Upgrade Internals or Buy PC?

[Mr D]

My current laptop which is a MBP 17 inch Early 2009...

Processor is 2.93 Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB of RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512 MB
320GB Hard drive (7200rpm)

AND

Cracked glass screen (not the LCD) that my nephew just caused.

I was planning to give/get my nephew a new laptop so -

2 options

1. Upgrade current MBP internals with SSD + 8 GB of ram and fix screen

Estimated cost = around $400 (Maybe $300 depending on how much it costs to fix the screen?)

2. Buy new windows laptop

Estimated cost = around $500

I haven't really been into computer tech like that - so I don't know what the estimated life of this laptop is...and how much better newer technology is even if it's a Windows.

Much appreciated!

 

[maflynn]

I think you may be better off with a newer machine, that's just me though.

 

[mikes63737]

I can't speak to how much it costs to replace the glass, but my vote is to add the RAM and the SSD to the older Mac. It will feel like a new machine and for $500 you're not going to find that in (many) PC laptops.

I did the same to my Mid-2010 15" MBP and I'm very still happy with it.

 

[itsOver9000]

My current laptop which is a MBP 17 inch Early 2009...

Processor is 2.93 Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB of RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512 MB
320GB Hard drive (7200rpm)

AND

Cracked glass screen (not the LCD) that my nephew just caused.

I was planning to give/get my nephew a new laptop so -

2 options

1. Upgrade current MBP internals with SSD + 8 GB of ram and fix screen

Estimated cost = around $400 (Maybe $300 depending on how much it costs to fix the screen?)

Looks like a new glass panel is approximately $20 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Unibody-Macbook-Glass-Screen-Replacement/dp/B0055U5B72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427033774&sr=8-1&keywords=17+MacBook+pro+glass
that is if you are comfortable replacing it yourself..

 

[Mr D]

Looks like a new glass panel is approximately $20 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Unibody-Macbook-Glass-Screen-Replacement/dp/B0055U5B72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427033774&sr=8-1&keywords=17+MacBook+pro+glass
that is if you are comfortable replacing it yourself..

Not for this laptop. I looked it up already...

 

[z31fanatic]

Not worth spending $400 on that old machine. Sell it on ebay for maybe $200 and buy a newer used MBP or a new Windows laptop. $500 gets you a nice laptop these days.