Help me pick first MacBook Pro?

Looking to buy first MacBook Pro. This is all new to me. Will be using it for Internet, iTunes, photos, and also for work.
What should I look at? Any difference between the 15" and 17" model besides screen size? I do travel every once in awhile. Just trying to see which model would be best for me. I have a very old POS Dell desktop. The MacBook will be it's replacement. Thanks for the help.

 

Are you anywhere near an Apple store? I really think this might be the best way for you to see the differences for yourself.
Perhaps you ought to make a list of your computing needs and see which one would best meet those needs. I.e. do you need an express card slot or will an SD card slot do for you. Do you need the extra screen space of the 17" or will the 15" do fine? Or will the 13" be sufficient.
I personally have the 15" and it's done well for me, but I made sure it met the needs I have before laying the money down.
Just a suggestion.

 

There are a few Apple stores by me. I will stop by and take a look

 

Checking them out in person is probably the best way to do it.

What sort of work will you do with it? Will it require the use a certain type of slot, higher resolution screens, or have higher cpu/gpu capabilities?

All three MBPs are solid performers, but the larger the notebook, the higher the performance in the MBP line up.

If a 13" will take care of what you need it to, and screen is the only option you're debating, it may be worth buying an external monitor to use while you are at a desk?

 

Get the cheapest 15inch Macbook, only get the Hi-Res screen upgrade or a bigger hard drive if needed.

Configure - Apple Store (U.S.)
You're welcome.

 

What kind of work will you be doing on it? If it doesn't require an uber GPU or processor, save yourself some cash and get the regular MacBook.

 

um no, it looks like it OP's only computer. If its your only computer its going to suck having to work on low res screen all the time.

but if you bought an external display (a nice one like the cinema display) the mbp 13(pro because the regular MB is built no where near as well) or even an MBA and for mobility and hooking it into an external display like a desktop is ideal. Otherwise get the high res 15inch or 17inch.

 

I support this, but recommend the higher-end 15". the higher resolution screen will be nice for his photos.

 

Macbook's are worthless nowadays because for $100 or whatever more you get the massively superior MBP...

 

With similar needs to the OP's, I decided on the 15" MBP with the i7 processor, the 7200 rpm hard drive and the hi-res anti-glare screen. The i7 may be overkill but I believe in buying a faster processor to increase longevity. After looking at them in the Apple store for a while, I'd consider the anti-glare a must.

Only reason I haven't bought mine yet is because I may soon be moving to a place with enough desk space that could accommodate a desktop - so it'll be either that MBP or the 27" iMac. Sadly, no anti-glare available for the iMac though. :/

 

The Apple i7s are marketing BS. 2 cores and heats like crazy. I wouldn't touch it.

We'll be waiting another year for apple to stick a Quad core in any laptop, because you can't fight physics. The design of the Macs are great but don't allow for any cooling capacity at all.

 

True, Macbooks are designed to be portable, not powerful. However even a core 2 will handle just about anything a casual user will throw at it, you won't even notice a difference between the 2.4Ghz core 2 or the i7 unless your using a program that uses that power. You're paying for the form factor, design, screen, battery life, pretty much the luxury of it when you buy a mac.

I still think if its your only computer, and you have very low performance needs, then a 13'' Macbook Pro with a good 27'' display (cinema display, Dell u2711) or 24'' (Dell u2410) would be a great combo. It would pretty much be like you have an iMac and Macbook.

 

Now how can a 13" MacBook Pro be "massively superior" to the polycarbonate model. They both have the same freaking specs. The only real difference is that one is made of metal and one isn't.

 

Easy - build quality, keyboard lighting, ports (SD reader is the big one), and slightly inferior screen.

The 4gb Macbook is $1099, that's $100 to get a much higher quality looking, feeling, and useful system. I know I would not consider the standard when the price is so close.

 

Build quality is a given since obviously aluminum is stronger than plastic. An SD card reader is nice, but just an extra feature. Who really uses Firewire these days? And the 4GB MacBook is $1199. I will admit, the screen is nice, but I don't really notice much of a difference. Whatever though. I was just giving my advice. Trying to help someone save a few.

 

Yea, 4gb MBP is $1199 and 4gb Macbook is 1099, so $100 difference.

It used to be very worthwhile to get a Macbook before the MBP 13 came out. I had a Black Macbook and it was nice, despite integrated graphics heh.

 

My mistake. I was looking at the 2GB MacBook. Still, in my opinion, the extra features, while nice, won't make or break a deal for me. Just as long as the computer does it's job and does it well.

 

i personally like the 17" it is really comfortable to use. the screen size is about right.

see if you can live with the weight. and the footprint.

the top end 15" have core i7 while the base 17" starts off with i5. you can configure the 17" with core i7 as BTO.

also, the 17" has more ports, it has 3 instead of 2 usb port in the 15". it also has express card slot instead of sd card.

the 17" has better heat dissipation and better speakers.

Just trying to see which model would be best for me. I have a very old POS Dell desktop. The MacBook will be it's replacement. Thanks for the help.

the 17" is the one to get if this is your only computer. especially since you says that you don't travel frequently.

for you to comfortably fit a quad core you want a 17" or bigger notebook with a comparatively thick chassis.

i know a lot of people have overheating problems with core i7 quad in 16.4" sony vaio F, leading to slow down, glitches and eventually premature failure.

 

That's what I did....high-res screen upgrade with the i5.

 

Macbook Pro 13.3" base is $999 @ Microcenter by the way.