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Why are people still buying the MBP.......?

Y

yellowmunky

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 5, 2006
45
0
Hi,

With all the constant mention of heat issues, whine issues and the forthcoming merom launch; why are people still purchasing the macbook pro?

Is the heat really that bad? Can it be used comfortably on ones lap without scorching them? Can it be left on for days and days at a time and not cause issues?

How bad is the whine noise? Is it more annoying than laptop/computer fan noise? When is the noise more noticeable?

Will merom really help a person in everyday tasks? It isn't exactly going to make a person more clever or creative?

I really want to buy one asap for work but keep getting put of my ideal machine as it has 'issues' :confused:

Thanks,
 
I imagine if the need is bad enough to move from existing computer into a Rev. A.. then people will buy.

I will be getting a new one through work. I don't want a Rev. A, but chances are I won't be able to get them to cough up the dough later. So I need to jump on this whilst I can.
 
The problem is that the MBP is a quantum leap in terms of sheer horsepower over the Powerbook, so it's extremely tempting even with the nagging issues.

The Macbooks are in a similar situation. You could see the huge swell of pent-up demand here on Macrumors for months before its release. I myself have been contemplating splurging on a Macbook, even with all the issues (the moo and the whine would drive me nuts).
 
I think the problems have been extremely over exaggerated. My mbp doesn't get hot (88 F or 34 C), it only whines on occaison, and it's so freaking quiet, it is a rocket with 512 mb ram. I let it sleep if I'm away for more than 30 minutes and it sleeps at night, but it's been on for about 5 days without the slightest problem. I LOVE this computer. And about the whine: the only way I can hear it is if it is COMPLETELY quiet and even then I have to think about it. The fans are far louder than the whine when it comes and goes.
 
Shrug, I have one and I love it.

It's quiet, it's warm (but so are all laptops...I use it on my lap just fine????), and it's fast.

With Vista, I wanted to have a dedicated graphics card - the Pro offered one. Aero will run on both MacBooks and MacBook Pros - but it will run undoubtedly better on MacBook Pros, as it takes advantage of the GPU.

Plus, they are just nicer machines - I like the Express card slot, I like the feel of the keyboard, I like the keyboard backlight, the screen is brighter and larger and in matte, and the monitor-output capabilities are higher.

I didn't need the speed of Merom - I needed a dedicated GPU. So the pro worked out fine.
 
It's also not really a Rev-A any more, really a Rev-D, or at least that's the banter from my Apple tech friends. They also note that the 15"MBP has a lot in common internally, at least as far as layout, with the 15"PB that came out shortly before. So they argue, that much of the design was tried out on the public before the actual MBP was released.

As far a jump in speed, yes. If I were doing a lot of editing on a computer now, I would really think about up-grading. I also think that the heat issue is over hyped, and important. Heat is going to be an issue unless processors get more efficient. For me, that heat is wasted energy.
 
MBP's are great notebooks. Thats why they sell so well. All core duo notebooks run hot. It's a first Gen product using a first gen chip. Of course there is going to be some hiccups.
 
celebrian23 said:
I think the problems have been extremely over exaggerated. My mbp doesn't get hot (88 F or 34 C), it only whines on occaison, and it's so freaking quiet, it is a rocket with 512 mb ram. I let it sleep if I'm away for more than 30 minutes and it sleeps at night, but it's been on for about 5 days without the slightest problem. I LOVE this computer. And about the whine: the only way I can hear it is if it is COMPLETELY quiet and even then I have to think about it. The fans are far louder than the whine when it comes and goes.
Click to expand...
goo to hear, i, being a PC user for the past forever, figured that the MBP will seem SILENT to me. besides i usually wear headphones of some sort while on a computer anyways. and heat is not an issue for me. To me, its really more of a notebook than a lap-top
 
These things are freaking awesome. Yes, they come with some minor issues, but my issues at least are so minor that the good points easily cancel out the issues.
 
Currently I have a old desktop for doing my performance tasks such as photos, websites, etc.....

I have a laptop for wordprocessing.

Both machines are from 2000-2001 (Dual 500mhz PM and 667mhz TiBook) and the temptation with the MacBook Pro is that it can replace both computers.
 
Why are people still buying the MBP.......?
Click to expand...
Maybe, just maybe, MOST MBP's work perfectly, and the whine/moo/bake incidence is highly overestimated due to a vocal minority of owners, abetted by a semi-hysterical re-broadcasting of the opinion that all MBPs are fatally flawed by people who don't have MBPs and really should know better?
 
It is impossible for one computer to be everyones perfect computer. It just can't be done. What is one man's major problem is another's minor annoyance. The whine and heat may be the founding cause for the next generation of serial killers for some, but the processor power may help cure cancer...

Ok, so those were stretches, but you get the idea. It either kicks a*s or it dosen't. Judging by the sales, more think it kicks a*s than not...
 
You ask why people are still buying Macbook Pros and then go on to ask "Is the heat really that bad?", "How bad is the whine noise?" and "Will merom really help a person in everyday tasks?". I guess if the answers to those questions are "No", "Not noticeable" and "Not really", then that would answer the first question. :)
 
I dunno... these days I only have a powerbook and it does what I need... including games, editing video or designing websites.

I plan on the second version of the merom book pro... whenever that is.

Love my final revision powerbook, and wonder when they are going to retire the macbook pro name... will they be quadcore 12 hour macbook pros?

who knows?

back on topic, often a few peoples issues dont even make it into mainstream consumers' ears... and they have some great commercials now too.

$
 
CanadaRAM said:
Maybe, just maybe, MOST MBP's work perfectly, and the whine/moo/bake incidence is highly overestimated due to a vocal minority of owners, abetted by a semi-hysterical re-broadcasting of the opinion that all MBPs are fatally flawed by people who don't have MBPs and really should know better?
Click to expand...


'Touche'

Haha :D
 
CanadaRAM said:
Maybe, just maybe, MOST MBP's work perfectly, and the whine/moo/bake incidence is highly overestimated due to a vocal minority of owners, abetted by a semi-hysterical re-broadcasting of the opinion that all MBPs are fatally flawed by people who don't have MBPs and really should know better?
Click to expand...

Mine works like a dream. I got a MBP back in late March. I leave it on all the time (I sleep it when not in use), it never gets hot (I've never seen the temperature widget go above 35ºC), and there's no whine at all.

I seem to be one of the lucky ones; to date I've owned a rev A PPC 6100, a rev A G4 Sawtooth, a rev A iMac G5, and a rev A MBP, and never had any issues with any of them.
 
the whine only happens when your not taxing the cpu, over about 8% usage it disappears, so people who actually use their MBP's for real work do not experience it, at for heat it's not worse than previous powerbooks, sure the paste is not put on correctly but thats the same story for nearly every laptop that is mass produced.
 
I am very happy to have made my purchase, but the heat does bother me some -- it is what keeps it from being a perfect machine for me. But I would do it all over again given the chance. I've been using the lapinator when at home to keep the heat off of my lap.

My more technically inclined brother is coming in to town soon -- I'm going to see if he is interested in re-applying the thermal paste. If that works, I'll be without a single complaint. That's hard to beat.

I guess my point, if I have one, is that just because people are complaining about heat and/or whine doesn't mean that they regret their purchase.

-- David
 
The speed up with UniBi's on the MB is at least double on many processor intensive tasks (try importing a folder of images into iPhoto!), so that there is worth it.

The heat is almost unbearable anywhere other than a desk, but the screen and speed are really pretty amazing. I get Rev A's because I'm a nerd, but then I get the Rev C's to replace what is usually a very buggy, and often very hot! machine. Did the same with the TiBook, G5 iMac, 12" PB, and many others. Rev A becuz I gotta have it, and Rev C to get real work done long term.


bluebomberman said:
The problem is that the MBP is a quantum leap in terms of sheer horsepower over the Powerbook, so it's extremely tempting even with the nagging issues.

The Macbooks are in a similar situation. You could see the huge swell of pent-up demand here on Macrumors for months before its release. I myself have been contemplating splurging on a Macbook, even with all the issues (the moo and the whine would drive me nuts).
Click to expand...
 
celebrian23 said:
These things are freaking awesome.
Click to expand...

The design is superior to just about any competition available and while all complaints are valid, it must be remembered that sheer perfection is painfully elusive. When it does happen, count your blessings ... when it falls a bit short of that lofty level, most MBP owners are still very grateful because what they own has the power and looks to make others envious. It is interesting to see that there was not a single complaint about the cost of the MBP in this thread.
 
When do people predict these will be updated?

Really really want one...I'm so close to ordering...but I CAN wait, and the heat/whine seems annoying...espically as an updated version will probably be fixed.
 
my parents have a 1.83GHz MBP with 1.5GB RAM. Perfect.

I have a 1.83GHz MB with 1.25GB RAM. Perfect.

Why would you buy a MBP or a MB? Because they are FREAKIN AWESOME!!
 
bluebomberman said:
The problem is that the MBP is a quantum leap in terms of sheer horsepower over the Powerbook...
Click to expand...

To quote wikipedia, "a quantum leap is the smallest possible change". I'd say it's a bit more of an improvement than that! :p
 
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