[Rab Mush]

hello, I am buying a mac for the first time in the next month or two, and I am wondering if the folks over here can help me out with a few things:

Okay, I plan on buying either a macbook, or a macbook pro. I can't decide. I won't be gaming on it TOO much. If there's a game I want to play, I'll usually buy the console version, or play it at a friends house who has a godly PC.

The things I plan on using it for are:

Light gaming (Spore (when it's out), StarCraft, WoW, nothing too graphically demanding)
School (Essays and such)
Web browsing, email, that stuff
Flash MX, Photoshop (not for a job or anything, just for fun)

I will be upgrading from the minimum RAM and ROM that the MB(P) that I get comes with. $500 on the price for 2gigs of RAM? I don't think so.

My question is, can anyone provide me with help on what I should get? here it is:

MacBook, or MacBook Pro?
Links to where I can get RAM that is compatible with whichever I get
Good accessories I should get (bags and stuff. I am planning on carrying this around at school, and just wouldn't feel safe with it in my backpack!)
Good software that I need


Thanks to whoever helps me!

[mduell]

For Spore and WoW I'd go with the Pro.

Crucial.com has a memory selector to point you to the RAM you need.

I like the SecondSkin folders.

[ak1nza]

Here's a link for all ram on NewEgg compatible with the Macbook (is it not the same as the Macbook Pro?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ubCategory=381

I think you should be fine with the Macbook and not the Pro. The additional money doesn't justify the Pro just for using it to play Spore and WoW IMO.

If you are going to play WoW a lot then get the Pro though. The Macbook will suffer in anything that requires 3D stuff.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by ak1nza

Here's a link for all ram on NewEgg compatible with the Macbook (is it not the same as the Macbook Pro?)

All of the Intel Macs except the Mac Pro/Xserve take the same memory.

[Dillon-K]

I really can't give you much information on this... sounds like the MacBook will be great for you, but I'm not sure about the gaming... the only way to find out is to see if anyone's been playing the games you want to play on a MacBook... I personally never do any games and only mild photoshopping... so the MacBook'll be fine for me. Like I said, see if anyone's playing the games you want to play, and if you don't want to even have to worry about it or just have the money, then get the pro... it's really your choice .

[amazing]

Depends on how important gaming is for you. Here's some gaming test comparisons (WOW, "light gaming?"), where the MB doesn't do well at all:

http://barefeats.com/mbcd3.html

OTO, the MB does very well, for example, with iMovie and iDVD,

http://barefeats.com/mbcd4.html

To me, being able to choose a matte screen would be the deciding factor. Have you been to a store where you've compared the glossy MB to a matte MBP? The reflections on glossy are very annoying
with great potential for eye fatigue--but maybe not so important with young eyes.

Used to be with the choice between 12" and 15" models that weight was a deciding factor. Definitely no big difference in weight anymore, sad to say.

For backpack, look at the Wenger Synergy, where compusa currently has it cheaper ($50) than buy.com. I've seen it as low as $43. Put at zeroshock sleeve inside the padded backpack sleeve if you're really worried about keeping the laptop safe (MBP model supposed to be ready end-August.)

http://shinza.com/product_info.php?products_id=63

If you're always carrying tons of books, you'll wanna look at a rolling backpack...

Software: Assuming college (?) then check the college bookstore or the IT dept. Lots of times they've either got supercheap pricing or better (free?) You'll need MS Office, if only because that's what businesses use and you might as well get used to it, love it or hate it.

[mBurns]

Rab,

Someone was in asking a similiar question yesterday on the forum. I'm also a student who was debating between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. If you want to do any type of gaming on your laptop, go with the low end MacBook Pro. The graphics ability of the integrated graphics is weak and it's slower then a dedicated 64 VRAM chip. Also, for playing games you may want a bigger screen since I thought the 13" could be a little hard to look at for long periods of time. If you're planning on taking this laptop with you around to school, I would go with the MacBook Pro because the MacBook has a glossy screen which means when you change light settings constantly, it could be hard to look at the screen. I would also get the MacBook Pro if you want to keep your laptop many years.

After listening to what you want to do with your mac, I would go with the MacBook Pro. I would go with either the low end or the middle end model. I personally think the middle end model (I bought that one) may be better for you because for the added price you get a 256 graphics card (no slouch) and a faster processor which will make the middle of the road one much more current for a longer period of time then the low end MacBook Pro. If you do end up buying the MacBook or MacBook Pro, make sure to get Applecare! There have been some strange issues with both of these machines and who knows what else is going to occur with these things down the road. I wish you the best of luck with whatever path you decide to take. If you have any more questions specifically about either the MacBook or the MacBook Pro (technical or not), feel free to private message me or post here because before buying my machine, I spent countless hours in the Apple store talking to geniuses, sales people, and messing around with the machines. I also did a lot of research buy looking at various forums around the internet for macs.

[Rab Mush]

By "light gaming" I mean with the graphics (compaired to games like HL2 and F.E.A.R)

I guess... the MB would cover it. I mean, I won't be gaming too much on it, and pretty much everything I want to play doesn't take too much power.

Thanks guys!

[mBurns]

Rab,

How long are you planning on having this machine?

[Rab Mush]

Eh... I don't know... 4 years at the most. That's when I usually upgrade.

The thing is, me and my dad are going half and half on this machine. I don't have enought cash at the monent to get a pro, and school is coming up very fast.

[mBurns]

Rab,

I'm planning on having my machine for 4 years. If I were in your shoes, wait until you can afford the MacBook Pro. The MacBook will be very outdated in 4 years while the MacBook Pro will be still somewhat fast by todays standards all because the MacBook Pro doesn't have the limit of integrated graphics.

Let me give you an example: Compare a G3 iBook to a G3 Powerbook. Which one stands up in the real world more? Which one fetches more? You could even look at this with the G4 iBook and G4 Powerbook. Apple's "consumer" laptop has always been crippled in some way where you can't have it for a long period of time. Don't get me wrong though, I'm sure you could get through 4 years with the MacBook but it wouldn't be pretty. I would advise you to not rush into a purchase you are going to have for 4 years. Wait until you can buy the MacBook Pro, you'll be happy a year or two years down the road. There may not seem to be a big gap between the MacBook and MacBook Pro right now but as the future plays out, you're going to see a gap that is getting bigger and bigger!

[Rab Mush]

You're right... what MBP would you suggest?

[Rab Mush]

Bump!

[mBurns]

Rab,

I would suggest going with the middle of the road MacBook Pro 15.4". The middle of the road one has 256 VRAM and a 100 GB HD. The reason I would suggest this one is because it has the better grapics card then the lower end model and has a bigger hd then the lower end model.

[jamil5454]

Save the money and pick up a MacBook Pro when they're updated with Merom. I'd save to get the 17", just because of FW800 and the DL optical drive, but since you'll be taking yours around campus with you, go for the better of the 15.4".

It's better to wait a few more months to get a machine that'll last a few more years.

[pheonixash]

I think you'll do fine with the MacBook. I don't think integrated graphics is that big a deal. It's just made out to be so cause Apple has never gone this route before. While it is obviously not as good as a dedicated card, integrated graphics are satisfactory in most cases. Also, Apple JUST released the laptop, I'm sure Leopard will work just fine on it. I don't think 10.6 is gonna be anywhere on the horizon for the next 18-24 months after Leopard.

Also, if you get the 2.0 MB, the only REAL things you're giving up are the graphics card and the ExpressCard slot, and other cosmetic stuff like the backlit keyboard. I couldn't justify the difference in the price for those features, which I honestly have no use for. Judging from your posts, I don't think you'll really require them much either.

[deslock]

Originally Posted by mBurns

Rab,

I'm planning on having my machine for 4 years. If I were in your shoes, wait until you can afford the MacBook Pro. The MacBook will be very outdated in 4 years while the MacBook Pro will be still somewhat fast by todays standards all because the MacBook Pro doesn't have the limit of integrated graphics.

4 years is a long time to have any laptop... both the MacBook and MBP wil be usable in 4 years, but they'll both be outdated, especially when it comes to games. On the other hand, the MacBook is outdated for today's games

Anyway, Rab if you want to play any 3D games newer than Q3, get the MBP. Good luck!

[amazing]

I setup a G3 14"/900 a few years ago, and got to revisit with it just a month ago. For things like email, word processing, even web-browsing, it's still totally usable when on broadband. It was never used for games, though.

Axiom #1: Get the most laptop you can get on your budget. Don't go over-budget, because that will mean that you can't even begin thinking about and saving for the next one.

Axiom #2: Read avidly about everything that comes up when Apple introduces a new laptop. That will ensure that you aren't swayed by technolust, because you'll definitely know that the early adopters are paying Apple big bucks for the privilege to be beta-testers.

Axiom #3: Plan your buying cycle to have an adequate laptop when the new model comes out, so that you can be ready to buy the second generation, after all the early adopters have paid dearly in blood, sweat, and tears to perfect the design for you.

[wilsonng]

howz about buying the low-end macbook for general use and the iMac for your gaming?

Best of both worlds.....

[ChasingApple]

Well, I play WoW on my iBook, and thanks to the latest patches it runs real smooth. All my book has is a Radeon 9550 32MB card in it. I would think the Macbook would do much better then my little 12" book!

[houstonmacbro]

has your machine arrived? happy with it?

[Rab Mush]

I decided I'd wait until the MacBooks started coming with the Marom whatevers.