Clearance MBP: Worth it?

[silvermike]

Okay, I found a great deal through my school on the last round of Macbook Pros: I want to make sure it's worth it before I close the deal. Here's what I've got for about $1500:

15.4-inch (diagonal) 1440 x 900 resolution antiglare (matte) widescreen display, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz processor, 4GB RAM (two 2GB SO-DIMMs), 200GB Serial ATA 5400 rpm HD, 8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, No modem (sold separately), NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM, 1 FireWire 400 port, 1 FireWire 800 port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Combined optical digital input/audio line in, combined optical digital output/audio line out, built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, Dual-link DVI video out, VGA (with included DVI to VGA adapter), ExpressCard/34 slot, Airport Extreme (802.11n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, built-in iSight camera, HD Sudden Motion Sensor, Multi-Touch trackpad, Illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor, Kensington cable lock slot, Lithium battery, wt.: 5.4lbs.

For comparison's sake, here's what I would get otherwise:

13.3" (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280 x 800 resolution, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz Processor, 2GB RAM (two 1GB SO-DIMMs), 250GB Serial ATA 5400-RPM HD, slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, No modem, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory, No FireWire port, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, combined optical digital audio output/audio line out, Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (requires adapters, sold separately), Airport Extreme (802.11n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, built-in iSight camera, HD Sudden Motion Sensor, illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor, Glass Multi-Touch Trackpad, Kensington cable lock slot, Precision aluminum unibody enclosure, Lithium battery, wt: 4.5lbs.

 

[The SpinDoctor]

I would go for it if I were you, but that's me

 

[silvermike]

It really seems like the only things I'd be giving up are the aluminum body and the glass trackpad. They're cool, but $600 cool?

 

[f/stop]

go for it

It really seems like the only things I'd be giving up are the aluminum body and the glass trackpad. They're cool, but $600 cool?

I would definitely take it. Unless you have very specific needs then the pad and unibody are just fluff.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I would definitely take it. Unless you have very specific needs then the pad and unibody are just fluff.

Broadly speaking, I agree. Actually, the unibody is not quite fluff, it's a beautifully made machine, a lovely fusion of form and function, but, but, but...if money matters, then a saving of $600 is not to be sneezed at. So, go for it. I'd also recommend that you invest - sometime over the coming year before the one year Apple warranty expires - in Applecare.

Cheers and good luck

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

I'd take the MBP.

 

[kid rock]

MBP for the win