Is the macbook right for me?

[Drexra]

Let me just start off by saying MBP 15 inch, is way out of my price range, I know it would probably suit my needs better, but its too expensive currently. And I do like how the regular macbook is smaller.

I would be using the MB for word processing, internet (youtube) and a whole heap of Star Craft 2 at lower graphic settings

I was wondering if the Macbook would work for me, and if so should I try my hardest to get one now, or wait until an upgrade.

Thank you!

 

[CalBoy]

I don't know how the macbook (I assume you're referring to the white one and not the 13" mbp) will handle Star Craft 2, but I would imagine not as well as the higher mbps. Of course if you really enjoy playing games, a PC desktop could be a superior choice.

In other respects, the macbook will perform equally well for web surfing, word processing, music, etc.

While the Buyer's Guide seems to imply that the macbook will approach its average update point within 2 months, in my opinion, Apple is going to continue extending their notebook update times until they are about a year between refreshes. If that turns out to be the case, you could be looking at another 5-7 months without an update. At that point it becomes a matter of personal decision making: can you do without for that long? Do you want to?

 

[Drexra]

While I don't particularly WANT to, I can though. My laptop is dying, its just slowly though. And I did mean the white one.

Desktops wont really work, mainly because I need to be able to take it to class.

And on the starcraft front, this forum says they can run it on low-medium bootcamp with fairly high frames per second. The apple live chat people said that it could run too, I take what they say with a grain of salt however.

 

[vistadude]

Nope, it requires a good dedicated graphics chips. Additionally, the resolution and screen size on the 13 inch is too hard for a strategy/war game. I wouldn't even recommend playing this game unless you have a > $200 graphics card and greater than 6 gb ram.

Let me just start off by saying MBP 15 inch, is way out of my price range, I know it would probably suit my needs better, but its too expensive currently. And I do like how the regular macbook is smaller.

I would be using the MB for word processing, internet (youtube) and a whole heap of Star Craft 2 at lower graphic settings

I was wondering if the Macbook would work for me, and if so should I try my hardest to get one now, or wait until an upgrade.

Thank you!

 

[CalBoy]

While I don't particularly WANT to, I can though. My laptop is dying, its just slowly though. And I did mean the white one.

Desktops wont really work, mainly because I need to be able to take it to class.

If that is the case, then maybe you should weight how important having a newer, more functional laptop now as opposed to dealing with issues as your semester progresses.

I personally don't take a computer to class (and I highly recommend it!) so I can't offer you much advice on how important having a brand new computer is for that.

And on the starcraft front, this forum says they can run it on low-medium bootcamp with fairly high frames per second. The apple live chat people said that it could run too, I take what they say with a grain of salt however.

Well, how much time do you realistically see yourself playing Star Craft? I have a few old games that I kept mostly to entertain me once in a blue moon. If that's the case with you and Star Craft (especially in light of your classes), then don't sweat it. If, however, it's going to be your principle source of entertainment, you have a different consideration to make.

 

[Drexra]

I type a whole lot faster then I write, so I can take better notes that way

If I can run starcraft, then I would be playing starcraft Only reason I don't on this current one (aside from I know it would quicken its demise) is it really overheats my laptop like a champ.

And vistadude, I'm just going off what was written here, people are saying they can play it comfortably on their macbook

 

[vistadude]

I know starcraft isn't out on console yet, and may never be, but rather than doing light gaming, why don't you buy a xbox 360 or a PS3? You'll get way better graphics, performance, and far more gaming choice than buying a mac alone. You could supplement a macbook with a console, and have good performance for everything pretty much.

 

[Drexra]

I do have a 360, and I don't really ever see Starcraft 2 coming to a console. So pretty much, MBP or back to PC is how its going to be?

 

[alust2013]

I know starcraft isn't out on console yet, and may never be, but rather than doing light gaming, why don't you buy a xbox 360 or a PS3? You'll get way better graphics, performance, and far more gaming choice than buying a mac alone. You could supplement a macbook with a console, and have good performance for everything pretty much.

I think the point is that OP wants to play starcraft (which is possible, just at lower settings), and that money is a constraint.

 

[Drexra]

I think the point is that OP wants to play starcraft (which is possible, just at lower settings), and that money is a constraint.

Since ive been on a yuyuhakusho binge, bingo! Cudos to whoever gets that xD

 

[CalBoy]

I type a whole lot faster then I write, so I can take better notes that way

Oh I can type quite quickly, but that isn't why hand-written notes are better. But I don't want to derail your thread so I won't refer to this again.

If I can run starcraft, then I would be playing starcraft Only reason I don't on this current one (aside from I know it would quicken its demise) is it really overheats my laptop like a champ.

In that case, maybe you should try to find a way to save up more to get a better computer? If you really want to play it more often, then you should not try to make due with a computer that isn't meant to play those types of games.

 

[Drexra]

Oh I can type quite quickly, but that isn't why hand-written notes are better. But I don't want to derail your thread so I won't refer to this again.


In that case, maybe you should try to find a way to save up more to get a better computer? If you really want to play it more often, then you should not try to make due with a computer that isn't meant to play those types of games.

Then feel free to PM me, always looking for tips on education, new to college

I was considering that, but when I start getting better and better laptops, they start getting bigger and bigger. I tried the huge allegedly epically awesome laptop, and I refer to it at as the monstrosity, or bessy. Making due is fine as long as there is little lag at least at low-med settings.

 

[CalBoy]

I was considering that, but when I start getting better and better laptops, they start getting bigger and bigger. I tried the huge allegedly epically awesome laptop, and I refer to it at as the monstrosity, or bessy. Making due is fine as long as there is little lag at least at low-med settings.

That is true, but the screen real estate is really useful sometimes. And, the 15" mbps are not that heavy compared to the 13" macbook (I think the difference is 1 lb.).

 

[Drexra]

Oh, Im not talking about weight. Im just saying its big, and doesn't fit well in most places. Barely fits in my backpack, and I say the word fit loosely XD

 

[CalBoy]

Oh, Im not talking about weight. Im just saying its big, and doesn't fit well in most places. Barely fits in my backpack, and I say the word fit loosely XD

When I have occasionally taken my 15" mbp to school I haven't had trouble putting it into my Jansport backpack or putting it on a desk in any lecture hall. Of course this all depends on what type of backpack you have.

btw, you have to enable private messaging

 

[Drexra]

I just trolled the User CP, and closest thing I could find was enable users to email me

Not the biggest backpack ever, I have to take the battery off the laptop to make it fit.

 

[Hastings101]

The Macbook will do everything you need, and will run Starcraft 2 very playable on low and maybe even a combination of low-medium settings.

 

[wordoflife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTULKStb7NM


You should be fine. The Macbook has an extra gig of RAM compared to the one in this video.