Is the Whitebook now the best deal?

[drlunanerd]

Have you considered buying a refurb older model 2.2 ghz whitebook? It's faster than any whitebook available now. (current model is 2.0ghz)

I don't think that's true. The 2.2GHz is an older 65nm Merom (Late 2007 MacBook), whereas the new 2GHz is a 45nm Penryn + faster FSB + much better graphics. It's faster.

One thing it doesn't have though is Intel VT-x hardware virtualisation support, which maybe doesn't make much difference using Parallels or Fusion but does matter under Windows Hyper-V for example.

My workplace has bought 3 of the 2ghz whitebooks (after Apple stopped selling the 2.2ghz, but before the recent graphics upgrade), and I've noticed they seem not quite as smooth or fast as mine. (with the same RAM as mine)

No comment on the new 2ghz whitebook with upgraded graphics. Just a reccomendation for the older 2.2ghz whitebook if you can get it cheap and don't mind the graphics card.

Edit: OK, I think you're confusing the MacBook models here. If they bought 2GHz models then they're the same vintage as your Late 2007 2.2GHz, so yes of course they'll be slower. You won't get an older 2.2GHz model as they stopped selling them in February 2008.
I think you might mean the later Early 2008 or Late 2008 2.1GHz models.

 

[drlunanerd]

Thanks

I can get an educational discount and it looks like tomorrow is the day! Much as I like the idea of the mini upped to it's max I think the portability of the macbook swings it for me. And with Applecare at £49 I can't really argue.

I wouldn't bother spending the extra £49 - use it towards maxing the RAM instead maybe. The free UK HE AppleCare Base Warranty is fine for a laptop. You only lose 2 years of dubious phone software support compared to normal AppleCare.

 

[RedTomato]

I don't think that's true. The 2.2GHz is an older 65nm Merom (Late 2007 MacBook), whereas the new 2GHz is a 45nm Penryn + faster FSB + much better graphics. It's faster.

I hadn't realised the new 2GHz used a different chip. Thanks for the correction. Any benchmark comparisions?

What about the slightly older new 2GHZ macbook? (released after the unibodies came out, but without the new graphics)

I use 3 of them at work, and they just don't seem as fast or smooth as my personal 2.2GHZ whitebook. (all have 4GB RAM)

 

[drlunanerd]

I hadn't realised the new 2GHz used a different chip. Thanks for the correction. Any benchmark comparisions?

What about the slightly older new 2GHZ macbook? (released after the unibodies came out, but without the new graphics)

I use 3 of them at work, and they just don't seem as fast or smooth as my personal 2.2GHZ whitebook. (all have 4GB RAM)

OK, I think you mean the Late 2008 2.1GHz MacBook. They have newer 45nm Penryn CPUs but less L2 cache than your 2.2GHz. With them having the same FSB and graphics coupled with the slower clock speed, I could imagine they may well be slower overall than your 2.2GHz model.

If you can get HE discount in the UK buying a new WhiteBook is a no-brainer. Better deal than a refurb. Also makes the Mac mini (especially the high-end model) look really overpriced.

 

[GeekGirl*]

Go for the white they are awesome.

 

[blinkie]

I did it. I bought the whitebook. All looks good apart from one dead pixel on the right hand side of the screen.

That's for all your advise.

 

[taru91]

Congratulations on your purchase! You will enjoy your macbook a lot .

 

[Aniki]

I think Base Aluminum is best choice for most users. If your a power user like me, 15 Inch Macbook Pro Unibody.