Based on the price I am getting for this one, I've been looking around and there are 2009 MBP for 650. Still C2D (2.26) and I'll still upgrade it to a better HDD and RAM. What do you think? Should I spring for the white book or a 2009/2010 MBP.
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Should I buy a MacBook now?
- Thread starter rockyroad55
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Definitely the MBP. If the specs were the same I'd still get the pro for the build quality and backlit keyboard.
You're not going to be able to tell the difference between a 2.0-2.4 ghz machine; the increase of the speed of the harddrive and the amount of RAM you have installed is going to give you the most noticeable affect. My 2.2ghz MB from 07 loads and operates as fast as my friend's 2010 MB and because I have more RAM I'm able to have more programs open while the machine still runs at top speed.
Jumps to quad core, from 1.x to 2.x, or from dual core to Sandy Bridge are where you're going to see the differences IF you're running high cpu tasks such as rendering. From the videos I've seen and from experience, if you aren't doing anything more intensive than playing 1080p video, any machine will do its part and do it well.
Oh okay. I feel like a wanted ad now. My friend just offered to sell his aluminum MacBook not the pro (macbook 5,1) for 750. Would it be better to go with the whitebook instead?
This is getting a little out of hand. How about you post the specs of all three laptops and their conditions, together, and let us suggest what is best? We can't help you if we have to read one post, jump back a page, make a mental note of that, then refer to the newest MB to give you sound judgement.
Sorry about that.
MacBook (white unibody/2.4 C2D/mid-2010) - $750
MacBook (aluminum unibody/2.4 C2D/4GB RAM/320 HDD) - $1000 I'm negotiating on this "BS" price
MacBook Pro (2.26 C2D/2GB RAM/160 HDD/2009 model) - $650
MacBook (white unibody/2.4 C2D/mid-2010) - $750
MacBook (aluminum unibody/2.4 C2D/4GB RAM/320 HDD) - $1000 I'm negotiating on this "BS" price
MacBook Pro (2.26 C2D/2GB RAM/160 HDD/2009 model) - $650
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I'm assuming the 2nd Macbook (aluminum unibody) is an older model that had all aluminum stuff? Like, the same color across the spectrum?
If this is so, I'd say to get the MacBook Pro if the unit is in good condition (see if you can check the health statuses of all of the batteries). Get the Pro, buy some RAM (pretty cheap now a days, just to get it to 4 gigs), and you could, if you wanted, upgrade the HDD as well.
That would land you at the same or a little bit higher than the 2010 MB but with a better machine. Just my suggestion
The second one is the one they made for a short time in 09 before they made the 13" Pro line. It looks like a MBP but with a removable battery and just the name MacBook on the glass.
Also the warranty for the three are:
1. Expires June 2012
2. Expires Dec 2011
3. Expired.
Also the warranty for the three are:
1. Expires June 2012
2. Expires Dec 2011
3. Expired.
Ok; I have never seen oen of those in person, just through pictures, hence me not knowing
But yea, the MBP that I think you should get is out of warranty. Now with that said, you have to factor in the things that break the most and the chances of it breaking. It's a 2 year old computer. WHat breaks the most? The HDD. Sometimes there are other internal problems like fans, logic boards, graphics cards, etc. but those aren't as often and somewhat rare.
I personally have an 07 Black macbook; runs like a champ. No problems here. Sometime during its life the harddrive was replaced AND I make sure to backup through Time Machine every few days to make sure nothing gets lost.
If you do end up getting the MBP, you could spend a few bucks getting a brand new, higher capacity, and larger HDD. They're pretty cheap and it would make the computer just as fast, if not faster, than the other two. Plus it would still be cheaper overall.
Looking at it objectively, I personally think the build of the MBP is better than the other two and you get things like a backlit keyboard and an aluminum body. You just have to decide for yourself if you'd rather have that with a lower price and take the risk of no warranty or to play it safe and get another machine.
If you don't want that one, I'd go for the newer, Polycarbonate MB. And again to clarify, all of them are great machines and will do what you want to do with them AND you can upgrade both the Pro and newer MB (don't know enough about the old MB to say).
I do think a grand for the older MB is way too much though.
Hope this helped; and if you have any questions or thoughts on my opinions or just want to share more, feel free to ask; I'm sure there are other people here with other ideas/more experience that would be happy to help.
Oh and if you can, try and find out the health of the batteries of the machines and the number of charges on them. Either laptop won't be much good if it only has 70 percent life on the battery; that will force you to end up buying another one and losing out on saved money.
All three have broadly similar specs. The Alu MB is a small step behind on the graphics, not that you'd notice unless gaming.
I'd try and get the Alu MB for $650-700. It's still under warranty, the Alu case is lighter and tougher than the plastic, doesn't require a RAM or HDD upgrade and has the backlit keyboard. $1000 is taking the proverbial.
I'd try and get the Alu MB for $650-700. It's still under warranty, the Alu case is lighter and tougher than the plastic, doesn't require a RAM or HDD upgrade and has the backlit keyboard. $1000 is taking the proverbial.
I plan on upgrading the hard drive and RAM anyway since I have the parts sitting here ready to go. I just need a computer for them to live in. I'm still leaning heavily towards the aluminum MacBook or poly MacBook because they have warranties. Even though the pro is nice, I don't want to risk something failing that will require a hefty repair purchase.
So the aluminum MacBook guy isn't responding maybe because he was hurt by my "low" but realistic offer of 750. Actually, nobody is responding but I'm still searching on a MBP first before I decide to take my friends white book which I am still thinking about.
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Final update (sorry for the multi post)
I took my friend's macbook poly. I did this because of the warranty reason and mainly because the one guy sold his pro and not to me (grrrr) and the aluminum macbook had an 80% battery on a good day which leaves him with roughly 3 hrs of battery per day. No way, I'll take a 7-10 hr on my macbook since I do not do much with it anyway. I'm loving it now, just added 8GB RAM, 320GB HDD (planning on getting an SSD and Lion and doing it as a clean install through a flash drive/CD), got the apple wireless keyboard, BUT stuck with an arc touch mouse mainly because of the ergonomics and the separate buttons unlike the magic mouse.
I thank everyone for their input, you guys (and gals if applicable) are great and I wish Young Spade best of luck in selling that BlackBook!
I took my friend's macbook poly. I did this because of the warranty reason and mainly because the one guy sold his pro and not to me (grrrr) and the aluminum macbook had an 80% battery on a good day which leaves him with roughly 3 hrs of battery per day. No way, I'll take a 7-10 hr on my macbook since I do not do much with it anyway. I'm loving it now, just added 8GB RAM, 320GB HDD (planning on getting an SSD and Lion and doing it as a clean install through a flash drive/CD), got the apple wireless keyboard, BUT stuck with an arc touch mouse mainly because of the ergonomics and the separate buttons unlike the magic mouse.
I thank everyone for their input, you guys (and gals if applicable) are great and I wish Young Spade best of luck in selling that BlackBook!