For $1000, what are my options?

Hi guys. Remember me from the $500 thread? Well, I am back, this time with twice the money

I want to kind of shy away from normal MacBooks - I am really craving an aluminum unit. I don't like that plastic, plus I read reports of cracking and ridiculous scratching, along with fingerprints being visible...all stuff that I hate.

So, obviously, that leaves us with PowerBooks or MacBook Pros. Is it possible to get any kind of MBP for $1k? I'd imagine it would be like a 1.83 GHz Core Duo, but I'm sure it would do fine. If anyone has links, that'd be great

Another option is just to keep my eyes open on eBay for a PowerBook (if I got one of these, it'd be the 17"). It would then probably need Leopard, and a RAM upgrade...

As far as usage, I'll be doing web design, graphics-heavy work using Adobe CS3. There may be a chance for video stuff later, so I don't want too much of a wimpy machine. I'd love a 17" WSXGA+ unit for these purposes, but I doubt I can do it in my budget. Longevity-wise, I'm looking at 2-3+ years.

There are compromises...
For the Powerbook:
Good: 17" (maybe with WSXGA+).
Bad: Old, slow, maybe it would come with 10.3.

For the MBP:
Good: Core Duo or C2D, comes with 10.4 atleast.
Bad: Expensive, most likely, along with a lackluster resolution.

Of course, cheaper is better, I want your expert opinions!

Thanks alot guys

Sorry for all of the text.

 

You'll have to look for a used one on eBay to hit the $1k mark on a macbook pro. Not going to find a new one for that or even a refurb that I've seen. If you can come up with about $1500 though then you can get a brand new macbook pro no problem.

 

You're in somewhat of luck . There's crazy deals going on for MBPs for $1500 (I think they're either new or refurbished, I don't remember), so if you can manage to get $1500 get a MBP definitely.

I would go for a MBP over a Powerbook G4 in this stage. Some used MBPs can get to about $1000, look around .

 

I got my new 2.2Ghz T7500 MBP from Amazon.com for a little more than $1400 after rebate shipped overnight.

 

I really can not swing $1500, this is maxed out, and the cheaper the better.

 

i am really sorry to say this,but i think it is impossible to find mbp for 1000$

 

You will have to get a MacBook then or find a used MacBook Pro someone is willing to part with for $1k. You won't find any online vendors selling for that price.

 

a new macbookpro comes around an avg of $1800-$2000
so thats waay above ur budget
id say go for refurbished one for 1k y not look around on e-bay

 

Have you thought of notebooks besides a MBP? There are other good notebooks around as well....

 

I will tell you right now, first thing off the bat.

Anybody that knows where to get a $1000 MacBook Pro is NOT going to tell you, or anybody else. If they can obtain them for $1000, they are going to resell them for a profit, and they are on the lookout for them constantly.

Now second up.

Be realistic. You're not doing that. If you can afford $1000, get a MacBook, or search eBay for a 17" Powerbook and hope you can find one. You probably won't though. (Not saying they aren't on there... they are... but you seem to want somebody to show you a link of a super great deal. Not gonna happen.)

I know I sound like a dick, but honestly you're not looking and you want everything for nothing. And if I found a MacBook Pro for $1000, I'd buy it right now and make a profit on it tomorrow.

 

Sorry, Modly, maybe I should have been slightly more specific.

I am not looking for an 'ub3r' MBP. Notice that I was looking for a CORE DUO. The first generation of them. Surely, they should be cheaper by now?

As far as "...and you want everything for nothing", I didn't imagine that $1000 is pocket change.

Whatever. I will just keep a look out.

 

It is when buying a Mac

 

Just to prove I'm not a complete ass;

http://cgi.ebay.com/MacBook-PRO-15-...yZ140065QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That's your best shot right now, assuming it doesn't get too high tomorrow.

 

Thanks

We shall see how it goes, I won't be able to actually bid/buy till March 10th - a deal on eBay on a regular MacBook went bad, and so I have to wait till the money returns. This gave me another chance to think about my choice, hence the descision for an Alu-based notebook.

 

I would just get a new Macbook. They're basically the same specs except for the graphics card and screen size. Good luck

 

There are larger differences then that though. The MacBook has a plastic casing while the MBP is aluminum. The MBP also has a 15.4 LED-backlit display while the MacBook has a 13.3" CCFL-backlit display. MBP also has a superior keyboard from what I've heard. I've never used a better keyboard than the one on my new MBP and I've had quite a few different brands of laptops. MBP also has a full DVI output whereas the MacBook has a mini-DVI that requires a dongle and that dongle has issues if you bump it cause it supposedly knocks the display out of whack.

 

any luck yet?

 

Other way around. Though I actually prefer the keyboard on the MBP verses the MBA or MB.

 

Your saying the vanilla MacBook has a better keyboard than the MacBook Pro? After using a MBP I find that hard to believe. I was reading the Anandtech review of the new MacBooks yesterday and noticed a user comment about how crappy the MacBook keyboards were. He said they were as bad as the cheapest Dell keyboards.

 

Some of the differences come down to personal preference and usage. I personally don't really think that the price difference justifies it. For $1,000 I'd rather get a brand new, Intel Macbook.

 

Same for me. I find the MacBook keyboard vastly superior to the MBP.

 

as the saying goes to each his own
it all boils down to personal preference

why not look at some other brand of notebook for a change
i mean for 1000$ you could get a pretty rigged out system
and you wont have to pay the brand premium apple charges either
or else you could buy a mid range laptop for your current usage and save up enough fora a new MBP later
just my 2 cents
all the best
cheers

 

Excellent, I received my refund from those scammers, now we are ready to go

 

If you have the money now you might want to take a good hard look at that ebay link posted earlier. Its only $910 now with 7+ hours left.

BUT! The specs state that it has a 1.83 ghz core duo with an nVidia 8600M GT with 128mb GDDR3 RAM....wtf? They just now put GDDR3 in the new MBP's last week. How does this old CD have a GDDR3 video card? How does it even have an 8600?

 

MBPs did NOT get GDDR3 only last week. They always used GDDR3. What they did do last week was drop the 128mb one and add a 512mb GDDR3 to the high end. the 512mb GDDR3 8600 is what's new.

 

that CD should have the X1600, not the nvidia 8600 anyway.

 

Good call! They didn't have the 8600 until the Mid-2007 model.

 

Its a preference thing, really. I prefer the MacBook keyboard, both in design and feel, but others prefer the MBP. Its a personal preference, no real right or wrong.

 

I may just get a cheap PowerBook...since this will not be my main system, I am kind of debating dropping this much on it...

 

Is there any reason in particular that you want a Mac? You could get a very well equipped Dell, HP, or possibly even a Lenovo for 1000. With Macs your best bet would be to get a Macbook. I honestly don't think you would be satisfied with a non-intel mac (you won't be able to run new software etc) and Core Duo MBPs will probably be just out of your range.

 

not really, he could get lucky like me.

I was able to snatch a MBP... but the Core Duo 2.1ghz with 100GB HD, 15.4" for $700.

Just find somone in dire need of money who has a MBP

 

Or you can always just go hold up the local Apple store and get whichever model you want lol.

 

yeah kinda recommending against buying a powerbook. most software is made for powerpc & intel, but there are a bunch of intel only apps cropping up... eventually powerpc support will be dropped flat out...

 

I agree with masterchef.. if you're going to drop that much cash you should consider the new intel macs because newer apps might run slower on a powerpc. That's why I was recommending the entry level macbook. I think it'll run newer apps faster than a powerbook.

edit: you can also easily add more ram and change hard drive on the macbook.

 

A MacBook can handle the tasks you mention in your original post. Only thing is the resolution on the screen might be a problem for your graphics related stuff, but other than that it packs a lot of power to run all those apps. Many graphics software utilize the processor to perform renders more so than the GPU, although there are some apps that take advantage of GPU's around.

An MBP for sub-$1000 is non-existent, unless its broken.

 

I seriously doubt that he will be able to fine a used one for $1000 either. Even the used units usually cost more than that.

 

Possibly some Core Duo MBPs at around $1100...if you dig deep enough. But yeah, hard to find...I also agree with getting a new MacBook instead, unless the original poster really really wants an aluminum notebook.