Macbook 13" vs. Macbook Pro 13"

What exactly is the difference between the two besides the price tag and aluminum body + backlit keyboard on the MBP? Seems like the specs are pretty similar...

 

Macbook Pro 13" has SD slot, Firewire, different casing, backlit keyboard, and slightly better screen, and comes default with 2Gb extra ram... the value of any of that is totally up to you

 

And I want to add that the SD slot, Firewire, aluminum body, backlit keyboard, better display, and extra RAM is WELL worth the mere $150 for students or $200 for other consumers.

 

The two machines are not even in the same league in my opinion. You only need to feel the solid finish of the MBP and you will agree.

 

I agree. The solid fit and finish of the MBP alone is worth the small $150-$200.

Apple needs to lower the White Macbook pricing by $200 at least.

 

MBP all the way... the polycarbonate body on the Macbook is too easily scratched.

 

True I love the MBP but it can dent too so you have to choose which you prefer.

I think it is easier to scratch the MB than dent the MBP though.

 

My cousin purchased the first release of the unibody whitebook and to her dismay (and ignoring my advice because she really likes white) found out that the chassis was a scuff and dirt magnet, especially the rubber bottom which deteriorates quickly. She now invested over +200 USD in scratch removers, cleaners, an expensive invisible skin and a incase hard case to keep her machine looking pristine.

The only accessory I bought for my older aluminum first gen Macbook was a nice 50 dollar sleeve. For cleaning I just wipe down the whole thing with some water and isopropyl alcohol once a week and it still looks as good as new.

 

i had the first gen macbook pro... but i did not take care of it... and it scratched more easily than my first gen MBP.

Obviously if you are careful, then it would be okay. But i found the first gen macbook's hinge to be quite weak... and my one broke several times and got fixed under warranty... which eventually ended up been totally destroyed when i dropped it hard on concrete floor with the screen open..

 

I'm also in doubt about this (read this thread).

I considered buying it, but I saw many people saying that the MacBook (white one) is not a good deal at all because of its price tag, and it just keeps me hesitating about getting it or not, and buy a PC instead.

The thing is: I won't buy a MacBook Pro because the entry-level is $300 dollars more expensive for me (because of my country's taxes), so I'm thinking about getting the white one and upgrading it with 4GB of memory, what do you think?

 

The negative comments on the white Macbook's pricing was done BEFORE it was updated. Now that is updated, it is a lot better but still no match for the Pro I think.

 

if the price difference is $300... then don't go by comparisons other make. In the US, you can get the MBP 13" spec'ed almost the same as the MB 13",but the MBP will have a better screen, backlit keys, firewire, sd slot... and only cost $100 more. If those are not as important, or you can live without them, and save $300, then its not that close of a call as others have been saying. They only say its a bad deal because for such little more money you can get something better, not because its a bad machine... its actually a very nice machine.

 

Agreed, the MB is a great machine. People just think the MBP is a little more so it is the better deal for the extra features. The MBP is $1199 and the MB is $999. That is $200 not $100. I still think the $200 is worth it for the extras though.

 

If I can't find the Asus I'm looking for, I'll go with the MacBook.

I'll probably buy it in Canada actually, when I get there, so it's $1,049 (vs. $1249 of the similar spec'd MBP). If it wasn't for the taxes, I would consider getting the Pro. Let's see the main differences:

- 4GB of memory >> I can upgrade it easily
- Firewire port >> all my external hard drives are USB/eSata
- SD card reader >> I can always use an USB adapter
- Better screen >> I don't care too much about that, and I'm sure the MB white has a decent screen
- Aluminium body >> I can live without that

So I guess everything's OK. Anyway, do you know if I can multitask, for example, Photoshop, Fireworks and Dreamweaver with 2GB of memory? I'm afraid you can't do that on Windows.

 

yes you can and yes you can, as long as your not using HUGE raw files in multiple applications at once on either platform

 

well I didn't mention the ram difference there... the standard MB from Apple with 4GB of ram is only $100 cheaper.

 

Ohh opps. Didn't know. With 2GB on the base MB, I think Apple should reduce it at least $100-$200

 

But I think you can get a memory upgrade from Crucial for $50-$60, I think. Isn't it still a good deal?

 

Yes it is a good deal. I just think that it is priced too close to the Macbook Pro. The Pro being only $100-$200 more gets you some real cool features.

If the Macbook Pro didn't exist, the white Macbook would be the best deal on Apple.

 

MBP is nice but way overpriced by about $500. I was in a store today playing with the 13'' model and putting the "so called god like" build quality to the test. There was keyboard flex. Very dissapointed. Even the 15'' MBP had keyboard flex.

Just imagine if you pound on it, itll flex even worse.

 

lol... troll much?

keyboard flex? please define keyboard flex, cuz you must be using a very weird definition.... either that or you haven't ever used a current MBP.

You also don't have a clue what costs what to design and build a computer. If you think they are overpriced by $500 because you find some "PC" laptops that seem to have better specs and are $500 cheaper... that just proves you don't have a clue what goes into making a computer.

 

Keyboard flex as in the keyboard sinks when pressing certain keys or parts of the keyboard. It didnt feel that solid, sure not nearly as solid as say a Lenovo thinkpad.

Trust me i know what goes into making a computer. Apples you pay for the name, sure you get an aluminum body but still for the price you pay you would think its made of 24k white gold. My point is, I took a look at the Z11 Sony yesterday and that felt easily just as good in terms of build quality of the MBP.

 

so you mean if you press one of the keys extremely hard, the other keys move a little? I have to go out of my way to see any type of a flex and go beyond normal usage. The keyboard is just keys that stick up through the actual body of the laptop... you'd have to show a video example of the flex you mean because I simply cannot see it, and most people say that the MBPs have no flex at all.

the Z11 is pretty well built... its also more expensive than MBPs.

 

The price you pay? The thing costs $1100 US. Please point me in the direction of any other computer with a similar screen, metal chassis and battery life ... I bet you it's well above $1000 US.

 

You must be too used to the crappy Sony you are using. And you tested a Macbook Pro that was on display that was touched and demoed by 100+ people...Do you know how much abuse those computers go through? More than any average Macbook.

That would be like me going to the Sony Store and trying out the Z11 and saying the build quality is . Absolute crap. But at least I have the intelligence to know that it is that way because it is a demo.

 

14 Inch Notebooks in Canada at Memory Express

Its not hard my friend. You could get an Asus i5, 4GB, 7200rpm, 14'' for under $1000cdn.

Whats the big deal about metal chasis? its not like the entire frame becomes immediately flex free.

 

Metal >>>> Plastic

You don't get any creaking with metal.

 

I have never felt any keyboard flex on the Macbook Pro. I will check again but I think you are feeling something else.

Macbook Pro overpriced? Actually the 13" is quite a good deal. You get what you pay for. The Asus 14" you're linking to is plastic and has a mediocre screen with poor contrast.

Some people may call the Sony Z overpriced. In my opinion it's another case of you get what you pay for.

 

Can you not read? I specifically asked for a machine with a screen on par with the MBP, a metal chassis (aluminum or magnesium alloy), and on par battery life.

I guarantee you it will cost over $1000. Your move.

Edit: Oh and the deal with metal chassis is ... It obviously drives cost up as it is more expensive than cheap plastic. Heck if Apple made any of their computers with plastic they'd be able to reduce MSRP to maintain the same profit margin. Lastly, your anecdote of flex doesn't do much to disprove that of 1000s of users who report otherwise.

 

The Sony Z is a victim of Sony's inflexibility. It could easily be cheaper if they allowed the base model to go without the SSD and other high end features that most average users don't want.