Hey everyone!
Thanks to you all here at this forum, because I finally made a decision and got a 2011 MBP. I'll be going to college and my laptop had a broken screen, so I was using it as a desktop. I was considering the iPad (plus a cheaper Windows pc), or a MacBook (Air or Pro).
I got a 13" 2011 MBP, the default setup with 320gb and the i5 processor. Let me tell you a couple of things that really surprised and that you wouldn't get from reading the forum:
- The resolution is GREAT. Looking back, I don't know why this was made into such a big deal. Coming from a 15 inch laptop, I felt no difference, and in fact, I think I've felt less eye strain because everything seems crispier. These resolutions have been used for years so in retrospect I have no idea why people make a fuss about it! It looks like the next big step will be retina displays, not exactly higher resolution, just with more pixels. I'm telling you, 1280x800, with a laptop of this size-- you will feel great!!
-The lightness of this laptop. I mean, we all know how much it weighs, but it's so small! I understand the fascination with the Air but there's nothing wrong with sturdy!
-I love the bezel and the glass! Yes, it might get to be a pain down the road, and I barely even tried the Mac, but it feels so much more immersive than the aluminum bezel.
Having said all of that, I need to point one thing out, because it's the thing that's keep me from fully enjoying this laptop, as I wanna keep it pristine for now.
-It's HOT. Can't say i'm surprised, and I wasn't really buying it as hysteria. Some professional reviews were saying it's hot. I don't know if this is because of sandy bridge, lack of fans, overclocking.. can't judge that right now. Sometimes it's hot but it makes no difference as there is no fan noise and you don't have it in your lap. I've had it on my lap and it doesn't burn at all, but .. it can get you to reach for a book, so you can have something between your legs and that heat. There's also times when it's hot and noisy and there's no particular explanation. Might be the OS running for too long, or flash video (what a drag for laptops!!!), or something you did 30 mins ago. Whatever it is, it's not a pretty sight.
-I'm ok with hot because I can accept the tradeoff. Speed means heat in such a small form factor. What's not so funny is the fan noise getting noticeable during insignificant loads. I haven't even tried games yet. I really need to know if this tends to get way bad over time or as manageable as it is now. I did consider the Air and I wanted a silent operation, because I sometimes leave my PC on during the night and cannot sleep well as long as it's on (I don't think I'll get my own place for a while).
What do you guys think? Fantastic laptop, but I bought it on the verge of the new MBA launch. Should I wait a few weeks, take it back, and get the new Air? If it carries Sandy Bridge, won't it be hot as well? Also bear this in mind. I bought it with a real big discount, and I can't return it, just trade it for something else. The store where I bought it does not carry the Air with 4gb of RAM, and won't have these "10%" off days till November.
To be fair, I'm very happy with this laptop! I can't believe I considered getting a new pc. The build does not compare at all. I just wanna make sure I made the right choice in getting a new Mac because I'll keep it for a couple of years. The upgrades were a strong reason to get the MBP. No one upgrades processors but you can get a 256 ssd for cheap down the road. The heat is not yet a problem but more of an overall concern for someone getting a new laptop in 2011. Why is this still happening?
Sorry for writing so much!!
Thanks to you all here at this forum, because I finally made a decision and got a 2011 MBP. I'll be going to college and my laptop had a broken screen, so I was using it as a desktop. I was considering the iPad (plus a cheaper Windows pc), or a MacBook (Air or Pro).
I got a 13" 2011 MBP, the default setup with 320gb and the i5 processor. Let me tell you a couple of things that really surprised and that you wouldn't get from reading the forum:
- The resolution is GREAT. Looking back, I don't know why this was made into such a big deal. Coming from a 15 inch laptop, I felt no difference, and in fact, I think I've felt less eye strain because everything seems crispier. These resolutions have been used for years so in retrospect I have no idea why people make a fuss about it! It looks like the next big step will be retina displays, not exactly higher resolution, just with more pixels. I'm telling you, 1280x800, with a laptop of this size-- you will feel great!!
-The lightness of this laptop. I mean, we all know how much it weighs, but it's so small! I understand the fascination with the Air but there's nothing wrong with sturdy!
-I love the bezel and the glass! Yes, it might get to be a pain down the road, and I barely even tried the Mac, but it feels so much more immersive than the aluminum bezel.
Having said all of that, I need to point one thing out, because it's the thing that's keep me from fully enjoying this laptop, as I wanna keep it pristine for now.
-It's HOT. Can't say i'm surprised, and I wasn't really buying it as hysteria. Some professional reviews were saying it's hot. I don't know if this is because of sandy bridge, lack of fans, overclocking.. can't judge that right now. Sometimes it's hot but it makes no difference as there is no fan noise and you don't have it in your lap. I've had it on my lap and it doesn't burn at all, but .. it can get you to reach for a book, so you can have something between your legs and that heat. There's also times when it's hot and noisy and there's no particular explanation. Might be the OS running for too long, or flash video (what a drag for laptops!!!), or something you did 30 mins ago. Whatever it is, it's not a pretty sight.
-I'm ok with hot because I can accept the tradeoff. Speed means heat in such a small form factor. What's not so funny is the fan noise getting noticeable during insignificant loads. I haven't even tried games yet. I really need to know if this tends to get way bad over time or as manageable as it is now. I did consider the Air and I wanted a silent operation, because I sometimes leave my PC on during the night and cannot sleep well as long as it's on (I don't think I'll get my own place for a while).
What do you guys think? Fantastic laptop, but I bought it on the verge of the new MBA launch. Should I wait a few weeks, take it back, and get the new Air? If it carries Sandy Bridge, won't it be hot as well? Also bear this in mind. I bought it with a real big discount, and I can't return it, just trade it for something else. The store where I bought it does not carry the Air with 4gb of RAM, and won't have these "10%" off days till November.
To be fair, I'm very happy with this laptop! I can't believe I considered getting a new pc. The build does not compare at all. I just wanna make sure I made the right choice in getting a new Mac because I'll keep it for a couple of years. The upgrades were a strong reason to get the MBP. No one upgrades processors but you can get a 256 ssd for cheap down the road. The heat is not yet a problem but more of an overall concern for someone getting a new laptop in 2011. Why is this still happening?
Sorry for writing so much!!
