I'm going to be a college freshman, and I am thinking of buying a white Macbook for next year. Everybody seems to be buying the MBP 13''. Am I not making the right choice? Am I wasting my money?
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Thoughts on Macbook?
- Thread starter coolsenior09
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Depends on your needs and what you will be using it for
The MacBook is a great machine
How about a little more information on what you intend to do with it
You could be wasting your money by spending it on a MBP
Woof, Woof - Dawg
The MacBook is a great machine
How about a little more information on what you intend to do with it
You could be wasting your money by spending it on a MBP
Woof, Woof - Dawg
Depends on your needs and what you will be using it for
The MacBook is a great machine
How about a little more information on what you intend to do with it
You could be wasting your money by spending it on a MBP
Woof, Woof - Dawg
I'm a music major, I only intend on using Internet, iTunes, Word, maybe powerpoint. Am I better off with a regular PC? I kind of want it to last all four years... :T
you will be more than fine with the 13" MacBook. it is a great investment - i still know people in the graphic design business who carry around their 12" PowerBooks everywhere they go.
A MacBook would be fine for you and will last you!
Woof, Woof - Dawg
Agreed. The plastic MB is still a great computer.
love my aging blackbook
The only real advantage is battery and the 9400m graphics in the macbook pro. For your uses the white macbook will be fine.. I am going to keep my almost 20 month old macbook for at least 20 more then maybe an air or 17inchers.. Depends on where I'm at in life..
The only real advantage is battery and the 9400m graphics in the macbook pro. For your uses the white macbook will be fine.. I am going to keep my almost 20 month old macbook for at least 20 more then maybe an air or 17inchers.. Depends on where I'm at in life..
is cracking still an issue with the plastic macbooks? Just curious... I've been going back and forth on the mb and mbp myself. I'll be a law student this august and need mine to last only for 3 years. but ill be using mine for exams also, so perhaps battery may be important, but i think outlets are plentiful nowadays, so i dunno. but does the white still get easily dirty? palmrests and keys and such? would invisible shield remedy this?
As far as I know yes, I believe its just an inherent flaw with the design, the magnetized areas cause stress, and no matter what they do plastic is still plastic and will probably succumb to the repeated stress sooner or later.
My palm rest did get discolored, not so much the keys or outer case though. My MacBook was a first gen and one of the ones that had a bad palm rest that was replaced. The new palm rest was fine for a long time but suddenly seemed to become discolored again after about a year.
The 13" Unibody MBP would probably be a lot better choice, especially given the upgrades and price drop.
The UMB that replaced my old white MB is worlds better in quality overall, and there is no way it can get chipped or cracked the same way as the plastic version.
The macbook also has the 9400m, The 13 inch MBP has better battery as you said, DDR3 RAM instead of DDR2, a better display, and multi touch.
The macbook is very good value though. I don't think that most people would notice any real difference in terms of performance between the macbook and the 13 inch MBP. Especially as they both have the same GPU.
Mine's 2 1/2 years old and still rockin'. It does everything the OP is asking for in a computer. Lots of people like to underestimate them, but it's a sweet machine!
Performance will be near-as-makes-no-difference. And the white MB is a great machine and good value. But if you can afford the extra $200, you get: better screen, more RAM capacity, slightly faster processor (insignificant, honestly), backlit keyboard, better screen, far better battery life, better construction, better trackpad, an SD card reader, faster FireWire connection, and better looks.
When it between the white MB and the unibody MacBook, the white was the clear value winner. But now that the difference is only $200 and the MBP offers so many more features, it's is well worth the upgrade, imo of course.
When it between the white MB and the unibody MacBook, the white was the clear value winner. But now that the difference is only $200 and the MBP offers so many more features, it's is well worth the upgrade, imo of course.
If I were you I would either go for a 13.3" unibody MacBook or 13.3" unibody MacBook Pro. If you want it to last longer, the plastic and discoloration may get to you. Those are the main resons I got apre-unibody MacBook Pro.
For the money i would go for the baseline 13" macbook pro. It has a faster processor, better battery life, and a nicer screen. I have a pre-unibody macbook pro its about 2 1/2 years old and still runs like a champ. My mom got a white macbook and after about a year the top case started to crack where the magnetic strip touches it, and the palm rest are noticeably discolored. It is just an extra $150 to go from the macbook to macbook pro
You could be fine with a Netbook or a low cost PC notebook on special from Staples, OfficeDepot, Bestbuy, etc.
For what you're doing I hate to say, but if you're a student and want to save money(use the money you save to pay for your textbooks, lunch, etc) a cheap netbook or cheap pc notebook is the better deal for the tasks you've mentioned.
Yes, cracking is an issue. Unless you want to buy the aluminum models, go for a thinkpad T400s. They're crazy durable (people run those things over with cars and trucks).
You could be fine with a Netbook or a low cost PC notebook on special from Staples, OfficeDepot, Bestbuy, etc.
For what you're doing I hate to say, but if you're a student and want to save money(use the money you save to pay for your textbooks, lunch, etc) a cheap netbook or cheap pc notebook is the better deal for the tasks you've mentioned.
Have you ever tried running PowerPoint on a 1.6 GHz (or less) processor with a gig or less of RAM? It is painful. And iTunes is really crappy on my 1.8 GHz Dell desktop with 3 GB RAM. A netbook would be even worse as the processor frequency is less, there is less RAM, and it is a single core.
OP: Go for a refurb. You save a bit and get the same great computer. Here's the one you're looking at, but as a refurb and it is the one before the quiet spec bump to 2.13 GHz.
I would recommend the baseline MBP simply because the extra RAM capacity will probably make it last an extra 2-4 years. Besides that, it looks better (IMO), has FireWire 800 and several other features.
I know somebody that just had the inside case of a first gen MacBook replaced because of cracking, but it has lasted pretty well otherwise. I wouldn't worry about durability on either model.
Actually, Keynote and iTunes work just fine on my PowerBook (sig). I would agree that netbooks should be avoided, though: "When I look at netbooks, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens. Its just not a good consumer experience and not something we would put the Mac brand on. Its a segment we would not choose to play in. -Tim Cook
I know somebody that just had the inside case of a first gen MacBook replaced because of cracking, but it has lasted pretty well otherwise. I wouldn't worry about durability on either model.
Actually, Keynote and iTunes work just fine on my PowerBook (sig). I would agree that netbooks should be avoided, though: "When I look at netbooks, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens. Its just not a good consumer experience and not something we would put the Mac brand on. Its a segment we would not choose to play in. -Tim Cook
I'd go with the MBP. It's only a bit more, and you get a better screen, more durable construction, and it isn't as prone to becoming and staying dirty.
If this computer is supposed to last you 4 years, than that's what, an extra $3.15 per month to have the MBP over the MB?? If you can't spare the extra dough, just hold back on one round of beers per month and you're there.
I don't think a white macbook would make it through the 4 years. Physically it MIGHT, then again chances are your palm-rest will crack as they all do, especially with heavy use. It's also gonna get dirty as sin, and it is damn near impossible to clean off the stains (compared to the pro which can look brand new all the time) - and they will be there even if you take good care of it.
And if you aren't totally meticulous about taking care of your stuff your white macbook will look like it's been through hell and back by year 2 - also significantly lowering its resale potential should you choose to exercise it.
Just get the MBP, and use the free iPod deal if necessary to cut the cost lower. $1099 - $150-200 selling of free ipod = $899 - $949 for the PRO. It's a no brainer.
If this computer is supposed to last you 4 years, than that's what, an extra $3.15 per month to have the MBP over the MB?? If you can't spare the extra dough, just hold back on one round of beers per month and you're there.
I don't think a white macbook would make it through the 4 years. Physically it MIGHT, then again chances are your palm-rest will crack as they all do, especially with heavy use. It's also gonna get dirty as sin, and it is damn near impossible to clean off the stains (compared to the pro which can look brand new all the time) - and they will be there even if you take good care of it.
And if you aren't totally meticulous about taking care of your stuff your white macbook will look like it's been through hell and back by year 2 - also significantly lowering its resale potential should you choose to exercise it.
Just get the MBP, and use the free iPod deal if necessary to cut the cost lower. $1099 - $150-200 selling of free ipod = $899 - $949 for the PRO. It's a no brainer.
Nope I haven't, but didn't know it be that bad.
However, you fail to address my other advice, get a low cost notebook. They can cost from around ~400-~600 depending what you want. I'm sure they'd be fine for what the OP wants. I bought one and run adobe's s/w just fine.
On the issue of a better screen (I am considering the same thing, Macbook for University), the Macbook has a lesser-quality screen then the low-end MBP? Anybody have solid evidence?
It would really, really be a bad thing if the macbook's screen is a TN - I doubt it is, I just want to see/hear the specifications between the two? Input lag? Colours?
It would really, really be a bad thing if the macbook's screen is a TN - I doubt it is, I just want to see/hear the specifications between the two? Input lag? Colours?
Nope I haven't, but didn't know it be that bad.
However, you fail to address my other advice, get a low cost notebook. They can cost from around ~400-~600 depending what you want. I'm sure they'd be fine for what the OP wants. I bought one and run adobe's s/w just fine.
Just because they're fine for what he wants doesn't mean they are what he wants. He asked for opinions between the MacBook and MacBook Pro. I'm sure he's intelligent enough to know that there are PC laptops out there that are capable of the "same things", for less money, but as already stated, he's interested in a Mac.
OP, I'm also a music major (about to graduate, but anyways). may i ask what will you study?. Performance, composition, sound engineering, etc?. that can help to narrow a selection.
Kind regards
Kind regards
I also have an ageing whitebook-- mine is just over 2 years old. Only thing I've done to it is upgrade the RAM. It still works great-- handles everything I throw at it. I did have the cracking issue, but Apple replaced it free, even though I'd been too cheap to buy AppleCare. The replacement keyboard/ palmrest cover seems sturdier-- the original showed dents quickly, and this doesn't. As for keeping it clean, yes, you do need to wipe it down, but my whitebook actually looks better than my friend's blackbook-- it all depends how hard you are on your stuff.
The new 13-inch MBP looks like a great value-- Apple really seems to have nailed it with this upgrade. But if you like the aesthetics of the whitebook, or if money's really tight, I just wanted to chime in to say that my old whitebook has been, and still is, a really fine machine. The one you'd be looking at is better specced-- and it's so pretty! (I like the white keys-- so sue me)
The new 13-inch MBP looks like a great value-- Apple really seems to have nailed it with this upgrade. But if you like the aesthetics of the whitebook, or if money's really tight, I just wanted to chime in to say that my old whitebook has been, and still is, a really fine machine. The one you'd be looking at is better specced-- and it's so pretty! (I like the white keys-- so sue me)