Thinking about macbook/pro - some questions...

[Chimaera]

Hi all

While not a switcher I've been away from the mac side of things for a few years (my old job was heavily mac based but I've not really touched one since I left 18 moths ago) but since my existing laptop (a Thinkpad T42) is nearing the end of its useful life its time to replace it with something new, and since I'm a big fan of MacOSX I figured to go for a Mac laptop, even with some of the things that annoy me so much about the OS.

At the moment I'm trying to decide between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro - While I'd prefer the pro, I'm not sure yet if I can justify the extra £400 cost over the Macbook - all of the benefits (bigger screen, better graphics, lighted keyboard) are all great, but do I *need* them?

Anyway, my actual question - when both the Macbook Pros and the Macbooks were released there were a load of complaints about the machines running far too hot, this seems to have been (at least unofficially) tracked down to a massive excess of thermal paste being applied over the CPU (too much of this gunk actually acts as an insulant and makes the heat situation worse) - has this now been resolved? I really don't want to spend £1200 on a machine that feels dangerously hot to the touch all the time!

Beyond that - what are your opinions? Is a Macbook Pro a better choice than the Macbook?

My usage will be:
- Normal internet use
- DVD/Movie watching
- *maybe* a smidge of gaming (probably via Windows XP/Bootcamp)

So nothing particularly hardcore. It *will* be travelling a fair amount though - I have to move about a bit for work.

 

[Piarco]

I've recently moved from a MacBook to a MBP... and for the needs you've mentioned it looks like you're better off with a MacBook.
If your work doesn't depend on screen real estate, and if gaming is a minor concern, then financially the MacBook is for you. I quite happily played some old school games (HL, System Shock 2, Command & Conquer) on my MacBook as gaming was never its main function, although now I can play HL2 and FarCry at pretty much max settings - which is nice, but definitely not a deal maker.

Stick with a BlackBook(believe me, its better for a work environment IMHO) or a maxed WhiteBook. Mind you, if it does come to pass, the new Intel integrated GPU isn't actually half bad - so if you really wanted to play more recent games at decent fps, and don't mind waiting (remember Leopard may not be that far away) you could just hang fire for the mo. But again if you need it for work the MacBook will be fine as it currently is.

 

[emotion]

The move to core 2 duo pretty much fixed all the problems of the earlier Core Duo machines.

The MBP is a much nicer package but also costs a lot more and for your use the smaller package of the macbook might be better for you. (I have a c2d black macbook btw).

 

[Chimaera]

Sorry, I wasn't being very clear - the machine is strictly for personal use, the travelling around part was more to do with having something to keep me amused while stuck on my own in a hotel on the opposite end of the country

So since the Core2Duo move the temps have come down? Thats very good to know, thanks!

To be honest I doubt I'd go for the black macbook - while I prefer the appearance I object to paying that much money for a colour!

I suspect the final decision will come to how much money I see for selling my T42 - if I can stretch to the Pro I'll go for that, but if not I doubt I'll be disappointed with the macbook!

 

[emotion]

So since the Core2Duo move the temps have come down? Thats very good to know, thanks!

my macbook is totally silent and cooler than my two powerbooks (1.33 12" and 867 12") when being hammered.

as for the colour, i just couldn't bring mysylf to own a white laptop. it's a personal choice but the machine was only £858 (with 3 year warranty) after my edu discount.

 

[Chimaera]

my macbook is totally silent and cooler than my two powerbooks (1.33 12" and 867 12") when being hammered.

as for the colour, i just couldn't bring mysylf to own a white laptop. it's a personal choice but the machine was only £858 (with 3 year warranty) after my edu discount.

Unfortunately I've been out of education for about six years

the blackbook is about £930 for me (staff discount) The midrange whitebook is about £820 and the Macbook Pro is a joyous £1220

 

[emotion]

Unfortunately I've been out of education for about six years

I work at a university.

the blackbook is about £930 for me (staff discount) The midrange whitebook is about £820

Is that 120GB drive worth 90 quid?

 

[Chimaera]

I work at a university.

Funnily enough the mac job I had 18months back was a uni gig, up in Sheffield

Although now I'm thinking about it was actually two years now

 

[Chimaera]

Is that 120GB drive worth 90 quid?

Nope, the drive is worth about £70 less whatever I can sell the 80gig for - so I'm paying £40+ for a black coat of paint - pass!

 

[emotion]

Nope, the drive is worth about £70 less whatever I can sell the 80gig for - so I'm paying £40+ for a black coat of paint - pass!

It's your money, your choice

 

[Chimaera]

It's your money, your choice

I'm actually wondering if I can convince my boss to pick me up one from the States - its a *lot* cheaper over there (he bought the black macbook for himself for £750 in an Apple store in Arizona)

 

[Piarco]

The move to core 2 duo pretty much fixed all the problems of the earlier Core Duo machines.

The MBP is a much nicer package but also costs a lot more and for your use the smaller package of the macbook might be better for you. (I have a c2d black macbook btw).

Forgot to mention that! Temps are hugely improved with the C2D's as emotion pointed out.

Having owned both machines, I'd plump for the MacBook for travel due to it feeling more robust, and less likely to suffer case damage. The MBP is great for the commute to work but I've still slapped a Speck See Thru on it, and use a Brenthaven Edge II uber-sleeve to make sure its protected.

I know the black/white MacBook perspective comes down to whether you're than enamored to pony up the addition funds to purchase it, but I'd definitely feel better with the more professional looking BlackBook. That's just my take though! But despite this, and the fact that I would get the BlackBook now, its definitely not worth a £90 premium. Colour should be an option...

 

[tivoboy]

macbook

I would say, save the 400lb, and go with the macbook. For what you report the need to be, I don't think the MBP is necessary. I find the macbook lovely, I had been using an imac about a year, and STILL use the T42, daily.

My temps are sitting around 42-46C for most daily use, emailing, surfing, etc. When I do burning of DVD and such, it jumps to about 60C or so, but only for a while. At that point, definitly not something to hold on your lap.

I would love a BIT more screen, but not the 15" in the MBP.

 

[djstarrock]

yea i have a MacBook and its fine what I do (I do animations if your wondering I know its not very power intensive) and surfing the web and editing.

 

[zblaxberg]

i would just stick with the macbook only because you aren't doing anything that should require too much memory or the high end graphics card. I've heard of the heat problem being worse in the macbook pros and there are fixes and solutions (ex. programs you can download to fix the fan speed)...I'm personally getting a macbook pro cuz i do a lot of photo editing and movie stuff but you should be fine with the macbook...i recommend getting a little bit extra ram

 

[dvader]

Forgot to mention that! Temps are hugely improved with the C2D's as emotion pointed out.

Having owned both machines, I'd plump for the MacBook for travel due to it feeling more robust, and less likely to suffer case damage.

I thought people had trouble with the MB cases because they scratched easily and the white color would leave a faded mark right were your wrists were.

 

[Killyp]

I'm gonna say MacBook too. I've had a lot of experience with both (I have a MacBook Pro, well at least I do when it's not in with Apple Care ), and almost all my friends have MacBooks, which are great little machines. However they are slower than my MBP (by about 30% I'd say), and the bigger screen on my MBP makes it much easier to work with. The gap between the MBP and the MB has increased with the Core2Duo machines.

I think for your needs though, the MacBook is best...

 

[Bob Jovi]

I'm hoping to pick up a white 2.0 C2D macbook when I go to new york next week with 2GB RAM for about £750. was really thinking about getting a MBP as i plan to use it for Final Cut, but can't justify spending that much cash on it.

they seem like great little machines

 

[Chrispy]

This is slightly off topic but I was wondering... have the screens in the MBP been improved over the past few months? I remember when the C2D MBPs came out the screens suffered from uneven backlighting issues thanks to the Samsung display. It seems that same display model is now being used in Thinkpad T60 widescreens notebooks and they are having the issue as well. I was just wondering if Apple started using a different supplier for their screens? If not, that is something you should consider as well.

 

[drmike]

In 2006, I bought a MacBook the day Apple officially released it. When just running Safari or Firefox, I could feel the heat coming off the computer -- the thing was roasting. In addition, the MacBook also exhibited a whining noise. I was dissatisfied with it, so I returned it and went back to using Windows. Just this past weekend, I bought a new Core 2 Duo MacBook, and the difference is night and day. It runs cool, it's perfectly silent unless I'm really pushing the CPU, and it doesn't whine at all. I remember that the first MacBook's case would get so hot that it was very uncomfortable to touch. The new MacBook gets warm, but not blazing hot. I'm very happy with it, and I'm glad that Apple addressed the problems in the Rev. A machines (I don't know what the core temperature is when I'm just running normal, daily tasks, but I do know that mine remains pretty cool to the touch.)

It's possible that I'm lucky and got a good MacBook, but the MacBooks in the Apple store were also relatively cool. In addition, I have a co-worker who owns a Rev. B Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, and his is flawless ... cool, quiet, with a nice display.

 

[failsafe1]

Unless you smidge of gaming includes graphic intense games then the MB is the computer for you.

 

[dvader]

In 2006, I bought a MacBook the day Apple officially released it. When just running Safari or Firefox, I could feel the heat coming off the computer -- the thing was roasting. In addition, the MacBook also exhibited a whining noise. I was dissatisfied with it, so I returned it and went back to using Windows. Just this past weekend, I bought a new Core 2 Duo MacBook, and the difference is night and day. It runs cool, it's perfectly silent unless I'm really pushing the CPU, and it doesn't whine at all. I remember that the first MacBook's case would get so hot that it was very uncomfortable to touch. The new MacBook gets warm, but not blazing hot. I'm very happy with it, and I'm glad that Apple addressed the problems in the Rev. A machines (I don't know what the core temperature is when I'm just running normal, daily tasks, but I do know that mine remains pretty cool to the touch.)

It's possible that I'm lucky and got a good MacBook, but the MacBooks in the Apple store were also relatively cool. In addition, I have a co-worker who owns a Rev. B Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, and his is flawless ... cool, quiet, with a nice display.

I hope that with future releases, they'll actually start becoming "lap"tops. That's my hope.

 

[emotion]

I hope that with future releases, they'll actually start becoming "lap"tops. That's my hope.

Are you saying you never put your macbook in your lap? Why not?

 

[drmike]

So far, I've been able to use my Core 2 Duo MacBook on my lap, and it hasn't been uncomfortable. Now, I haven't been doing any video encoding or other strenuous activity, but the temperature hasn't been a problem. My first Rev. A MacBook, on the other hand ... that was a different story.

 

[Piarco]

I thought people had trouble with the MB cases because they scratched easily and the white color would leave a faded mark right were your wrists were.

Scratching will always occur, its not going to stop unfortunately. Same casing as the iBooks and they scratched. However, depending on how you look after your MacBook the scratches aren't noticeable unless you literally have you face an inch of so from the case. I had my CD MB for about 6 months, and in normal use and even just having it sitting on a table closed, no scratches were visable.
The colour fading/discolouration issues were addressed after week 36 I think... my MB never suffered, and it was used a lot.

This is slightly off topic but I was wondering... have the screens in the MBP been improved over the past few months? I remember when the C2D MBPs came out the screens suffered from uneven backlighting issues thanks to the Samsung display. It seems that same display model is now being used in Thinkpad T60 widescreens notebooks and they are having the issue as well. I was just wondering if Apple started using a different supplier for their screens? If not, that is something you should consider as well.

I got my MBP at the start of the month - nothing but lovely even backlighting here.... and its a matte display too.