would be using GarageBand a lot though, iMovie, iPhoto, probably nothing heavy, in the video/audio areas, just the stuff it comes with already. I download a lot of stuff, applications, music, art, etc, (Legal stuff, of course.), so it'd need to do that. How long do you think a Macbook will last me, if I do the above stuff? I might've drifted away from the original question so here:


Things I'll be using it for:
GarageBand (Or audio composing apps similar)
iPhoto
iMovie (Or other LIGHT video editing software)
Web browsing
Music
Movies
Downloading pretty much everything I legally can.

Things I won't be using it for:
Heavy video editing (I've never edited before, so I don't think I'd do heavy stuff anyway.)
Gaming. (Maybe a light game or two, but nothing really.)

 

[Chundles]

Well, here's the deal. I've never had a computer with a CPU over 1.0GHz, or a HD over 30GB. So, I don't know if I would actually do video editing, because I've never done it before. I originally thought I would game, but then I found out computer games aren't really my thing (I'm a console guy). I would be using GarageBand a lot though, iMovie, iPhoto, probably nothing heavy, in the video/audio areas, just the stuff it comes with already. I download a lot of stuff, applications, music, art, etc, (Legal stuff, of course.), so it'd need to do that. How long do you think a Macbook will last me, if I do the above stuff? I might've drifted away from the original question so here:


Things I'll be using it for:
GarageBand (Or audio composing apps similar)
iPhoto
iMovie (Or other LIGHT video editing software)
Web browsing
Music
Movies
Downloading pretty much everything I legally can.

Things I won't be using it for:
Heavy video editing (I've never edited before, so I don't think I'd do heavy stuff anyway.)
Gaming. (Maybe a light game or two, but nothing really.)

Well then you're probably best to save your money and buy a MacBook instead. The MBP would be overkill.

Use the money instead to load up the RAM and HDD and get some nice accessories like a big external HDD etc.

You can save even more money by buying the white 2.0GHz version. The only difference between the white and the black at 2.0GHz is the black has a slightly larger HDD (which is a moot point when your build-to-order) and a black case. There are no speed benefits from going with the BlackBook.

 

[Eraserhead]

Things I'll be using it for:
GarageBand (Or audio composing apps similar)
iPhoto
iMovie (Or other LIGHT video editing software)
Web browsing
Music
Movies
Downloading pretty much everything I legally can.

Things I won't be using it for:
Heavy video editing (I've never edited before, so I don't think I'd do heavy stuff anyway.)
Gaming. (Maybe a light game or two, but nothing really.)

The the MB is the better buy for you, as others have said go for the mid-range white one, it's a better deal, you will probably want more than 512MB RAM (1GB may well be enough especially as RAM is expensive atm.), as with 512 the computer chokes with more than a few applications open.

If you aren't in a hurry, there should be new Macbooks within a month or so which will be faster (and come with a bigger HD/more RAM/cheaper upgrade prices (look at the iMac/mac Mini)), though the Core Duo laptop will scream compared to what you currently have and is plenty fast enough for what you want to do with it.


EDIT Damn you Chundles for beating me to it.

 

[Chundles]

EDIT Damn you Chundles for beating me to it.

Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to beat me to the punch.

Really early in fact:

 

[Sicarius]

Oh yeah, it would definately not be for a few weeks at the earliest. This would be my first Mac also, which is why I asked so many questions, lol.

 

[Eraserhead]

Gotta get up pretty early in the morning to beat me to the punch.

Really early in fact:

That is far too early, I'd never be up at that time, unless I'd been up all night...

 

[Sicarius]

If I were to use a mid to high-end audio editing/composing software on a Macbook, would it show performance problems? As in, less then a Macbook Pro, or noticably laggy?

Also, does Apple's video editing software run well with the macbook? I don't really think I'd use another type of video-editing.

 

[vega07]

go get yourself a macbook and enjoy.

 

[Egaas]

MacBook, drop 250$ or so on 2 GB of RAM not purchased from Apple. Oh yes.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

yeah, all vieo editing stuff runs fine on a macbook. THe main difference between the pro and the normal book internaly is the graphics card and the only time that would show is gaming, or rendering 3d applications, and stuff of that matter, exactly what you said you wont be doing so for you a mb sound fine, good luck.

 

[Dubba]

I had the same dilemna, and I have decided on a White MacBook with 120GB Hd and 2GB of RAM (non-Apple, of course!). Although there are some MacBook Pro features that I wished I had (namely the backlit keyboard), the MacBook is more than sufficient for my needs, as they are very similar to yours.

Good luck, and enjoy it!

 

[FFTT]

If you are entitled to the education discount you can save quite a bit on your
machine and your software.

I would consider either a MacBook 2.0 GHz with 2 GB RAM (3rd party)
and minimum 100GB. HD

or.... buy a refurb 2.0 GHz MacBook or MBP 2.0 or 2.17GHz.

Your satisfaction in audio recording will depend on how many traks you plan to record at any one time and whether you're recording virtual instruments or live
instruments.

 

[nomad01]

I've said this before on here but I sold my MBP to get a (Black) Macbook.

I wanted something smaller and a bit more sturdy. I don't really use any 3D rendering so it fit the bill perfectly and does everything as well as my MBP. No regrets.

 

[DwightSchrute]

Get a Macbook. I was going to get an MBP all along but then when school started and they hadn't released Merom I realized that all I need is a Macbook so I got the one in my sig and it was $40 cheaper than the MBP I was going to get and it has more RAM (I got Apple RAM and HD). You'll love the MB but get black. It's worth it.