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left Apple store frustrated ... there is no MBP for me?
- Thread starter stefan1975
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If you want a smaller machine, the plastic Macbook and the Macbook Air are less reflective than the 13" MBP because they don't have the glass sheet in front of the display. There are rumours on the front page of this site that the plastic MB may soon be receiving a similar CPU+GPU to the 13" MBP.
well i do have a videocamera which currently i dont use since my eee doesnt have firewire, so it was a big plus for the MBP. I already tried ordering the 2009MBP to be honest, but something went wrong in the ordering process and when it was not here in 13 weeks i cancelled the order and decided to wait for the i5 MBP13 i was sure they'd release in april
yeah i have been thinking about that. but through a relative i can use his educational teachers discount at his school (not an apple store edu URL). If i order through their IT department i can get a 20% discount on my order ... which is large enough to consider it, but i don't know if they will take it back just as easily as the macstore, they would have to custom order it for me to their school and pay for it upfront.
You can still buy Apple care and get it serviced in the Apple store (plus you have you're standard factory one year warranty regardless.) I used to work for a school and worked on 1000's of machines and saw all sorts of failures, all were covered by the standard Apple Care.
I say get the machine at 20%. That's a good deal, and get a SSD with the savings and I promise you will be satisfied with your machine. I just got my first glossy screen and I honestly didn't like it at first. But honestly, after having for two weeks now, I am 100% satisfied with my purchase. (Albeit a 15'' not a 13''). The resolution difference was the hardest thing to get used to, opposed to the glossy screen.
My machine is not a mirror. It can be, but with minor adjustments in position, I can can a good viewing angle in almost any scenario except where it's so bright a matte display wouldn't even be visible. The brights appear to be brighter (illusion or not) and the blacks seems darker....plus aesthetically I love the black bezel. The glossy is a great choice for such a good price when you tack on that 20% discount.
??? How would you know that? Based on a cheesy unpacking video?
Because all macbooks (except for the aluminium one which was around for only a few months) have had a glossy display, not a glassy display. Seeing as the new ones have exactly the same form factor, logic follows they will have exactly the same screen covering.
well if youre not looking for a computer immediately then wait it out for a bit. Theres a leak out of Vietnam that there is going to be a new MacBook with almost identical specs to the base 13" MBP (apart from the RAM which is easily upgradeable) http://www.appleinsider.com/article...m_reveals_apples_13_inch_macbook_refresh.html
The MacBook, while it does have a glossy screen, does not have the mirror screen. The MBP has a glossy screen with a piece of glass over the top that makes it even glossier. The MacBook doesnt have that glass. If you want the better CPU however, then go with the 15". I have a 15" and it is perfect on the sofa etc. Its a really good size.
I know this is hard to believe for the matte zealots, but the large majority of users actually -- get this -- prefer the glossy screens. I've had both (three matte models, four glossy models). I prefer the glossy for my needs.
Apple does their market research, they didn't just blindly decide to force glossy displays on all their users against their will. There are benefits to matte screens, there are benefits to glossy. Obviously, you prefer matte.
People do not feel the need to justify their purchases to people like you -- who are you that we'd need to justify ANYTHING to you?
I am a full time professional photographer who works with demanding ad agencies and magazine editors. I prefer the glossy screens for color rendering and the fact that is actually easier to avoid glare. With the matte screens, it was harder to find a good angle to get rid of what was a large, diffuse area of screen glare. The same type of window light on a glossy screen is smaller and is much easier to get rid of while working.
I would never go back to matte screens because of this...
I would never go back to matte screens because of this...
well i know the 15" may not be that much wider then the 13. However my previous laptop was a dell precision m65 15` widescreen. And i found myself using my eee in the living room instead since for some reason it felt too clunky to carry around and put on the sofa edge .. even though it was matte and 1900x1200 (i do love that resolution).
the coming white plastic MB does seem nice, if it is way cheaper then the MBP. if it is still EUR 899 with just 2gb ram an 4gb upgrade will put it around EUR 1000 making it almost as expensive as the MBP13 right, with the backlit keyboard, alu unibody and FW port.
how big are the chances that the MBA will loose the C2D next refresh. perhaps i should wait another round for the MBP2011 update, but buying it has been an itch for me since last november.......
the coming white plastic MB does seem nice, if it is way cheaper then the MBP. if it is still EUR 899 with just 2gb ram an 4gb upgrade will put it around EUR 1000 making it almost as expensive as the MBP13 right, with the backlit keyboard, alu unibody and FW port.
how big are the chances that the MBA will loose the C2D next refresh. perhaps i should wait another round for the MBP2011 update, but buying it has been an itch for me since last november.......
I have the model you suggest and I fully concur, it is an outstanding machine. I don't need the extra horsepower of the i7 so the i5 2.4GHz with 4 gigs of RAM is perfect for my needs. I also agree that the 15" size is the sweet-spot combining nice screen size and fairly light weight...I would avoid the glossy screen at all costs! I've had one and it's a mirror.
Many people (certainly not all) that have them need to justify it and say they are great. But side by side (as I have done) the difference is drastic. The Anti Glare is so much easier on your eyes.
I might suggest you give serious consideration to the 15" MacBook Pro with the Hi-Res Anti Glare screen. That's what I have and it's fantastic. My third MBP thus far. Yes the screen is expensive, yet when you think about all the hours you sit in front of it for the life of the computer, the display ends up being a fair price.
As far as the specific model for you, I would suggest the base 15" MBP 2.4GHz Core i5, in it's standard configuration with the only upgrade being the Hi-Res Anti Glare Screen.
That model is a great bargain, it's fast and quiet, as well as offering the best battery life of the lot. I would have bought that one in a flash, if not for the fact that I do 3D Aerospace Design and require lots of memory and other resources for the apps I use. For a day to day personal laptop I believe the model I'm suggesting for you is an outstanding machine. It's got plenty of memory, speed, and you may not notice the size difference as much as you think.
I prefer the 15" as it gives one so much more screen space to work with. Also I carry mine every day and find it no problem. Especially when you take into consideration that for a 15" it's less than one inch thick and a full pound to a pound and one half lighter than the rest of the mainstream 15" laptops out there. It has a small A/C adapter and is easily carried in my opinion.
Good luck with your choice.
Cheers...
I couldn't be happier with the i5 15" MBP.
There are several advantages to the i5 2.4GHz that many people overlook. Often it's simply because the marketing people have us thinking more, more, more. When in fact the best model of all, is this one. The reviews I've read on this specific model rave about how much faster it is, even in comparison to last years 2.8GHz C2D. In addition, I have a good friend who just received his yesterday. I had an opportunity to try it and I'm so impressed. This is one of, if not the best MBP's of all. Personally as a long time PowerBook / MacBook Pro user, I could not be more impressed. I believe a year from now, we will look back and realize what a great choice this machine is. Enjoy yours
Cheers...
I believe the advantages of the aluminum unibody construction are worth the difference in price. Especially if you plan on keeping it for more than one year. The friends I know with white MacBooks complain about how hard they are to keep clean and how easily they stain. Yet that said it's obviously a very personal decision.
As far as the MBA, the real question is if it will be refreshed or killed off. It's common for Apple store personell to suggest that the iPad is a replacement for it. When I heard that for myself, in more than one Apple Store I was shocked. However this is indeed what they are telling people. At the Apple Store just one mile from me they have two display tables dedicated to the iPad, with no MBA's in sight. Kind of a shame really, as the MBA is a good machine in it's own right. Finally I'm often asked "when's a good time to buy?" I believe right now is the time. I have a friend who is a senior engineer at Intel, he says the overwhelming demand for the popular Core i series is so high that he expects a price increase shortly.
None of that matters if you were working in a darkroom while editing your photography.
well i have been reading some articles that a MBA refresh is almost due and that it will definitely not get killed off. I haven't been planning on getting one looking for a MBP instead. But if it does get a decent upgrade, a buttonless trackpad, a less glassy screen, high(er)res perhaps ... and who knows the timing seems to be right for a release with intels' new i5 ULV that might fit the MBA .... i would get it i think.
for the rest it seems that what i want i cannot get (at least not with a MB/MBP ... not sure i want to go the envy14 way yet), so i guess it is time to make up my mind and get something i don't want (C2D MBP) or get something i want but is above my initial budget (15" i5 MBP).
That way i can finally get on with my life and stop browsing for youtube reviews every day. Or just get the plastic MB and trade it for a new 2011/2012 MBP13 when there are sandy bridges in them
thx, stefan
There are several advantages to the i5 2.4GHz that many people overlook. Often it's simply because the marketing people have us thinking more, more, more. When in fact the best model of all, is this one. The reviews I've read on this specific model rave about how much faster it is, even in comparison to last years 2.8GHz C2D. In addition, I have a good friend who just received his yesterday. I had an opportunity to try it and I'm so impressed. This is one of, if not the best MBP's of all. Personally as a long time PowerBook / MacBook Pro user, I could not be more impressed. I believe a year from now, we will look back and realize what a great choice this machine is. Enjoy yours
Cheers...
Thank you...it is BY FAR the finest laptop I have ever owned and I have had several Apple laptops including the Top Of The Line PowerBook G4, a C2D MacBook and the 1st gen MBP...IMO, for the money ($1699 with Apple Business Discount) it's "bang-for-the-buck" is unrivaled in the Apple Laptop Line...
wow! that is "just" 1350. The config i am looking at right now (2.4 i5 with AG) would set met back 1884 ($2374) ... without possible discount.
the coming 899 MB is looking really attractive right now
well because i still haven't made up my mind i took another trip to the Apple store a few towns away.
I thought perhaps a few weeks would make a difference and my choice easier, however i left the store emptyhanded again ... (well my wallet wasn't complaining that i didn't buy anything).
The MBP13 still looked too glossy and crappy with it's current specs. I thought about getting the white MBP instead so at least it would have been a cheaper purchase, but for some reason the quality of the screen and colors on the MB seem lots worse then the MBP.
The 15" MBP HR AG still looked magnificent and that is the screen i love, however when the sales girl wasnt looking i stacked the two on top of eachother and noticed that contrary to what some people seem to be saying here on the forum the MBP15 actually is a *lot* bigger and heavier then the 13. I couldn't see myself using it on the armrest of the couch.
perhaps i will be in doubt for a few months longer until the next refresh and apple releases a core iX matte MBP13 .. just for me?
I thought perhaps a few weeks would make a difference and my choice easier, however i left the store emptyhanded again ... (well my wallet wasn't complaining that i didn't buy anything).
The MBP13 still looked too glossy and crappy with it's current specs. I thought about getting the white MBP instead so at least it would have been a cheaper purchase, but for some reason the quality of the screen and colors on the MB seem lots worse then the MBP.
The 15" MBP HR AG still looked magnificent and that is the screen i love, however when the sales girl wasnt looking i stacked the two on top of eachother and noticed that contrary to what some people seem to be saying here on the forum the MBP15 actually is a *lot* bigger and heavier then the 13. I couldn't see myself using it on the armrest of the couch.
perhaps i will be in doubt for a few months longer until the next refresh and apple releases a core iX matte MBP13 .. just for me?
I have the new 13" macbook (and matte 15" Pro), and lots of people at work have the glossy 13" alu macbooks (before they became pros), and yes, the 13" macbook has a way less glossy screen, by virtue of not having that awful glass covering it. It's almost as good as my glossy screen, and if I hadn't had a need for a bigger screen I woulda gone for the white Macbook for the screen alone.
Patrix.
While the iX processors offer many advantages, the c2d's are not slouches. coupled with the new nvidia 320 GPU, and you have quite a nice mini system. Be mindful that the glare you see in a store might not be there in your domicile, unless you are fond of harsh lighting. There are matting screen protectors available that are not half bad. Of course you can be adventurous and replace the screen yourself.... maybe have someone else do it. Googled
http://www.applelinks.com/index.php...matte_finish_screen_upgrade_19999_with_free_/
I think you might be pleasantly surprised when you get your 13" jewel home.
well in the current 13" range i think i actually would prefer the white MB because dues to the lack of glass it has a lot less glare.
If they would just put in a 1366x768 matte screen in the MBP13 paired with a core i5-430 it'd be a no brainer. Something like a toshiba r700/asus u35 coming from apple with OSX would be an awesome mix.
the other thing bugging me is that at the end of the year i will have quite my studies so there won't be a student discount for the late 2010 refresh for me, making it even more difficult to decide.
playing with it for 30mins at the store also gave me the feel that at the (left) palmrest the MBP15 runs kinda hot, this also worries me apart from the large size of the casing.
If it helps you any, I have the new macbook pro 13". I love it. The screen is beautiful (way better than my mid 2007 macbook. Seriously, the colors are just more vibrant). I don't know if it has a better screen actually or if the glass makes a difference. But I do know I don't notice reflection too much (though I only use the screen when taking it out of hte house. At home I have a 21" LCD I connect my pro with that has no reflection at all. I actually think the screen on my macbook pro looks *slightly* better honestly in terms of colors (but you know, 21" screen vs. 13", it gets used when my macbook is at home).
As for i5 vs core2duo? I have to say this computer isn't much faster than my old one (but fast enough it runs a lot more smoothly. But probably part of that is far more RAM than my old computer). It is definitely faster, but could be faster. But it is a lot more capable with the new graphics card and higher RAM (more RAM than my old computer could even support).
I was kinda skeptical about buying it when it had the same processor (and not much faster speed spec wise) as my old computer but I have to admit I'm very happy with it and whenever I bring my old computer out, I'm happy I upgraded (I think I'm going to keep my old one to watch stuff off hte internet on my tv with. It supports my tv better than this one does. This one has the famous, "Steve says you should update technology so no, we don't care it doesn't connect well to older technology" issue. The workaround I found it just doesn't display nice on the tv. My old one just needed one mini-dvi to tv converter). It just runs better overall (and enough that it feels like a proper upgrade and not just a small one).
Overall... I'm very happy with my computer (beside the tv thing).
As for i5 vs core2duo? I have to say this computer isn't much faster than my old one (but fast enough it runs a lot more smoothly. But probably part of that is far more RAM than my old computer). It is definitely faster, but could be faster. But it is a lot more capable with the new graphics card and higher RAM (more RAM than my old computer could even support).
I was kinda skeptical about buying it when it had the same processor (and not much faster speed spec wise) as my old computer but I have to admit I'm very happy with it and whenever I bring my old computer out, I'm happy I upgraded (I think I'm going to keep my old one to watch stuff off hte internet on my tv with. It supports my tv better than this one does. This one has the famous, "Steve says you should update technology so no, we don't care it doesn't connect well to older technology" issue. The workaround I found it just doesn't display nice on the tv. My old one just needed one mini-dvi to tv converter). It just runs better overall (and enough that it feels like a proper upgrade and not just a small one).
Overall... I'm very happy with my computer (beside the tv thing).