Macbook to MBP back to Macbook

[jdiddy]

Has anyone done this? I just upgraded from a CoreDuo Blackbook to a 2.2ghz Santa Rosa MBP, without money from my pocket. It was love at first sight with my Blackbook, not so much with the MBP. I know the MBP is an awesome machine maybe I just need time to get used to it. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[siurpeeman]

i went from a white 2.0 ghz core 2 duo macbook to a 2.4 ghz macbook pro. it wasn't love at first sight; i only really wanted the video card. there are lots i miss about the macbook like the magnetic latch and the keyboard and the user-replaceable hard drive. still, i wouldn't go back.

 

[CalBoy]

The Macbook Pro will grow on you. I fell in love with it way before I bought it. I can understand where you're coming from though; the black macbook is smaller and the black is nice looking too. In the end though, you have a superior machine and you'll notice it soon.

 

[What]

depends

mbp = overkill

if its the same price, def get the mbp.
but for most people, the different specs are not significant for what most people use their laptops for.

portability and battery life is important to me.

i had the mbp and sold it. it was an awesome computer, but i realized that i could do everything on the mbp on a macbook and save 500 dollars. which equals an iphone for me. 🙂

 

[Cybergypsy]

Had 4 macbooks and yes they were nice, However the MBP is much nicer to type on and love the feel of it, it not for everyone, but i know i will NEVER go Back to a Macbook, I also love the larger screen and the weight is about the same. 🙂

 

[Cybergypsy]

mbp = overkill

if its the same price, def get the mbp.
but for most people, the different specs are not significant for what most people use their laptops for.

portability and battery life is important to me.

i had the mbp and sold it. it was an awesome computer, but i realized that i could do everything on the mbp on a macbook and save 500 dollars. which equals an iphone for me. 🙂

The batt life is te same on the new MBP as on the macbook 🙂

 

[DeepShadows]

mbp = overkill

if its the same price, def get the mbp.
but for most people, the different specs are not significant for what most people use their laptops for.

portability and battery life is important to me.

i had the mbp and sold it. it was an awesome computer, but i realized that i could do everything on the mbp on a macbook and save 500 dollars. which equals an iphone for me. 🙂

That's because the MBP is targeted towards the people that NEED the extra hardware advantages....
That's like telling someone not to buy a ferrari to go a mile to work and back everyday, buy a honda or something.... well DUH

and that is why "most people" don't have MBPs...
Only buy what you need, or really really want... it'll save you several hundred dollars and some worry.

 

[motherduce]

I did...

I had a 1.83 Macbook for a year. Sold it to my mom and bought a MBP 15" Santa Rosa about a month ago.

First off - here's my profile - photography, web design, flash, and a little bit of Final Cut Express in the near future (iMovie for now). I use my laptop with a 20" external display 85% of the time.

1. Hated the latch closing - really missed the magenetic. Mine was a little messed up with some noticeable gaps on the left and right (enough that I could tap it back and forth), but all the ones I've seen I just don't like the latch - feels a bit too loose.
   
2. Didn't like the size. It'd be either the 13" or 17" for me. The 15" screen is nice, very nice, but not quite big enough to really make a difference when I'm doing quick road work or around the house. Mostly I have it hooked to a display anyways.
   
3. Durability - I know the MBPs are durable, they just don't "feel" as durable. The aluminum is sweet, but when I stick my laptop in a sleeve and put it in the saddlebag on my harley, I don't want to be worried (yes, I know, this is nitpicky, and a nice case will alleviate this, but I also felt just carrying it around and stuff I was much more worried about it because of the higher cost and the durability).
   
4. Needs - I thought I needed the MBP, but really, I don't for the extra $1K. Sure, there will be some times when I wish I had a more powerful laptop, but for almost everything I do, the MB is plenty sufficient.

So there's my take. Sent the MBP back (I love Amazon) - got my new MB last week, love it. Happy to be back on the 13". Now before everyone tears my head off about being a real designer or a real photographer and everyone's "real" needs, it really is to each his own...

I feel I don't need the extra power in my portable. If I end up needing the power, I'll go with an iMac and break even on the cost. Other people may use their laptop much more at client sites, on the road, etc, and thus need the power and the screen, etc.

So this is just my take - hopefully it gives you some things to think about in making your decision.

Cheers!

 

[Cybergypsy]

1. the macbook keyboard is too strange for me.
2. every scratch is shown on the cover.
3.way to many sharp edges, and crack lines.
4.3 of the 4 macbooks i had had issues out of the box,they dont have the feel of a MBP.
5. hate the feel of the track pad.

For me ,this is the machine i will keep.

 

[xpovos]

Yes, I did the whole MB --> MBP --> MB transition. I really prefer the MacBook Pro, but I just got really tired of dealing with all the quality control issues I was encountering. Out of the 6 MacBook Pros I had (so many because of exchanges due to issues), 5 of these had significant problems, ranging from warped cases and exploding batteries to bad screens and logic board defects.

By contrast, I've had two MacBooks with absolutely no issues, and various family members and friends have had a combined total of 8 MacBooks with absolutely no issues. None of my other Apple products (a couple of iMacs, numerous iPods, and an AppleTV) have ever had any problems either.

While I would love another MBP right now, I'm no longer willing to gamble with my money, at least not until another revision or two restores my confidence in the product's quality. And of course, my luck with the MBP line was unusually bad---but it's still MY luck, and it didn't seem to be getting any better.

So I exchanged my most recent MBP---a 17" Santa Rosa hi-res model with upgraded hard drive and RAM---for a new 24" iMac and a 13" BlackBook, for nearly even money.

I miss the larger laptop screen and higher resolution A LOT---but my stress level has been noticeably lower since the exchange.