Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Alag28

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 23, 2006
388
18
i know that many people have already requested help similar to what i need help in too. Choosing the right/favorable macbook and if i should wait for the core duo 2.

im beginning college very shortly at uconn of stamford and back in high school ive had a problem of being very unfocused and tired/bored doing long projects/essays/presentations on my desktop. i cant sit in the same seat and bang out tedious work. i say to myself urghhh i need a laptop so i can go somewhere else and work. so im going to fix this by buying a laptop and i wouldnt like that to happen again for college. so for that main reason im getting a laptop and moreover, an apple. i want to switch it up and get a mac this time. i really like the deal they have right now. free printer, free nano and i also get a educational discount. plus these lappies can run WINDOWS TOO!! so my questions are..

this is going to be mainly for school so usage will primarily consist of office apps, email, surfing, and pretty much thats it. also music for my personal time. and when im not gaming on my desktop i will also like to throw some games on it too but i know it cant run the latest games out right now but maybe some warcraft 3, cs:s, call of duty etc. so will it be better and more favorable if i get the macbook and skip the pro since under my circumstances a pro is overkill?

last question is i know the memrons are coming out soon or so they say. should i wait for the memron so i have a better futureproof mac or my usage is no need for the new memrons. a current macbook/pro will do me fine for several years?

thanks and appreciate the help.
 
Pro would be overkill. And if you want to wait for a Core2Duo machine you can, but if you need the machine now you'll get a fine computer capable of serving you well into the future.
 
It's Merom. Not Memron. I think for your usage you don't need to wait for Merom, just buy a Macbook now (Pro seems like a bit much, but if you really want it over the Macbook then buy it) and get the free iPod nano. A Macbook should last you 3-5 years, I'd say.

A Macbook isn't going to play games that well though. But you have a desktop for that?
 
any more imputs/opinions ...cmon guys this is my hard earned $1399.99 plus tax.
 
The MacBook is fine - I wouldn't hold out for the Core 2 Duo, it'll hardly be any faster.

A MacBook Pro is WAY overkill.

And as someone said, games won't run all that great on it (especially with the integrated video), but they won't be horrible.
 
A macbook is plenty for what you need. Bar games (which you plan to have on the desktop anyway) nothing there will tax the macbook.

Since you're going to college, you might have a look at Omni Outliner for taking notes. It's really useful - I only got it recently, but I'm using it to get stuff prepared for next term. It's a great way of organising my notes.

I see no point in waiting for Merom. Sure it might be a little faster, but for what you want to do with it, there will be no real benefit. I don't think that the macbooks will be in the first line of updates to merom anyway - the MBP will get them first and as supply of the chips gears up, they will make their way into the others. It will be a while yet, and you need one now.

I assume the price you're looking at is for the black version. If you already have a desktop with a dvd burner I'd go for the base model and save some cash. You will not really notice the extra speed in the processor. Use that money to get bits that you need such as software - or beer :) . The black one would be a waste of valuable cash - it's $400 more (maybe less on the edu store).

HTH
 
Alag28 said:
any more imputs/opinions ...cmon guys this is my hard earned $1399.99 plus tax.

No one will post here and offer up an opinion that myself and extraextra didn't say. You got your answer.
 
yup u right...thanks alot guys made my decision..im gonna get one :)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.