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Owners of the 13" MBP... streaming question

rossmadden said:
I know that they are good, and I'm not saying this to argue with you, I agree that they are brilliant, I'm thinking about the guys bank balance, and whether HE needs it.
My base loads in 40 seconds, I never restart it because it snaps from sleep in an instant. But I don't miss those 40 seconds.
You can't tell me SSDs aren't expensive and that for the OP's needs, he should get one?
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maybe he doesn't need one, he said he was for sure getting one... imo they are definitely worth it. A little expensive yes, but if he is a lawyer i don't know that $300 will break his bank... especially if it means his computer will be fast enough for him that it will last 6-7 years! It's his choice, but he said he was getting one "no matter what" in his OP

jegbook said:
Don't forget Skype, Webex, AIM, iChat, etc. for uses of the built-in camera. HD now even!
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haha yes indeed the video cam works with many programs.

Out of curiosity, Burton, when you say upgrading the RAM will help the computer last longer, do you mean that it will take longer for it to become "obsolete" as computing power/RAM demands incrase over time?
I've never heard that more RAM would actually make the hardware itself live longer, so I don't know if that's what you meant, or the software viability issue.
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yes, ram requirements for software increase over time so the more ram you have the longer your computer will be useful. It won't make your processor or logic board last longer, however! 😉
 
p1ngputts said:
how is installation of the SSD? That is my main concern. Never having an apple computer makes me a little worried.

Also, I'm looking at some type of protective case/sleeve. Thoughts?
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Ten screws on the bottom of the case and 2 inside, done. You will need a 00 Phillips though. The correct size is important or you can ruin the screw heads. Wiha are the only ones I've found that actually fit perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NZ5QGK
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
p1ngputts said:
how is installation of the SSD? That is my main concern. Never having an apple computer makes me a little worried.

Also, I'm looking at some type of protective case/sleeve. Thoughts?
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Again, it'll be in the manual. It doesn't avoid your warranty. Remove the base and take out the hard drive.

I have a polypropylene sleeve. It's padded slightly and come in different colours and you can get them cheap on ebay. Others like Speck cases or laptop bags.
 
p1ngputts said:
how is installation of the SSD? That is my main concern. Never having an apple computer makes me a little worried.

Also, I'm looking at some type of protective case/sleeve. Thoughts?
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very easy, the ram and hdd are "user replaceable" from apple... very easy to switch. There are hundreds of tutorials out there and videos on youtube that show you how.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1270#link1

that is a link showing how to replace ram on your macbook... here is one for the hdd

http://dizzydougtv.com/2009/06/tutorial-how-to-replace-a-macbook-pro-hard-drive/

As for cases that's your preference, but I prefer to have a sleeve. I don't see any reason my laptop would fall off my desk, and even if it did i don't see a case protecting it. That said, a nice sleeve to throw it in before placing it in your bag or briefcase adds some peace of mind and the protection needed for a $1500 investment!

I personally like the booq vyper cases which can be found here

http://www.booqbags.com/All-Products/Vyper-hard-laptop-cases

jegbook said:
Has anybody kept an eye on the MBPs and if they still use dual channel memory (increasing the speed of using matched RAM sticks)?

Is that even a relevant question anymore?
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here is what apples site says

Additional notes For best performance, fill both memory slots, installing an equal memory module in each slot.
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p1ngputts said:
how is installation of the SSD? That is my main concern. Never having an apple computer makes me a little worried.

Also, I'm looking at some type of protective case/sleeve. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Swapping the hard drive takes about 10 minutes. 10 screws on the bottom, a couple on the inside, unplug the cable, and put it back together with the new drive. After you've got the bottom cover off, good idea to unplug the battery from the logic board before doing anything else. With the computer upside down, trackpad towards you, and the bottom cover off, the battery plug should be at the upper left corner. Don't remove the battery, just unplug it.
And don't foget to plug it back in before you put the bottom cover on! 🙂

As for the SSD, if the money isn't the issue, it definitely makes a laptop feel snappy. I used an 11" MBA and it felt faster for basic UI and application loading than my 2010 MBP. Be mindful that you'll want to keep it at least 30% empty, so plan ahead when choosing the size of your drive.

As for cases/sleeves. A hard shell adds some bulk and seems to defeat the point of it's svelte-ness. If you are reasonably nice to your belongings and don't plan on tossing it in a backpack with the rest of your books, pens, paperclips, etc., it should hold up well. But the aluminum can certainly get some surface scratching if it comes in contact with other metal objects or sand/dirt/pebbles. So, if you don't want to think about it, something like a Speck hard case could make sense. Or maybe just a thin sleeve with a full closure for carrying with other stuff in a bag.

Cheers.
 
I would also recommend, as an alternative, the Crucial M4 SSD. The drive replacement is pretty simple and instructions abound, including ifixit.
 
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xxBURT0Nxx said:
here is what apples site says
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Well, though not explicit, the implication certainly seems that memory interleaving is in effect with dual channel RAM.

For the time and cost to bother to do it, seems silly to only get a single 4 GB stick anyway. Spend a few more bucks, go to 8 and be done with it. 🙂
 
jegbook said:
Well, though not explicit, the implication certainly seems that memory interleaving is in effect with dual channel RAM.

For the time and cost to bother to do it, seems silly to only get a single 4 GB stick anyway. Spend a few more bucks, go to 8 and be done with it. 🙂
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indeed... for how cheap it is either upgrade to 8gb or leave it at 4 😀
 
Well guys...

We are processing your order and will send you an email confirmation shortly.

FINALLY THE OWNER OF MY VERY FIRST APPLE COMPUTER!
 
p1ngputts said:
Well guys...

We are processing your order and will send you an email confirmation shortly.

FINALLY THE OWNER OF MY VERY FIRST APPLE COMPUTER!
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congrats, you're gonna love it! 😎

don't be scared to ask questions here if you have any, but please search MRoogle first... most of your questions have likely been asked and answered a few hundred times!

Don't forget to post in the just got/bought/ordered thread to introduce yourself!
 
xxBURT0Nxx said:
congrats, you're gonna love it! 😎

don't be scared to ask questions here if you have any, but please search MRoogle first... most of your questions have likely been asked and answered a few hundred times!

Don't forget to post in the just got/bought/ordered thread to introduce yourself!
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Most? I'm guessing all have been answered at one point but what noobie would google for an answer before asking the question on the forum? C'mon! 😛
 
p1ngputts said:
Most? I'm guessing all have been answered at one point but what noobie would google for an answer before asking the question on the forum? C'mon! 😛
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We have our own search engine that searches strictly within our forum, MRoogle. He's just suggesting using it before asking questions that have been asked, and answered, hundreds of times.
 
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