Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Are the non unibody macbook pro's worth it anymore?

M

Macnewb401

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Some guy is selling a mint (Yeah mint, I questioned it too haha ) 15.4" macbook pro early 2008. The non unibody one.
4gb of ram, 2.4ghz, 8600m
New battery, new logic board, and new 200gb hdd.
for 800 bucks..
Should I even bother? I don't mind the design. I actually really liked the old matte display. Especially a 15" one!🙂

Few questions
1)Will this be able to run lion fine?
2) Would it be be able to handle hd video editing and high resolution photo editing?
3) Can I upgrade this hdd to an ssd?
4) And for 800 bucks am I better off with something else?

Thanks a lot!
 
Macnewb401 said:
1)Will this be able to run lion fine?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Macnewb401 said:
2) Would it be be able to handle hd video editing and high resolution photo editing?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Macnewb401 said:
3) Can I upgrade this hdd to an ssd?
Click to expand...
Yes.
Macnewb401 said:
4) And for 800 bucks am I better off with something else?
Click to expand...
That's up to you. I'm using that same model (with the 2.5 CPU) and it does everything I've ever needed. I would have upgraded by now, but there's nothing the newer models offer that I need or want that this one doesn't do.
SomeGuyDude said:
I'd say no. The difference between a Core Duo and a Core 2 Duo proc is just too great.
Click to expand...
That model IS the Core 2 Duo. The last Core Duo was May, 2006.
 
SomeGuyDude said:
I'd say no. The difference between a Core Duo and a Core 2 Duo proc is just too great.
Click to expand...

The early 2008 is the Core 2 Duo, the late 2007 was the CoreDuo. For a few hundred more, I would recommend looking into a Refurb, at least the refurb can have Apple Care put on it.
 
My early '08 was a core 2 duo (RIP). $800 seems steep. For just a bit more you could get an '09 or '10 low-end refurb. And I spent plenty of time with that model and I have to say, since I upgraded, I am LOVING the unibody design. I was secretly jealous of everyone anyway.
 
THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE QUICK RESPONSES!

I am a student, so I do qualify for the educations discount. Hopefully I can pull together enough for the baseline macbook pro. Would there be a significant speed difference?
But darn, that 15.4" matte screen seems so nice to edit on compared to a 13" glossy. Only a mac would have you debating to buy a 3 year old product.
 
Macnewb401 said:
THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE QUICK RESPONSES!

I am a student, so I do qualify for the educations discount. Hopefully I can pull together enough for the baseline macbook pro. Would there be a significant speed difference?
But darn, that 15.4" matte screen seems so nice to edit on compared to a 13" glossy. Only a mac would have you debating to buy a 3 year old product.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong, but the 2008 had the 15 not 15.4 (at least that is how it was described on my box as 15. When I got the new one, I was surprised to see it listed as a 15.4.
 
squeakr said:
I may be wrong, but the 2008 had the 15 not 15.4 (at least that is how it was described on my box as 15. When I got the new one, I was surprised to see it listed as a 15.4.
Click to expand...
15.4 and 15 are the same thing. It's just different ways of referring to the 15.4" model.
 
I actually wouldn't have thought twice about it weren't for the fact that my case didn't fit the new model (was custom built for the older model). Just figured it was the slightly bigger dimension (the case actually was that close, that if you pushed it "would" fit, but it was tight).
 
squeakr said:
The early 2008 is the Core 2 Duo, the late 2007 was the CoreDuo. For a few hundred more, I would recommend looking into a Refurb, at least the refurb can have Apple Care put on it.
Click to expand...

Oops. I'm a dumb, then!

I dunno, I'm just a fan of the aesthetics of the black keyboard style.
 
Apart from the 9600m and the unibody itself, it isn't actually much worse than the first gen unibody and is still better than last gen's 13".
 
wordoflife said:
I wouldn't! The 8600s are known to fail.
Click to expand...

I had 2 logicboards replaced on mine and Apple swapped me a new 15" due to it failing again.. Other than that it was a stellar machine.. I had the 2.5GHZ Penryn with 4Gb RAM and 512 MB 8600..
 
I have an early 15" MBP 2008 2.5ghz (512 video ram) with semi-gloss screen. I bought this model because the orig. unibody screen was way too reflective.

Had a battery problem and went to the Genius Bar for first time last week. Under Applecare, they gave me a new battery (great!).

No problem with 8600 card or anything else. Genius said by the time I bought my MBP the card problem was resolved. He stated that Apple will take care of the 8600 for 4 years and beyond, but I can expect no problems.

I use mine for Avid, FCP and Photoshop. Works fine under Snow osX.
 
I've just given back my 2010 13" MacBook Pro (changed jobs) and am using my own early 2008 15" at home. It's horrible in comparison. Gets very hot, noticeably slower, terrible battery life, not to mentio it weighs a ton. I'd definitely go for the newest model you can find/afford, and wouldn't recommend the older MBPs.
 
howardnow said:
Genius said by the time I bought my MBP the card problem was resolved. He stated that Apple will take care of the 8600 for 4 years and beyond, but I can expect no problems.
Click to expand...

It's true that Apple will support the product for 4 years from the purchase date but it is most definitely not resolved. The product defective by design and if you follow the thread about the defect, you'll realise that Apple is just replacing the defective part with another one. Not Apple's fault but unfortunately, it this is the case.
 
grahamnp said:
It's true that Apple will support the product for 4 years from the purchase date but it is most definitely not resolved. The product defective by design and if you follow the thread about the defect, you'll realise that Apple is just replacing the defective part with another one. Not Apple's fault but unfortunately, it this is the case.
Click to expand...

I had a 2.6ghz 8600gt 512mb (early 08) that failed out of applecare and apple told me there was nothing they would do.
 
i have a penryn 2.5 core2duo 17"...with 4gb or ram.

have used this in my studio as my main music workhorse and live on stage for the 2.5 years ive had it.

its still a beast...and gives me absoultely no reason at all to upgrade to a unibody yet....

i am hopeful of the next iteration of the MBP being something 'wow'..as it will be time then to perhaps upgrade, mainly due to the audio software im using getting more and more hungry as updates go by..
 
If you never plan on using it outside of a desk, they're great machines. Unfortunately, even a brand new battery will only last ~3 hours. Maybe 3.5, depending on the model, and if you're lucky. That alone is a major deterrent to me. I have a MBP 2,2, that's the first model with a Core 2 Duo in it, and it still runs everything - except editing in HD & Motion, and newer video games - like a champ. But I'm ready to get a new one, just because the battery life is so poor, compared to the new ones. Sure I can get 3 hours of battery life, but I'd rather 7...

Oh yeah. and avoid the 8600gt like a plague.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back