Which do I buy the MB, MBA, or MBP

[Vashti]

Hey all. Thanks for this thread. I'm finding it quite helpful. I'll be buying a Macbook or Macbook Pro in the coming months. I was doing just fine with my 12" Powerbook G4 - but it seems that dropping it does not help its functioning. So it's time to upgrade.

I used to have a 15" powerbook but found it too heavy for travel and too small for home. Now I have a 20" Cinema Display paired with a 12" powerbook. So I'm trying to decide what's next.

One possibility is to get the Macbook. I'm guessing it's enough for me. I do word processing, web surfing, e-mail, and basic photo editing. Advantage - it's cheaper; it's lighter; and it will fit in the tiny spot allocated to my laptop (on top of the ACD foot). Disadvantage: I do find the 12" screen small when I travel. Also I wonder if moving from an Apple pro line to the basic line will feel like I'm getting less than I had. (I guess I shouldn't since it has more speed and a bigger hard drive.) Do any of you know if the new connection will pair with an old Cinema Display? If not, that's a deal breaker.

The other possibility is of course to get the Pro. I think the screen on these might be better than my 20" display. If I get the 15", I'll probably just use it and sell or give away my ACD. Anyone know which is the better screen?

Lastly, will either of these do all right hooked up to a HDTV? I'd like to occasionally play things from my computer on my 60" 1080P plasma. Can either or both of these handle that?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Scottsdale]

Hey all. Thanks for this thread. I'm finding it quite helpful. I'll be buying a Macbook or Macbook Pro in the coming months. I was doing just fine with my 12" Powerbook G4 - but it seems that dropping it does not help its functioning. So it's time to upgrade.

I used to have a 15" powerbook but found it too heavy for travel and too small for home. Now I have a 20" Cinema Display paired with a 12" powerbook. So I'm trying to decide what's next.

One possibility is to get the Macbook. I'm guessing it's enough for me. I do word processing, web surfing, e-mail, and basic photo editing. Advantage - it's cheaper; it's lighter; and it will fit in the tiny spot allocated to my laptop (on top of the ACD foot). Disadvantage: I do find the 12" screen small when I travel. Also I wonder if moving from an Apple pro line to the basic line will feel like I'm getting less than I had. (I guess I shouldn't since it has more speed and a bigger hard drive.) Do any of you know if the new connection will pair with an old Cinema Display? If not, that's a deal breaker.

The other possibility is of course to get the Pro. I think the screen on these might be better than my 20" display. If I get the 15", I'll probably just use it and sell or give away my ACD. Anyone know which is the better screen?

Lastly, will either of these do all right hooked up to a HDTV? I'd like to occasionally play things from my computer on my 60" 1080P plasma. Can either or both of these handle that?

Thanks for any thoughts.

All you need is an adapter to drive the 20" from the new MacBook. In addition, the new MacBook will drive a 30" cinema display which the old MacBooks could NOT do. Yes, either the MacBook or the Pro will show movies with a display adapter to your nice HDTV.

From a personal note, I find the 13.3" screen to be just right. And, with the new MacBook's glossy black bezel it feels bigger and better and just looks great.

I pretty much think that I would be foolish to buy the Pro since I want a smaller screen size than a 15.4". Buy the Pro if you want the 15.4. That is ALL I have really found as a "WHY" to buy the Pro over the MB. The two computers are just too similar with speed and graphics. And IF you need the graphics, buy the Pro, but MOST EVERYONE will NOT NEED the graphics of the Pro is what I have found. In fact, you can even just let the Pro run with the same graphics as the MB and the Air now have in them. That is a big point. So, if you have tons of money and you want a bigger screen, buy the Pro. If you don't want/need the screen, BUY THE MB or THE AIR.

According to most people, the Air will do everything the MB will do, just the MB will do it all a "little" better. The MB is a little heavier but HAS 4GB Capacity of 1066MHz RAM vs only 2GB of the Air's RAM. The MB has a glass trackpad which to me means NOTHING. The MB has a cool glass screen which the Air doesn't.

Thanks to everyone, this thread has been full of great perspectives.

 

[mark.s]

I went to my local Apple store yesterday to check these out in person, with a view to replacing my rev A MBP (2Ghz,2GB,x1600).

They're fantastic to hold - amazing piece of engineering. Solid, with no flex at all. And they look beautiful. Keyboard will take a bit of getting used to. The trackpad is great - initially I was clicking on the lower section, where the older MBP has a button.

I was planning on getting a new MBP but now after having seen them both in the flesh I'm tempted to go for the MB instead, due the the size. Loss of firewire is a slight irritant as I have a couple of external drives, but I've never used the express card slot on my MBP.

So, for me, the price difference covers the screen size and graphics card. Not sure whether I need the graphics card, to be honest. The only thing it would probably be used for is Diablo 3, and the 9400 may well handle that well enough for the occassional game ;-)

The money saved by buying the MB can go towards the 24" LED CD for my desk!

Will be interesting to see how sales of these things go... from what I've read and what I was hearing in the Apple store, people are viewing the MB as almost a 13" MBP... I think Apple may be cannibalizing sales of the MBP with the MB, the way things stand. Could be one of the reasons they removed the firewire interface.

 

[Vashti]

All you need is an adapter to drive the 20" from the new MacBook. In addition, the new MacBook will drive a 30" cinema display which the old MacBooks could NOT do. Yes, either the MacBook or the Pro will show movies with a display adapter to your nice HDTV.

From a personal note, I find the 13.3" screen to be just right. And, with the new MacBook's glossy black bezel it feels bigger and better and just looks great.

I pretty much think that I would be foolish to buy the Pro since I want a smaller screen size than a 15.4". Buy the Pro if you want the 15.4. That is ALL I have really found as a "WHY" to buy the Pro over the MB. The two computers are just too similar with speed and graphics. And IF you need the graphics, buy the Pro, but MOST EVERYONE will NOT NEED the graphics of the Pro is what I have found. In fact, you can even just let the Pro run with the same graphics as the MB and the Air now have in them. That is a big point. So, if you have tons of money and you want a bigger screen, buy the Pro. If you don't want/need the screen, BUY THE MB or THE AIR.

According to most people, the Air will do everything the MB will do, just the MB will do it all a "little" better. The MB is a little heavier but HAS 4GB Capacity of 1066MHz RAM vs only 2GB of the Air's RAM. The MB has a glass trackpad which to me means NOTHING. The MB has a cool glass screen which the Air doesn't.

Thanks to everyone, this thread has been full of great perspectives.

Thanks Scott! And congrats on your macbook!! Do you - or anyone else who's seen them in person - have an opinion on how the picture on a new MB compares to an old 20" ACD? It will be a shame if the computer that sits closed on my desk actually has a better picture than the larger screen I look at. Too bad they're not making smaller ACDs. That new one is tempting. But I have a tiny computer credenza desk, and a larger screen would cover most of my excellent Edirol monitor speakers.

 

[Scottsdale]

What I had thought about... and what I decided.

I decided to buy the top end MacBook. Feeling the new MacBooks and Pros really left an amazing impression for me. I cannot believe the quality compared to the old notebooks. Seriously, a lot of people all over the forums are saying buy the refurbished MBP for $1249. Well honestly, the new one is worth the $750 more for the low end MacBook Pro.

However, due to some limitations with the Pro, I decided on the MacBook. In addition, I have decided to hold off and buy EITHER the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air in a year. WHY... Well, I have decided to keep my old Pro as a Windows machine, originally. But then I decided I want it all on one computer for a year just to see how it goes. So, I decided I am going to setup Windows XP in Boot Camp on my new MacBook. Then, in a year or so, the new Nehalem Intel processor chipset will be ready. Also, additional advancements in graphics and the utilization of the dual graphics may change dramatically with Snow Leopard. So, I am waiting on a faster version of the MacBook Pro and Snow Leopard and to see if the GPU will really do everything amazing on the Pro. And it could be screaming fast in a year with all combined.

Although, if I really like the single computer and the size of the 13.3 inch screen, and the Air gets the new glass full screen I may opt for the Air in a year. The Air could be running a 2.4 GHz 45nm processor in a year. It could be $500 less with the SSD of 256 GB. Or even it could be more but be an amazing laptop by then. If I don't like the one computer setup, I will convert my MacBook into a Windows computer. If I do like the one computer setup, it will be moving over to the Pro or the Air in a much more value driven deal.

I believe Apple does NOT reward early adopters, and I think waiting for the newer processors and internal components of the higher end will be a worthwhile year and end up with an AMAZING DESIGN that which we all have seen now. Although you haven't seen it til you hold it in person. And the GLOSSY is AMAZING and I normally like the MATTE screen better. But the LED really has changed the outlook of the glossy MacBook Pro.

Good luck to all and thanks for all of the feedback on this thread.

Cheers.

 

[Catonow]

Congrats on selecting the higher end MB. That is precisely what I did, too. As the OP said, you really have to see (and hold) them in person to appreciate the new design fully; it is a gem. Though I agree with the OP that the new trackpad is going to take some getting used to. The jury's still out (as far as I'm concerned) as to whether it is a step forward or not.

With the new graphics in the MB, I'm afraid it's going to seriously cannibalize MBP sales. Except for pros who absolutely require the dedicated graphics, Firewire and/or bigger screen of the MBP, the MB is the way to go. The perfect laptop, to date.

 

[dougelo7]

I have the same question more or less. I don't play games, just use laptop for word, music, internet and wondering what mac to get? willing to spend whatever for the best results. do travel a bit (school, etc) so portability is a plus. Also want one that will last. thanks

Don't even hesitate - buy an Air. If you can, get it with an SSD as this makes it a lot more fast and durable (your airplane might crash and your Air would still work, LOL).

 

[neiltc13]

If it is going to be your only computer you can't install software on Air unless you buy that add on disc drive.

You could save yourself a LOT of money and problems by going with the new MacBook. It's only fractionally thicker than the Air (2.41cm vs 1.94cm) and has a more powerful processor, VASTLY better speakers and two USB ports.

 

[DeekinBlooz]

...

So, for me, the price difference covers the screen size and graphics card. Not sure whether I need the graphics card, to be honest. The only thing it would probably be used for is Diablo 3, and the 9400 may well handle that well enough for the occassional game ;-)

Thanks for the great post. I'm going through the same decision process. After much consideration and discussions, I'm leaning strongly to the high-end MB. But, I have a couple of questions:

(1) Do you or anyone think the 9400 will be unable to handle Diablo 3?! I was under the impression that it should handle Diablo 3 just fine.

(2) A Blueshirt in an Apple store told me I could just buy a Firewire-Ethernet adapter and use the Ethernet jack to connect to my Firewire-only camcorder. I did some research on the web in the store and found evidence that there is no such thing yet. Anyone know anything more? Are we talking about 1394c?

 

[DeekinBlooz]

Thanks for the great post. I'm going through the same decision process. After much consideration and discussions, I'm leaning strongly to the high-end MB. But, I have a couple of questions:

(1) Do you or anyone think the 9400 will be unable to handle Diablo 3?! I was under the impression that it should handle Diablo 3 just fine.

(2) A Blueshirt in an Apple store told me I could just buy a Firewire-Ethernet adapter and use the Ethernet jack to connect to my Firewire-only camcorder. I did some research on the web in the store and found evidence that there is no such thing yet. Anyone know anything more? Are we talking about 1394c?

I found a relevant link.
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/18823/