1 x MBP or 2 x Dell Laptops?

[Freyqq]

I am getting my student loan next week which means I can finally get myself a laptop but I still can't decide what to go for.

Here are my options:

1. 13" 2.26GHz Macbook Pro plus 24" ACD (£1298 with HE Discount)
2. 13" 2.26GHz Macbook Pro plus 2 x Samsung F2380 23" PVA Screens (£1241.98) - One for laptop one for desktop Windows 7 PC
3. 13" 2.53GHz Macbook Pro plus 1 x Samsung F2380 23" PVA Screen (£1223.99)
4. 15" 2.53GHz Macbook Pro (£1110 with HE Discount)

I will be using the laptop for university work (I'm studying Advanced Web Development) and will also be doing some light video editing (however this would only be done using the external display). I will also be doing image editing using Photoshop CS4.

What would you go for?

Thanks in advance

#2 and upgrade the ram to 4 gb

 

[MacFanUK]

Yep I bought mine with the HE discount over the phone, no problem, my recommendation however would be wait until you have confirmation of your uni status and then join the student developer program as you get a larger discount, 20% I believe, but only on one piece of tech

Thanks for your post. I did look at the student developer program. However, the Macbook Pro is £770(ish...not sure of exact price), but buying it through the developer store (incl price of joining the program (£99)) it would cost £818.20, so would work out a bit more expensive. I may well keep that option for when I buy a desktop (high end iMac or Mac Pro).

Why not get two of the white Macbooks? These are great little machines and quite a bit cheaper than the 13" MBP. (I don't know the UK pricing, however...) Other than a small bump in processor speed, the Macbook and the 13" MBP are equal (in terms of computing power, NOT asthetics - personally, I like my white MB).

I don't really like the white Macbooks...mainly because the screens are a poorer quality. I also like the idea of the 7 hour battery and DDR3 Ram, but thanks for the opinion. I may well consider buying my fiance a white Macbook though

As far as monitors, have you checked out the Dell U2410? It's gotten really good reviews and it also has a full-size display port connection on it, so you could just get a MDP-DP cable for a few bucks, er... pounds. It's also an IPS panel, which, I guess is better than a PVA

http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&sku=294438

I did take a look at that display but in the UK it's actually £50 more expensive than the 24" ACD costs with HE discount.

You can get the HE applecare in store, but many of the assistants just don't know it. I know this because I did it a month ago. As for the computers, get one for your fiance if you can, you'll feel much better for it.

It's not the AppleCare that I'm talking about. When you buy a Mac on the HE online store, you get a 3 year warranty as standard (without having to purchase AppleCare).

Here's a quote from the Apple website:

Special three year parts and labour coverage, with additional first-year warranty and support benefits, as standard

 

[MacFanUK]

#2 and upgrade the ram to 4 gb

Thanks, I will have a look at Ram. Maybe a bigger hard drive too

 

[MacFanUK]

After much searching round the internet, for my fiance's laptop, I have decided to go with the Dell Vostro 1520. I managed to get a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB DDR2 Ram, 160GB 5400rpm HDD, Intel 4500HD Graphics, 15" LED Antiglare screen for £384 including delivery from Dell.co.uk. However, it only comes with Windows Vista Home Basic. Is it worth paying for Vista Home Premium or waiting for Windows 7 to come out?

I also went through Quidco so will get 5% of the excl Vat price back. I really think I got the absolute best spec possible for the price. Now just to tackle the Mac

 

[alphaod]

After much searching round the internet, for my fiance's laptop, I have decided to go with the Dell Vostro 1520. I managed to get a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB DDR2 Ram, 160GB 5400rpm HDD, Intel 4500HD Graphics, 15" LED Antiglare screen for £384 including delivery from Dell.co.uk. However, it only comes with Windows Vista Home Basic. Is it worth paying for Vista Home Premium or waiting for Windows 7 to come out?

I also went through Quidco so will get 5% of the excl Vat price back. I really think I got the absolute best spec possible for the price. Now just to tackle the Mac

Vista Basic is crap; it doesn't do anything. Don't waste your time with it.

 

[js81]

I don't really like the white Macbooks...mainly because the screens are a poorer quality. I also like the idea of the 7 hour battery and DDR3 Ram, but thanks for the opinion. I may well consider buying my fiance a white Macbook though

Understand completely. The unibody's are sexy machines. However, the screen isn't all bad on the white one - its less glossy, if that's a big deal to you (it somewhat is to me).

 

[MacFanUK]

Vista Basic is crap; it doesn't do anything. Don't waste your time with it.

Thanks for the heads up. Just spoken to Dell, took off the integrated webcam and put Vista Home Premium (with free upgrade to Windows 7) on for the same price.

 

[tofagerl]

Good choice. 7 Home Premium is pretty sweet from what I can tell.

And the price you got can't be beat for the specs.