ok fair enough, i'll prob just buy new, have you been using it for graphics work? really torn between a mb and a pro!
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Macbook vs Macbook Pro - how to justify price difference.
- Thread starter heggie2000
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What do you mean by this? Unless I'm mistaken, both models support an external monitor up to the resolutions offered by the 23" ACD or 24" Dell. Unless it's necessary to use a 30" monitor with the notebook, there really isn't any noticeable difference between the two.
right i think macbook it will be. As i'm getting an ext display and mouse/keyb. and I think it'll handly cs2/3 well, Thanks for all the input guys
I'm in the same boat. The only "professional" app I use is Final Cut Express HD. Is there a huge difference in performance b/w a MB and MBP due to the graphics card to justify $800-$1000 price jump?
Do you use Motion2 ? If not then no. We have final cut studio on a macbook running perfectly. The only app we dont use on it is motion, but other than that - DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut, LiveType, SoundTrack etc.. all work perfectly.
Ther was rumors that Apple 'may' add some GPU accelerated effects for the forthcoming FCP6 - so then there may be a difference in general editing - but that might just be an advancement onto realtiem extreme.
Nope, no use of Motion. In that case, that is excellent news. You saved me a bunch of money by switching to Geic...er, Macbook!
Get the MacBook Pro
I would heartily recommend the MacBook Pro. I have a coworker who just got one from Apple's refurbished site and even the Die-Hard PC fanatics are drooling. On a a more practical basis here are the reasons besides those already stated.
1. Graphics Card. The MacBook and Minis use Intels integrated graphics versus a dedicated graphics card. Even though you don't run games if you use VNC or log on remotely those are graphics intensive. Even iTunes CoverFlow is very cool and very graphics intensive. Plus the integrated graphics takes away memory from your general use. I love the Mini form factor but its performance for VNC for me is disappointing.
2. Professionalism. The MacBook Pros look very professional.
3. Affordable luxury.
4. CPU is not much of a difference but look at bus speeds and ram speeds as well. Look at the MacWorld benchmarks.
5. A MBP you would keep for a long time so the extra performance would pay for itself.
I would heartily recommend the MacBook Pro. I have a coworker who just got one from Apple's refurbished site and even the Die-Hard PC fanatics are drooling. On a a more practical basis here are the reasons besides those already stated.
1. Graphics Card. The MacBook and Minis use Intels integrated graphics versus a dedicated graphics card. Even though you don't run games if you use VNC or log on remotely those are graphics intensive. Even iTunes CoverFlow is very cool and very graphics intensive. Plus the integrated graphics takes away memory from your general use. I love the Mini form factor but its performance for VNC for me is disappointing.
2. Professionalism. The MacBook Pros look very professional.
3. Affordable luxury.
4. CPU is not much of a difference but look at bus speeds and ram speeds as well. Look at the MacWorld benchmarks.
5. A MBP you would keep for a long time so the extra performance would pay for itself.
It will handle CS2 about as well as a PB 1.67; I have the PB and my advisor (I work for the Tulane campus paper) uses a white MB for all her publications work- mainly InDesign and Illustrator and it's snappy. CS3 should be even snappier- no emulation.
VNC should not be slower using a built in card than a dedicated card. If you are seeing slow down then it is for another reason.
Remember there is more to the MBP than the speed difference (which admittedly isn't very big).
You get a bigger display (see more at once), built in graphics so you have more RAM available (plus faster memory speed because you have less resources vying for memory bandwidth), nicer keyboard(personal preference) , better speakers, bigger trackpad, more connection options, etc...
I in no way agree that all that is worth the 1000 or so extra but it does come close.
buying a black macbookam i mad!
Yes, but not because you are buying a blackbook... just in general.
First off the RETAIL price difference between the mid MB and the low MBP is $700, $500 for the Blackbook.
Once you bring them all up to 2gb or ram and 120GB drive the price difference drops to $500 and $400 for the MB and the BMB compared to the MBP.
For that $500/$400 you are getting..
1) Bigger screen
2) Dedicated graphics card capable of core image and core video
3) Bigger screen ( I love this screen )
4) Faster CPU ( marginally )
5) backlight keyboard
6) MATTE SCREEN ( I hate the glare on the glossy screens )
7) Expresscard/34 support
8) "Pro" apps are fully supported
9) Support for the 30" ACD
10) Keyboard feels better and the units as a whole seems more solid ( I know very subjective )
11) .... I'm sure I missed something
Was it worth the $450 to me ( edu discount is higher on the MBP's ) damn straight skippy.
That's exactly how I analyzed my buying decision as well... My MBP is the first Mac I've ever owned (just got it on 3/6/07). Getting the 15" screen & dedicated graphics card was worth the extra $500 to me... If I only I could figure out why I can't play movie DVDs, I'd be happy as hell.
Strange since I can't figure out how to turn OFF the DVD player coming up automatically when I put in a disk.
Relax man i was agreeing with you! However 450 is a lot for that kinda stuff. Not too much, but enough to make people think about it.
You make a good point and it has been duly noted. It is more than just a RAM, CPU issue.
Sorry, didn't mean to come off like that. To me there appears to this misconception that MBP's are so much more expensive when they are not as expensive as people think. It's the same with weight... the MBP is only like 6% heaver than the MB, but many people still think the MB is "very portable" but the MBP weighs too much ( 5.2 vs 5.6 lb ).
It really doesn't have much to do with weight. But more with size 15.4" vs 13.3"
Also, I wanted a MBP but it doesnt offer anything new. It looks just like the PB. Until they get a newer look, I will pass.
System Preferences -> CD and DVDs -> change away.
To the guy who can't play them, have you tried running the DVD player? it might not be set to run automatically.
No worries
As with all things this is a personal preference. I liked my 12" iBook over my 15" Dell. Probably because it was much lighter. However having gone from the 15.4" MBP back to a 13.3" Macbook i quite miss the extra space of the MBP
.
It's not the size that counts it's how well you use it?
( Sorry couldn't resist )
This whole equation changes again in the next few months ... a new rev of the Macbook could blur the lines a little more and make less differentiating the MB from the low end MBP while still saving a few hundred $$'s.
I personally enjoy having a 13" notebook, because when I come home I hook it up to my 20" LCD and get cracking. When I am out, I don't need the screen space. And I don't play games.
And like I said, as much as I would love a MBP, I can't justify it when there is nothing new about it. the MB has a magnetic latch, new look, new keyboard. The MBP needs a refresh in the area of looks. Which is why I won't buy one now.
And like I said, as much as I would love a MBP, I can't justify it when there is nothing new about it. the MB has a magnetic latch, new look, new keyboard. The MBP needs a refresh in the area of looks. Which is why I won't buy one now.