Which Macbook Pro did you order and why?

[nospleen]

I think I would've gone with a suped up 20" Core Duo oppose to a stock 17 with a 20" display. Also, is anyone else getting the feeling it's about time for them to update the cinema displays? I have this nagging feeling they will in the next couple of month's so I've been holding out getting a 20" one so if they do update them with isights or what not I can get a old 20" for less or get the new one if deemed worth it (aka a 20" display with HD resolution, oppose to only having the 23" and 30" HD). I don't know, I also would've gone with a 20" iMac and saved up for the 20" second display just because I'm kind of weird in that "matching" sense. Although if you don't need the portability, guess you get to reap your benefits early! I thought I didn't need the portability back when I got a Mac Mini instead of iBook, then realized 1. I was wrong and do need portability, and 2. I need something much stronger then a iBook or Mac Mini, so the MacBook Pro was pretty good timing - very happy they went with the PowerBook/MacBook Pro line before the iBook/MacBook or Mac Mini media center route. Even a Intel Core Solo iBook/MacBook I don't think would do it for me, I know my 1.42 G4 sure isn't and its native with everything and a gig of ram! Although I will miss a improved CS2 experience, and hopefully office '06 comes out soon and native, or just a universal binary of office '04 is released. Excluding Office and CS2, everything else I need will be universal by the end of march and office isn't so intensive I couldn't deal with it in rosetta emulation I'm sure. CS2 will be the only downside of my purchase, but a 1.67 G4 would've have been that much of a improvement over a 1.42 G4 so couldn't stand going that route. At least when CS3 comes out I can rest assured it will run better on my MacBook Pro then on the last generation of PowerBooks, so "patience" must be my middle name, first waiting for it the ship over a month (c'mon Feb 15th!!) and then waiting for CS3 (come on late '06/early '07!!)

Two 20's would not have fit in my armoire

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Bought the 1.67. Will put in 2GB RAM once I get it.

Why? I need a new laptop now, but I feel the MacBooks won't really make their mark until the Merom chip later this year or early next. So I'll be upgrading this machine within a year. By then we'll be talking 2.5Ghz dual, possibly 64bit and 802.11n. Plus by then maybe we'll have a case supporting the new eSata port (FW800 isn't coming back. Sorry).

Bottom line is the Rev A is a pure transitional machine for both Apple and myself.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I just gots to have the latest and greatest... for mac gaming and just organizing my media at fast speeds.

I knew that I wouldn't notice the difference of .166GHZ!!!

it's the 7200rpm hard drive upgrade ($180) , and the 2gb ram ($220 DSM) that will make this thing insanely faster than the stock "upper" model

I agree. Excellent strategery.

 

[T-Stex]

Two 20's would not have fit in my armoire

I'm actually thinking about going with an iMac instead of the MacBook Pro too... Can't really decide though.

On a side note, I like the Mandolux backgrounds on that iMac.

 

[AJBMatrix]

Well, of course the details are in the Sig. But why...I got the upgrades that I did because:

1) The other half said I could.
2) This computer is going to last me at least till I get out of Pharmacy School (just found out I got in) and then pay what ever loans I have off. (~4 years)
3) I want to play WoW.
4) I do photo editing a lot and a little video editing on the side.
5) In the fact that this system will be lasting me for the next 4 or so years there will be many software upgrades that will become more demanding on hardware. I do plan on having 10.5 on this computer and I think it will run fine on 64 MB VRAM but it will run beautifully on 256.
6) It is just so darn Cute!!!

Note: I upgraded my RAM independantly and refused to pay the Forsaken cost that Apple charges.

 

[cnakeitaro]

I'm actually thinking about going with an iMac instead of the MacBook Pro too... Can't really decide though.

On a side note, I like the Mandolux backgrounds on that iMac.

I'm in the same boat. Looking to upgrade from a iBook G3. It will be a welcome change.

 

[spercharged69]

I always get the best computer available at the time, I figure if I'm spending $X already, what's another $Y more.

 

[nospleen]

I'm actually thinking about going with an iMac instead of the MacBook Pro too... Can't really decide though.

On a side note, I like the Mandolux backgrounds on that iMac.

I say get the imac and buy the new macbook when it comes out. It will probably be priced the same as the ibook and it will still be faster than your current pbook.

 

[Kingsly]

I just gots to have the latest and greatest... for mac gaming and just organizing my media at fast speeds.

I knew that I wouldn't notice the difference of .166GHZ!!!

it's the 7200rpm hard drive upgrade ($180) , and the 2gb ram ($220 DSM) that will make this thing insanely faster than the stock "upper" model

Thats why I ordered the 1.67
Also:
A) was planing on getting the 12" powerbook for $1499 (edu. discount) now Im getting a $2199 computer (120 Gbyte HDD, tax)
B) Im coming from an eMac. Anything will be better than that.
C) Similar to "B" I have a 32 Mbyte ATI 7500. Now Im going to have a 128 Mbyte X1600!
D) Ram is cheaper at my local Apple supplier than directly from Apple.

I expect it to last three years with 2 Gbytes or RAM. My eMac could probably last three more years if I wanted it to.

 

[PieMac]

well, looks like I need to change my vote...I've decided to go with the 1.67 ghz MacBook Pro instead of the 1.83 that I initially voted for. I mulled it over some more and realized that I just don't think that it's worth the $500.00 difference, all things considered in my case. I have an external 250 GB LaCie hard drive, so not really worried about losing 20 gigs on the hard drive space, the processor difference is very minimal and I will probably not even notice it -I don't do any processor intensive apps to begin with-some light Photoshop, iPhoto, and a little iMovie/iDVD here and there, are about as intensive as it gets (I might add Aperture to the mix one day, but I'm sure the dual 1.67 will be able to handle it just fine).

I will either just add a 1 GB chip of RAM for a total of 1.5 GB or I might Ebay the 512 MB and just get two matched 1 GB chips for a total of 2 GB with some of the $ I will be saving.

My only remaining concern would be the extra video RAM-I'm still a bit fuzzy on this one as I'm just not all that familiar with it...I don't do gaming or any extensive video editing, so is it really important enough for me to spend the extra money for the 1.83? This is the only gray area for me. I mainly do photo editing.

Oh, and last, but not least, it seems that I've developed this routine of Ebaying and upgrading on a yearly basis, although I have hope that I will settle down into keeping one of my Macs for at least a couple of years before upgrading again. With this kind of track record, my other half has chimed in and emphatically advised me to go with the less expensive model-me thinks she knows me too well.

 

[nospleen]

well, looks like I need to change my vote...I've decided to go with the 1.67 ghz MacBook Pro instead of the 1.83 that I initially voted for. I mulled it over some more and realized that I just don't think that it's worth the $500.00 difference, all things considered in my case. I have an external 250 GB LaCie hard drive, so not really worried about losing 20 gigs on the hard drive space, the processor difference is very minimal and I will probably not even notice it -I don't do any processor intensive apps to begin with-some light Photoshop, iPhoto, and a little iMovie/iDVD here and there, are about as intensive as it gets (I might add Aperture to the mix one day, but I'm sure the dual 1.67 will be able to handle it just fine).

I will either just add a 1 GB chip of RAM for a total of 1.5 GB or I might Ebay the 512 MB and just get two matched 1 GB chips for a total of 2 GB with some of the $ I will be saving.

My only remaining concern would be the extra video RAM-I'm still a bit fuzzy on this one as I'm just not all that familiar with it...I don't do gaming or any extensive video editing, so is it really important enough for me to spend the extra money for the 1.83? This is the only gray area for me. I mainly do photo editing.

Oh, and last, but not least, it seems that I've developed this routine of Ebaying and upgrading on a yearly basis, although I have hope that I will settle down into keeping one of my Macs for at least a couple of years before upgrading again. With this kind of track record, my other half has chimned in and emphatically advised me to go with the less expensive model-me thinks she knows me too well.

I think that is a great idea. Even the 1.67 will last you a few years, even though you know you will sell it when the duo 2.5's come out.

 

[PieMac]

I think that is a great idea. Even the 1.67 will last you a few years, even though you know you will sell it when the duo 2.5's come out.

Hmmmm...me thinks you know me all too well too!

 

[AJBMatrix]

For your uses the extra video ram is not that important.

Oh, and an Added reason that I upgraded the heck out of my MBP. It makes my old roomate so mad when I have better computer equipement than him. Being a BestBuy Geek Squad member he thinks he has the best everything so he has a 17" intel iMac with 1.5 GB of RAM that he could get without his GF killing him. So that is what he went with.

 

[PieMac]

For your uses the extra video ram is not that important.

Oh, and an Added reason that I upgraded the heck out of my MBP. It makes my old roomate so mad when I have better computer equipement than him. Being a BestBuy Geek Squad member he thinks he has the best everything so he has a 17" intel iMac with 1.5 GB of RAM that he could get without his GF killing him. So that is what he went with.

That's what I thought re: the video ram.
Ah yes, thousands of dollars have been spent in the heat of geek rivalry.

P.S. Go Dawgs!

...GA alumni here

 

[AJBMatrix]

Yep, Go Dawgs!!! and to Hell With Georgia Tech!

Anyway now that my school pride has been satisfied for the day. What is a few thousand in a Geek-Off? To take my MBP to class and sit next to him in class with him taking notes on a 15" PB G4 and me taking notes on my MBP will be a constant thumb on the nose. You have to love that. Of course when he found out that I bought the MBP he stopped talking to me. Just wait a few weeks and he will talk to me again. Once I get it, he will stop. And then he will probably go out and buy something else. Probably the Xbox 360 because I have a PS2. Then I will get a PS3. Next thing you know we are buying the new Mac Pro and trying to up each other on those. Actually I will win this one. I am debt free and he took out student loans to buy a car and a few computers. And my GF does not mind me spending much money where his does. Mine does not care as long as I keep my Rainy Day Fund.

 

[PieMac]

Yep, Go Dawgs!!! and to Hell With Georgia Tech!

Even better...well said...and let's not forget the Gators! Ah, that felt good!

 

[SiliconAddict]

1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 100GB 5400RPM (Will upgrade to 160GB this summer), extra battery, and extra power adapter to permanently put behind my desk when I'm using the MBP as my desktop, hooked up to my Dell 24" widescreen.

Why? Because I wanted the fastest [bleeping] Mac laptop out there. This thing is going to have to last me until MWSF 2008-2009. If Apple introduces something truely revolutionary like an OLED display I will sell it before then but for now. This is it for a while. Also I did it because of the VRAM. Unlike most OS's where adding more VRAM doesn't speed things up this does on OS X because Apple uses memory buffers to store its bitmaps. Those memory buffers are in VRAM. The more VRAM you throw at the system the less it has to page out. Actually we aren't going to really see this until Leopard though. Quartz 2D Extreme is where more VRAM is going to pay off the most. Personally if I had the option I would have gone with 512MB video card.

EDIT: