Is it worth the price?

I recently bought a new laptop and after seeing and using my friend macbook pro, and also taking into account my future career ambitions [web design/development some graphic design etc etc etc], I've come to the conclusion that my next laptop may well be a Macbook Pro [though this may be 2-3 yrs away].

It is however quite easy to get similar or better spec machines at much lower price from the dell, acer, asus,hp and other pc companies.

Is it really worth the price, I mean I know the build quality is higher and the monitors are pretty good and everything is sleek and well done , but is it worth shelling out an extra 700-1000 dollars?

 

that is only true if you do not buy at the right time.

Apple does not constantly change specs and prices on machines like every other company.

They make a model, for a price and they keep selling that same model for he same price until its replaced. That means if you buy a laptop thats been selling for 12 months, your paying the exact same price people paid for it 12 months ago.

If you buy a new laptop right after a whole new major upgrade has been done, for a month or two it will be basically just as good in price, or sometimes even cheaper than the competition.... thats when to buy it. They you know people buying the same model as you, 10 months later, paying exactly what you paid, are who are making Apples big profits, not you.

 

Everyone is going to answer that question differently. Personally I would not, but others like Mac design/software and would be wiling to shell out the extra.

 

Thread gets locked in 3... 2...

 

What is the purpose of posting a question like this when you are talking about a purchase 2-3 years away? Wait until you're ready and ask then. What applies today won't necessarily apply then.

 

Its a personal choice...are you willing to pay 2-3 times the money for the same HW? It the same as for a lot of products...you don't get a better item, but it has a better image.

 

Well seeing as nobody addressed this point...

You mentioned considering the Macbook in the first place because of your career ambitions. What does that entail exactly? Are you planning on using specific OSX softwares or something?

To me personally, the reason to get a Mac is OSX. If you're going to be on Window s90% of the time, you've wasted the purpose of the machine IMO. If you wanted to get a "superior quality PC", then there would have been other cheaper alternatives to a Macbook with better warranty and support.

 

You can run Linux on a WinTel Computer if you don't want to pay for Macbooks.

 

you might get a better item, where someone else making the same exact purchase doesn't...

"better" is completely subjective.

 

Do you really think so? We're rather lucky in that Apple has just updated their laptops so we can look at what they're offering on Day 1. Here is the base configuration of the 15" version (which is what I am personally interested in):

Core i5 520M (2.40-2.93GHz)
4GB DDR3-1066 RAM
320GB, 5400 RPM (!!!) hard drive
Nvidia 330M (256MB)
1440x900 LED display
5.6lbs
Price: $1799

Do you honestly think that this hardware is worth $1800 today? I am sure that the entire package (OS X, Mac logo, etc.) is worth it for some people, but in terms of just the basic specs, I'm fairly certain you pay on the order of $500 (or possibly quite a bit more depending on your configuration) for going with Apple regardless of when you buy it. Although you are right: the difference in price becomes even greater if you wait.

 

This is the problem people have though, they just compare specs and exclude the added value of OSX. Very flawed comparison.

 

thats one reason I didnt say "upgrade" I said "Major upgrade"

changing the chipset, CPU, and GPU only is not very major.

 

Core i5 520M (2.40-2.93GHz)
4GB DDR3-1066 RAM
320GB, 5400 RPM (!!!) hard drive
Nvidia 330M (256MB)
1440x900 LED display
5.6lbs
Price: $1799

I paid $2000 for 2GB less RAM, smaller harddrive, slower CPU/GPU, less battery life. That is with student discount. Apple products have been getting cheaper?

 

Well, I just bit the bullet.

I just ordered:

Macbook Pro 15"
Intel Core i7
Nvidia Optimus 512MB (sux that you have to get Core i7 to get this)
4 GB of RAM
Hi Res Glossy Screen upgrade

I was going to upgrade to 8GB of RAM but don't need it (yet).

I will post a review after I receive the system.

 

Are you serious or joking? If you're serious, you have to be the first person in the history of online computer discussions to say that. The CPU and chipset are the heart of any computer and the GPU is also important. It's definitely a major upgrade.

 

What is considered a major upgrade then?

 

Maybe he/she meant in terms of performance increase between generations (at least for majority of users).

 

If you look at the gap between the 2.8 GHz C2D and the i7 on the 15" (both were and are the highest factory spec) it is around 50% by most benchmarks. Giz just did a comparo on the two.

http://gizmodo.com/5516050/macbook-pro-15+inch-core-i7-benchmarked-its-so-fast?skyline=true&s=i

Face it, it's a major upgrade. You can't claim that a Mac is ever going to be able to compete with budget manufacturers in terms of price. Their business model doesn't allow it. They are concerned with keeping themselves separated from the rest of the computing world, where HP and Dell operate on some of the smallest profit margins in any industry.

 

OS X is different, that aside with mac you get a thin form-factor, good screen, and decent hardware. Yes you pay more than said enthusiast notebook but if you don't know what you need, your guarantied to get a good all-around notebook with is very attractive to non-enthusiast consumers. The only thing bad about them if the very weak graphics, and incompatibility with most business software.

For graphic design, digital content creating, mac is a good solution but not the only one. There are comparable PCs that are just as good, and professional software for the most part is identical across platforms. Most artistic people aren't very tech savvy so OS X is very appealing, love the aesthetics of the macbook, and the hardware is adaquate. If this is you the macbooks would be a great choice. (15 is very good, 17 is decent, but stay far away from the 13inchers)

Apple does enjoy higher margins on their computers than other manufactures, but they also have to spend more on OS X and they entertain a very niche market with little competition as no other computer runs OS X. If you need to use OS X only software like xcode (for iphone development), logic, or final cut, then you have to go mac.

 

Also, if you beat on your computer, like me, you will probably find the unibody construction useful. Personally, I am sick and tired of buying laptops that are constructed from plastic only to have them rendered useless within a year's time. I am planning on upgrading to a 15" i7 MBP this summer to resolve this issue.

 

the heart for you maybe.. not everyone has the same needs. There is much more to a computer than the CPU, chipset, and GPU. If you see those as the "heart" and extremely important, then you'd probably never want a Mac anyways, because its beyond your comprehension.

CPU and GPU upgrade (chipset only upgraded because the CPU requires it) with nothing else really changed is usually called a "Speed Bump"... this is only like a "Speed Bump+" because instead of just a higher frequency processor they changed to the newer type.

 

Okay, so what would you define as the "heart" of a computer?

 

I am pretty damn sure the Lenovo ThinkPads with the magnesium roll cage, spill proof keyboards, HD fall sensors, etc, etc, etc, etc is more reliable than your MBP. For a fraction of the price.

 

A major upgrade to those who needs a lot of CPU, maybe... and not important at all to those who don't.

Computers are not black and white.

If you consider a new CPU in the same machine a major upgrade,then you just have a different opinion of what is "major" than I do.

That just goes to prove my point anyways.

 

that would depend on the user of the computer.

 

Got to agree, magnesium allow is way more durable than aluminum. The aluminum is more for aesthetics, although are weak compared to business class notebooks. The "plastic" is just on the outsides, with a metal cage on the inside. The aluminum on the macbook is more of an egg shell, where shock from dropping of hitting the notebook with directly impact the internals, while the plastic panels on the cage design absorbs some of the impact. The aluminum uni-body sure does feel very sturdy tho, but I've had elitebooks that dropped off bookshelves and be fine other than scratches. But I treat my uni macbook like a porcelain doll.

 

I had looked into them and they aren't that much more of a deal. The T510 is about $1700 when specced to the same level as the i7 15". I'll pay $500 for OS X, the unibody construction, the Optimus-like capability, and the portability of a lighter, thinner laptop.

 

Have to agree as well, I own quite a number of business class and industrial laptops and th MBP IS the porcelin child of the bunch.

UGLY but durable are the Toughbooks, sorry folks nothing comes close to them in build quality and durability. The Thinkpads will take MUCH more abuse but are rather plain looking. the Dell Latitudes etc are like the Thinkpads, tough but plain. Come on when Apple happily voids Warranty and applecare for mounting a 15" and 17" MBP in a vehicle mount and repeated vibration is enough to cause catastorphic failure in 2 months you know its All for aesthetics and NOT for durability and lifespan. and I have 11 dead unibodys sitting here as a testiment as to how they " APPEAR " to be durable

 

I asked specifically about you.

 

for me, the heart would lie in the OS.

 

We're talking about hardware.

 

we are talking about computers, and as I say over and over, a computer has many more specs to it than what is usually listed. Hardware without software is useless.

 

You haven't seen those Lenovo 30-50% off coupons have you?

Unibody construction's a major flaw for people that are actually on the move. Many users in academic / business settings bring multiple 6 or 9 cell batteries for their ThinkPads. Portability, the 15.4" MBP is 5.6lb, vs the 15.6" T510 which is 5.8lb. I'm not sure what you mean by portability.
Switchable graphics is also widely available.

 

Size is a bigger deal to me than weight. That .2 of a pound isn't a big deal at all.

I don't need multiple batteries. 4-5 hours would be enough for me in heavy usage situations and I have no problem with carrying around a charger.

 

You can keep talking about these magical specs, but the only thing that we can truly compare is the computer's performance to another computer. Thus, we look to stated hardware specs.

I don't know what you speak of when you say that a computer has "many more specs to it than what is usually listed." Could you tell me what those are?

 

they come with both "magical" and "amazing" built-in.

just not listed.

 

I understand that, but he speaks of them as though that no one but him knows about them.

 

lulz. i too look forward to the answer.

although I would agree that the weight of the operating system and the amount of overhead the OS takes up impacts the significance of raw specs. if OSX is still more efficient and lighter than Windows, he can rightly argue that looking at specs alone is deceptive.

that being said, no amount of OS quality can hide the significance of them putting that under-performing GPU in these systems. considering I waited 3 months to see what Apple would do, I'm particularly disappointed.

 

I completely agree. The OS is the most important thing when it comes to day-to-day tasks. This is most evident, for me, on the netbook that I am currently using. I used Ubuntu on this laptop for about two months over the four that I have owned it. I just loaded Windows 7 back onto it and I have none of the problems that I did before.

OS X is a very big reason why Macs demand the premium that they do over Windows computers.

I'm not too miffed. I don't do much gaming anymore.

 

Personally, i would not go with a mac book pro. It costs alot more for the same specs on any different laptop. Although the OS is very nice. BTW the laptop in your sig is not too old, and can probably be used for web designing.

 

Operating system smoperating system. The only reason I use OS X is for xcode and the iPhone sdk, and other OS X specific software. The point of an operating system is to allow you use and manage programs while remaining as much in the background as possible. IMO OS X provides more windows managing options than Win 7, although is way too IN YOUR FACE MAGNIFYING DOCK! for me. I HATE the dock, win 7 is much more organized. However I love the security of OS X, and never having to run anti-virus. But at the end of the day this is somewhat trivial, as applications are usually the same between Windows and OS X. I actually think linux (mint/ubuntu) has the most advance options in turnms of managing programs, but suffers in compatibility with software/hardware.

These new macbooks do provide good screens and portability. Although the non-removable battery is somewhat impractical, the form factor and simplicity is very unique. I think to some people they are a good value. But I don't think Apple's going to convert many tech savvy, business users, or professionals to use macs with them. They do cater to a small market for portable, luxury computers with good screens. And of course your only option if you need OS X and don't want to deal with OS X on PCs.

 

yea, I don't either. but I don't want my experience to suck when I do choose to. only PC game I really want to work would be StarCraft II. I'm sure all the Valve games will be fine...but SC2...gotta work decently. we'll see what happens.

I'm gonna wait for some reviews.

 

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=113094

Pay close attention to the part where it says people with 9600M GT's are finding they can run the game on Ultra with fine FPS?... No fraps posted as proof though....

 

I never said I know about some magical specs that no one else knows about. I said there are more specs to a machine than what is usually listed as specs. What specs are important to someone, and how important they are... is a basis on what machine the person should use. Specs can be many many things, from hardware to software... to size and shape, to heat dissipation to any number of things you can come up with. most people list "CPU, RAM, GPU, hard drive, screen size" and think thats the only specs that matter. Well that may be all that matters to one person, where to another person there might be 20 other things that are more important, and some of those might not even be important at all.

 

They are talking about the desktop cards.

Here's a quote:

That's the only legit guy I have seen. The guy claiming Ultra is probably full of it.

 

word.

has Blizzard opened up the Mac Beta yet?

 

Nope ( 10char )

 

No, your Studio Xps is much better then the *new* 2010 Macbook Pro's.

 

You can always turn off the magnification on the dock and use the auto hide feature.

 

Well I'll re-iterate my question to the OP since everyone is getting caught up with generalities and didn't consider him.

OP, why are you considering an Apple machine given your needs and future endeavors as a designer? Is it because of certain OSX softwares? Is it because of the screen of the MBP?