MacBook Pro input/help

[spaceward agent]

Hello, the basic point of this post is that I am seeking help to clear up certain questions I have as I will be making my first Mac purchase today after work. I've ruled out going for the Air because of the basic screen size of only 11", no optic-drive, and no ethernet input.

1)Thunderbolt - I'm still a little unclear as to just what Thunderbolt exactly does. Is it just another outputto hook your MacBook up to the Thunderbolt display screen? Seeing as I don't plan on buying the display screen, I was mauling over buying the 13" MacBook pro from either Apple or Best Buy.

I am leaning towards buying it from Best Buy as the price is cheaper since it doesn't have the Thunderbolt drive (which since I won't be using it seems expendable).

Other than that, I assume the product from either store is still equipped the same otherwise, except the new Pro's at the Apple Store will have Lion?

Any input people have with more Apple knowledge than me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[fivedots]

If it doesn't have Thunderbolt then it's last year's model, which is why it's cheaper. So no, it's not identical in every other way. Different processors and GPUs, namely.

 

[spaceward agent]

well what i've seen on the best buy site vs. apple site is that the best buy site has the same i5 processors listed, so there hasn't been any newer processors released yet that i've seen on the apple site.

 

[fivedots]

but they haven't released new macbook pro's with new processors and GPU's yet, right? just the new macbook air has the new sandy bridge processors.

They updated them in February.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

All Macs updated in 2011 have that Thunderbolt (TB) port on them, which are the MBPs (13", 15" and 17"), the iMacs (21.5" and 27"), Mac minis and the MacBook Airs (11" and 13") with their i5 and i7 CPUs.
TB is a port capable of many things, like transferring data to an external HDD or from it, transferring video to an external display and much more.
Apple explains it here: http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

Best Buy will most probably offer a 2011 13" MBP, thus it will have TB.

Btw, TB looks like the Mini Display Port, but is just more capable.

Did that take some confusion or added more to it?

 

[spaceward agent]

All Macs updated in 2011 have that Thunderbolt (TB) port on them, which are the MBPs (13", 15" and 17"), the iMacs (21.5" and 27"), Mac minis and the MacBook Airs (11" and 13") with their i5 and i7 CPUs.
TB is a port capable of many things, like transferring data to an external HDD or from it, transferring video to an external display and much more.
Apple explains it here: http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

Best Buy will most probably offer a 2011 13" MBP, thus it will have TB.

Btw, TB looks like the Mini Display Port, but is just more capable.

Did that take some confusion or added more to it?

ah, I was unaware that all the 2011 models have TB regardless as it wasn't listed on the features part on the best buy site. thanks for clearing that up!

I guess the confusion will pass when I actually read and learn about it more.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

ah, I was unaware that all the 2011 models have TB regardless as it wasn't listed on the features part on the best buy site. thanks for clearing that up!

I guess the confusion will pass when I actually read and learn about it more.

Always check the specs of a machine on the official homepage, be it Apple or Dell or whatever you choose to buy. Best Buy, like any other mass retailer will often miss the most mundane things when listing specs.

 

[spaceward agent]

well that settles that issue. thanks for your help!

hopefully I can haggle with my friend who works at apple to see if price matching is available, haha