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Another Macbook vs MBP

Go with the MacBook Pro.

I used to have an iBook G4 which I upgraded to a MacBook. I was never happy with it. It felt much cheaper than the iBook. The plastic at the left side of the computer case was squeeky (at the bottom of the keyboard) and could be pushed in an out which really made me think about the quality (and I've had 3 MacBooks due to problems and they all done the same thing).
Also, when lifting the laptop up, I could feel the plastic of the case go in slightly. And finally when closing the lid, I could feel the screen move ever so slightly (you can actually wobble the screen slightly left and right when the screen is closed) making me think it isn't sturdy at all.

Last week, I had enough of how cheap it felt, and after much deliberation, bought a MacBook Pro. I'm simply in awe with it. It screams quality, and is all made of metal. It feels solid, and there are no squeeky parts, or cheap looking glossy displays (I went for the matt option). Also, no finger prints and smudges showing all over the case.

The screen is gorgeous, and is at instant brightness as soon as you turn it on. The MB screen has to warm up. The screen is also brighter.

Hope this helps.
 
not much difference

I have a macbook and my friend has a mbp. We do architecture so the software we use are all the same as yours adobe PS,AI, ID and even 3d rendering software and video software for the 4D representation required nowadays. My macbook hasn't really let me down when using adobe programs, the graphic card is crap but you don't have a high resolution screen to power with the graphic card. Conversely my friend who has a mbp with 17inch screen, his photoshop is slower at openning files and response time as his screen has higher resolution. The preformance between the two is only marginal when you don't need 3D rendering or video editing. I would save up the money and spend it on your next upgrade. It really doesn't worth you lending $1860 and borrowing $200-300 for differences you don't experience. As a student myself I would prefer to save up the money and use it else where, it really becomes handy when your out of money at the end of term ^^
 
ShaunPriest said:
I used to have an iBook G4 which I upgraded to a MacBook. I was never happy with it. It felt much cheaper than the iBook. The plastic at the left side of the computer case was squeeky (at the bottom of the keyboard) and could be pushed in an out which really made me think about the quality (and I've had 3 MacBooks due to problems and they all done the same thing).
Also, when lifting the laptop up, I could feel the plastic of the case go in slightly. And finally when closing the lid, I could feel the screen move ever so slightly (you can actually wobble the screen slightly left and right when the screen is closed) making me think it isn't sturdy at all.

Last week, I had enough of how cheap it felt, and after much deliberation, bought a MacBook Pro. I'm simply in awe with it. It screams quality, and is all made of metal. It feels solid, and there are no squeeky parts, or cheap looking glossy displays (I went for the matt option). Also, no finger prints and smudges showing all over the case.
Click to expand...

I have to say that you must have got a dud MacBook. I have owned two MacBooks and neither have suffered from these problems. I also owned a 14" 1.3GHz iBook and my MacBook was just as well made as it was.

As for the screen being brighter, perhaps it's just an improvement because your Macbook was older than your MacBook Pro?
 
neiltc13 said:
I have to say that you must have got a dud MacBook. I have owned two MacBooks and neither have suffered from these problems. I also owned a 14" 1.3GHz iBook and my MacBook was just as well made as it was.

As for the screen being brighter, perhaps it's just an improvement because your Macbook was older than your MacBook Pro?
Click to expand...

Please, everything ShaunPriest said is true. MacBooks feel cheap and poorly-built compared to MBP, the screens are incomparable.

I work at a local store selling Macs so I've seen/touched plenty of both MBs and MBPs.
 
eXan said:
Please, everything he said is true. MacBooks feel cheap and poorly-built compared to MBP, the screens are incomparable.

I work at a local store selling Macs so I've seen/touched plenty of both MBs and MBPs.
Click to expand...

I have to say the screen in my new MacBook (a 2.2GHz one) seems of lower quality to the one that was in my original MacBook 1.83GHz.
 
My MacBook that I had (is now sold) was the latest model - the one with the 2.4Ghz processor (Penryn), and 2GB of ram and a 160HD.

When I went into the Apple store to purchase my MBP, I knew the MBP's had LED displays. So I asked him if I could see a MB beside a MBP, and also a MBP glossy beside a MBP matt. So, he brought out a black MacBook and sat them beside each other.

I must admit, the MBP glossy doesn't look bad at all, and I had a hard time choosing which screen to go for. I eventually picked matt (after being happy with my iBook screen). As for the MB, the colours were duller and less vibrant.

When I took the MBP home and sat it beside my MB, again the differences in screen quality were obvious. When you wake a MB from sleep, the screen has to warm up as they do not use LED backlights. When the screen did warm up, the colours on the MBP looked a lot better.

I first bought a MacBook (the entry level one in January. The first two I purchased had problems with the trackpad (mouse kept skipping around). The third one I received kept automatically going to sleep). The fourth one I got from Apple worked fine (by the way, I must admit, Apple was fantastic in dealing with my complaints and gave me a new MacBook every time but I was within the 14 day period each time). I had the fourth one from around February to March - and then new MB's were released with speed bumps. I then sold my MacBook and purchased the middle of the line new MB which is the one still out today. However it had the same problem as all the other ones I had in that after using it for a couple of days, the plastic to the bottom left side of the computer seems to come away slightly, and I could push it in and out. There is a screw on that section, so I tried tightening it, but the screw would not budge.

So to clarify some points, it was the most up to date MacBook I've had. Every one has had the squeeky plastic at the side, and the screen on the MBP is A LOT nicer.

I have 2 friends who have black MacBooks, and they don't have the squeeky bit of plastic at the side of the computer, however on both of their laptops, a small bit of plastic has FALLEN off (at the right bottom right of the MacBook where your wrists would rest, a long slither of plastic, about 4 cm long, and about 1mm thin. This is the same area where I can feel my MacBook pressing in when I try to pick it up.

The MacBook has a great processor in it for the price, but the components used to make the computer are not quality. Sorry.
 
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