Looking for input on potential 15" MBP purchase

[omizzle]

After a lot of reading and thinking, I have decided on a 15" Macbook Pro over the 13". It is now between the low-end and the mid-range model.

$1599+iPod touch (that I would sell for $180ish im guessing)
I would like to get Applecare and a 500GB 7200rpm HD as well.

15"
2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB memory
250GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

or I could get the midrange model for $1699 (including ADC membership fees)
15"
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB memory
320GB hard drive
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics+NVIDIA 9600M GT with 256MB

However, I wouldn't get an iPod touch with it and I would probably end up keeping the 320GB HD. However, I would still like AppleCare, which is like $165 on ebay.

The difference between the two is 130mhz faster cpu, 70GB larger HD, and the addition of the 9600m GT.

I am going to be a sophomore studying business, so I wouldn't use the 9600m GT much (except for the occasional game, but I have a nice PC too). I would like to get 3-4+ years out of this computer, which is why I am considering the mid-range model.



Summary:
Low end 15": $1599+$120 (HD)+$165 (applecare)-~$180(ipod touch)=$1704
Mid-range 15": $1699+$165 (applecare)=$1864

What should I do MR??

 

[3N16MA]

If your not going to put the 9600M GT to work then I would save the $160 and get the 2.53GHz. You will be gaining 180GB more HD space at 7200rpm and only losing 130mhz and a GPU you wont even use. You can also sell the 250GB HD if you like or get an external enclosure for it. The $160 can be used towards a nice sleeve and other accessories. The only question you need to ask yourself is whether your needs will change in the next 1-2 years and you will be doing more GPU intensive tasks, if not save your money.

 

[Not Available]

[...]

Get the low-end one. The price saving + selling the iPod Touch and the parts you won't be using anymore is just too good to be ignored. You will end up saving around $250.

By the way, I would advise to spend the savings on an AppleCare bought from Apple. Software phishing is the easiest thing to do: simply forget to deactivate the product key on Adobe's Master Collection, and there you go: get $1000 from the fool and remain with the application.

 

[omizzle]

Get the low-end one. The price saving + selling the iPod Touch and the parts you won't be using anymore is just too good to be ignored. You will end up saving around $250.

By the way, I would advise to spend the savings on an AppleCare bought from Apple. Software phishing is the easiest thing to do: simply forget to deactivate the product key on Adobe's Master Collection, and there you go: get $1000 from the fool and remain with the application.

Huh?? If I enter the AC key, it should tell me whether it's valid or not, right?

 

[feelthefire]

Huh?? If I enter the AC key, it should tell me whether it's valid or not, right?

Yes and no. If you buy on eBay, nothing prevents the person you purchased from from returning the applecare to Apple after 90 days. Of course, nothing says it's not a code just generated at random that is not actually an Apple code, either.

There are huge threads on this.

 

[opera57]

Well it looks like the main factor between those two is the 9600m graphics. If you are going to do anything graphical intensive or if you are going to want to play games then personally I would go for the 2nd option as it has the more powerful graphics. If not, go for the first option as the difference between the CPU speed will most likely be negligible in normal use, and you are getting the added bonus of getting an iPod touch!

 

[miles01110]

Get the low-end 15." In your situation anything more than that seems like a waste of resources.