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PorscheTrev · Jul 17, 2006, 05:39 PM

Heres my deal,
I am most definitly getting a Mac. But Is the extra 500 worth it to go pro? I was looking towards either a Macbook (2.GHz, 1 gig, 80 gig), or the Pro(2 GHz, 512 mb, 80 gig)
I have a student loan for school on its way so the money right now doesnt matter.

Thanks

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jul 17, 2006, 05:51 PM

Right now NO. But wait till the next round of MBP's hopefully in August.

nonhuman · Jul 17, 2006, 05:58 PM

I was recently asking myself the same thing as I'm about to lose my work-provided MBP (starting my own company). It turns out that a 2.0 GHz MacBook, fully loaded with 2 GB ram (from Crucial, not Apple) and 120 GB HDD (oddly enough cheaper from Apple), is still cheaper than the low end MacBook Pro with nothing added.

I'm using a MacBook Pro right now, and I can tell you that if you're getting an Intel machine and want to use Microsoft Office you'll want a minimum of 1 GB RAM.

So, for me at least, it's definitely more worthwhile to go with the MacBook for now. Unless the new MacBook Pro is released next month as SWG suggests, I'll probably be buying a MacBook next month. The only real advantage of the MacBook Pro for me would be that 1. it looks more professional, which is always good when with a client, and 2. it has an express card slot so I can get an EV-DO card for it.

lpkmckenna · Jul 17, 2006, 06:00 PM

If you require serious 3D muscle: MacBook Pro. Otherwise, the MacBook is a steal.

Angus_D · Jul 17, 2006, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by PorscheTrev

Heres my deal,
I am most definitly getting a Mac. But Is the extra 500 worth it to go pro? I was looking towards either a Macbook (2.GHz, 1 gig, 80 gig), or the Pro(2 GHz, 512 mb, 80 gig)
I have a student loan for school on its way so the money right now doesnt matter.

And what, pray, will you be using it for?

wataru · Jul 17, 2006, 06:18 PM

You know there are entire forums dedicated to those items...

production_coordinator · Jul 17, 2006, 06:19 PM

IMHO, if it's a student loan... go LOW end. Unless you specifically need some feature the MacBook Pro offers, you are wasting your money (and remember, you will be paying on those loans faster than you think)

paul w · Jul 17, 2006, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by wataru

You know there are entire forums dedicated to those items...

Now if there were a single notebook forum I'd see your point.

nonhuman · Jul 17, 2006, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

IMHO, if it's a student loan... go LOW end. Unless you specifically need some feature the MacBook Pro offers, you are wasting your money (and remember, you will be paying on those loans faster than you think)

Good advice.

My girlfriend has to start paying off her student loads (from undergrad and gradschool) this month. It's not making our lives any easier.

On the other hand, if you'll be able to use a higher-end computer to make some extra money, then it's definitely worth it to get it. Since you're going to be paying all this money back you have to treat it as an investment. If you're not going to be able to make more money as a result of what you're spending, don't spend it.

voodoo · Jul 17, 2006, 07:10 PM

Both are crap right now, but the MBP is less crap. If you absoloutly need a portable Mac right now, get the MBP. The best would be to wait for the revision.

V

TheoCryst · Jul 17, 2006, 07:45 PM

Unless you seriously need the 3D capabilities, go non-pro. I have one, and it screams compared to my iBook. Plus, there's no point in wasting your student load $$. College is expensive enough as it is.

wataru · Jul 17, 2006, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

Now if there were a single notebook forum I'd see your point.

There have been plenty of threads on exactly this topic in the MacBook/iBook forum. I don't read the MacBook Pro/PowerBook forum, but I imagine they've had their fair share as well.

Originally Posted by TheoCryst

there's no point in wasting your student load $$

You're right! Don't blow your load on a MacBook Pro!

jamil5454 · Jul 17, 2006, 08:09 PM

What will you be using it for?

paul w · Jul 17, 2006, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by wataru

I don't read the MacBook Pro/PowerBook forum

This is my point. Why can't there be a single place in this joint to get a consensus on one type of product. Who wants to go hopping back and forth anyway?

Salty · Jul 18, 2006, 12:05 AM

I was looking at a MacBook Pro for a long time... then i was like... I could probably get by with just a MacBook, then I started thinking maybe I should just keep my PowerBook for the next year. Yah... I'm pathetic hahaha. Right now between the two machines unless you need a good graphics card I'd go with the MB.

- - e r i k - - · Jul 18, 2006, 12:55 AM

Agreed. The MacBook / MacBook Pro forum should be consolidated now that the models are practically indistuingishable from eachother (apart for graphics).

harrisjamieh · Jul 18, 2006, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by voodoo

Both are crap right now, but the MBP is less crap. If you absoloutly need a portable Mac right now, get the MBP. The best would be to wait for the revision.

V

Both are crap? Wha...?

care to explain....

Hawkeye_a · Jul 18, 2006, 02:31 AM

the MacBooks are georgous (the white ones anyway)...the MacBook Pros are cool in that they look like the powerBook G4s.

Spec wise...the Pros are definatey better. if your planning on doing any sort of gaming, go for the Pro, if you want something small the MacBooks are great.

Either way, id recommend waiting for the next revision of either product. there have been a few too many complaints/issues with this first gen crop of macbooks&pros. Strangely enough....the imacs and Mac Minis dont have as many issues...knock on wood.

Cheers.

euphras · Jul 18, 2006, 06:38 AM

This is not the first time that technical things CLEARLY belonging into the tech fora gets discussed here. And it annoys me that the rule obeying bunch uses the technical subfora, although it sometimes takes a little bit to get answers, while some noobs and "regulars" abuse the lounge in order to get quick replies, and worse, not even get corrected.

Angus_D · Jul 18, 2006, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by voodoo

Both are crap right now

Complete and utter codswallop, I'm afraid.

moonmonkey · Jul 18, 2006, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Angus_D

Complete and utter codswallop, I'm afraid.

My Macbook is the best computer I have ever had.

Gossamer · Jul 18, 2006, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

Agreed. The MacBook / MacBook Pro forum should be consolidated now that the models are practically indistuingishable from eachother (apart for graphics).

Apparently that's not possible

Angus_D · Jul 18, 2006, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

My Macbook is the best computer I have ever had.

Ditto.

PorscheTrev · Jul 18, 2006, 12:50 PM

Wow thanks for all the replies guys, I'll be using it for graphic design mostly and of coarse the occational game im a huge gamer but thats why i have a 360. If its a MB ill most likely go a gig of ram and 80 gig HDD and pro the same. I got a loan for the exact cost of the 2.0ghz MB and I'm wondering if i can pay off a credit card while in college for 500, so i'm leaning towards the normal Macbook but ill still wait for next month to see what comes out.

PorscheTrev · Jul 18, 2006, 12:56 PM

and one more thing i have zero knowledge in the mac department so ill have to lean it all from what i'm hearing is that MB and the pro are exact besides the graphics so there wont be any steeper learning curve

Gossamer · Jul 18, 2006, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by PorscheTrev

and one more thing i have zero knowledge in the mac department so ill have to lean it all from what i'm hearing is that MB and the pro are exact besides the graphics so there wont be any steeper learning curve

All new Macs use the same Mac OS X (heck, any mac since 1999 is supported for it, and many more will run it) so the learning curve is no different. The basic MBP and MB differences are screen size, video, and expansion slots.