[Elektrix]

Hi all,

I am just about ready to buy an MBP (I am also still potentially considering a regular MB, but the extras of the MBP are appealing enough to me that I want to spend the extra money).

Essentially, I'm trying to decide between the two 15" MBP models. I would be using the educational discount, so it's either $1799 or $2299, a difference of $500. It seems like the big things you're paying for are twice the video memory, a 1GB DIMM instead of 1 512MB DIMM, a slightly larger HD and a faster processor.

The $1799 one appeals to me because it isn't all that much more expensive than a $1399 black MacBook (which I'd be likely to get if I went the MacBook wrote), but one downside is only 512 megs of RAM. I'm planning on upgrading to 2GB RAM, and one thing that appeals to me with the more expensive MBP is that I'd only have to buy 1 additional memory module (and not have a 512 meg module go to waste). So from that perspective I sort of "save" myself $100, bringing the total price difference to $400.

So at that point it seems like the extra video memory is one of the big remaining differences. This actually does sort of appeal to me, since the X1600 is one of the big selling points to me of the MBP over the MB, as I definitely do like the concept of being able to play some 3d games on it with Boot Camp. But I am not sure how much of a difference the extra video memory really makes for games.

If it doesn't make a huge difference, I think I would lean more towards the the $1799 MBP, and just eat the cost of the extra memory. Spending $1799 on the "low end" MBP definitely appeals to me more, since I think the extra money compared to a an $1199 or $1399 white or Black MacBook is worth it for everything else it comes with.

I think I would want to also upgrade the HD as well for more storage space, to either a 160GB 5400RPM drive, or perhaps one of the 200GB 5400rpm drives that is supposed to be coming out in the Fall.

So, I am wondering if anyone else here has any opinions on which would be the best way to go. Basically, I think I might be leaning towards spending extra to get the $2299 MBP, but if the opinion is that it wouldn't be so different, I would definitely not mind saving $400-500 and getting the $1799 model.

Finally, I am willing to buy an MBP now, but I probably will wait at least into the 3rd week of September or so to see if it becomes clearer when the Merom-based MBP's come out. But I don't see a huge difference between a Yonah-based MBP and a Merom-based MBP, so it wouldn't be a huge deal to me either way.

[mduell]

The 256MB VRAM won't matter much for games.
Do you plan on using Spaces much in 10.5/Leopard? If so, go for the 256MB VRAM.

Otherwise, take the $1799 and add the RAM.

[Zeeb]

On Amazon I see the previous 2.0 Ghz model with 256mb of vram, 1gb of ram for $1804.60

I know that's the infamous "rev a" but I have one and have no problems with it. Anyway, its a $500 discount from that 2.16 you're considering and the only difference is a small bit with the processor.

[zerroeffect]

Originally Posted by Zeeb

On Amazon I see the previous 2.0 Ghz model with 256mb of vram, 1gb of ram for $1804.60

I know that's the infamous "rev a" but I have one and have no problems with it. Anyway, its a $500 discount from that 2.16 you're considering and the only difference is a small bit with the processor.

Yeah, and refurbished products from Apple are not too shabby, too.

[Elektrix]

Yeah, I definitely do plan on using Spaces I think, so that's definitely something worth considering.

Definitely might be worth thinking about that previous model on Amazon (I assume that we'll also see similar price drops on the "current" revision whenever the Merom-based MBP's come out).

-Zadillo

[Simon]

From the use you describe you will not notice the difference in VRAM. And unless your work is totally CPU-limited an 8% increase in clock is probably not worth $400.

I'd get the less expensive model and use the $400 for a good add-on, peripheral or software. Of course if money's not an issue, then I'd always get the best.

[SierraDragon]

Wait to see what happens with Merom, then ask.

Also note that what matters is your usage over the life of the box (2007-2008-2009...) OS 10.5, new app versions, etc. not the effect of RAM, video RAM, etc. today. Today is darn near irrelevant.