Ok, here's my status:
I have the late 2007 17 Inch MBP ( top of the line then, BTO 2.6 Ghz C2D).
It still works perfectly well in general, but a few weeks ago the hinges of the display got busted, and although the screen still works perfectly it no longer stands on its own. I have to use the computer by leaning the screen into something behind it ( a wall for example) so the screen would stand still. Apple wants to charge me 500 USD for fixing the hinges (yeah right, as if somebody would pay that). They can be DIY fixed but I gotta order about 150 USD (including shipping) worth of spare hinges from iFixit. I dont think its a good idea to spend more on a computer that is 4 years old, and that I will replace for sure within the next 12-24 months. Besides the workaround of leaning the screen into something works well for the time being.
Why should I hold on to 4 year MBP you say? Well, simple reaosn is that one year ago, one week before apple care expiring, I took it to the Apple Store cuz I had lotsa black pixels AND I was having issues with the GPU , the Geforce 8600m. It turned out that the GPU was a known issue that merited replacing the logic board, and cuz of the dead pixels they replaced the whole screen as well. Since I felt like I was getting a new computer, I went ahead and put a screaming 750GB 7200 rpm HDD. Bam, the computer felt like new. The screen was then, AND STILL is crysal clear, I swear it looks even better than when I bought it on 2007. So, in short, for anything that is not gaming, this MBP, even with its busted hinges, still works fine.
So, why I want a new one? Well just cuz this one is 4 years old, I feel I will have to buy a new MBP anyway in the next 12-24 or so months ... so I said, well why not wait for the imminent Ivy bridge redesign? It's coming for sure sometime Q2-Q3 2012...
BUT I have a problem. I utterly MUST play Battlefield 3 AND Skyrim. Yes I know the "macs are not for gaming yada yada" line, but actually my current MBP has been my gaming machine (besides my work machine) for 4 years, it has worked well cuz I dont need to set stuff to Ultra settings. Besides, owners and beta testers of BOTH BF3 AND SKYRIM have confirmed that they both run very well on the early 2011 high end 15 inch and 17 inch MBPs. Definetely the late October refreshed 15 and 17 MBPs will run them a little bit better. So no problem there.
So, in my situation, would you buy the 2.5 Ghz top of the line 17 ich MBP now or would you rather bite your tongue and try not commit suicide for not being able to play BF3 and Skyrim for at least 8 months more? (until the Ivy Bridge redesign that is) These games will definetely not even run on my hinge busted late 2007 MBP.
Please help. Somebody please try to get me into my senses as I will drive my wife crazy with the " I want a new MBP " banter. We do have the money for it, but not necessarily now is the most ideal time to spend it.Should I buy now so I can play BF3 and Skyrim now? Or should I wait till Q3 2012?
I have the late 2007 17 Inch MBP ( top of the line then, BTO 2.6 Ghz C2D).
It still works perfectly well in general, but a few weeks ago the hinges of the display got busted, and although the screen still works perfectly it no longer stands on its own. I have to use the computer by leaning the screen into something behind it ( a wall for example) so the screen would stand still. Apple wants to charge me 500 USD for fixing the hinges (yeah right, as if somebody would pay that). They can be DIY fixed but I gotta order about 150 USD (including shipping) worth of spare hinges from iFixit. I dont think its a good idea to spend more on a computer that is 4 years old, and that I will replace for sure within the next 12-24 months. Besides the workaround of leaning the screen into something works well for the time being.
Why should I hold on to 4 year MBP you say? Well, simple reaosn is that one year ago, one week before apple care expiring, I took it to the Apple Store cuz I had lotsa black pixels AND I was having issues with the GPU , the Geforce 8600m. It turned out that the GPU was a known issue that merited replacing the logic board, and cuz of the dead pixels they replaced the whole screen as well. Since I felt like I was getting a new computer, I went ahead and put a screaming 750GB 7200 rpm HDD. Bam, the computer felt like new. The screen was then, AND STILL is crysal clear, I swear it looks even better than when I bought it on 2007. So, in short, for anything that is not gaming, this MBP, even with its busted hinges, still works fine.
So, why I want a new one? Well just cuz this one is 4 years old, I feel I will have to buy a new MBP anyway in the next 12-24 or so months ... so I said, well why not wait for the imminent Ivy bridge redesign? It's coming for sure sometime Q2-Q3 2012...
BUT I have a problem. I utterly MUST play Battlefield 3 AND Skyrim. Yes I know the "macs are not for gaming yada yada" line, but actually my current MBP has been my gaming machine (besides my work machine) for 4 years, it has worked well cuz I dont need to set stuff to Ultra settings. Besides, owners and beta testers of BOTH BF3 AND SKYRIM have confirmed that they both run very well on the early 2011 high end 15 inch and 17 inch MBPs. Definetely the late October refreshed 15 and 17 MBPs will run them a little bit better. So no problem there.
So, in my situation, would you buy the 2.5 Ghz top of the line 17 ich MBP now or would you rather bite your tongue and try not commit suicide for not being able to play BF3 and Skyrim for at least 8 months more? (until the Ivy Bridge redesign that is) These games will definetely not even run on my hinge busted late 2007 MBP.
Please help. Somebody please try to get me into my senses as I will drive my wife crazy with the " I want a new MBP " banter. We do have the money for it, but not necessarily now is the most ideal time to spend it.Should I buy now so I can play BF3 and Skyrim now? Or should I wait till Q3 2012?
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and runs very nice on a late 2011!