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macagain

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Looking to set a college freshman up with a macbook... would you go for:

1. updated mb (plastic) 2.0Ghz with the new nvidia 9400m chip, or
2. prev. gen top of the line 2.4Ghz with the old Intel X3100 (refurbs seem to be avail. for 949/999)

?
 
I'd go for Unibody.

Better trackpad, minimal CPU difference, faster RAM, better GPU...

Besides, if you want to use Snow Leopard to its full potential in the future, I'm sure 9400M is a better investment for you!

+1 for Unibody MB 2.0GHz 😀

EDIT: Didn't read your post carefully enough 🙁
go with the updated 9400M WhiteBook 🙂
 
Without much thought and disregarding anything and everything except the specs mentioned in your post.... the 9400M. And with OS 10.6 believe me Apple had a pretty solid reason to choose the 9400M over X3100...
 
He wasn't asking about a unibody... He was asking about the white plastic one with the ungraded internals... Which is $949 new from the edu store.
 
He wasn't asking about a unibody... He was asking about the white plastic one with the ungraded internals... Which is $949 new from the edu store.

I dont think any of the plastic MacBooks have an Nvidia chipset.......


*EDIT*

I was wrong !!!

I never realised the 2.0 whitebook they sell now had the Nvidia chipset.......
 
I would go for the 2.0/9400M due to the fact that the processor is a newer-generation as well as the graphics card being really good, and your getting more for your money that way 😀
 
also with the 9400m.

You will see minimal (if none) difference from the 2.0ghz to 2.4ghz upgrade, but you will notice a great difference going from X3100 to 9400m..
 
I think we've already made your decision for you 😀, but +1 for the 9400M. I almost bought a MBP bc my experience with past notebooks had made me wary of integrated graphics but I find the 9400M to be very suitable for my needs. BTW I am a college student.
 
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