MacBook or MacBook Pro

kilvano

kilvano

kilvano

Associate
Joined
28 Nov 2006
Posts
224
Location
Vancouver...from Glasgow
SINCE I LIVE OUTSIDE THE UK AND CANNOT BUY ANYTHING FROM OCUK OR THEIR COMPETITORS AT THIS TIME I THINK DISCUSSING RESELL VALUES / 2ND HAND ITEMS IS OK?? (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG)

I know, I know - These questions get asked all the time.

My mind has been going round in circles for 2 days now and Im without a computer so i thought i would ask for some guidance from you vultures!

I just sold my 12 month old MacBook Pro with the following spec for $2000 (I now live in Canada but im from Glasgow). I paid $2600 for it a year ago so Im happy that I got a good amount for it (basically a loss of 300 pounds in 12 months but I used the laptop A LOT!)

I would say that I am a power user. I use Photoshop, Flash, InDesign, Web coding, Video editing (not much...but occasionally). I watch a lot of video on my computer.

2.4 C2D
17" Non-LCD Backlit 1920 x 1200
4Gb Ram
160Gb 7200 rpm
8600GT 256mb

The reason for the sell was that the laptop is too large for my needs (i take it to work almost every day. I travel a lot, and the screen res was hurting my eyes a bit after long sessions. The other reason was that the display is very dim. I got it checked out and the back light is fine.

I now have this money burning a hole in my pocket! I have a few options open to me and I dont know what to do. I am now computer less (except my iBook G4 - Slow as hell!)

I am also going to buy the Apple 24" LED Backlit screen in January.

1 - A new MacBook with the following spec

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

$1730 incl tax

OR

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide

$2120 incl tax

2 - A second hand (6 months old) Black macbook with the following spec

MacBook (Black)
2.16Ghz C2D
2GB Ram
160GB HD
OSX Leopard, Windows XP

$950 - Pocket the change and pay off my credit card a bit. The resell value does concern me though!

3 - Second hand (4 months old) MacBook Air

MacBook Air w/ Invisible Shield & Neoprene case
1.6Ghz C2D
80Gb HD
Superdrive
Ethernet adaptor

$1400 - Pocket the change and pay off the credit card a bit. I think its under powered for me.

4 - Hold off until after xmas and get a new MacBook Pro

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
320GB Serial ATA @ 5400,
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW),

$2650 incl tax - Means i hate to come up with $650 and I hate waiting for things!

Opinions please?
 
Last edited:
So....a good consensus then.

I heart wants the new alu macbook / pro but my sensible head is saying "buy the black one and pocket the money".

I honestly dont think for what I do that the Pro is worth the extra cash. An extra $600ish for a 15" screen? I plan to buy the 24" LED Apple screen when it comes out anyway (dont argue with me on this one...I want it)

I went into the Apple store yesterday. The MacBook screen isnt bad. The viewing angles aren't as good but Im the user so will be looking at the straight on.
 
kilvano said:
So....a good consensus then.

I heart wants the new alu macbook / pro but my sensible head is saying "buy the black one and pocket the money".

I honestly dont think for what I do that the Pro is worth the extra cash. An extra $600ish for a 15" screen? I plan to buy the 24" LED Apple screen when it comes out anyway (dont argue with me on this one...I want it)

I went into the Apple store yesterday. The MacBook screen isnt bad. The viewing angles aren't as good but Im the user so will be looking at the straight on.
Click to expand...
Its not just a 15" screen; it has better colour reproduction, much better blacks and a better viewingangle. On the MB, the blacks are utter crap, and unless you are exactly at the correct angle facing the screen, colour replication is awful.
 
MikeHunt79 said:
Well the the MB maybe overpriced also, but not as much as the MBP's :p

That MB isn't bad value, if you ordered the equivalent spec laptop from Sony or Dell, I doubt there would be a huge difference...
Click to expand...

Indeed, the MB's are a little pricey but are much better value for money than the MBP's. Having said that the MBP is the best laptop that money can buy!
 
iSam said:
Indeed, the MB's are a little pricey but are much better value for money than the MBP's. Having said that the MBP is the best laptop that money can buy!
Click to expand...

The MBP is comparable in cost to a professional level laptop from another big name manufacturer, the Dell Precision M4400 is around £1300 inc VAT when fitted out to match the MBP (and misses all the fancy Mac stuff like the trackpad, backlit keyboard but has the advantage of a certified workstation graphics card) likewise the HP workstation laptops are similar in price. It's not overpriced for it's real target market, home users laptop isn't it's target market is the thing people seem determined to overlook.

The MB in comparison is bordering on overpriced for it's market, it's very well built (far better than anything else in that market) but it's a hell of a lot for a home computer for most people.
 
MikeHunt79 said:
That MB isn't bad value.
Click to expand...
For my own part, I think I'd have rather ordered the 2.4 macbook in black, rather than the new alu, which seems less value for money.

Incidentally.

If everyone's buying up new MB/MBPs left, right and centre,...where are people disposing of their old units?!
 
Last edited:
RoleyBirkin said:
For my own part, I think I'd have rather ordered the 2.4 macbook in black, rather than the new alu, which seems less value for money.

Incidentally.

If everyone's buying up new MB/MBPs left, right and centre,...where are people disposing of their old units?!
Click to expand...

eBay has been flooded!

The MM will have a few bargains too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom