Univ. student: what/when should I buy?

[furcalchick]

To say that the only extra value of a MBP is better graphics power is absurd!

The MBP offers users a larger screen, as some users do not prefer a small 13" screen.
It also offers a backlight keyboard and different enclosure.

i personally like the macbook's look better, and plus, it's more durable at the pros, so it's mostly what the user likes. same goes for the backlit keyboard, i personally like the mb keyboard better due to it's unique design.

and it depends if the person really needs the screen estate on the road, as you can pick up a 19" display for 200 bucks in america now.

i would personally stick to the macbook. the pros don't really have too much of a power advantage.

 

[cleanup]

I think (especially for your design work) that the extra screen space is worth getting the Pro for. I have a 17" PowerBook G4 and use Photoshop and Painter, and I love it. You'd be getting that same resolution (right?) on the 15" MBP; it's pretty good. I wouldn't worry too much about the dedicated GPU, but do worry about RAM - just remember to get lots and lots. I have 2GB, and things are still pretty good, even on my 1.5GHz G4. I'd also say wait until you get to Canada. I live in Chengdu, and managed to buy RAM considerably cheaper than the going rates back home in England - but you live in Shanghai, and are going to a place where RAM is probably cheap as chips, at least compared to my home!

In terms of portability, I find my 17" (in a backpack) no problem to cart about to all sorts of places. Personal preference I suppose. Go and compare for yourself at stores if you're not too sure about this one.

Hmm, so then what are the chances a small MacBook Pro will be released at WWDC that will be less than/close to $2000? 🙁

That's cool. What are you doing in Chengdu?? I was just there last year on a trip.

 

[Daveway]

Hmm, so then what are the chances a small MacBook Pro will be released at WWDC that will be less than/close to $2000? 🙁

Only Apple knows that answer. What is sort of understood is that if such a device were introduced it would not be under the MBP designation.

 

[Igantius]

To say that the only extra value of a MBP is better graphics power is absurd!

The MBP offers users a larger screen, as some users do not prefer a small 13" screen.
It also offers a backlight keyboard and different enclosure.

Basically, what you get with MBPs that you won't with MBs:

Aluminum shell
Lighted keyboard
Ambient light sensor
Auto-dimming display
ExpressCard Port
PCIe graphics system
Higher-resolution display
Matte display option
Larger hard drive

Whether that's worth the extra cash is going to depend on the indiviual.

Of course, the MB has advantages such as better battery life, wireless etc etc.

 

[furcalchick]

Basically, what you get with MBPs that you won't with MBs:

Aluminum shell
Lighted keyboard
Ambient light sensor
Auto-dimming display
ExpressCard Port
PCIe graphics system
Higher-resolution display
Matte display option
Larger hard drive

Whether that's worth the extra cash is going to depend on the indiviual.

Of course, the MB has advantages such as better battery life, wireless etc etc.

you can get a larger hard drive (unless there's something i'm not aware of) in the macbook if you get the hard drive elsewhere. and i thought my mb dims as it goes to sleep all by itself.

here are some of the mb.

plastic casing (won't warp easily)
unique keyboard
compact size
all plugins on one side
better battery life
better wireless
latch free opening
ability to upgrade internal hard drive without voiding warranty

i think there's a couple more, but that's it for me.

 

[Igantius]

you can get a larger hard drive .. in the macbook if you get the hard drive elsewhere. and i thought my mb dims as it goes to sleep all by itself.

I was referring to standard configs - but yes, there's no probs installing a larger HD yourself in MBs... which to me lessens the larger HD advantage of MBPs somewhat. As for the auto-dimming, I think - but wouldn't swear - that this function is slighty between the two machine because of the the MBs light sensor.

 

[Daveway]

here are some of the mb.

plastic casing (won't warp easily)
unique keyboard
compact size
all plugins on one side
better battery life
better wireless
latch free opening
ability to upgrade internal hard drive without voiding warranty

i think there's a couple more, but that's it for me.

With a MBP revision around the corner, these arguments could be voided soon.
Just because it's a unique keyboard does not make it better. I and others prefer the MBP keyboard because it's more traditional and better overall.
For some, the matte display alone is reason enough to get the MBP.

Again, this is mostly personal preference, but there are facts.....and this topic has been beaten with a stick in many threads.

 

[Daveway]

As for the auto-dimming, I think - but wouldn't swear - that this function is slighty between the two machine because of the the MBs light sensor.

MBs do not have an ambient light sensor.

 

[Igantius]

MBs do not have an ambient light sensor.

Sorry, that was a typo - as I said in my previous post in this thread I included the sensor as a feature found in MBPs, but not MBs.

 

[cleanup]

is the upcoming MBP update just a specifications update or a huge new introduction/evolution deal? if not i might just go the MB route and maybe buy an external monitor with the money i save.

 

[andiwm2003]

funny, i posted this just in another thread. sorry, i post this here again because it fit's better here because it seems a few people are in the same situation as I.
---------------------------
so i expect the new MBP's to be either meaningless speed bumps (RAM/HD) or Santa Rosa with a price increase. The actual speed increase for a machine used mostly as a desktop replacement will be not significant to me, as well as battery life, boot up times, LED displays.

Therefore i thing i will skip Santa Rosa and get something cheaper for now:

either a refurb MB white 2.0GHz, 1 GB, 80 GB for $999 + $200 to upgrade RAM and HD

a new MB white 2.16GHz, 1GB , 120 GB for $1199 (edu) + $100 for RAM

a refurb MBP 2.16 GHz, 1 GB, 120 HD for hopefully $1400 + $50 for RAM

so my choices will be $1200, $1300 or $1450

i don't game, have a 24" screen. what would you recommend? also does anybody know if there is an edu discount on refurbs as well?

 

[Daveway]

also does anybody know if there is an edu discount on refurbs as well?

Unfortunately Education discounts are not applied to the refurbished outlet.

 

[What]

education discount

I realize waiting until mid july would mean getting a 175 dollarish rebate.

However, I need a macbook now.
What is the better deal. With my education discount, the high end white macbook is 1199 dollars.

Great deal, except with colorado tax, its 1284 dollars.

Amazon, offers the macbook for 1299 dollars plus 75 dollar rebate, tax free.

The bad, with free shipping, it would take 1-2 weeks (at least, according to amazon).

should i go with the education discount (which in total, is really not much of discount) or go with amazon and pay for faster shipping?

 

[Erasmus]

sexy aluminum (pronounce it al-yew-minn-eum and it's even sexier)

Well, if you're gonna pronounce it that way, you might want to spell it with the extra "i". The correct, non Americanised spelling is "Aluminium".
(various cheeky smileys)

One vote for you buying the Macbook. That means one less person in the queue to get the 15" SR MBP, so I'll get mine sooner.

 

[lamina]

This must be an easy decision now that the MacBook Pro was updated to such kick-ass specs yesterday. 2GB of ram all-around ftw, imho. lol. LED backlighting also ftw.

Sorry... it's too early in the morning to make posts that make any sense.