Which Model MacBook Pro Should I Buy?

[geekologist]

I am currently saving money for a MacBook Pro. I am homeschooled and I can get discounts at the Apple Store. I want to get a few other opinions on which model I should get. Here is what I will use it for: School, Audio Editing (for my podcast), Video Editing (for my vidcast), Gaming, Media, and Blogging/web surfing. I will also be starting private school next year and will want to take notes and record the lessons. Should I get the basic model for $1799 or spend $2299 for the 1.87 GHz model. Also, do you think I will notice a difference in the 7200 RPM HD for gaming? I just wanted to get some other peoples honest opinions. Thanks.

 

[Chaszmyr]

If money is an issue (even a little bit of an issue), I think the base model is perfectly adequate for everything. The HD won't make a difference for gaming, but the 256mb VRAM on the more expensive one will. Unless you have a specific reason to want one of the things the more expensive model offers (which you very well may), I'd say go with the base model.

Remember, the less you spend on your computer today, the sooner you can buy your next computer.

 

[itgoesbuzz]

the difference in 1.67 and 1.83, as well as the videocard is not worth the extra money in my opinion. id go with the cheaper model. I have a 1.5GHz PBG4 and it is great in terms of everyday tasks so i assume that any model macbook will be better than that, i have 1.5 GB of ram as well in my powerbook. I can run unreal tournament okay as well.

i would get the lower model and upgrade the HD (i assume u can) to the 7200 rpm and maybe upgrade to 1.5GB of ram (512 built in and 1GB stick from crucial,newegg etc.)

 

[Lopez.T.H.]

If your a rich bastard yes get the $2500 one. (Meaning $250+ in a week). If not the base model will do fine.

 

[matperk]

I am also heading off to school and went with the 1.83 ghz model because I work a lot with converting/rendering video. I'm assuming you will do the same, so that's my suggestion.

Also, when you order, no matter the model, get 1gb ram (1 stick) so you can go online and buy another 1gb for $100. For what you're doing, it's worth having 2gb.

 

[geekologist]

I am also heading off to school and went with the 1.83 ghz model because I work a lot with converting/rendering video. I'm assuming you will do the same, so that's my suggestion.

Also, when you order, no matter the model, get 1gb ram (1 stick) so you can go online and buy another 1gb for $100. For what you're doing, it's worth having 2gb.

No matter which one I get, I will get at least 1 Gig of RAM. If I buy the 1.83 GHz model, then the only thing I might upgrade is the hard drive. The 7200 RPM would help with video and audio editing.

 

[geekologist]

If your a rich bastard yes get the $2500 one. (Meaning $250+ in a week). If not the base model will do fine.

No I'm not. Also, keep in mind I can get homeschool discounts which would make the 1.67 GHz model $1799 and the 1.87 GHz model $2299.

 

[powerbook911]

Personally, unless you really need something on the $2500 model, I think the $2000 model is the best value.

Add memory yourself, and take the savings on the $2000 model. Yes, slightly slower CPU and graphics, but is it worth $500? Not to me.

 

[geekologist]

Thanks Alot

Thanks alot for all of your opinions. I will keep all of them in mind. It all just depends on what kind of job I can get soon.

 

[Bern]

Just a thought. Having a 7200 rpm HDD over a 5400 rpm will chew up your battery.

 

[generik]

The 1.67 model is pretty good value, IMO that extra $500 for a mere 200mhz (or 400mhz since it is a duo?) of juice is not really that great value.

Anyway that faster chip only costs Apple $200 more than the basic version, so do you want to give them $300 of gravy that they don't very much deserve?

Don't think so

 

[surroundfan]

Just a thought. Having a 7200 rpm HDD over a 5400 rpm will chew up your battery.

No it won't. The 7200RPM drive will spin faster, but it won't need to spin as long...

http://barefeats.com/hard61.html has more info (even though it refers to IDE drives, not SATA).

 

[geekologist]

Battery Life

Just a thought. Having a 7200 rpm HDD over a 5400 rpm will chew up your battery.

Yah, I didn't think of that. I plan to buy at least one extra battery, and a car sdapter. If not two.

 

[geekologist]

No it won't. The 7200RPM drive will spin faster, but it won't need to spin as long...

http://barefeats.com/hard61.html has more info (even though it refers to IDE drives, not SATA).

Ahhh. Thanks. Would the 1.83 use more battery life than the 1.67?

 

[California]

Ahhh. Thanks. Would the 1.83 use more battery life than the 1.67?

Hey, you really are a geekologist. Caught a tiny bit of your podcast. Nice.

How do you podcast if you don't have a mac? I mean, sorry if I'm dumb, but how do you do it? I have no idea about it but do you need garageband or how do you record it?

And as for the new mbpro, get the lowest cost model and stuff it with ram. It's like real estate, get the cheapest house in the best area and fix it up.

 

[Diatribe]

The 1.67 model is pretty good value, IMO that extra $500 for a mere 200mhz (or 400mhz since it is a duo?) of juice is not really that great value.

Anyway that faster chip only costs Apple $200 more than the basic version, so do you want to give them $300 of gravy that they don't very much deserve?

Don't think so

You do realize that it has also a bigger HD, more RAM and more RAM on the video card?

 

[verb]

The 1.67 model is pretty good value, IMO that extra $500 for a mere 200mhz (or 400mhz since it is a duo?) of juice is not really that great value.

Anyway that faster chip only costs Apple $200 more than the basic version, so do you want to give them $300 of gravy that they don't very much deserve?

Don't think so

After configuring the 1.67 with a 100GB drive and 1GB of RAM (I know...Apple RAM is expensive) the price difference between it and the 1.83 is only $200. $200 for the "top of the line" CPU and 2x the VRAM isn't really that bad of a deal.

 

[geekologist]

Podcast

Hey, you really are a geekologist. Caught a tiny bit of your podcast. Nice.

How do you podcast if you don't have a mac? I mean, sorry if I'm dumb, but how do you do it? I have no idea about it but do you need garageband or how do you record it?

And as for the new mbpro, get the lowest cost model and stuff it with ram. It's like real estate, get the cheapest house in the best area and fix it up.

It is pretty simple. I don't use anything fancy to record. I just use Audacity and a $50 Logitech USB Headset. Although, I need to do a new episode. I got a new Mic and a mixer. One of the reasons I want a MacBook Pro is for the podcast editing software and with the built in iSight and iMovie I can do a vidcast. I also use Ourmedia for my podcast host. Free bandwidth. I just run the feed through Feedburner and I'm done. I will post a tutorial of how I do my podcast on my blog.

 

[geekologist]

Gaming

After configuring the 1.67 with a 100GB drive and 1GB of RAM (I know...Apple RAM is expensive) the price difference between it and the 1.83 is only $200. $200 for the "top of the line" CPU and 2x the VRAM isn't really that bad of a deal.

That is true. I will probably need the extra 128MB of video RAM for gaming. I hope to play some Battlefield 2 and some Half Life 2 on it. My PC now is a Gateway 507GR. It is a 3.00 GHz Pentium 4 with Hyper Threading. They put these junky on board "Intel Graphics Accelerator" stuff. No good for gaming. I never bought a new Graphics card, because I have been saving for a Mac.