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Is the 2.8Ghz MBP worth it?
- Thread starter lucasmath
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Yes, but I have the money now and not later. Will the computer still be relatively fast for longer if I buy something with more Ghz?
It will make no difference in that respect. The faster processor saves you time (10% theoretically) spent waiting for processor intensive tasks to finish. You shouldn't come across any software in the future where the 2.8GHz will be "fast" and the 2.53GHz won't.
So why should I get the 2.53Ghz vs the 2.4Ghz then? The difference there is even smaller. It seems like the upper configurations are just ways to get us to spend more money.
What will you be using the machine for?
If you are going to be running 5 or more productivity apps like web browsers, MS Office apps, iCal, Address book, iTunes etc. then NO you won't need the 2.8GHz. Spend it somewhere else or for up-to-date apps or RAM, or bigger HDD, or a bag or.... so forth and so on.
If you are going to be running core aware applications that take a good chunk of your CPU to run like DVD Studio Pro, Compressor, any Adobe CS3 apps, Logic Pro, etc. or if you plan on ripping/encoding/decoding tons of DVDs then yes, you will benefit.
If you buy a faster machine now thinking it will give you the feeling of it NOT being obsolete in 2 years then get it if you want, but either way in about a year your machine will be slow since processors just don't get faster, they change completely. By this time next year, the Front Side Bus is supposed to be obsolete and mobile quad cores will be hitting the streets.
There you have it.
Yes, that is the point of capitalism. Is the 2.8ghz worth it, it really depend on your habbits. Chances are if you opt for it you won't regret it, I mean if you have the money.
http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2008/10/macbook-pro-28ghz-performance/ is the best benchmark I have seen so far on the different macbook pros. As you can see the 2.8 isn't blow your mind away fast but it is consistently measurably faster than the other models. I would personally get the 2.8 if you can afford it (I did) 
I can get an entire car for $450. Maybe even a car and a new hat. Then I'll be the talk of the town!
I'd get the 2.8. "Worth" is a relative term. From a practical standpoint I doubt it is worth it, but I'd still get it.
...keep in mind I'm rocking a 1.67 G4 PB still, so I would like to live vicariously through you, and thus, would like you to get the 2.8.