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Macbook or Macbook pro

C

Carguy172

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 8, 2006
93
0
Hi, im in the market for a new notebook here's what do
I'd like to have a couple adobe apps open+ms office+safari
and more (im a big muiltitasker) I also want good battery life. So what I want to know is is it really worth the 1000 dollars for what I do.

Also
Is the screen any better? does the graphics card make all the diffrence? will the hardrive on the macbook be big enough? How much battery life does the macbook pro average?

Thanks.
 
Carguy172 said:
Hi, im in the market for a new notebook here's what do
I'd like to have a couple adobe apps open+ms office+safari
and more (im a big muiltitasker) I also want good battery life. So what I want to know is is it really worth the 1000 dollars for what I do.

Also
Is the screen any better? does the graphics card make all the diffrence? will the hardrive on the macbook be big enough? How much battery life does the macbook pro average?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I do not like the glossy screen on the MB. There are a lot of reflections depending on the lighting of your location. The great thing about the MB is, if the HD isn't big enough, you can easily swap it so that really isn't an issue. I think the MBP is quoted at having up to 4 hours battery life with the MB having up to 6.

Which ever you choose you will need to up the RAM so include that in your price.

I think the biggest differences are (obviously):
*processor
*video card
*screen size

You might not see any diiference in the processors. If you aren't running a lot of video you probably won't see much difference in the video. But, if you want to have multiple apps running, you might not like the 13'' screen.

If you are near a Apple store this is an easy enough thing to check out.

EDIT: One other thing, how much do you plan on working on this laptop on the go? If you are like most users, you use mostly at your desk liking to have ability to take it with you. I would say buy the MB and invest in a nice external LCD. I would recomend this with the MBP too, but we're trying to save you money.
 
Keep in mind that either choice will run the Adobe apps via Rosetta emulation, which will not be all that fast and which will eat up RAM.

Battery life, as mentioned, is much better on the MB, due among other things to the fact that the screen is smaller and lower-res - I'd decide how low a resolution you can accept, then get the cheapest Mac that has that. You might well end up with a 15" MBP. Of course, for that price, you can more or less get an MB and a 17" iMac, so let's hope you can live with the MB. :)
 
My advice is to steer clear of any device that uses Integrated Graphics period. Apple was just busting on them until the hypocrites at Apple decided to use them. Or wait for the next generation of Integrated because the current one sucks turds big time. GPU's are almost as important as the CPU. I not trying to steer you into a expensive machine but real GPU's make a big difference in many applications. If you have the money the pro is a real machine while Macbook has been handicapped with GMA950.
 
jsw said:
Keep in mind that either choice will run the Adobe apps via Rosetta emulation, which will not be all that fast and which will eat up RAM.
Click to expand...

Until they are realsed in UB. That will be a happy day.

jsw said:
Battery life, as mentioned, is much better on the MB, due among other things to the fact that the screen is smaller and lower-res - I'd decide how low a resolution you can accept, then get the cheapest Mac that has that. You might well end up with a 15" MBP.
Click to expand...
I didn't mention above, but I was a while back trying to make the sames decisision, MB or MBP, and one of the biggest points for me was the resolution and the max external display resultion, I am going to be giving presentation using this computer so I needed that to be as high as possible.

jsw said:
Of course, for that price, you can more or less get an MB and a 17" iMac, so let's hope you can live with the MB. :)
Click to expand...
If my mobile needs were met with a MB, this is what I would almost certianly do.
 
Thanks, Just so you know money isnt a huge problem here.
For mobility im like the average user i'l go around in my house but not much more then that. The graphics card in the macbook I have problems with that though its just something im afraid of in the future.
Also I really want a computer that will last thats why i'll be waiting for the core 2's to come out.

Oh and about the imac thing thats not a big deal i already have a desktop
 
jsw said:
Battery life, as mentioned, is much better on the MB, due among other things to the fact that the screen is smaller and lower-res - I'd decide how low a resolution you can accept, then get the cheapest Mac that has that. You might well end up with a 15" MBP. Of course, for that price, you can more or less get an MB and a 17" iMac, so let's hope you can live with the MB. :)
Click to expand...

Getting a 17" iMac (not the smallest model, because it has the same GPU as the MacBook) and a MacBook would be more expensive than buying a MacBook Pro. The biggest advantages of the iMac would be the better display and the better HD compared to the MacBook (Pro) and the better GPU compared to the MacBook. If you are not heavily relying on the GPU (and the tasks you quoted by the OP don't), the best solution might be a MacBook plus an external screen and an external disk and maybe an external hard disk. This would be significantly cheaper than the MacBook Pro and the MacBook+iMac solution and you would have a very portable machine with the MacBook.
 
I have a Macbook Pro with a glossy screen and I don't find it to be a liability at all. This includes working in the ATLAS pit at CERN (read: lots and lots of bright light sources) and outside. There is some reflection, obviously, but the glossy screen doesn't look any worse than a matte screen in high light environments. Matte screens dim to the point of not being able to be seen.

Honestly, the glossy screen/reflection issue is way overhyped.
 
miles01110 said:
Honestly, the glossy screen/reflection issue is way overhyped.
Click to expand...

If you get used to it. I move over to my mate's MB and it drives me absolutely nuts. My eyes begin to focus on the reflections.
 
About the display thing I already have a dell 20" wide screen
so that dosent make a difference to me .
 
Get a Macbook Pro and load it with ram. Its got plenty of power and go for either the Matte or glossy screen. Both look great to be honest. If you dont mind having a bigger laptop as your only using it aroung the house mainly get the 17" MBP. And the battery on the MBP isn half bad. I get around 4 hrs surfing web, and music with the screen up full. When doing some photo work in Photoshop i get around 2 and half -3 hrs of battery with the display up full. Not bad to be honest :)
 
miles01110 said:
Honestly, the glossy screen/reflection issue is way overhyped.
Click to expand...
same here, it really isn't an issue to me. Choosing between glossy/matte, is kinda hard though. Reflection isn't the issue for me
 
if you have the money go for the MBP, imo the aluminum is a lot nicer, you get more screen for working with, which is definetly better if your multitasking a lot, and no intergrated graphics.
 
Thanks guys

I guess I've decided to get a 17" macbook pro load it up with ram and watch it blow my desktop through the wall!!!
I'm also getting the matte screen because I like to sit outside during to summer.

But im waiting for the core 2's
Also does anyone know the battery life on the 17" I heard its better then the 15"
 
Similar Dilemna: 15.4" or 17" Macbook Pro

I'm in a similar situation to Carguy:

Do I keep a 2.0 Ghz 15.4" MBP which was sent to me by Apple or get the 17" MBP?

My mobile needs really only mean going from home to the office (a 1.2 mile, 20 minute walk 2x a day) and within my house (sofa, table, bed).

Until recently I used a 12" PB because I used to travel a lot, but my new business does not require that.

An external monitor is NOT an option for me due to space restrictions at both home and hte office.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Although cost is not a huge issue, if I kept the 15.4" I would up the RAM to 1 or 1.5GB, but would keep the 17" at 1GB.
 
Stick with the 15.4" because the 17" though is thin the dimensions are quite big to lug around everyday.
 
Carguy172,

Any reason that you say that given that you bought a 17" and will also be working outside in the summer?

What about screen real estate? What put you over the edge for the 17" -vs- the 15.4"?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Dubba
 
Dubba said:
Carguy172,

Any reason that you say that given that you bought a 17" and will also be working outside in the summer?

What about screen real estate? What put you over the edge for the 17" -vs- the 15.4"?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Dubba
Click to expand...

I'd say that the 17'' is a bit much to be carrying around, especially if you walk to work. Maybe it's just me, but the 17'' doesnt look all that much bigger than the 15.4'' .
 
Dubba said:
Carguy172,

Any reason that you say that given that you bought a 17" and will also be working outside in the summer?

What about screen real estate? What put you over the edge for the 17" -vs- the 15.4"?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Dubba
Click to expand...

The reason im getting the 17" is because first the screen size it comes with a bigger hardrive. I also don't mind carrying around something that big.

Hope that answered your questions.
 
For me, I decided going for the 15,3" for travel, and When I thought between MB and MBP, the GPU and the Keyboard of the MBP makes the difference.

Anyway, both are fine machines , enjoy it!
 
I've Tried glossy outside and have had better luck with the matte screens

Does anyone know the real life battery life of the 17" macbook pro
 
if money is not your bottle neck, go for mbp, this mb rss gonna kill you sooner or later.
 
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