Buying macbook tmr, advice please

Hi,
I will be purchasing a macbook tomorrow. I will mainly use it for school (Matlab, latex, gnuplot...) and a little bit of video encoding for my Ipod. I am wondering if there would be a big difference between the 2.2ghz model and the 2.0 ghz model based on my use. I probably won't be gaming on it, but I might install CS:S or WC3 when I am bored. So my question is whether if the 2.2ghz model would be worth it. I am upgrading from my powerbook g4 which died recently when i dropped in on a train . So I know I would get a huge performance jump either way. Please give me some advice. Thank you

Thanks again,

 

I wouldn't think you'd notice a difference in 200Mhz. The only other reasons to pay the $200 difference is for the ability to write to DVDs and a slightly bigger HDD (120GB vs. 80GB). Other than that, they're virtually identical.

 

thanks for the prompt reply, I got one more question does the combo drive on the low end model reads dual layer dvd? I heard that it could write CDR and CDRW as well as read DVD, is that it? Thank you

 

I'm pretty sure it's everything the superdrive has MINUS the ability to burn DVDs.

 

Aye, I'm pretty sure it'll read dual-layer DVDs.

 

awesome, i guess I'll be getting the low end model then =D
thank you very much for the help

 

I got the low end model, and after three days, am glad I did.

 

The low end should be fine, but if you are going to encode a lot of video for the iPod or install windows, that extra 40 GB will be a huge deal.

 

You and me both, Lysander

I think it would be most worth it to get the low-end model and then use the money you saved to buy more RAM. 1 GB is okay, 2+ GB is ideal.

 

I have the low-end model too, with a SuperDrive though .

I got this MacBook before the May price changes, so I have what was then the middle configuration, and now the low-end configuration. But the middle configuration always has a SuperDrive, so my MacBook has a SuperDrive .

 

I think i will probably get 2 sticks of 1gb ram, i know some place where they are selling them for 15 bucks each. As for hard drive space, i have been using a 20gb hard drive on my desktop and a 40gb on my powerbook, never have any problem. 80gbs should be more than enough. Thanks

 

Sounds good then, Jokkon. Tell us how it goes!

 

Exactly. $250 is more use to me than an extra 200MHz. I will spend that saved money tomorrow on 4GB of patriot memory.

 

Update:
I ended up getting the blackbook, because there weren't any whitebooks in stock. Since i need a notebook right away i bought the blackbook. So far so good, it does look better imo and should be easier to clean. =D I am pretty happy with it.

 

Congrats on the purchase, Jokkon! I wish I could fork out the cash for a black MacBook... (or even a MBP)

 

Its kinda funny that when I walked in the store I wanted to get the cheapest option possible. But apple's product is so tempting that I finally succumbed to the beauty of the black book. BTW, I do have one thing that bothers me though, the USB ports are so close together that I cannot have both of my mouse and USB drive connected =( I could do that on my powerbook g4

 

Really? I never have that issue...

 

I used Istat pro and find that the CPU gets super hot (80c) even without doing much, so I installed SMCfancontrol, but I do not know what RPM should I set the minimum too. Right now I am experimenting with it. Can anyone tell me why I can only set the exhaust fan's rpm but not any other fans?? Thank you

 

Because the MacBook is a single fan system.

 

ic thanks for the reply, btw I set the minimum speed of the fan to 3000 something and use the Higher RPM profile, but for some reason it still shows the fan running @ 1800rpm. I thought if I set the minimum speed to 3000 the fan would always run @ 3000?

 

problem resolved, the software is working as expected now
Thanks for all the help!

 

one final question,
does minimum rpm 3000 under normal use sound reasonable? Would it ruin the fan?

 

I keep my fans at 3600 RPM . No problems, and still pretty quiet. Keeps it a lot cooler.