Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Wait, or Wait longer?

Wait, or Wait Longer?

  • Wait for Leopard

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • Wait for MacBook Update + 2 Weeks

    Votes: 14 77.8%
  • Total voters
    18
Tumeg101

Tumeg101

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 30, 2007
523
0
Orange County, California
Now that we have a little more info on when, and what the MacBook update will be... I have a question...
I am 14 years old, and have $2 more than I need to purchase the current mid end MacBook... So my budget is tight...

Anyway, if you haven't read the new rumors of the MacBook update... here it is:
MacRumors said:
ThinkSecret reports that Apple is set to introduce new MacBook updates soon after the release of Mac OS X Leopard (10.5). Leopard is rumored to be launched on October 26th, and the rumor site expects the new MacBooks to be in the hands of consumers "by the first half of November, if not sooner."

According to their sources, the MacBook update will be a relatively modest update, and simply bump processor speeds. It's unknown if the new MacBooks will adopt the Santa Rosa architecture that adopted by the MacBook Pros in June. ThinkSecret also believes this will be the last Apple hardware revision before the holidays.

These expectations don't entirely correlate with September rumors of a slim aluminum MacBook arriving "soon".
Click to expand...

After talking to people about this, they all seem to think that this soon to be updated MacBook will consist of: 2.2ghz, integrated graphics will be twice as fast as the current one, and santa rosa chip set(support of 4gb of ram, longer battery life)
My question is mainly, is this update worth it to wait for??

This will be my first mac, I have been waiting for 5 months for leopard to be released, to buy the MacBook... If I wait for the update to buy the MacBook, I may have to wait a few more weeks than I would if I was just waiting for leopard (my dad is getting me a deal on the macbook, from his friend, so if I wait for new ones I will need to wait 1-2 more weeks for his friend to get them in, so I can afford one)

I will only be doing the basics (internet, music, chatting, and school) so I don't really need the extra .04ghz... or the 4gb ram possibility... the current battery life is 6 hours, which is fine for me... 90% of the time i will be at home, so I can just have it plugged in...
But I am wondering, if I will need to wait for the extra graphics, in order to run leopard smoothly, there have been rumors that leopard may not run to good on the current graphics,
This will be my first mac, so I want it to be a good one, and I need it to last 2+ years...



NOTE: If this is confusing, just say what part is and I will re-state it...
I wont have to wait 2 weeks after leopard is released, because apple has a thing on there site, so if you buy a mac on or after the release of an OS, you just gotta pay $9.95 + Tax and they will send you the upgrade...
 
I understand that santa rosa and the graphics are pretty nice updates... but for what I do, is it worth waiting for??
I don't even know of this guy is going to get new ones in, in 2 weeks... probably longer,

And I wont be running any big apps that require the better graphics, or faster bus speed...
I have played with these macbooks in the store, and they are fine, allot faster then my PC I have now,


So from this post, would you still say to wait??
 
psingh01 said:
your budget is pretty tight. are you taking sales tax into account? :)
Click to expand...

Yes, My dad's friend can get me the MacBook for $1,266 without taxes... and he is an authorized reseller...
Don't ask me how, I think it is just because my dad is in the computer business, and of course so is this "friend" of his... so somehow they can get each other good deals :p
 
You'll be fine buying now. If you want to wait for the update, wait. You'll be able to run everything, including Leopard smoothy. I should be able to run it quite well on my iMac G5. Thats not a problem. As for battery, dont keep it plugged in. Plug it in when it needs to be charged, if you keep it plugged in, youll hurt the charge cycle and youll go from about a 6 hour charge (or whatever it is) to like a 2 hour, maybe less if you play your cards that wrongly.

Does that help you? :):)
 
Eidorian said:
You want the MacBook but fail to see the value of waiting for a much improved model.

If you want your Mac to last +2 years then wait for the revised model.
Click to expand...

Are you saying her mac wont be able to last over 2years if she doesnt wait!?
 
Eidorian said:
You want the MacBook but fail to see the value of waiting for a much improved model.

If you want your Mac to last +2 years then wait for the revised model.
Click to expand...

I understand this... but how would santa rosa, better graphics, and a .04ghz faster processor... make it last longer???
If you read what I am going to be using the machine for, I will barely be using the machine to it's min. capabilities...

Telp said:
Are you saying her mac wont be able to last over 2years if she doesnt wait!?
Click to expand...

lol... im a 'he' :p
 
Tumeg101 said:
I understand this... but how would santa rosa, better graphics, and a .04ghz faster processor... make it last longer???
If you read what I am going to be using the machine for, it will barely be using the machine to it's mid capabilities...
Click to expand...
What's so hard to understand that higher specifications now will help a computer run newer software for a longer period of time? The midrange model now might be the low end model in the future.
 
Eidorian said:
What's so hard to understand that higher specifications now will help a computer run newer software for a longer period of time? The midrange model now might be the low end model in the future.
Click to expand...

What's so hard to understand that I wont be installing\downloading any programs that require the 'higher specifications'
 
Tumeg101 said:
What's so hard to understand that I wont be installing\downloading any programs that require the 'higher specifications'
Click to expand...
Then why are you buying a new machine then? Get a refurbished Core Duo. You're never going to need 64-bit processing.

Maybe even an iBook.
 
Tumeg101 said:
lol... im a 'he' :p
Click to expand...

Haha, sorry dude, i gave it a shot, and i was wrong. :) Anyway, it seems to me that you dont need to wait. If having the latest and greatest isnt that important for you, buy at leopard. It doesnt seem you need the extra power, its just nice to have just in case.
 
Eidorian said:
Then why are you buying a new machine then? Get a refurbished Core Duo. You're never going to need 64-bit processing.

Maybe even an iBook.
Click to expand...

Because those machines are just too slow for me... the current macbook is faster than I am use to... so it will be fine...



I guess I am answering my own question...
This can be closed
 
Tumeg101 said:
Because those machines are just too slow for me... the current macbook is faster than I am use to... so it will be fine...



I guess I am answering my own question...
This can be closed
Click to expand...

Alright, then buy now, or at leopard. Youll be fine with that.
 
Tumeg101 said:
I have a feeling you guys arent reading my situation.... lol
Click to expand...

I'm reading your situation fairly well. You're a 14 year old with no real NEED for a new macbook. I'd say that you could buy a refurbed C2D and use it just fine, or wait for the update to the macbooks to arrive, and then buy the current models at an even lower price. With the amount of money you've saved, there are better things you can do. Save some of it and enjoy being a teenager!
 
CalBoy said:
I'm reading your situation fairly well. You're a 14 year old with no real NEED for a new macbook. I'd say that you could buy a refurbed C2D and use it just fine, or wait for the update to the macbooks to arrive, and then buy the current models at an even lower price. With the amount of money you've saved, there are better things you can do. Save some of it and enjoy being a teenager!
Click to expand...

I don't have a need for a macbook... but I have convinced myself that I do, after waiting 5+ months for leopard, and getting into macs... I seriously need to get one or I will go mad... lol,
I could get a refurb, but... would I get leopard on it? (If I purchase it after leopards release of course) And I kinda want the box lol... but idk if the box is worth $80... I guess if leopard is shipped on refurb MB's when it is released, then I will get that :p
I have nothing else to spend the money on, except a nice DSLR and a lens or two... but I want the MacBook first, I want the MacBook to see if photography is really my thing, (I have no photo editing software on my PC, I know I can get some for less then $1,300... but I love Macs, and iPhoto is a nice starter tool that will come with my dream computer, that I have wanted since the iMac from 2 generations ago (the one with the dome, and the screen attached with that medal rod)


EDIT: After doing a quick search on the forums...
it appears that when leopard is released, if I buy a refurb mac, it will have tiger installed, but will have leopard DVD's in it (someone purchased a refurb right after tiger was released, it came with panther installed but tiger dvds... he said they made this clear on the site)
 
Tumeg101 said:
I don't have a need for a macbook... but I have convinced myself that I do, after waiting 5+ months for leopard, and getting into macs... I seriously need to get one or I will go mad...
Click to expand...

Hmm, it seems to me that the only answer that will satisfy you then is BUY NOW. :)

My recommendation is to wait for the new Macbook. You say that you're not going to ever want to use the computer for more than Music and photos etc, but how do you really know what you'll want to use it for in one or two years' time?

The new model will probably be launched at the same price as the current model. Improved graphics capabilities mean that if you do ever decide to do something else with your computer, it will have more of a chance of being capable of doing it.

It's so simple.

Curb the trend of young people today and have some bloody patience!! :D
 
I would wait...
but I don't know when my dad's friend will be getting the new macs in if\when they come out, could be anywhere from 2-5+ weeks... (it's not like, a circuit city or anything like that... more of a no name place)

And I need the macbook before November 12th (I am taking some photography classes)
Which I just remembered this, so I guess I will just get a refurb macbook, if they drop in leopard...
 
Tumeg101 said:
I would wait...
but I don't know when my dad's friend will be getting the new macs in if\when they come out, could be anywhere from 2-5+ weeks... (it's not like, a circuit city or anything like that... more of a no name place)

And I need the macbook before November 12th (I am taking some photography classes)
Which I just remembered this, so I guess I will just get a refurb macbook, if they drop in leopard...
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm 97% sure that they'll install Leopard on a refurbished model.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back