Which will last longer: MacBook or MacBook Pro?

[macgeek77]

I am choosing a laptop and am caught between the MacBook or the Macbook Pro. I might be going into engineering for college and need select a machine. I plan to go to graduate school so I might need to use it for 6 years. Or would it be better to purchase two machines? Need help!

 

[Eidorian]

Are you going to play any games?

 

[mattscott306]

6 years is pushing it, but there are people who still use their computers that are that old. Really, if your are looking for longevity, I'd go with the Pro series, you get more bang for your buck, so it should stay competitive longer. Four years down the road, I think you'll be wanting to buy another. (How bout as a bachelors degree gift?)

My first Mac was a Powerbook, which I used until last month, I used it for a good three years, and probably could have gotten a few more out of it. Just make sure you keep it clean and not bogged down with crap.

 

[macgeek77]

possibly. probably not often.

 

[shu82]

Ibooks built in 2001 will still run tiger ok. That was late '01. So, 5 years is completely reasonable. 6 may be pushing it. I visit this site all the time with a wallstreet made in '98 that is running 10.2. Youtube was choppy (4mb vram), but it took everything else the net gave to it whilst running firefox 2.0. Not bad for a 9 year old laptop. Try doing that with a P2 from the same era!

 

[CanadaRAM]

You're missing the fact that it is an engineering application, not webbrowser and email application. The OP will have to likely run Bootcamp and Windows to run some of the specific apps, and also stay fairly current with the OS(s) and software.

The chances are that upgrades to the engineering software will force a hardware upgrade sooner than 6 years.

 

[shu82]

You're missing the fact that it is an engineering application, not webbrowser and email application. The OP will have to likely run Bootcamp and Windows to run some of the specific apps, and also stay fairly current with the OS(s) and software.

The chances are that upgrades to the engineering software will force a hardware upgrade sooner than 6 years.

True, but that should not be completely useless. If you can find use in photoshop 2 you could just use an LC. I am just saying it won't be that useless. Heck it will still be worth over half the original price in 2 years!

 

[Multimedia]

6 Years? That's Your Fantasy Not Reality.

I am choosing a laptop and am caught between the MacBook or the Macbook Pro. I might be going into engineering for college and need select a machine. I plan to go to graduate school so I might need to use it for 6 years. Or would it be better to purchase two machines? Need help!

There isn't a snowball's chance in hell you're gonna keep what you buy now for 6 years — no way. Especially in light of the fact you're pointed toward engineering.

If you don't need it until September then wait for the June refresh and get the 17" MBP with 4GB of RAM @ 2.4-6GHz. Add a 30" HP LP3065 with HCG (High Color Gamut) to do all your 3D modeling on.

 

[Eraserhead]

Given that Multimedia has suggested a pretty expensive laptop/monitor, what's you budget? And do you plan to upgrade the software?

 

[dornoforpyros]

well ti-books are about 4-6 years old now and people are still using those (my mom is for one) so I'd say your best bet is a MBP. But as others have said after that much time the machine isn't gonna be running the latest software.

 

[RojoLeo]

I think you should go with a MB, and set aside the difference. In 3 years, sell your MB, grab your difference savings and purchase an upgrade.

It doesn't sound like you'll be doing anything intensive enough to justify a MBP.

 

[iW00t]

True, but that should not be completely useless. If you can find use in photoshop 2 you could just use an LC. I am just saying it won't be that useless. Heck it will still be worth over half the original price in 2 years!

Erm, the original Core Duo Macbook Pros are already selling at less than 1/2 price after 1 year. The CD Macbook Pros with 2.0ghz/2.16 configurations are slightly more than half price at the moment, where did you pull out your figures from?

Please don't tell me you took them from the "Macs have great resale value" myth.

 

[Shaduu]

Let's put it this way; I'm currently running on my 1GHz TiBook which is 4 years and 3 months old. It's had every version OS X since 10.2 on it, runs CS2 like a dream along with Dreamweaver MX, Final Cut Studio and Aperture. The only upgrades it's had is 512MB of extra RAM and a new power cord since the first one blew up.

In answer to your question, I'd go for a top end MBP to serve you well for your time period. Apples' Pro series of lappies have generally been very hard wearing and long lived; I don't see why a MBP should be any different.

 

[dartzorichalcos]

Please don't tell me you took them from the "Macs have great resale value" myth.

That myth is not true anymore but it was true with the PPC Macs. Check the refurbished store and they hardly lost any value at all. This myth holds up well with the PPC Macs and was busted with Intel Macs.

 

[dukebound85]

You're missing the fact that it is an engineering application, not webbrowser and email application. The OP will have to likely run Bootcamp and Windows to run some of the specific apps, and also stay fairly current with the OS(s) and software.

The chances are that upgrades to the engineering software will force a hardware upgrade sooner than 6 years.

chances are he won't even have a license to run the engineering software of his computer. im a senior in mech engr and had a 1ghz emac the first 3 years and now have a macbook if thats any indication

 

[Eidorian]

chances are he won't even have a license to run the engineering software of his computer. im a senior in mech engr and had a 1ghz emac the first 3 years and now have a macbook if thats any indication

Delicious site licenses, I must eat them.

The oldest Mac we have here is a Power Mac G4 DA 467 MHz. I just replaced it today with a Mac mini Core Duo. It's now running a Radeon 9800 since our MDD's have video corruption issues with it. I'm imaging it right now.

 

[Cybergypsy]

Dang 6 years is a lifetime......I have had 6 in 8 months

 

[shu82]

Erm, the original Core Duo Macbook Pros are already selling at less than 1/2 price after 1 year. The CD Macbook Pros with 2.0ghz/2.16 configurations are slightly more than half price at the moment, where did you pull out your figures from?

Please don't tell me you took them from the "Macs have great resale value" myth.

Except for the mini, I still live in PPC world. I thought we haven't been intel long enough to know. But where can I get a macbook cd for 600? I do believe in the resale values of my macs. For pete's sake the pismo is still selling for $300 and it is what 6 years old?

 

[Eidorian]

Except for the mini, I still live in PPC world. I thought we haven't been intel long enough to know. But where can I get a macbook cd for 600? I do believe in the resale values of my macs. For pete's sake the pismo is still selling for $300 and it is what 6 years old?

$799 for a refurbished 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook.

 

[NewbieNerd]

Even if you were only to be able to have the $2000+ that a MBP costs for the next 6 years, you'd be better off buying a $1000 MB now and then another in 3 years. I know the math isn't that simple, but I think the general idea is valid.

 

[netdog]

Having used a MB for some time, and now a MBP, I am really surprised by the difference in everyday performance. The MBP is worth the extra money, not that the MB isn't a fantastic little machine too.

 

[dukebound85]

Having used a MB for some time, and now a MBP, I am really surprised by the difference in everyday performance. The MBP is worth the extra money, not that the MB isn't a fantastic little machine too.

i use both and in everyday tasks, i cant tell a difference at all. although if you go with a mb, id reccomend getting an external monitor. i cant EVER see going back to only one screen on a desktop situation again lol. ive been spoiled with using 2 screens apparently

edit: then again i dont use gpu intensive apps so that may be where the difference lies, or data transfer with firewire 800

 

[Abstract]

...if your are looking for longevity, I'd go with the Pro series, you get more bang for your buck, so it should stay competitive longer.

I don't agree.

In 6 years, they'll both be considered equally obsolete. It's not as if the MBP will be thought to still be useful, while the MB will be less useful. They'll both be equally useless, or equally useful, depending on how you look at it.

Get the MB.

Hell, get a MB now, and get a new MB 3 years from now.

 

[jayeskreezy]

well, what about a macbook c2d instead of a CD? that should be fine

 

[CRAZYBUBBA]

for longevity I'd say go pro. Its just opinion though, I have no facts to back it up.