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

elf69

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 2, 2016
2,333
489
Cornwall UK
I have a macbook 2009 13" unibody.

Now I have been offered:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...k-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-17-santa-rosa-specs.html

with 4GB ram and 500GB HDD.

Bigger screen but slower and less (max, as I would max it out anyway) ram

Should I stick with my unibody?

I'd like the bigger screen, the standard DVI output is nice as well.

honest opinion please.

I use my machine for work but in one place so I dont move around with it, just as at my work station.
Specs all but same as my macbook bar DDR2 ram not DDR3.

Will move my ssd over if I bought it.
will I notice the drop in speed of ram in everyday use?
 
OP wrote:
"Should I stick with my unibody?"

Short, concise answer: YES.

Stick with what you have now, upgrade to SSD (and perhaps add RAM).

If you want more screen space, add a low cost IPS display, 25"-27".

I would not go "back in year of manufacture" for any reason.

My opinion only.
 
If you don't move around, then I fail to see the reason to get the one with the bigger display if it's slower. Why not just get a big monitor (non-4K ... something like a 24-27" 1080p display) and plug it into your existing system if you don't move it around?
 
I carry machine to and from work so external screen not easy carry back and forth every day.

the ram ddr2 not ddr3 but same CPU so is it really that much slower?
 
good to know about the GFX issue.

did not know the 8400GT had issues.

my macbook has the 9400 card are these known to have issue?
 
Not going to swap but bought it anyway.

Talking with seller who refurbs laptops turns out it comes with CS3 suite with license.
This goes for £150 on ebay but I do use dreamweaver and photoshop so it is worth it to me.

Plus a friend is looking to replace an old XP tower with a large apple so the 17" macbook is same as the 17" monitor he already has.

The macbook will run el cap so he will be up to date.
It has 500GB HDD and 4GB or ram.

So If sell to my friend for what I paid then we all win.
I'm told it needs battery but my friend does not move around so not important.

My friend is (except for iphone) an apple virgin.
I will be helping him but i'm new myself, but know more than him.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.