MacBook

DAIR · 16 Dec 2010 at 11:36

Tempted to come back to the Apple!

Used to own a Macbook a few years back until I got the dreaded Apple of Death screen

.

Anyway this week my boss strolls into work and asks me to set up his new Macbook Pro.

Now I'm rather tempted to get one.

So which do I go for?

I'm thinking I should just get another normal macbook again. Simply because it wont be used in the work place. Is there any reason why I should get the Pro over a bog standard book?

One other thing.... What are your thoughts on the Macbook Air?

"andy" · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:21

the only difference between the 13'' macbook and 13'' macbook pro is the aluminium case

i dont feel like the air is sensible choice

i dont think i would buy a 13" macbook pro right now either because a cpu update is long overdue and id expect one between now and the next ipad

Brian8bit · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:28

You also get stuff like FireWire and an SD card slot on the pro model. The option of the better processor. The ability to upgrade to 8GB of RAM (as opposed to 4GB on the poly model). Pro you can also upgrade to SSD's. The Pro is also slightly smaller and lighter.

Lustral · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:30

Brian8bit said:
You also get stuff like FireWire and an SD card slot on the pro model. The option of the better processor. The ability to upgrade to 8GB of RAM (as opposed to 4GB on the poly model). Pro you can also upgrade to SSD's. The Pro is also slightly smaller and lighter.

Plus the Alu casing is more durable than the plastic one on the normal Macbook.

The plastic stratches well easy.

DAIR · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:33

Doesnt firewire come as standard on the Macbook anymore?

Pretty sure I use to have it..

I have the macbook pro on my desk now. Really like the look of it. Just want to know whether price increase is worth it...

Brian8bit · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:34

Nope. No FireWire on the poly model. And no SD card slot.

DAIR · 16 Dec 2010 at 12:36

Pretty poor that....

Just checking out their site and they appear to have made a number of changes to their model specs

Brian8bit · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:05

Not surprising to be honest. They're more than likely going to phase it out and have the 11" MBA as the base model at that price point.

topshot · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:24

"andy" said:
the only difference between the 13'' macbook and 13'' macbook pro is the aluminium case

i dont feel like the air is sensible choice

i dont think i would buy a 13" macbook pro right now either because a cpu update is long overdue and id expect one between now and the next ipad

not its not, card reader, backlit keyboard, firewire :confused:

Also there is no confirmed updates for the 13" and even if they do go sandybridge it means intels integrated graphics - no thanks.

2.4 core 2 is more than capable of most peoples needs. I just ordered one with 8gb ram and 500gb HDD, i dont see the point in waiting months for an update

Lustral · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:28

Also they have announced they are in for a refresh Early 2011

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/new-imac-and-macbook-pros-coming-in-2011/

I was gonna get another one soon , but i will have to wait. i3 MacBook Pro would be quite nice

topshot · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:54

Lustral said:
Also they have announced they are in for a refresh Early 2011

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/new-imac-and-macbook-pros-coming-in-2011/

I was gonna get another one soon , but i will have to wait. i3 MacBook Pro would be quite nice

That article states first half of 2011 which is a ages in terms of technology, if you wait 6 months after that there will be another update and so on.

They wont put i3 in mbp 13".

"andy" · 16 Dec 2010 at 13:57

topshot said:
i dont see the point in waiting months for an update

well i dont see the point of paying a grand for old technology.

especially when you look at what other manufacturers are selling for that price.

waiting a few months is nothing when you know you will be on the latest technology. yea sure in a year it will be out of date again but it wont be as out of date as a core2duo

topshot · 16 Dec 2010 at 14:15

"andy" said:
well i dont see the point of paying a grand for old technology.

especially when you look at what other manufacturers are selling for that price.

waiting a few months is nothing when you know you will be on the latest technology. yea sure in a year it will be out of date again but it wont be as out of date as a core2duo

If it meets your needs then whats the problem? a slighly faster cpu isnt going to make much difference, i3 especially

Lustral · 16 Dec 2010 at 15:17

topshot said:
That article states first half of 2011 which is a ages in terms of technology, if you wait 6 months after that there will be another update and so on.

They wont put i3 in mbp 13".

I cant see them putting another Core 2 Duo in the 13 inch MBP , unless they might do a bump to the 2.66Ghz as the entry level one.

My 2.4Ghz P8600 MacBook , is still kicking after 2 years of use.

pingwing · 16 Dec 2010 at 15:35

topshot said:
They wont put i3 in mbp 13".

They'll put a die shrink version in... (if it happens) or if the intel card gets a fair bit better (9400m spec roughly) they'll do it as it will meet the performance needs of the macbook and macbook pro they have with the current set up (sticking i3 with the current intel card makes the logic board to big)

Anyway in the real world c2d is still surprisingly good, wont be forever (which bums me out about my 15 inch) but at a 13 inch level it'll still be a very nice performer for the next couple of years

Lustral · 16 Dec 2010 at 15:56

pingwing said:
They'll put a die shrink version in... (if it happens) or if the intel card gets a fair bit better (9400m spec roughly) they'll do it as it will meet the performance needs of the macbook and macbook pro they have with the current set up (sticking i3 with the current intel card makes the logic board to big)

Anyway in the real world c2d is still surprisingly good, wont be forever (which bums me out about my 15 inch) but at a 13 inch level it'll still be a very nice performer for the next couple of years

They use 320M in their MacBooks now , which a bit step up from the 9400M , unless the new Intel onboard is better or near about performance i dont see it.

They might surprise us and use some AMD graphics in there

pingwing · 16 Dec 2010 at 16:26

Lustral said:
They use 320M in their MacBooks now , which a bit step up from the 9400M , unless the new Intel onboard is better or near about performance i dont see it.

They might surprise us and use some AMD graphics in there

Yeah I couldnt remember what the 320M was when I posted... The macbook is supposed to retain its ability to do photo work with a decent independent gpu either way (so the new sandy bridge one needs to be good)

Amd would be a really big surprise (I thought intel had some sot of agreement to stop this too...)

Lustral · 16 Dec 2010 at 16:28

pingwing said:
Yeah I couldnt remember what the 320M was when I posted... The macbook is supposed to retain its ability to do photo work with a decent independent gpu either way (so the new sandy bridge one needs to be good)

Amd would be a really big surprise (I thought intel had some sot of agreement to stop this too...)

Yeah it needs to be good enough to play WoW on the go

my MacBook with the 9400M is showing its age with the recent expansion of WoW

DAIR · 16 Dec 2010 at 16:35

"andy" said:
well i dont see the point of paying a grand for old technology.

especially when you look at what other manufacturers are selling for that price.

waiting a few months is nothing when you know you will be on the latest technology. yea sure in a year it will be out of date again but it wont be as out of date as a core2duo

Have to agree with you.

In most cases youre better off waiting. Just look at the IPad. Nice concept but rather poor. Im sure the IPAD2 will be miles better.