Differences between late-'08 MB & MBP?

Hello all,

I'm winding down my search for a new laptop for business and personal use, and after a week or so of due diligence researching windows alternatives I've all but decided to return to Apple.

In deciding whether the MBP is worth an extra $400, my question to the Apple subforum is: What (other) differences are there between the MB and MBP?

Obviously, their footprints are different, and they have different screen resolutions, and the 9600 GPU is exclusive to the MBP. The MB isn't offered with factory 7200 hard drives, but since Macs don't need to be restarted as often as Windows PCs, I don't place a lot of value on that. I have a 1TB external drive w/ FW and USB. I'd be sad to give up Firewire, but I could live with using its USB connection...

What I'm wondering is whether there are other differences that add value to the MBP. I've read that, resolution aside, the MBP has a higher-quality display. Is there any truth to this? Is it that noticeable? Is it true, but inconsiderable? Or is it just flat-out wrong?

Along those lines, are there other differences that would make the MBP more attractive?

I won't paste the buyer's FAQ from the other forum, but the basics are: I prefer 13" screen for portability (but appreciate the MBP's portability), planned use is 80% work (office, math/statistical apps, OS virtualization) 20% multimedia and light gaming. Based on what others have written on this board, I think I can live with the 9400 GPU. Need 3+ hours battery life, want 4+ hours.

Any insights appreciated!

 

Based on your needs, there isn't alot that the mbp is going to give you over the mb. Yes the pro has a better screen, but for office work this isn't really going to be an issue, both screens will do the job. As battery life is a concern, its likely that you will probably boot the pro using only the 9400gpu, thus essentially it will be exactly the same as a mb. You can very very easily upgrade the mb hard-drive to a 7200rpm youself, so again no difference there.
So for me it really comes down to portability. The 13" is 0.5kg lighter and has a smaller foot print, for me that was the main reason for getting it over the pro (as I take my mb from home to work everyday).... thus the question you'll have to answer is how much weight is too much, and is a 13" screen big enough for working on all day.
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Usually the Macbook does have a lesser-quality screen but lately I believe Apple has been shipping Unibody Macbooks with (some say are) "Macbook Pro-quality" screens, with better contrasts and "deeper blacks" etc. I have 2 Unibody Macbooks (one from November 2008 and one I just got in May 2009) and I definately notice the difference in screen quality. I'm not sure if the newer one is as good as a Macbook Pro Unibody's screen in quality, as I don't have a Macbook Pro to compare to, but its definately noticably better than the Macbook from November 2008.

Now of course it will be based on luck if you get a Macbook with these "newer screens" but if you do, that's one less reason to get a Macbook Pro (screen quality).

 

Perhaps apple has heard consumer's pain and are putting better screen on the macbooks now.

 

I don't know if I got one of the new 'good' screens or not in my unibody mb, but I can say that its a definite improvement over my old white mb screen.
I don't have a mbp to compare it too, but I haven't had any real issues with it, its fine for movies, office and photo work.
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my macbook pro screen is better than my dell vostro 1700 which had an lg 17" screen.

 

Heh. looking back at my original post, it reads like: "Can anyone talk me out of the MB 2.4 that I've already pretty much decided to buy?"

Appreciate the feedback. If screen res is a small plus for the MBP and footprint is a small plus for MB, then...is FW, the 9600MGT, and a better display (to some extent?) worth $400 to me? I'd pay $40-50 to add a FW port, and the graphics card might be worth $100 to me. That leaves $250 for the display. I'm thinking no.

Not to hijack my own thread, but...I'd almost rather use the $400 toward a basic mini to serve as a backup machine if the MB is ever down for any reason. I'm curious about hooking one up to the HDTV in the living room and using it with a wireless keyboard. That would cost slightly more than a MBP, but might have a lot more value for me....

[/digression]

 

You could also attach a external hdd to the mini, and have it run timemachine for all your household mac's (eg new mb) wirelessly.
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I bought a Macbook Pro over a Macbook for one reason.. the 9600GT. i play games, and wanted the better graphics capabilities. I would have MUCH rather had the macbook in its 13" form, very nice... and If I had to do it over again, after seeing how good the 9400M is, I'd probably get the decked out Macbook instead.

 

the gpu, screen quality, fw, quality speakers make me proud of my macbook pro.

 

I guess it really depends if you want 15inch or 13inch. The mbp screen is allot better than the mb but if your not watching movies/games/video I guess it really doesn't matter. I have a macbook and its somewhat washed out and has a yellowish tint compared to my friend's macbook pro. But without a side to side comparison it doesn't stand out too much. As for the 9600, if you don't game there is really no reason to use the 9600. I'd go for the $1200 mac, as the difference between the 2.0 and 2.4 is not noticeable at all if your not running games/intense software. This would leave you with a ton of extra money to buy an external monitor/storage/cheap desktop.

 

Yes the MBP speaker quality is AMAZING.

 

For the job I'm starting in June, I'll need to estimate some reasonably complicated statistical models on a dataset of ~400k cases. The less expensive MB will do it, but I think I'll pay the difference for the p8600. And consider the backlit keyboard a bonus

If I'm feeling daring when I finally pull the trigger, I may close the price gap a bit and get an Apple-refurb model & slap Applecare on it.

 

I have an early 2009 white macbook...gotta say for most people the new unibody macbooks are plenty powerful, and they're all easily upgradable. The unibody macbooks and mbp definately have far far better screens than the white one. Although i guess the older screens offer more privacy (kind of) with the sacrifice of wide viewing angles, as well as a bit more power consumption.

 

No Apple store nearby, so I went to Best Buy to see them in person, one last time before purchasing . . . wow. The difference between the MB and MBP displays was . . . not subtle. There were two notebook displays that I wanted to spend the next 3 years looking at. One was on a VAIO. The other was on the MBP.

FWIW. the display MB had the older, Philips screen - not one of the newer ones that I've heard rumblings about (on this board). Now, that extra money isn't looking so bad.

I know, I know, There's a pro line and a consumer line, and we can rationalize the difference that way. But that's all it is - a rationalization. There are professionals who want portability and consumers who want top-quality displays. Where's my 13" MBP!

At least MBPs are thin. And it weighs only one more pound....

 

That would be the macbook air.
It has a much better screen then the mb. But you sacrifice power and disk space for it.
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I have my concerns about the curent 15" MBP models.

The 1440x900 screen is too low res - 1680x1050 option would be a no brainer.
The CPUs should all be the 6MB cache models - standard
The hard drives should be 7200rpm - standard

Until the above is the case, the 15" MBP is not compelling at its price points.