I was pleased to learn that they've reintroduced the matte screen for the 15" MBP. I personally think the gloss should still be the option, but that's just me. Originally I was going to use my 17" SR for a couple more years, but then it was having problems where suddenly the HD would lose data for no reason. This happened just before a critical presentation and so I went out and purchased a unibody under the idea that I could eventually shell out $200 for Techrestore to replace my LCD for a matte one.
Now that the matte option has come out, I'm not sure what to do. There are some advantages to the new units and advantages to keeping my original unibody. Here are the advantages of each:
Original Unibody:
* has an expresscard slot that I can use for extra ports, eSATA, or a Universal Audio DSP card (I do audio/video production)
* faster SATA interface - I eventually want to switch to dual solid state drives when the capacities increase and the prices decrease which could possibly take advantage of this
* removable battery - i don't have to pay someone to change out the battery in addition to the cost of the battery (which means 2x the price)
* user removable primary hard drive - i could potentially have a back up drive ready to go in case mine fails (but this isn't a big deal)
* i don't have to sell my original unibody at a loss
* discrete graphics for some games (i would probably replace it with the base 15" - no discrete graphics)
New Unibody:
* more RAM - comes with 4GB versus the 2GB of RAM I have
* nicer bezel ... still says MBP and matches my older 20" cinemas
* longer battery life which would often come in handy - particularly if i'm running dual hard drives
* SD slot - a neat floppy disk system but I don't really see the point of this - I'd rather have a third USB port
* better organized ports - i like the display port behind the USB
* slightly faster processor
* get snow leopard for free
* don't have to shell out $200 to replace my screen
Attachment: A Techrestore matte LCD unibody (originally submitted by another Macrumors member)
Now that the matte option has come out, I'm not sure what to do. There are some advantages to the new units and advantages to keeping my original unibody. Here are the advantages of each:
Original Unibody:
* has an expresscard slot that I can use for extra ports, eSATA, or a Universal Audio DSP card (I do audio/video production)
* faster SATA interface - I eventually want to switch to dual solid state drives when the capacities increase and the prices decrease which could possibly take advantage of this
* removable battery - i don't have to pay someone to change out the battery in addition to the cost of the battery (which means 2x the price)
* user removable primary hard drive - i could potentially have a back up drive ready to go in case mine fails (but this isn't a big deal)
* i don't have to sell my original unibody at a loss
* discrete graphics for some games (i would probably replace it with the base 15" - no discrete graphics)
New Unibody:
* more RAM - comes with 4GB versus the 2GB of RAM I have
* nicer bezel ... still says MBP and matches my older 20" cinemas
* longer battery life which would often come in handy - particularly if i'm running dual hard drives
* SD slot - a neat floppy disk system but I don't really see the point of this - I'd rather have a third USB port
* better organized ports - i like the display port behind the USB
* slightly faster processor
* get snow leopard for free
* don't have to shell out $200 to replace my screen
Attachment: A Techrestore matte LCD unibody (originally submitted by another Macrumors member)
