Finally! Need some advice...

[jmk229]

So I have be waiting for either the MBP or MB to update before I decided to purchase one. Finally it has!

I need some advice on which one to purchase. I am going to be using it along with my iMac for music, pictures, email, skype, internet surfing, as well as working in Microsoft Office on Excel and Word for some contact work I will be doing.

I have worked out the numbers and I can get a MB (with 4GB) for roughly the same as a MBP 13" (not modified). Which one would be better?

 

[miles01110]

I'd personally lean towards the Pro, but either will handle your needs just fine.

 

[fabian9]

So I have be waiting for either the MBP or MB to update before I decided to purchase one. Finally it has!

I need some advice on which one to purchase. I am going to be using it along with my iMac for music, pictures, email, skype, internet surfing, as well as working in Microsoft Office on Excel and Word for some contact work I will be doing.

I have worked out the numbers and I can get a MB (with 4GB) for roughly the same as a MBP 13" (not modified). Which one would be better?

Get the Pro, it's a damn nice machine. Aluminium is so much nicer than white plastic... more resilient too!

Fabian

 

[instaxgirl]

Get the Pro, it's a damn nice machine. Aluminium is so much nicer than white plastic... more resilient too!

Fabian

I'm in the exact same place as you OP I'm wondering just how resilient the aluminium and glass is. I've watched my plastic iBook G4 slide off beds, out of bags and out of my hands without ever worrying much. I feel like the pros would dent or *gulp* the glass could smash?

 

[vegas-steven]

So I have be waiting for either the MBP or MB to update before I decided to purchase one. Finally it has!

I need some advice on which one to purchase. I am going to be using it along with my iMac for music, pictures, email, skype, internet surfing, as well as working in Microsoft Office on Excel and Word for some contact work I will be doing.

I have worked out the numbers and I can get a MB (with 4GB) for roughly the same as a MBP 13" (not modified). Which one would be better?

Go ahead and flame me but why do you need a pro when a regular macbook would suit you and save you several hundred dollars you could use to upgrade ram etc?

You are doing casual computing tasks you mentioned on a high end machine lol!

 

[JPark]

Go ahead and flame me but why do you need a pro when a regular macbook would suit you and save you several hundred dollars you could use to upgrade ram etc?

You are doing casual computing tasks you mentioned on a high end machine lol!

He just said the MB w/ 4GB was roughly the same price as the low end 13" MBP, so how's he saving hundreds of dollars? For roughly the same price, he gets a nicer case, faster CPU, much much better GPU, and much better battery life. Seems like a no brainer.

 

[JPark]

OK, I just did your homework for you. At educational pricing, you're looking at $980 for the MB upgraded to 4GB RAM (4GB is definitely a good idea). For $120 more, you can get the MBP. That $120 buys you:
-Slightly faster CPU
-Faster GPU
-Extra 3 hrs of battery life
-Aluminum Enclosure
-Backlit keyboard
-Firewire 800
-SD Card Slot
-Aluminum Enclosure

I mentioned the aluminum twice because it really does make a huge difference. I just came from a plastic MB, and the aluminum wears much much better. It's coming up on it's year anniversary, and it looks almost new. One year in with my plastic MB, it looked like crap and I had already replaced the palm wrest once.

I'd say it's absolutely worth the $120. Eat Top Raman for a month and stay at home a couple of Fridays.

EDIT: Not sure why I assumed you were a student. If you're no longer a student, non-academic pricing is only $100 difference. And skip the raman. Your body probably can't take that kind of abuse anymore.

 

[jmk229]

Go ahead and flame me but why do you need a pro when a regular macbook would suit you and save you several hundred dollars you could use to upgrade ram etc?

You are doing casual computing tasks you mentioned on a high end machine lol!

Because the difference in price is $38 CAD to me.

The MBP I am looking at:
13" 2.4 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
SD Card slot
NVIDIA GeForce 320m Graphics
for $1,174

The MB I am looking at:
13" 2.26 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400m Graphics
$1,136

You tell me what you would do? And I have no idea on graphics, which one is better?

 

[H00513R]

Because the difference in price is $38 CAD to me.

The MBP I am looking at:
13" 2.4 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
SD Card slot
NVIDIA GeForce 320m Graphics
for $1,174

The MB I am looking at:
13" 2.26 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400m Graphics
$1,136

You tell me what you would do? And I have no idea on graphics, which one is better?

You don't need the MBP for what you are doing, but the way you have them priced I think it would be silly not to get the it. Buy the MBP but you'll be happy either way.

 

[ScottishDuck]

The new Macbooks are really pretty poor build quality. I would go for the Pro.

 

[Badger^2]

The new Macbooks are really pretty poor build quality. I would go for the Pro.

Thats just not true. New MBs are very nice, much nicer than previous MB models.

Sorry you are in Canada (Americas hat!) -- Microcenter has Macbooks for $800.

http://www.microcenter.com/storefro...mpg_macbook415190_macbookpro189480_imac419390

Well, they have actually have them for $800 for a long time...

 

[vegas-steven]

That's a nice contrast to when I lived in Canada. Used to be consumer electronics were the worst exchange rate it aside from books and magazines.

If the difference is $38 then close the thread lol. It's a no Brainer

 

[djasterix]

Because the difference in price is $38 CAD to me.

The MBP I am looking at:
13" 2.4 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
SD Card slot
NVIDIA GeForce 320m Graphics
for $1,174

The MB I am looking at:
13" 2.26 Ghz
4 GB Memory
250 GB Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400m Graphics
$1,136

You tell me what you would do? And I have no idea on graphics, which one is better?

Go with the MBP, eyes closed...

 

[JPark]

Thats just not true. New MBs are very nice, much nicer than previous MB models.

Sorry you are in Canada (Americas hat!) -- Microcenter has Macbooks for $800.

http://www.microcenter.com/storefro...mpg_macbook415190_macbookpro189480_imac419390

Well, they have actually have them for $800 for a long time...

I like the "Canada is America's Hat" thing. It says a lot about Texas.

 

[instaxgirl]

If the difference is $38 then close the thread lol. It's a no Brainer

Yeah! My price difference is £170

 

[seb-opp]

I have worked out the numbers and I can get a MB (with 4GB) for roughly the same as a MBP 13" (not modified). Which one would be better?

The MBP gives you a whole lot more over the MB: FW800, SD card slot, better screen, better graphics, longer battery life and a light up keyboard.

 

[student_trap]

Aluminium is so much nicer than white plastic... more resilient too!

as an owner of numerous polycarbonate and aluminium macs, i'd have to disagree