Another option would be to get the 13" MBP and spend a little of the money you saved to get an external screen. You can then have the best of both worlds: portability and a big screen (although, you only get the "big screen" in one place, of course). 22" screens can be easily found for ~$150.
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Thinking of Purchasing a MBP Soon [Circumstances]
- Thread starter ecstasy
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Processor bumps are pretty minor when it comes to improvements in performance you'll actually notice. Chances are if you used the 2.4Ghz model and then went to somebody's house and used the 2.66Ghz model, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Also, going for a higher-clocked processor to "future-proof" is sorta silly because the amount of marginal "future-proofing" gained from like a 200Mhz bump and maybe some more cache is like .0001/100. Both processors are still gonna be Penryns and so one isn't going to be any more "future-proof" than the other.
RAM is upgraded cheaply (2GB stick goes for ~20 on newegg and usually you can find a deal for $10 somewhere)
Hard drive is also relatively cheap to upgrade elsewhere but you have to clone the drive or reinstall OSX.
The only "real" difference between the models is the 9400M and the 9600M GT, which in general will only really matter if 1) you play games or 2) you do 3D rendering (like Maya or AutoCAD).
Personally I think the $1099 (w/ edu discount) 13" MBP is the best deal and best for students. 15" can be eh to lug around. And for a business program (I'm in a business school too), it's really pretty sufficient (again, unless you play games or do 3d-intensive work).
IMO the best 15" deal is the $1349 refurb, followed by the $1449 if you want the extra hard drive space and are too lazy to upgrade it and/or the RAM yourself.
RAM is upgraded cheaply (2GB stick goes for ~20 on newegg and usually you can find a deal for $10 somewhere)
Hard drive is also relatively cheap to upgrade elsewhere but you have to clone the drive or reinstall OSX.
The only "real" difference between the models is the 9400M and the 9600M GT, which in general will only really matter if 1) you play games or 2) you do 3D rendering (like Maya or AutoCAD).
Personally I think the $1099 (w/ edu discount) 13" MBP is the best deal and best for students. 15" can be eh to lug around. And for a business program (I'm in a business school too), it's really pretty sufficient (again, unless you play games or do 3d-intensive work).
IMO the best 15" deal is the $1349 refurb, followed by the $1449 if you want the extra hard drive space and are too lazy to upgrade it and/or the RAM yourself.
Ram cannot be upgraded in 20 dollars if you are talking in 15" mbp or 13" macbook even. Since it is 2x1gb ram. In order to make it to 4gb ram you have to buy 2x2gb ram to install. It costs around $64 for crucial( one of the reliable and cheapest ram i can find). I think the $1449 is the best deal cause you are only paying 40-50 dollars for 80gb more harddrive and 0.13gz upgrade and can save you some problems upgrading the ram. With 320 gb harddrive it is up to you to take it out as an external and put an ssd in if you want to
I totally agree with your idea, but I would do this only if I were dorming. As I said before, I'm commuting.
Yes, somebody kill me now (1.5 hrs. each way ; 3 total).
You keep pulling me back here. Lol =>
I would so have the 13" MBP right now if I didn't want the 15". I would just rather buy a MBP in one quick sweep and not have to think about it for another 5-6 years or so (I doubt I'll be working in college; mostly doing internships for experience). So in essence, I'll be using this as the main computer.
I totally agree with your idea, but I would do this only if I were dorming. As I said before, I'm commuting.
Yes, somebody kill me now (1.5 hrs. each way ; 3 total).
Ah. Sorry. I didn't see that. So, will you still be using the notebook a lot at home (i.e. where the monitor could live)? If you were only using the laptop for limited time "on the road" and you were doing most of your serious looking at screens while at home (e.g. while writing papers), then I'd be tempted to go for portability over screen size.
And what sort of commute will you have? Will you be driving (where portability isn't so important) or the train (where it would be more important) or something else?
Yeah, I think I'll be using it a lot at home, in addition to the main DELL desktop computer I have (which I believe is 17").
The thing is, I really initially didn't consider the 13" at all. But when the important questions pop up (commuting with it, writing papers, listening to music, editting photos (Photoshop), etc.), the 13" seems like more a fit for my personal needs, whatever they may be.
And I'll be commuting by NYC train each day.
So, no problem. It's their money. If they want to spend more, it's not your problem.
I agree, but they say they have somebody who could get it for cheaper than the original price.
I honestly take it with a massive heap of salt.
The 2.66 GHz MBP at $1850, with a free ipod touch and printer is an absolute steal.
I was originally going for the 2.8, but now I might just get the 2.66 since it's under $2000, even with sales tax.
I was originally going for the 2.8, but now I might just get the 2.66 since it's under $2000, even with sales tax.
-- Major Development --
After playing around with my uncle's 15" MBP and actually holding it in my hands, I realized that if I am to be traveling everyday with a laptop, I might as well go for the 13" (and buy a new one in 5-6 years ==> Would the 13" last for 5-6 years, after I graduate from college?).
Now, the questions are:
1.) Can the new 13" MBPs be upgraded by the user him/herself (replacing the hard drive and the RAM)?
2.) Which would you personally pick: the 2.26GHz or the 2.53GHz?
3.) Is there any noticeable difference between the 0.27GHz difference?
----
I figure that if I upgrade the 2.26GHz with a Seagate 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM, the total would be around $200, which would still be less than the price of the 2.53GHz.
After playing around with my uncle's 15" MBP and actually holding it in my hands, I realized that if I am to be traveling everyday with a laptop, I might as well go for the 13" (and buy a new one in 5-6 years ==> Would the 13" last for 5-6 years, after I graduate from college?).
Now, the questions are:
1.) Can the new 13" MBPs be upgraded by the user him/herself (replacing the hard drive and the RAM)?
2.) Which would you personally pick: the 2.26GHz or the 2.53GHz?
3.) Is there any noticeable difference between the 0.27GHz difference?
----
I figure that if I upgrade the 2.26GHz with a Seagate 500GB hard drive and 4GB RAM, the total would be around $200, which would still be less than the price of the 2.53GHz.
1) Yes, but the 2.53 already has 4 GB
2) 2.53, and it seems like you already want the 4gigs of RAM
3) Yes, but not in everyday life. Howver the 2.53 is more future proof and will be able to handle games a little bit better.
Get the 2.53, but if you get the lower end MBP, at least get an SSD with it (buy one and install it yourself)
NO laptop will last 5-6 years. It will probably have tons of problems during that span, and will not survive that long if used daily.
An upper end 2.66-2.8 15" MBP could last a good 2-3 years and still be "relevant", whereas the lower end 13 inch will be ancient in 3 years.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to purchase a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive somewhere else?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't understand the need for SSD. Clueless.
Ah, it was just a suggestion/idea. 7200 RPM drives are much better than the stock Apple HD's
Thanks for the suggestion, though.
Though I won't get a 7200RPM drive when I get a 13", I'll definitely consider it after about 1-2 years. Sounds about right.
Hard drives you should consider
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tion=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=1&srchInDesc=
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tion=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=1&srchInDesc=
Thanks for the link.
Good stuff.
PS - If the debate over the 1.5 SATA cools down, I will most likely leave the Apple Store on Monday with a new 13" MBP in my hands, as well as an iPod Touch.
- Update on this thread -
With much commotion on the MacBook Pro subforums lately about various issues (screen problems, etc.), I was wondering if it was smart to buy a 13" now (planning to go to the Apple Store an hour away on Monday)?
I just don't want there to be any problems. Paranoia rules me.
With much commotion on the MacBook Pro subforums lately about various issues (screen problems, etc.), I was wondering if it was smart to buy a 13" now (planning to go to the Apple Store an hour away on Monday)?
I just don't want there to be any problems. Paranoia rules me.
Don't ever say what you said about your parents. You don't yet realize (you will someday in the future, I guarantee it) how lucky you are. As a parent with a kid in, well, now his senior year of college, I went thru this the summer before he started. Tell your parents (that I think) they need to get you the best, NEW 15" MBP they possibly can. If you have the extra cash maybe you can make up the difference. You will be on this laptop from the moment you get it until you get your next one for grad school or whatever. A new MBP will be useful for at least 4 years. It will be portable enough for you to lug anywhere.
My suggestion is to go online to the bookstore at your new school, see if they offer a package, specifically with the EXTENDED Applecare warranty. This is very important and an excellent investment. Good luck and study... make your parents proud.
My suggestion is to go online to the bookstore at your new school, see if they offer a package, specifically with the EXTENDED Applecare warranty. This is very important and an excellent investment. Good luck and study... make your parents proud.
I wouldn't. Spent 3 hours playing with all of them. The slight increase in screen real estate isn't worth the trade off in portability. The footprint makes a difference. I'm coming from a 17 inch and am used to carrying it about btw
If you need the graphics horsepower go for the discrete card. But at that point I would recomend going for the 17, it's not that much bigger
Between the base 15 and a 13? No question go for the 13.
eV
No, I definitely realize how lucky I am.
Right now, I have my eyes set on the 13", and as I mentioned before, the 15" would be a hassle for me primarily because I won't be dorming (commuting 3 hours each day).
Honestly? I think it best for myself and for my parents that I purchase the lower-end 13" MBP. I probably haven't mentioned this, but my family income is not skyrocketing right now. If I ever feel the need to upgrade any part of the 13", I'll be working this summer and consider that as my own purchase, not something out of my parents' hard-earned money. I hate resorting to that, because if you make your own money, you should be able to spend it however you like, correct? That's what I intend to do, and I humbly accept my parents' offer of buying me a laptop for college.
I also have a younger brother, and in about 4 years, I plan to give this to him as he begins the process of college. By then, I'll (hopefully) have a decent-paying job, and afford my own MBP, which, in 4 years, will be quite special (what with the possible SSD implementation etc.).
Anyhow, I really do appreciate your thoughts on the matter. It's even more thought-provoking and important to me considering you're a parent yourself. Thanks for the input.
And yes, I do plan on making them and myself proud.