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Computer Science Student - Macbook or Macbook Pro?
- Thread starter oliF
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Budget
What is your budget?
Bottom line for me is that the MBP would definitely be enough power and umpf for your CS degree. But if you plan on just coding and doing little graphics/animation work, then you could get away with just a MB. You don't even need to install Xcode, you do most of your work right off the Terminal using Pico or Vi (actually, any text editor).
What is your budget?
Bottom line for me is that the MBP would definitely be enough power and umpf for your CS degree. But if you plan on just coding and doing little graphics/animation work, then you could get away with just a MB. You don't even need to install Xcode, you do most of your work right off the Terminal using Pico or Vi (actually, any text editor).
Better screen
I second this. I own both. The MBP has a significantly better quality screen than the MB. I have calibrated and measured each using the EyeOne D2 colorimeter. The contrast ratio on the MB is around 200:1 whereas the MBP is around 600:1. The color error (deltaE) when calibrating to 6500K and gamma 2.2 is also much smaller on the MBP. Also, the MBP has a wider horizontal viewing angle.
Probably not necessary for school, but fyi.
Rich
I second this. I own both. The MBP has a significantly better quality screen than the MB. I have calibrated and measured each using the EyeOne D2 colorimeter. The contrast ratio on the MB is around 200:1 whereas the MBP is around 600:1. The color error (deltaE) when calibrating to 6500K and gamma 2.2 is also much smaller on the MBP. Also, the MBP has a wider horizontal viewing angle.
Probably not necessary for school, but fyi.
Rich
That's probably one of the most important questions. I'd love an MBP, but $$$ is the deciding factor. Even if I went Refurb, Amazon, etc. the best I can get an MBP for is $1500 [+/-], and that's base. I can get a base MB for $1099...I can think of a lot to do with $500!!!
Then don't buy a Mac. Seriously. I'm a UK CS major who bought a MacBook last year. At the same time, several of my friends bought non-Mac laptops of similar prices (mostly cheaper), all of which completely raped my MacBook in terms of spec/performance/features/etc.
That's probably one of the most important questions. I'd love an MBP, but $$$ is the deciding factor. Even if I went Refurb, Amazon, etc. the best I can get an MBP for is $1500 [+/-], and that's base. I can get a base MB for $1099...I can think of a lot to do with $500!!!
True.
Bottom line (and you know there would be): Both money and course load/type are the top factors. Once these are definitive, then go ahead and make your decision. However, you won't lose if you pony up and grab a MBP.
See, i still don't agree. With the MPB, you get a nicer screen and a dedicated video card. Sure.
But if a 2.xghz Core2 Duo MBP is going to have more longevity and "wiggle room" than a 2.xghz Core2Duo Macbook (with the exact same speed memory and an almost identical chipset), then I think you're mistaken.
You're talking about $1000 difference. For that kind of difference, you can add in a 24" LCD and 4GB of ram, plus some.
...MBP and you will be good for your undergrad career, most likely.
The thing is is if the OP ends up doing any type of advanced graphics programming hes gonna need the better vid card. The problem with school is you dont know what you may need right away. I originally thought that I would only code, then I got into graphics, and wanted to program those, etc etc.
I say if you can afford it, get the pro.
I say if you can afford it, get the pro.
Notice I was talking about the gfx chip though too. Who knows what hes going to be into a few years down the road, he MAY end up needing that. As well, how does he like having a matte vs glossy screen?
There is a whole lot more options here.
Correct. You always want to make sure you can future proof yourself, especially when you are spending $1000+
Geez what a lousy choice of wording. Rape is a serious crime, not word to be used lightly when discussing computer specs.
Thanks guys for all the advice!
I'm just about to go into third year and my choices for next year are mostly software management and managing projects, with a lot of stuff based on HCI. i'm probably going to be researching and programming different GUIs and researching what other ways it would be possible for computer interaction!
I've stayed away from all the gaming because thats not really of interest to me!
After reading all the advice i think for the moment i'm going to go for the macbook and put the extra 2gigs of ram in there. i've got an external 19" widescreen.. nothing fancy about 1.5 years old which i'll extend to when i'm at my desk.
I do travel a lot on the train to see friends and then my family lives in switzerland, so the smaller size could be ideal for me, then once the new design for the mbp comes out i'll get me one of them too! can never have enough computers eh?!
Cheers for all the advice guys, i cant wait to replace my 3 year old dell with something lightyears better than what i'm on at the moment!
I'm just about to go into third year and my choices for next year are mostly software management and managing projects, with a lot of stuff based on HCI. i'm probably going to be researching and programming different GUIs and researching what other ways it would be possible for computer interaction!
I've stayed away from all the gaming because thats not really of interest to me!
After reading all the advice i think for the moment i'm going to go for the macbook and put the extra 2gigs of ram in there. i've got an external 19" widescreen.. nothing fancy about 1.5 years old which i'll extend to when i'm at my desk.
I do travel a lot on the train to see friends and then my family lives in switzerland, so the smaller size could be ideal for me, then once the new design for the mbp comes out i'll get me one of them too! can never have enough computers eh?!
Cheers for all the advice guys, i cant wait to replace my 3 year old dell with something lightyears better than what i'm on at the moment!
Thread resurrection
Hey everyone. I have a similar question, just updated for today's product line. I'm basically torn between the 13" C2D and the baseline 15" i5. I provided a link to our coursework and below are the required courses and a few extras that i would want to take.
Besides school use, i also dabble in Photoshop and use Aperture 3 to organize my photos. I could probably do away with Photoshop at this point (I only bought because I was doing some photography courses at the Academy of Art in San Fran), because I only do basic edited of my photos that Aperture can probably handle. I don't game on the computer anymore since I recently got a 360 for christmas.
I currently use Sketchbook Pro on the iPad but also hope to get the full desktop version later on and maybe try a few other products from Adobe. Sketchbook's system requirements are reasonably low though so I'm not worried about that one.
Course list and description
http://registrar.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114&Itemid=66
Required courses:
2433, 3363, 3443, 3513, 3613, 3653, 4323, 4343, and 4883
Optional that I'd like to do: 2351, 3423, 4143
I only want to 15" to kind of future proof myself. I don't know what I may get interested in later on down the road. But as of now, I really don't see myself doing any type of 3D work or heavy graphic intensive stuff. I'm feeling the 13" would be fine because I had a non unibody MacBook Pro 2.4GHz with 2GB RAM that ran just fine, but alas, I sold it. But my 2.0GHz with 4GB RAM mini is pretty slow with Aperture.
Hey everyone. I have a similar question, just updated for today's product line. I'm basically torn between the 13" C2D and the baseline 15" i5. I provided a link to our coursework and below are the required courses and a few extras that i would want to take.
Besides school use, i also dabble in Photoshop and use Aperture 3 to organize my photos. I could probably do away with Photoshop at this point (I only bought because I was doing some photography courses at the Academy of Art in San Fran), because I only do basic edited of my photos that Aperture can probably handle. I don't game on the computer anymore since I recently got a 360 for christmas.
I currently use Sketchbook Pro on the iPad but also hope to get the full desktop version later on and maybe try a few other products from Adobe. Sketchbook's system requirements are reasonably low though so I'm not worried about that one.
Course list and description
http://registrar.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114&Itemid=66
Required courses:
2433, 3363, 3443, 3513, 3613, 3653, 4323, 4343, and 4883
Optional that I'd like to do: 2351, 3423, 4143
I only want to 15" to kind of future proof myself. I don't know what I may get interested in later on down the road. But as of now, I really don't see myself doing any type of 3D work or heavy graphic intensive stuff. I'm feeling the 13" would be fine because I had a non unibody MacBook Pro 2.4GHz with 2GB RAM that ran just fine, but alas, I sold it. But my 2.0GHz with 4GB RAM mini is pretty slow with Aperture.
Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking the 13" would be better for school anyway as I remember the 15" being a pain to put into my backpack. Maybe they'll refresh the MacBook Pro line before I buy and I'll get both of my wishes, 13" and i5 processor.