Any MacBook pro 15" user here?

First of all, I've never used any apple computers before... What should I expect?

I'm thinking about buying a MacBook pro to use it at home and replace my desktop. I like it because the screen quality is top notch, sexy design, good OS, software and the bootcamp beta looks promising. I heard the laptop gets hot after a while but I don't think it matters since I'll be using it on a table all the time. I'll be using it mostly for web browsing, music, dvd movies, office, and maybe some light gaming.

I'm looking at the $2000 model:

2.0GHz Intel Core duo Processor
512MB DDR2 (will add another 1GB for a total of 1.5GB)
80GB SATA
ATI X1600 128MB

what's the different between the standard screen and the glossy screen? They are both widescreen and support the same resolutions. Which one is better?

Any detailed review for this model?

Thanks a ton guys!

 

well i am not an apple use and most like never will be, if you want to do ANY gameing on that thing is best to go back to Windows. also you can get a ACER computer for about 900 canadian for the exact same states.

and the glossy screens are nicer in my opinion because i have one but some people might disagree with me.

that's what i know about the screen and gaming but that's all i know about a mac
mac - 2 the price, 1/2 potential
good luch

 

I have a lenovo T60 which I use for work and traveling. I want to buy a macbook pro because it's different. If I wanna use window I can always go back to my T60 or use the bootcamp beta.

 

You can set up boot camp with the ability to run Windows XP. So, now you can run games. I'd also be interested in this ACER system that is priced at 900 Canadian. Do you have a link?

I’ve looked long for a decent laptop that beats the Apple price for refurbished Macbook Pros, matches it in performance, and has a similar build quality. I have yet to find one.

 

I just purchased my MBP yesterday, and I absolutley love it. I have been waiting for 3 months and have been researching like crazy. I have read all about the whine and the heat issues and tried to wait it out as long as possible to buy. Let me tell you it paid off. The speed boost was a nice little extra at no charge. You can't take what people say all over these and apple's boards without looking at in context. You get an unrepresentative sample of the quality of the MBP. The heat issue? Not an issue. As I am typing right now, I have 4 programs open and listening to a cd and the wrist area is hardly warm. I will be truthful, the casing does get warm at times, but not to a level that is uncomfortable or out of the ordinary for a powerful system. The bottom gets warm-hot but nothing that is as terrible as everyone is making it out to be. You could put it on your lap and while it would be warm to your skin, it would not burn. People are over reacting for sure, which is completely understandable with all the heat hysteria and everyone downloading a temp reader and wanting to take their machine aprt to reapply thermal paste. When I updated the firmware and software, the machine got very hot and the fans kicked it. It worried me because it was hottest it had ever been but using it today, it is not approaching that heat. I honestly feel that the update made my machine run hotter. The whine issue is present, but it is finicky. It isn't always there and it clearly only happens when the machine is at idle. Once the processors kick in it goes away. The photobooth trick works perfectly and takes about 2 seconds. So if it is bothering you, the fix is simple.

People might have a basis for their strong complaints, because Apple could have taken the steps to fix the problem. My machine is a week 16 so I am sure they have been tweaking things to get the issues adressed.

I just want to voice that I love my mbp and if you are putting off buying it, now is the time. Don't worry about all the complaints because for every 1 problem, there are 100 non issues. It is a great machine and absolutley beautiful. This is my first Mac, and I will never, ever, go back to windows. You couldn't make me. Great machine. I am a bit of an anal perfetionist and I say it is quality.

 

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the loudest) how loud is the "whine" exactly?

 

At its worst it is a 3. It is non existent when on battery. It isn't so much the loudness, it is the high pitch of it. It is pretty much only audible if the room is silent. Plus, the fix is incredibly easy. It should in no way prevent you from purchasing it.

 

How do you fix the whine?
anyone else have any opinion about the glossy or standard?
which revisions are week 16.cud you give a sample?

Hoony

 

There are a couple of ways to get rid of the whine. The first way is to turn on the webcam "either photobooth, or the 'mirror' widget". I guess this makes use of the second core on the processor, and gets rid of the whine.

The second way is to install "XTools", which came with the Macbook install disc. This installs a new preference called "Processor", which allows the user to switch off one processor core, which gets rid of the whine. Strangely, disabling the second core actually reduces the battery life...

I have also noticed that running Windows there is no whine.
My computer is a week 15 revision.

 

4-5 it bad but not horrible

 

So that means just switching on the webcam and keeping it on or switch on/off?
does anyone have the link about the thermal paste applying one?
if so can anyone post a link