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Time for wife to choose

V

Vapor

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 15, 2007
65
0
As some of you may know I got my wife an apple card for christmas and told her to wait for macworld for her new laptop. Well the day has come and we are pretty underwhelmed by the MBA......high price, if you cary the super drive just as heavy, slower processor, no ram upgrade, can't use a wireless mobile card, thick bezel so other than that it looks Great and love the multitouch! She has got a 2100 dollar budget and would like to hear opinions. She doesn't game but would like photoshop.

My advice is to get the macbook "mid range", She likes white.

1299.00
92.50 ram upgrade owc 4 gig

1392.50 total
that leaves her 7 hundie to play with, heck she might even buy me a Steak

or a MBA 1799.00
 
As I've said in other threads if you strip everything away then the MacBook Air and the MacBook are very similar machines in terms of power. Comparing the MacBook Air to the MacBook Pro is silly because the only common ground is price.

If you don't need the power of a MacBook Pro (ie, if you don't need a dedicated graphics card) then get a MacBook.
 
neiltc13 said:
As I've said in other threads if you strip everything away then the MacBook Air and the MacBook are very similar machines in terms of power. Comparing the MacBook Air to the MacBook Pro is silly because the only common ground is price.

If you don't need the power of a MacBook Pro (ie, if you don't need a dedicated graphics card) then get a MacBook.
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Is the macbook that far away from a macbook pro the only difference I see is the dedicated graphics card.....I admit that is a glaring difference but for browsing playing with home videos and photos is it that big a deal.

You are thinking like I am thinking external hardrive, and a steak we could all be happy.
 
Vapor said:
Is the macbook that far away from a macbook pro the only difference I see is the dedicated graphics card.....I admit that is a glaring difference but for browsing playing with home videos and photos is it that big a deal.

You are thinking like I am thinking external hardrive, and a steak we could all be happy.
Click to expand...

You won't notice a difference "playing with home videos" and it certainly won't have an impact on photo editing. The main advantage to the graphics chip in MBP is that it can draw 3D images much more quickly which is particularly useful in 3D modeling or when playing games.

If you don't actually know that you need a dedicated graphics chip then you probably don't need it. Go for the MacBook and spend some of the other money on accessories.

Personally I much prefer the design of the MacBook to the MacBook Pro. The keyboard is much nicer and the unit feels a lot more considered in its design. I also like that it is more compact (even if it is slightly thicker) and the screen is the perfect size for me.
 
This is a no brainer, but people need certain things. Does your wife travel a lot? Does she need portability or does she need processing power? If she needs to travel and all that, MBA would be nice, but yet again the MB is only 2 pounds heavier. I would go with a MB over the MBA just because of price and specs.
 
neiltc13 said:
You won't notice a difference "playing with home videos" and it certainly won't have an impact on photo editing. The main advantage to the graphics chip in MBP is that it can draw 3D images much more quickly which is particularly useful in 3D modeling or when playing games.

If you don't actually know that you need a dedicated graphics chip then you probably don't need it. Go for the MacBook and spend some of the other money on accessories.

Personally I much prefer the design of the MacBook to the MacBook Pro. The keyboard is much nicer and the unit feels a lot more considered in its design. I also like that it is more compact (even if it is slightly thicker) and the screen is the perfect size for me.
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Thanks you guys have more or less confirmed my thinking. We don't game on a pc's anymore just the 360's. Back when i use to have 3d studio you would not even consider a laptop for 3d animation. I remeber the day of 24 hours to render 30 seconds of animation....LOL
 
Vapor said:
Thanks you guys have more or less confirmed my thinking. We don't game on a pc's anymore just the 360's. Back when i use to have 3d studio you would not even consider a laptop for 3d animation. I remeber the day of 24 hours to render 30 seconds of animation....LOL
Click to expand...

The MacBook is actually a capable gaming machine for older titles. The new MacBook has a much improved Intel graphics chip and while you won't be playing new releases like Call of Duty 4 or Crysis, I have tried GTA: San Andreas and games from <2004 and can report they are playable.

For the type of things that you've said you'll use it for, MacBook is perfectly sufficient.
 
I liked the 15" screen which tipped me towards a MBP. I played with my fiances sisters MB and really didn't like the "feel" compared to the MBP. That's just me though, the MB is a great laptop!
 
Sean9689 said:
I liked the 15" screen which tipped me towards a MBP. I played with my fiances sisters MB and really didn't like the "feel" compared to the MBP. That's just me though, the MB is a great laptop!
Click to expand...

I like the MBP problem is you need another 350 to get the good graphics card which is what I would suggest. This would then come out of my pocket again. lol
 
I can only say that I don't regret getting my girlfriend a MB for christmas. She uses the built in optical alot for ripping CDs to iTunes. She uses more than one USB port most of the time and she likes the colours of it(more than the MBA).

Aaaaand of course there's the price tag ;)
 
GfulDedFan said:
Along with the steak she could get AppleCare, an external HD (for Time Machine), a nice bag, and a USB mobile aircard. White is right. :apple:
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orrrrrrr.....she could get applecare(might/will eventually need)....and go on a SHOPPING SPREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....(meaning clothes/pampering), not an external HD, bag, and usb mobile aircard :p:p:p

but I have to agree on the white!:D
 
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