I made just this point in another thread. Even huge increases in CPU power and speed are not even noticeable "the vast majority of the time." The now humble Core-2-Duo chip still does everything and more that most of us need to carry out our day to day work on a computer. If you need a computer now and the MBP appeals to you, buy it, for heaven's sake! You won't regret it.
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Am I an idiot for just having ordered this?
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You could probably even step down to 2.26 if you were using Parallels.
You should be blasphemed for actually saying that! You should always say why didn't you upgrade to... even though there's not much more to upgrade. Never tell someone to downgrade.
Just kidding.
It has been said before. The main issue people have with the current MBP's are the price for what you are getting. Will the current MBP's do what you need it to do? Yes and you will enjoy it but with that said it comes down to the person to know where their value for their money is.
I am in the market for my first ever MBP for professional video editing. I look at it as, yes the current MBP would be enough for me to do what I need to do but for what I am getting the money spent is not worth it. If you need a MBP now I would only buy from the refurb store.
Again, its not that the current model won't do what you need, it's the value of the purchase.
I am in the market for my first ever MBP for professional video editing. I look at it as, yes the current MBP would be enough for me to do what I need to do but for what I am getting the money spent is not worth it. If you need a MBP now I would only buy from the refurb store.
Again, its not that the current model won't do what you need, it's the value of the purchase.
What's the substitute good? Unless you consider a Windows 7 (or Linux/*BSD) machine to be equivalent, there is no complete substitute.
When I bought my MBP13, I cross shopped a ProBook 5310m, which looks like a great little machine. It's also $300 less than a MBP 13 when you get it with the dual core. However, there are costs too. (Probook gets you 16:9 display, glossy finish on the keyboard surround, Intel graphics instead of nVidia, one DIMM slot, shorter batter life, no MagSafe, inferior display, smaller/glossy touchpad, no MacOS X, etc.) Better alternatives are an X201 if you want a 12" screen. The X301 is more than the MBP, as is the Envy 13. You can make a reasonable argument that an MBP 13 is still a reasonably priced machine for what you get.
Where I start to have trouble with current MBP pricing is in the 15 and 17 inch sizes. Even then, these machines still have unique characteristics that make them worth a premium if you care about them.
Don't pay too much attention to folks saying you got poor value. A Laptop is more than the sum of it's component parts, particularly a Macbook Pro. For a start, there's all the nice design touches like the Unibody, Mag safe, backlit keyboard, OS X etc. On top of that, you'll get first rate service and support (personally I'd recommend buying Applecare) where you can either call on the phone or make an appointment with a Genius.
You don't get these things with any other laptop and they are not related to the components inside. Apple invested money designing and implementing these features which distinguish their machines from others. If you were just paying for components in a generic plastic chassis, chances are you'd be buying a PC laptop anyway.
That said, a 3Ghz Core 2 Duo is still a very decent processor. I'm still using a 2.33Ghz Core 2 duo machine which is over three years old and it's still a great machine. More importantly, it's still a Mac that runs OS X and things like Snow Leopard, Logic, Aperture, Final Cut, iLife and iWork. And it still looks as good and runs as well as the day it was bought.
Seriously, just enjoy your new machine and have fun discovering all the cool stuff you can do with it.
P.S. One other thing as well. The new line of Macbook Pro's could well have teething issues, especially if they're adopting new CPU technology. With the Core 2 Duo, you have technology that both Intel and Apple have had the time to iron out kinks.
You don't get these things with any other laptop and they are not related to the components inside. Apple invested money designing and implementing these features which distinguish their machines from others. If you were just paying for components in a generic plastic chassis, chances are you'd be buying a PC laptop anyway.
That said, a 3Ghz Core 2 Duo is still a very decent processor. I'm still using a 2.33Ghz Core 2 duo machine which is over three years old and it's still a great machine. More importantly, it's still a Mac that runs OS X and things like Snow Leopard, Logic, Aperture, Final Cut, iLife and iWork. And it still looks as good and runs as well as the day it was bought.
Seriously, just enjoy your new machine and have fun discovering all the cool stuff you can do with it.
P.S. One other thing as well. The new line of Macbook Pro's could well have teething issues, especially if they're adopting new CPU technology. With the Core 2 Duo, you have technology that both Intel and Apple have had the time to iron out kinks.
Yep, I am running VMware Fusion in Unity mode and Windows 7 on a 2.4Ghz MBP with 6Gb of RAM. I could not have asked for more. Many if not most applications are hurt far worse by a shortage of RAM than they are by a shortage of processing power.You could probably even step down to 2.26 if you were using Parallels
If it does what you need and you are happy with it, then no.
Enjoy your new MBP.
This is the right answer.
Don't listen to all the "waiters"...... 99% of them use their computers for web, email, music and movies, and have no real need for a more powerful machine.
They just want to put "
MacBook Pro i7" in their signaturesIf it does what you need and you are happy with it, then no.
Enjoy your new MBP.
That's exactly right! The possibility that something bigger, better, and sexier, may be coming is a poor excuse for not buying the computer you need when you need it. Such reasoning provides a never ending excuse never to buy a new computer because something more modern is always coming. Computers are tools, not toys. Thus, the relevant question should be: will a currently available computer satisfactorily do the work I need it to do? If the answer is "yes," then it makes absolutely no sense to delay buying it now.This is the right answer.
Don't listen to all the "waiters"...... 99% of them use their computers for web, email, music and movies, and have no real need for a more powerful machine.
They just want to put "
Product MacBook Pro
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
I wouldn't do it, OP. But if you somehow need the portable powerhouse at this very moment there's not many options if you want OS X.
Recommendation: Don't Buy - Updates soon
I wouldn't do it, OP. But if you somehow need the portable powerhouse at this very moment there's not many options if you want OS X.
if the specs of a computer doesn't matter enough to the average buyer to make them check what they are getting for their money, then apple is simply giving them what they want. It isn't apple's responsibility to set a specific price. If that price is unfair, sales should reflect that. Apple isn't hiding anything, so any consumer that buys a laptop with outdated hardware should be aware of that.
What you aren't taking into account is the financial aspects of the purchase. If the OP desperately needs a computer, than his/her question would never be asked, because no other decision could be made. However, if the OP wants a new computer, but could wait a few weeks, his/her question is relevant. The OP could save money if he/she bought a new midrange model instead of the older high-end model. It isn't just for bragging rights. Since apple keeps prices constant, the best time to buy is right after an update, or the minimum time after an update to make sure the computer won't be buggy. This is a decision that could save the OP hundreds of dollars. Don't oversimplify the situation.
And... for the average user, doing average tasks, the difference in performance won't even be noticed.
But really nobody is suggesting buying used Macs So we all have the need for speed apparently
Most logical consumers with no pressing NEED for a computer would wait. Why? There may be new applications that require the performance. If you MUST have one, then all bets are off.
But really nobody is suggesting buying used Macs
So we all have the need for speed apparently Most logical consumers with no pressing NEED for a computer would wait. Why? There may be new applications that require the performance. If you MUST have one, then all bets are off.
In regards to whether or not you are an idiot for having purchased this I would say that intellect does not directly correlate to your knowledge of hardware and the economy. I wouldn't have done it personally.
those are words of wisdom..
financially, it's great for apple but not for you
unless of course. you need it and use it for work to make money.. then it doesn't really matter which one you get as long as it does what you want.
Not a bad choice in my opinion :]
Apple's taking too long for the refresh...so I wouldn't blame you if you bought something else in place of a mbp :}
OSX is cool, but Win7 does have its advantages :]
Apple's taking too long for the refresh...so I wouldn't blame you if you bought something else in place of a mbp :}
OSX is cool, but Win7 does have its advantages :]
I am very patient and don't even need a laptop atm. I will definitely take advantage of the newer chipsets as a software engineering student. I wouldn't consider the upgrade a necessity for my work, but the added increase in performance is appreciated. I am more curious about a GPU upgrade. The 9xxx series is very old now.
If you bought it brand new from Apple then yes, are are pretty much stupid.
If you picked it up refurbished or used, and got it for less than $2000 or just a little bit over... then pretty decent decision.
the 3.06 is a very fast CPU, and will probably still be comparable to the i5 we see in the MBP, especially since Apple will probably have them underclocked to conserve battery.
i bought mine last week (See sig) for 1650... 1820 with tax (***** BULLS*%*) and im pretty sure, once the new ones come out, im going to be very motivated to sell this. (if the GPU is actually upgraded to something with 256bit memory.. if it stays at 128bit... I'm sure the difference between the 9600GT and the new GPU won't be a big difference)
but luckily, mine has an express card slot, so it will be a little bit more in demand, as some people really need them for whatever reason.... haha.
If you picked it up refurbished or used, and got it for less than $2000 or just a little bit over... then pretty decent decision.
the 3.06 is a very fast CPU, and will probably still be comparable to the i5 we see in the MBP, especially since Apple will probably have them underclocked to conserve battery.
i bought mine last week (See sig) for 1650... 1820 with tax (***** BULLS*%*) and im pretty sure, once the new ones come out, im going to be very motivated to sell this. (if the GPU is actually upgraded to something with 256bit memory.. if it stays at 128bit... I'm sure the difference between the 9600GT and the new GPU won't be a big difference)
but luckily, mine has an express card slot, so it will be a little bit more in demand, as some people really need them for whatever reason.... haha.