New Macbook Pro?

[teknikal90]

Hey all,

I'm a Logic user and perform almost every second week on stage using Apple's Mainstage.
My current rig revolves around an early 2008 Macbook Pro - Penryn 2.4ghz 4gb RAM, 200gb 5400rpm drive.
It's sluggish. Sounds and instruments take ages to load and often times i see the cpu bar redline in the middle of a song and I get freaked out.

I'm thinking to buy a new Macbook Pro.
Your buyer's guide says don't buy unless you need one, but...why? The last 2 updates took 300+ days and right now its still on 180 days..and a quick Google search shows me that the next Intel Processor won't come out until March 2012? And there aren't any news that I can see regarding new graphics cards.. Am I missing something? Has there been any more information that suggests an update is imminent?

Secondly, I'm considering buying refurbished. Now, how good are these machines, does anyone know? Last thing I want is to get a 'new' macbook pro then find out the battery isn't new.... Since they have a limited cycle, I'd feel jibbed. The prices on them are VERY attractive though...

Lastly, I'm considering doing the 2.3 ghz upgrade. I'm mainly doing Logic stuff + main stage - what's the real world difference on these chips? I looked at benchmarks and it does look like there is a real tangible difference, but in real life, is it something that you really can't notice unless you know, or does it actually make a feel good difference?

Sorry for the vague questions, but I figured someone out there must know, and thought I'd try my luck

Thank you all in advance,


Phil


EDIT: btw, I'm getting SSD

 

[appleguy123]

The buyer's guide only goes by the average days before an update. It's not based on rumors, or any knowledge for that matter.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

The buyer's guide only goes by the average days before an update. It's not based on rumors, or any knowledge for that matter.

This.

Truth be told, update cycles are becoming much less of a science it seems.

 

[GuitarG20]

i believe someone said the difference in speed between the 2.2 and 2.3 is negligible for what you pay aka it's not worth it. but i'll wait for someone to comment on it...

 

[Naimfan]

Just get the 2.2 GHz. With an SSD you'll be fine. Though I would suggest upgrading to 8 GB of RAM on your own.

Refurbs are fine - great value.

 

[teknikal90]

Just get the 2.2 GHz. With an SSD you'll be fine. Though I would suggest upgrading to 8 GB of RAM on your own.

Refurbs are fine - great value.

When you say great value, are they like 'as new', from your experience?
Never had a refurbished computer before.

 

[Naimfan]

When you say great value, are they like 'as new', from your experience?
Never had a refurbished computer before.

The overwhelming majority of refurb experiences reported here are positive. Refurbs come with the same 1 year warranty as a new machine, and are eligible for Applecare, so there's really no downside. Occasionally people report minor cosmetic issues, but that's rare and when they are mentioned they are exactly that--minor. And if you read about refurbs on Apple's site, you'll see why.

So yes, go for one - great way to save a good chunk of money.

 

[Mac-key]

Refurb ALL THE WAY!

I've bought 2 MBPs from the refurb store - both run great. In fact, my second one I just bought a few weeks back (see sig). It came with 8GB of RAM! (when I ordered it, the specs said 4GB)

also, the battery only had 3 cycles on it. no blemishes or cosmetic issues at all. I saved HUNDREDS.

 

[jwksmith]

There is another really good reason to buy refurb right now. A refurb will likely come with Snow Leopard installed. You can upgrade to Lion, but if it gives problems, you can easily roll back to SL. Lion probably won't be fully debuged for a few months yet.

 

[teknikal90]

thanks guys.
I'm basically down to two models.

both 15"....2.3ghz with 256ssd (refurb) or 2.2ghz 256ssd (new)
exact same price.
so i guess the question is, how much should i value being able to unwrap the plastic off the machine?

 

[Mac-key]

thanks guys.
I'm basically down to two models.

both 15"....2.3ghz with 256ssd (refurb) or 2.2ghz 256ssd (new)
exact same price.
so i guess the question is, how much should i value being able to unwrap the plastic off the machine?

both machines come wrapped in plastic, refurb or new

 

[Naimfan]

thanks guys.
I'm basically down to two models.

both 15"....2.3ghz with 256ssd (refurb) or 2.2ghz 256ssd (new)
exact same price.
so i guess the question is, how much should i value being able to unwrap the plastic off the machine?

In that case, get the 2.3. Same money, slightly faster.

 

[dusk007]

2.3 is 4.5% faster at the most or nada. It really isn't worth paying anything extra for it.

Get a refurb 2.2 or a new 2.2. The 2.3 is never worth it. You need to do benchmark to notice any difference.

 

[teknikal90]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

If there was 2.2 with sad I'd snap it up lol. But there isn't..ah decisions decisions

 

[Dhelsdon]

Secondly, I'm considering buying refurbished. Now, how good are these machines, does anyone know? Last thing I want is to get a 'new' macbook pro then find out the battery isn't new.... Since they have a limited cycle, I'd feel jibbed. The prices on them are VERY attractive though...

I just bought a 2011 MBP 13" 2.7GHz i7.. It's great! There's no reason not to buy refurbished.

Good-Luck!

 

[Mac-key]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

If there was 2.2 with sad I'd snap it up lol. But there isn't..ah decisions decisions

just keep checking back throughout the day... they update that page often. I refreshed for 2 days waiting for mine to become available.

 

[teknikal90]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

Wow thanks guys
You guys have been overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. I'll let you guys know what route I end up taking

 

[2hvy4grvty]

thanks guys.
I'm basically down to two models.

both 15"....2.3ghz with 256ssd (refurb) or 2.2ghz 256ssd (new)
exact same price.
so i guess the question is, how much should i value being able to unwrap the plastic off the machine?

That makes no sense. Why not just get the 2.2 256ssd refurb?

edit: nvm, someone already brought it up.

Between those two, I'd get new. The 2.3 upgrade is THAT negligible.

 

[Doobalicious]

I ordered and received my refurbished 15" 2.2GHz MacBook Pro last week.

Completely flawless. Apart from the box it comes in, it's indistinguishable from a brand new MacBook. And I enjoyed unboxing it just as much.

According to "About this Mac...", it was 7 weeks old and had not even undergone a full battery cycle.

 

[teknikal90]

yah. what do you guys think my chances are to have a 2.2ghz 256ssd randomly pop up lol?

just browsed through the forums trying to learn as much about the new machine as possible. wow things have changed since last time I researched macbooks in 2008... I'm getting excited seems like the new ones are many times better than my current machine!

There's an active thread right now in this forum comparing different SSDs - apparently some are better than others? more reliable? :O
would it be worth it to buy a refurb 2.2ghz with a normal hard drive then buying an SSD separately to install myself? or would that wreck the warranty?
how are the SSDs that come with the macbooks? are they great/reliable?

Thanks guys

 

[2hvy4grvty]

How'd you find out it was 7 weeks old?

Better off getting the 2.2 then your own 256gb SSD to install. Cheaper, faster, etc.

Apple SSDs use the Toshiba controller. The closest competitor are probably the Kingston V+100 drives. They're one of the slowest SSDs on the market, but pretty reliable. They're nice to give you a taste of what SSDs have to offer, a stepping stone at best tbh.

 

[teknikal90]

Would it wreck the warranty though?

 

[danpass]

I just bought a 2011 MBP 13" 2.7GHz i7.. It's great! There's no reason not to buy refurbished.

Good-Luck!

how was yours set up?

SL with the Feb 2011 keyboard or Lion with the new keyboard layout?

 

[teknikal90]

Theres a new Keyboard layout? :O
deal breaker right there.....I don't want an outdated machine out of the box lol...

 

[GuitarG20]

Theres a new Keyboard layout? :O
deal breaker right there.....I don't want an outdated machine out of the box lol...

the difference is literally the expose and dashboard keys change to mission control and launchpad... personally i like the old layout more because i hate the launchpad.