Really - why buy a MBP over the MacBook?

[Firefly2002]

In the old days, paying the extra got you a lot more computer - aluminium case, much faster processor, larger drive, bigger ram, backlit keyboard, DVD writer etc etc.

But the new MBP really doesn't seem to be £700 better. I have the old MBP and I wouldn't replace it with the new one... I'd just get a MacBook.

Not that I don't agree with you, but the MBP really has no "old days," since it's barely 3 years old.

But some people need/want the larger, (slightly) higher-res screen, the FW port, and the graphics card.

I agree the MB is the better deal for 90%+ of users (especially who don't need a bigger screen), but there are reasons.

I'd also like to point out that even in the "Old days" of the MBP, there was never a huge difference in CPU speed between it and the MB.... or with the PB and the iBook... the biggest difference was the original 300 MHz iBook with 512 K cache vs. the 400 MHz PowerBook w/1MB L2.

 

[bananabar]

My MBP is almost identical to my even older PowerBook.

 

[PAUL BRIAN]

Macbook Pro has better graphic output, bigger screen, and EXPANDABILITY (FireWire & ExpressCard)

if none of that applies to you then the new Macbook is a STEAL

 

[AboveTheChaos]

I agree with this, it's the reason I exchanged the MacBook a MacBook Pro, the screen quality is amazing in comparison - more vivid colours and much better viewing angles.

I'll echo this. I was set to buy the MB but when I compared the MB with the MB Pro, the screen definitely looked better. In fact, the MB's screen looked worse than my 1st gen MB Air. Whenever I go from my MB Pro to my Air, I can definitely feel like it's a step down (screen quality wise).

 

[NATO]

All in the last week??

Yeah, I was fortunate to have been able to pick up the MacBook as soon as my local store had them in stock and after spending some time with it, I swapped it out for the MacBook Pro a few days later.

If you've used a MacBook prior to the new models, I think the displays in the new MacBook are better than the old, however if you're used to the displays in a MacBook Pro, you'll be disappointed with the viewing angles.

It is personal preference though, some people are pickier than others. I loved the glossy display in my old MacBook Pro but I'm absolutely in love with the displays in the new MacBook Pro.

 

[belvdr]

PCI express slot

Think you mean ExpressCard slot, which can PCI Express or USB 2.0 into the chipset.

 

[mathcolo]

Think you mean ExpressCard slot, which can PCI Express or USB 2.0 into the chipset.

One could argue that only like 0.1% of MBP users actually utilize the slot on a regular basis.

 

[GA84]

Far superior display.

 

[dejo]

My MBP is almost identical to my even older PowerBook.

Care to expatiate?

 

[WilliamG]

Far superior display.

Indeed. +1 to that.

 

[KSpider]

As for me, I dont need any better graphics over the MacBook, nor do i need the PCI slot, nor do I NEED firewire. However, I have used a 15" powerbook/macbookpro for 5 years now, I purchased an Aluminum MacBook last wed, and sold it within 2 days. I couldn't work on a 13" screen..

Not only the screen size, but the resolution/quality is much better on the MBP.

(and speakers)

 

[103734]

Indeed. +1 to that.

yea the screen is a much better quality, the macbook display is exactly the same as the old macbook just brighter, you can see the difference if you just look at it in person.

besides that, and a MUCH better graphics card no reason to get the MBP over MB

 

[singaporesling]

Without the ADC discount I wouldn't have purchased a MBP or MB. I got a MBP because I plan to do a lot of gaming and in the past i've delved a bit into video editing. Even though the MBP isn't a gaming specific laptop, its got a nice gpu and I wanted something that would be almost like a desktop replacement but extremely portable. For me a desktop replacement is anything better than my single core amd 3500+, 9600xt, and 1 gb of ram :O.

 

[Rizvi1]

I purchased my 15" 2.2ghz MBP refurbished back in November, 2007. I don't plan to upgrade my MBP yet, but do plan to replace my wife's 15" 2.16ghz MBP (which we got in March, 2007) with a a new Macbook Air (The bottom of the line one). I was curious how our MBPs compared to the screens on both the new MBs and the new MBPs. Would anyone know? I believe mine's the SR one and hers is the one before.. that's just C2D?

Our screens are both dirty as hell though. We should probably clean this.

 

[dissdnt]

I'm debating this too. I really think it comes down to screen size. I feel sooo cramped with my gf's macbook, that screen is just to damn small and not enough res. If they up'd the res on the 13 i might not mind.

Still on the fence tho.

 

[dukebound85]

Firewire, 15" screen, Two Graphics card (both dedicated unlike the MB still) Faster processor, HD is changeable with out voiding warranty.

um what?

the mbp has a dedicated and integrated

the hd is also user changeable with the mb....

 

[kyleaa]

Firewire, 15" screen, Two Graphics card (both dedicated unlike the MB still) Faster processor, HD is changeable with out voiding warranty.

The new MacBook has the exact same hard drive location/accessibility as the MacBook pro. In the most recent models the MacBook has had a user-changeable hard drive, while the pro did not.

 

[ageha]

In the old days, paying the extra got you a lot more computer - aluminium case, much faster processor, larger drive, bigger ram, backlit keyboard, DVD writer etc etc.

But the new MBP really doesn't seem to be £700 better. I have the old MBP and I wouldn't replace it with the new one... I'd just get a MacBook.

Better display.

 

[eXan]

1) Graphics card
2) Screen
3) Firewire
4) Speakers.

 

[Steve686]

That's on the MacBook now too. Next.

Ya. The $1599 one, not the $1299 one.

 

[bananabar]

Far superior display.

Slightly superior I'd say.

 

[yoak]

Think you mean ExpressCard slot, which can PCI Express or USB 2.0 into the chipset.

Yes, my bad. Was a bit tiered last night.
I´m unfortunatly in the minority that really would benefit from that slot (transfering HD footage at 6* speed and not locking up the camera for a 2 times transfer speed over USB)

 

[ryanwarsaw]

The 15" screen was the difference for me. The MB screen just seemed too small in the store. I had a blackbook and for some reason the new MB screen seems smaller. Probably just an optical illusion but that is what did it for me. I now have the 2.4 MBP and it is a great machine.

 

[tremendous]

New MB and MBPs are awful. Apple has officially lost it...

except...they're not 'awful'.

 

[moclippa]

Well aside from the faster processor, bigger screen size, hard drive options.... I would have to say that one of the things I'm really hoping for, is that when Open CL comes out on Snow Leopard, I'll be able to boost my processor speed by using the 9400 for parallel processing, and the 9600 for the gpu... giving me a nice speed boost in gaming. My hunch is that these new macbook pros were built specifically with snow leopard in mind, and that we'll get a lot more kick out of them when it happens.

Normally I would have waited till SL came out before I bought the macbook pro, just to be sure that is the case, but I've been running a netbook as my primary computer since mid July waiting for notebook manufacturers to finish doing their sept-oct updates before I switched out.... and being based in the Uk, I felt the option that would be best in terms of form factor and servicing would be the mac (HP, Toshiba and Lenovo have some interesting notebooks but I couldn't consider them as they weren't officially released in the UK and I try to avoid third parties when I purchase a laptop).