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2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo vs 2.3GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5
- Thread starter Godzdude
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Herz count don't matter as much as they used to. It's now how much work each hert does. A 2.3 i5 can be 25-50% faster then the Core 2 depending which i5 you are talking about.
Ok, The reason I ask is because I went to apple.com lastnight, and compared the white macbook to the macbook pro 13 inch, and I made everything exactly the same in the computer except for the processor, since I couldn't change it, and when I did that, the price of both laptops were exactly the same, down to the penny. So I was just wondering what the diference would be between the two computers....
Build Quality !
The main difference between the two models would be build quality, plus the addition of FW800 and LightPeak (Thunderbolt or whatever it is called this week). The MBP is a far nicer machine to use on a daily basis too. If, when speccing up a MB to top-end, it comes out at the same price as a MBP, then in my opinion, the MBP is a no-brainer, get it. The one proviso is that the Aluminium finish of the MBP is more prone to damage via scratches and denting than the Polycarbonate finish of the MB. Just my Two Cents / Pennies !
The main difference between the two models would be build quality, plus the addition of FW800 and LightPeak (Thunderbolt or whatever it is called this week). The MBP is a far nicer machine to use on a daily basis too. If, when speccing up a MB to top-end, it comes out at the same price as a MBP, then in my opinion, the MBP is a no-brainer, get it. The one proviso is that the Aluminium finish of the MBP is more prone to damage via scratches and denting than the Polycarbonate finish of the MB. Just my Two Cents / Pennies !
Um, the quality of the build should be the same as they are both from Apple. Though build quality can vary from machine to machine, as seen with the posts of new 2011 MBP's that have issues. Build Materials are different plastic vs aluminum, however they should both meet the same inspection scrutiny making the quality of the build the same.
Your post says nothing about WHY it's a nicer machine. How can it be? They are similar in weight, size, battery life, screen quality, and keyboard feel. Also specing to the same price does not make the MBP a "no brainer". It may be the extra 180GB of HDD that matters to the OP most, making the MB the best buy for him.
A MB spec'd to MBP price has a 500GB HDD vs a 320GB HDD. I was assuming you meant price, not hardware.
Easy Tiger !
Whoooooaaahhhh - my advice here is just that, advice. The OP stated that the spec was IDENTICAL apart from Hard Drive, therefore at the same price the MBP is a "No Brainer" in MY OPINION - I actually state that this is my own opinion, don't like being shouted down on the forums, I only aim to give my advice as I do this stuff for a living. My OPINION is that at the same price point it is more sensible to go for the higher end machine, and I quote at the end of my original post on this matter that it is down to personal preference as the Polycarbonate body of the MacBook is less prone so scratching than the Alu body of the MBP. In my experience, the MBP is better put together than the MB, and ONLY in my experience. Rant over, let the OP make his / her own mind up, based on sensible, real world opinions.
Whoooooaaahhhh - my advice here is just that, advice. The OP stated that the spec was IDENTICAL apart from Hard Drive, therefore at the same price the MBP is a "No Brainer" in MY OPINION - I actually state that this is my own opinion, don't like being shouted down on the forums, I only aim to give my advice as I do this stuff for a living. My OPINION is that at the same price point it is more sensible to go for the higher end machine, and I quote at the end of my original post on this matter that it is down to personal preference as the Polycarbonate body of the MacBook is less prone so scratching than the Alu body of the MBP. In my experience, the MBP is better put together than the MB, and ONLY in my experience. Rant over, let the OP make his / her own mind up, based on sensible, real world opinions.
I don't understand the "build quality" comment either.
Here is my opinion, with a bit of background so you know where I am coming from:
I've always owned and preferred plastic Mac notebooks. I just like the look and feel better. My last computer was a non-unibody plastic Macbook. After it had numerous logic board and other failures, Apple replaced it and gave me a unibody plastic Macbook.
I liked it, BUT they had taken away several features that I liked from my older Macbook, namely:
1) Firewire
2) External battery monitor
3) Infrared port (for remote control)
I went back and forth about what to do, and compared the Macbook and the MBP over and over (this was in November 2010). Finally I decided to change over to the Macbook Pro. Even when they had identical processors (late 2010) I just couldn't justify the Macbook to myself given the differences in features for $200. Now, with the MBP having added a better processor, a better camera, and Thunderbolt, I can't imagine buying a Macbook considering the price difference (yet I love the plastic and don't like metal). I think that now the Macbook should be more like $799.
But okay, back to the comparison. Here is what you will get on a Macbook Pro now that is different than the Macbook. It seems very very favorable to me, for $200 (the price difference with the base computer, not options). I'm not counting the case as I'll mark that up to personal preference. The first four items are new as of 2011; the others existed in 2010 and still exist now.
1) Considerably faster/better processor
2) FaceTime HD camera (vs. iSight non HD camera)
3) Thunderbolt port
4) Larger hard drive (sorry, forget by how much... maybe about 1/3 larger?)
5) Firewire 800 port
6) External battery monitor
7) Infrared port (for remote control - the control is ~$20 sold separately)
8) SD card slot
9) Backlit keyboard (I had always wanted this
)
10) Subwoofers for the speakers
11) 4 gigs of RAM vs. 2 gigs of RAM*
*MBP is upgradable to 8 gigs; officially Macbook only to 4 although I have read that you can also make it take 8.
So, I bought a Macbook Pro in November (a friend was on the verge of buying a Macbook so he took mine). The way I got around my dislike of touching the metal was to put on a clear plastic "skin." Now my MBP is all shiny and does not feel cold, and as a bonus is protected from scratches.
Again, I say all this having been a long time fan of my plastic Mac notebooks. Just that now they have made it such a better value to get the metal MBP (even moreso now in 2011).
Miss Terri
PS: Oh, back to build quality. If you mean the cases, well, they each have their plusses and minuses to my mind. Beyond aesthetics:
1) Macbooks can crack (hinge area, palmrest), and potentially discolor; rubber can delaminate from bottom.
2) MBP's can dent, and anodizing can be scratched or eroded by sweat, etc.
Here is my opinion, with a bit of background so you know where I am coming from:
I've always owned and preferred plastic Mac notebooks. I just like the look and feel better. My last computer was a non-unibody plastic Macbook. After it had numerous logic board and other failures, Apple replaced it and gave me a unibody plastic Macbook.
I liked it, BUT they had taken away several features that I liked from my older Macbook, namely:
1) Firewire
2) External battery monitor
3) Infrared port (for remote control)
I went back and forth about what to do, and compared the Macbook and the MBP over and over (this was in November 2010). Finally I decided to change over to the Macbook Pro. Even when they had identical processors (late 2010) I just couldn't justify the Macbook to myself given the differences in features for $200. Now, with the MBP having added a better processor, a better camera, and Thunderbolt, I can't imagine buying a Macbook considering the price difference (yet I love the plastic and don't like metal). I think that now the Macbook should be more like $799.
But okay, back to the comparison. Here is what you will get on a Macbook Pro now that is different than the Macbook. It seems very very favorable to me, for $200 (the price difference with the base computer, not options). I'm not counting the case as I'll mark that up to personal preference. The first four items are new as of 2011; the others existed in 2010 and still exist now.
1) Considerably faster/better processor
2) FaceTime HD camera (vs. iSight non HD camera)
3) Thunderbolt port
4) Larger hard drive (sorry, forget by how much... maybe about 1/3 larger?)
5) Firewire 800 port
6) External battery monitor
7) Infrared port (for remote control - the control is ~$20 sold separately)
8) SD card slot
9) Backlit keyboard (I had always wanted this
)10) Subwoofers for the speakers
11) 4 gigs of RAM vs. 2 gigs of RAM*
*MBP is upgradable to 8 gigs; officially Macbook only to 4 although I have read that you can also make it take 8.
So, I bought a Macbook Pro in November (a friend was on the verge of buying a Macbook so he took mine). The way I got around my dislike of touching the metal was to put on a clear plastic "skin." Now my MBP is all shiny and does not feel cold, and as a bonus is protected from scratches.
Again, I say all this having been a long time fan of my plastic Mac notebooks. Just that now they have made it such a better value to get the metal MBP (even moreso now in 2011).
Miss Terri
PS: Oh, back to build quality. If you mean the cases, well, they each have their plusses and minuses to my mind. Beyond aesthetics:
1) Macbooks can crack (hinge area, palmrest), and potentially discolor; rubber can delaminate from bottom.
2) MBP's can dent, and anodizing can be scratched or eroded by sweat, etc.
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I should add that some people and tests are saying that the graphics hardware in the Macbook (was also in the 2010 MBP) is slightly preferable to that in the new 2011 MBP. From what I can tell this would only come into play if you were a heavy gamer, and then if that were the case you would not likely be looking at a 13" Mac. For the most part, the new processor in the 2011 MBP looks to be pretty sweet.
Thought it best to post this in here rather than make a new thread, my question is similar to the OP.
I'm thinking of getting a new macbook or pro when i go to Hong Kong (much cheaper than UK), and was wondering about the processors. I was wondering which would be better been macbook 2.4 (I'll upgrade the RAM to 4gb myself so they'll be even) or pro with 2.3? The price difference would be about £5-60 (around $110)
The hard drive size is enough for me so that isn't an issue, same with metal vs plastic, I don't use firewire, and have usb memory card adapters already for my current macbook, I don't listen to music without headphones/ plug into my amp, not really concerned about facetime in HD (my internet connection wouldn't be fast enough probably anyway ( F' you BT).
So really the only things I think I'd prefer on the MBP is the infrared remote (anyone know if the old white remotes are compatible with new MBP btw?) and the separate audio in and out instead of the combined.
So I suppose my most important difference would be the processor. I don't really know much about them, the MB is 2.4 core duo 2 vs 2.3 i5, my layman's knowledge usually points to the higher the number the faster it is, but I was wondering if the MBP was faster because of the i5 instead of duo 2, and it would seem strange to have a faster processor in a MB than MBP
Sorry for the long post.
I'm thinking of getting a new macbook or pro when i go to Hong Kong (much cheaper than UK), and was wondering about the processors. I was wondering which would be better been macbook 2.4 (I'll upgrade the RAM to 4gb myself so they'll be even) or pro with 2.3? The price difference would be about £5-60 (around $110)
The hard drive size is enough for me so that isn't an issue, same with metal vs plastic, I don't use firewire, and have usb memory card adapters already for my current macbook, I don't listen to music without headphones/ plug into my amp, not really concerned about facetime in HD (my internet connection wouldn't be fast enough probably anyway ( F' you BT).
So really the only things I think I'd prefer on the MBP is the infrared remote (anyone know if the old white remotes are compatible with new MBP btw?) and the separate audio in and out instead of the combined.
So I suppose my most important difference would be the processor. I don't really know much about them, the MB is 2.4 core duo 2 vs 2.3 i5, my layman's knowledge usually points to the higher the number the faster it is, but I was wondering if the MBP was faster because of the i5 instead of duo 2, and it would seem strange to have a faster processor in a MB than MBP
Sorry for the long post.
The MBP will be noticeably faster than the MB due to its i5 processor. Think about it in terms of a 500 hp V8 vs a 120 hp 4 cylinder. The V8 might max out @ 5500 rpm while the 4 cyl can do 8000 rpm. So, by "more is better" you'd choose the 4 cyl (since it can spin faster, this is similar to the processor speed rating in computers) even though the V8 puts out a lot more power.
The difference between the C2D and the i5 is not as extreme as the difference between those two engines, but you'll see a noticeable difference. Plus, though you don't use FireWire, you should Backups over FW800 take less than half the time as ones via USB. Thunderbolt is nice too.
You get far more bang for your buck on the MBP.
The difference between the C2D and the i5 is not as extreme as the difference between those two engines, but you'll see a noticeable difference. Plus, though you don't use FireWire, you should
Backups over FW800 take less than half the time as ones via USB. Thunderbolt is nice too.You get far more bang for your buck on the MBP.