The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Looking for 15" Core 2 Duo uMBP

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Mobius 1, Oct 9, 2011.

  1. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    650
    Trophy Points:
    181
  3. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    how does the T9900 + 9600GT 512mb compared to the i5 540m + GT 330m 256MB?

    btwdoes the i5 use the same ram as my old MB and wht's the price of a 2010 i7 MBP 15" (standard, no upgrade)?
     
  4. TSE

    TSE Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    235
    Messages:
    889
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Use ebay as reference. Check craigslist religiously.

    If you don't necessarily NEED an Apple laptop, Samsung Series 7 and Sony SE laptops run for around ~$1000 and have modern hardware.
     
  5. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    650
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Passmark:

    i5 540M: 2465
    T9990: 2307

    Both GPU's score 6000 in 3DMark06.

    I think both use 1066MHz DDR3.
     
  6. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

    Reputations:
    3,870
    Messages:
    4,089
    Likes Received:
    650
    Trophy Points:
    181
  7. xfiregrunt

    xfiregrunt Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    QFT you can get the same specs as the 2.2K MBP for $1200 to $1300 in the Samsung 7 series.

    Now you don't get everything the same, but I would rather get a new computer with a warranty and everything over an old MBP for the same price. Laptops aren't the best things to buy used IMO because laptops tend to fail after 3 years. So you'll end up spending more if it dies.

    Not a knock against the MBP 2.2K, I love mine, but if you can't afford it a modern computer with a warranty seems safer then a used one. Used computer =/ used furniture or anything like that. Now if you can get one with Apple Care still on it that would be a different story. A used 2010 MBP with Apple Care would be a great purchase for $1K. But I would be wary off computers without a warranty on them, that might just be me though.
     
  8. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Reputations:
    2,681
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    909
    Trophy Points:
    281
    I would agree with this as well. Really, Windows 7 is light years ahead of XP and Vista, and there are multiple powerful-and-portable PC laptops out there, new, for $1200 or so (the price of a well-used-and-aging MBP 15"). I'd agree with TSE's picks. Go with the Series 7 if you're a power user who cares a lot about CPU and GPU power; go with the Vaio SE if you're a more casual user who wants a decent CPU and GPU, but would care more about a great screen and that sort of day-to-day stuff.
     
  9. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    But i need mac laptop for schoolwork... (i already have a desktop btw)

    wow the 512mb gt 330 is kinda expensive
     
  10. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Reputations:
    2,681
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    909
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Holy cow, they REQUIRE Apple at your school? Never heard of that before. Is it a class for some specialized industry or something?
     
  11. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,527
    Messages:
    4,112
    Likes Received:
    449
    Trophy Points:
    151
    me either. even in video editing and graphics design its not a necessity.
     
  12. TSE

    TSE Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    235
    Messages:
    889
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Are you confusing necessity with want?

    For the industrial design major at my university, while they STRONGLY recommend an Apple laptop, they certainly don't require it. Maybe you are in the same boat?

    What kind of schoolwork are you doing? Perhaps a MacBook Air or 13" MacBook Pro would suit your needs? Both have much faster processors than a Core 2 Duo and their GPUs are equivalent to nVidia 320m, fast enough for most people. Not to mention you get a full warranty... and if you really really need a GPU down the road, there are thunderbolt expansion graphics cards coming out.
     
  13. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Reputations:
    2,681
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    909
    Trophy Points:
    281
    This. Even if I was locked into OSX for school, I'd much rather have a 2011 MBP 13 or MBA 13 than a three-year-old MBP. Trust me, I have a three-year-old MBP, I know what I'm talking about.
     
  14. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    :O okay maybe i'll save some more money to buy a new mac or laptop
     
  15. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Reputations:
    2,681
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    909
    Trophy Points:
    281
    What's your current budget? I bet we could find a perfectly-respectable new machine at your price range if you're willing to be flexible on operating system.
     
  16. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    $1150 my dad says don't buy too expensive because i already spent $2100 on new desktop parts
     
  17. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

    Reputations:
    2,681
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    909
    Trophy Points:
    281
    You're right in the price range where you can get a downright awesome laptop if you buy PC but you can't get much of anything if you buy Apple. Fill out these questions:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/wha...ould-i-buy-form-must-read-before-posting.html

    And I will be glad to tell you the two or three machines that would be best.
     
  18. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,447
    Messages:
    9,069
    Likes Received:
    6,376
    Trophy Points:
    681
    Okay........
     
  19. TSE

    TSE Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    235
    Messages:
    889
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    31
    What does the MacBook that is currently in your sig not do for you?
     
  20. xfiregrunt

    xfiregrunt Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    528
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why not get an MBA? I mean you have a sick desktop so you might as well get something super light and portable. Or the 13" MBP. Also remember Apple's student discount. It isn't as nice as when I bought mine (they gave me a free ipod touch + printer + like $100 discount).