MacBook or MBP?

[bertofa]

Hi! I'm a newbie in Mac world (I just bought an iMac). I need a portable for ripping DVDs also when I'm out home - meaning just using batteries (the rest of time at home I'll use it for wp, spreadsheets and surfing the net); I travel a lot by train.

Which Mac do you expert guys suggest me?: Book or Pro

Thanks a lot

 

[spinnerlys]

When all you do is word processing, surfing the 6u, reading/writing email and ripping DVDs (which will cost you battery life due to the spinning), then a MacBook is fine.

As you can see from this comparison sheet, both Macs, or better every Mac except the Air will support what you want to do, and the notebooks, except the Air will give you the freedom of moving it around without an external power source.

 

[kernkraft]

Hi! I'm a newbie in Mac world (I just bought an iMac). I need a portable for ripping DVDs also when I'm out home - meaning just using batteries (the rest of time at home I'll use it for wp, spreadsheets and surfing the net); I travel a lot by train.

Which Mac do you expert guys suggest me?: Book or Pro

Thanks a lot

For your needs, a basic MacBook would be enough. But if you can afford it and if you don't mind the aluminium, get the 13" Pro. But my advice is - not now!

Wait for the update, it will soon come. Then you can decide. There is not much difference in performance now, but the aluminium has Firewire, if you have a Mini DV camcorder in the family, that's handy. Also. aluminium is more grown-up and sturdy.

 

[ajohnson253]

I thought that macbook like was all the same now for the unibody's. As in, macbook pro 13"-17'?

Didn't apple decide to make the whole macbook line, 'pro'?

 

[spinnerlys]

I thought that macbook like was all the same now for the unibody's. As in, macbook pro 13"-17'?

Didn't apple decide to make the whole macbook line, 'pro'?

No, there was always the white MacBook.

MacBook
Our most affordable notebook.
Just $999

13-inch MacBook Pro
The high-performance notebook for everyone.
From $1199

15-inch MacBook Pro
The mobile computing powerhouse.
From $1699

17-inch MacBook Pro
The ultimate mobile studio.
From $2499

MacBook Air
The thinnest and lightest Mac notebook ever.
From $1499

 

[ct95]

I would go with the Macbook. MacBook Pro is $200 more, which buys you the aluminum case, SD slot, FW800 and 90MB less (!) hard drive space. Everything else is the same. It is largely personal presence - weigh the $200 vs. the differences above.

Spec-wise MB is so close to MBP, since it was updated more recently. MBP is rumored to be imminent. After that, I expect there will be a clearer distinction between the 13" MB and MBP that will justify an extra $200.

 

[kny3twalker]

I would go with the Macbook. MacBook Pro is $200 more, which buys you the aluminum case, SD slot, FW800 and 90GB less (!) hard drive space. Everything else is the same. It is largely personal presence - weigh the $200 vs. the differences above.

Spec-wise MB is so close to MBP, since it was updated more recently. MBP is rumored to be imminent. After that, I expect there will be a clearer distinction between the 13" MB and MBP that will justify an extra $200.

That should be 90 GB. The MacBook Pro also has a better display in most cases from what I have read. But if you are set on getting a Mac notebook and not planning to wait until the next generation are released, you might as well save $400 and buy the MacBook from MicroCenter.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0321997

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1842491

Many people were able to have the Apple Stores, Best Buy, and Frys Electronics match the price from some reading of the link above.

 

[jedivulcan]

I like the glass screens of the 13" MacBook Pros. It's easier to clean and it's less of a worry if it's touched (touching the glass won't distort the LCD common to other anti-glare or glossy displays).

The backlight keypad is nice for dark lecture halls (where professors tend to use PowerPoints much more).

 

[bertofa]

I like the glass screens of the 13" MacBook Pros. It's easier to clean and it's less of a worry if it's touched (touching the glass won't distort the LCD common to other anti-glare or glossy displays).

The backlight keypad is nice for dark lecture halls (where professors tend to use PowerPoints much more).

That should be 90 GB. The MacBook Pro also has a better display in most cases from what I have read. But if you are set on getting a Mac notebook and not planning to wait until the next generation are released, you might as well save $400 and buy the MacBook from MicroCenter.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0321997

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1842491

Many people were able to have the Apple Stores, Best Buy, and Frys Electronics match the price from some reading of the link above.

I would go with the Macbook. MacBook Pro is $200 more, which buys you the aluminum case, SD slot, FW800 and 90MB less (!) hard drive space. Everything else is the same. It is largely personal presence - weigh the $200 vs. the differences above.

Spec-wise MB is so close to MBP, since it was updated more recently. MBP is rumored to be imminent. After that, I expect there will be a clearer distinction between the 13" MB and MBP that will justify an extra $200.

For your needs, a basic MacBook would be enough. But if you can afford it and if you don't mind the aluminium, get the 13" Pro. But my advice is - not now!

Wait for the update, it will soon come. Then you can decide. There is not much difference in performance now, but the aluminium has Firewire, if you have a Mini DV camcorder in the family, that's handy. Also. aluminium is more grown-up and sturdy.

When all you do is word processing, surfing the 6u, reading/writing email and ripping DVDs (which will cost you battery life due to the spinning), then a MacBook is fine.

As you can see from this comparison sheet, both Macs, or better every Mac except the Air will support what you want to do, and the notebooks, except the Air will give you the freedom of moving it around without an external power source.

Thanks a lot to everybody!
I'm not in a hurry so I think I'll be waiting for the new relesase of MBP and then I'll decide between new 13' MBP and Mac Book

Thanks again.

 

[kdum8]

I was looking at this recently for a friend also. Frankly for my money the 13" MBP is a nicer choice. It is $200 more, but you get a much nicer looker computer which has higher specs generally and many small advantages.

Go and have a look at them both in the store and see which one you would be happier with.

Of course in reality, most of us don't do that much that really requires a macbook pro, but we just like to give Apple our money...

 

[TSE]

MacBook would be fine. They are decent machines.