Apple Macbook Pro

markwilliams82

markwilliams82

markwilliams82

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Hey everone, I've been using an IBM T61 laptop for the past few months but I have always been tempted with an Apple Macbook Pro. I've been looking at the two cheaper 15" models, what are they like? Are they much more reliable etc than Windows based laptops to justify the extra cost? And can they run all the same software as if run on Windows?

Any help would be appreciated
 
In all honesty no better then a well built and well maintained Windows machine.

Not all software in Windows is available for OSX although you can use Bootcamp to run Windows up on the MBP, however if primary use is to windows then buy a Windows based machine as only worth the cost if going OSX.

A lot of the unreliability with a Windows machine is lack of maintenance of the OS and that won't make any difference if on an MBP or a cheap Windows notebook.
 
I agree with the above post bar the well-built comment. The MacBook Pros are in a different league of build quality in my opinion. Macs as a whole are and it's one of those things that Apple really gets right.
 
wush said:
People always say this, but the worth of using the nice hardware is up to the individual to decide.
Click to expand...

Well he did ask if the difference justifies the cost, he is asking for other peoples opinions, and as I also do happen to own a 15" unibody, so having one I would not pay the extra if I was just going to load Windows all the time.

Its better but not that much better for the cost difference.
 
Thanks for all your replies to my post. I should really of said what I'd be using the laptop for. At the moment I use my laptop for internet browsing, office work (as i get forced into taking work home with me which is mainly on excel spreadsheets), emails, photo editing, mp3s, and possibly some gaming depending on what games come out for the pc which doesnt come on the ps3 as well.

the macbook pros look gorgeous machines and as you've all stated have a great build quality, but the cost of £1300+ seems a lot and I was asking to find out if the cost is really really REALLY worth it
 
markwilliams82 said:
the macbook pros look gorgeous machines and as you've all stated have a great build quality, but the cost of £1300+ seems a lot and I was asking to find out if the cost is really really REALLY worth it
Click to expand...
Don't forget, you can pick up MBP's on the refurb store for < £800 if you monitor it carefully. Refurb store stuff go through iirc 3x QA procedures so they're generally as good as new.

My recently purchased 13" unibody 2ghz macbook was a steal at £780 and I ended up with a higher spec model, which turned out to be a hybrid with a backlit keyboard! The build quality imo is just superb and I now pine for a 15" model.
 
Buy a Mac if you want to run OS X. Otherwise stick with the T61 - it's in my opinion one of the best Windows laptops around. The Lenovo equivalent of the MBP is the W500, and that's as expensive as an MBP if not more. We got one in at work this week and it was £1350 ex VAT, with a hefty discount...
 
markwilliams82 said:
Hey everone, I've been using an IBM T61 laptop for the past few months but I have always been tempted with an Apple Macbook Pro. I've been looking at the two cheaper 15" models, what are they like? Are they much more reliable etc than Windows based laptops to justify the extra cost? And can they run all the same software as if run on Windows?

Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Hey mate,

I have a T60 for work and a new MBP, so will throw in my £0.02:

The MBP is worlds away from the Lenovo in terms of how pleasant it is to use... The screen is infinitely better, it is much thinner, looks sexy, and the build quality is definitely better on the MBP. I can and do use my MBP as a desktop replacement, thanks to the large keyboard and beautiful screen- something I would never consider doing with my Lenovo.

Speedwise, you cannot compare them- the T60 for instance is an absolute dog when compared to even a low- spec MBP (And the T60 isn't a particularly slow machine itself)- I think that is one of the things I love about the MBP- you can open just about every application you have installed at once, and it is still lightning quick, the Lenovos certainly are not. This is down to Windows rather than the hardware itself, but I don't have the inclination to mess around with Linux on a work machine, so to me, the choice is either OSX or Windows.

The other thing I love about the MBP over the Lenovos is the battery life... 6-7 hours work off a single charge is simply awesome. I have the extra- large battery pack for my T60, and get 2 hours out of it if I am lucky (Not to mention it makes it way bulkier and heavier than the MBP).

Are they worth the extra cost? Hard to say.... It depends on the individual. For me, it was. I travel a lot with work, so load it up with rips from my DVD collection, MP3s, Economist Audio Edition, a boat- load of work to boot, and I'm sorted for a few weeks :) I also run my own business on the side, so conduct all my business affairs on my MBP. FWIW, Mac laptops (Especially the cheaper end) are actually not badly priced for the spec, so if you are considering a new 15" regardless, I would certainly give the Apples a serious look.

One of my colleagues has the W500's bigger brother (the W700), and honestly it is an insult to Apple to draw comparisons to a MBP and a high end Lenovo... They are extremely bulky and heavy, the keyboard is incredibly flimsy, the screen is higher resolution than the MBP, but significantly worse in terms of colours, and the whole thing looks cheap.

Hope it helps ;)
 
I believe you meant "Pardon?"

Your comparisons are not valid - you are comparing a 3 year old ThinkPad to a current model MBP.

I've got a T60 (work machine) and an original Core Duo MBP, which are comparable.

I prefer the MBP, but the T60 is an excellent windows laptop. Battery life is roughly the same at around 3 hours for each. MBP screen has the IBM beat, then again my T60 has the basic 14" XGA screen so it's not a fair fight.
 
No, I did mean "What" thank you, so don't bother to try and correct me next time.

The OP will probably be looking at a new MBP, so my comparison for his purposes is valid. Also if you bother to read what I wrote, I did talk about the more recent Lenovos too.

So don't be cocky for the sake of looking clever.
 
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