Macbook Pro 17" - When to buy??

Hey everyone!

Well, 2 years since I purchased my Inspiron 1520 is approaching and I am entering the laptop market for a second time!

However this time, I want to get a Macbook Pro 17" however have a question...

I want to know when should I wait to get a Macbook Pro? I have told myself I'll wait up to March 2010 and if there is no new updates in that time, then I'll wait to March 2011. (My Inspiron is still going strong, in perfect condition but just want to get a Apple Computer).

By updates I mean a increased "normal" standard in specs, ie 1TB of HDD or 1TB Graphics card etc..

I understand Apple is very secretive of such improvements but would love to hear any of your suggestions.

**March is the month before university starts, so would like to get any laptop before uni starts not during uni.

Cheers

-Matt

 

The only update that people are looking out for is the new Mobile Core i7 update. Which should already happen by March 2010.

Waiting till March 2011? Thats so far away, there should definitely be many updates by then.

 

1TB GPU? anyway, waiting for spec is wrong- buy it when you need/want it, since there always is next_big_thing_around_the_corner!

 

I meant 1TB Hard Drive Space... I mean, they are currently at 500GB, so will they maybe go up to 640 or something??

I don't NEED one and will be waiting for the new processor anyway,

 

its likely soon there will be Core i7 mobile updates with new GPUs... would be a good time to buy.... as for hard drives, Apple always stays with tried and true type sizes, no cutting edge, so they might not offer 1TB drives in next update.

This doesn't stop you from buying the laptop with the smallest drive it has, then just buying a hard drive on your own and putting it in though. But for raw speed SSDs are much faster than HDDs, just more expensive and smaller.

With RAM as well, its cheaper to buy any extra upgrade you need from a 3rd party.

 

very simple, buy when you need it. I need one but have to wait 2 weeks when financial aid comes then I will buy, doubt any updates will happen on the 9th myself.
stuff changes to much to wait, well unless its week or so then thats okay but other than that.

 

I agree with everyone else to wait means you'll never buy one. There will always, always be the next best thing coming around the corner. You just have to jump in and hope yours is cutting edge for 6 month or so. None the less if you don't need it now, just wait till you do that seems pretty simply to me.

 

Well,

With the new processor due in early 2010 and the fact my Inspiron is still going hard (touch wood), I'll wait for 2010 to roll round.

Would there be any chance of getting a bigger hard drive then do you reckon?

 

again-HDD is cheapest and easiest part to upgrade! you should not care about it at all!

 

Sweet,

Do you think RAM would also be a fair bit cheaper, at the moment it costs around $800 (NZD) to buy a 4GB stick, will that drop anytime soon?

Matt

 

Apple tends to lag behind on hard drives. Like right now you can get 7200 RPM 500gb drives for Notebooks, but not from Apple. You have to special order a 500gb drive and it is only 5400 RPM if you got it from them.

Most just order a low end drive and then upgrade it because it is much cheaper, that includes memory and hard drives.

 

Apple does have a tendency to hold back higher spec'd HDDs from their standard configs, but you're incorrect about Apple not offering a 500GB/7200 RPM HDD.

 

When I recently purchased my MBP, I was unable to get a 7200 RPM hard drive from Apple even as part of a customized system. None the less even if I could have purchased one, I likely wouldn't have because they are so, so much more expensive than just buying one from an online retailer and doing it yourself. Memory upgrades are the same way!

 

Hey thanks for all the advice,

I was wondering if this hard drive would fit into the macbook pro 17" unibody:

http://www.shoppingsquare.com.au/p_8559_Hitachi_1TB_7K1000B__35_SATA_HDD_16Mb_7200RPM

Can anyone suggest if it would?

-Matt

 

Nope, that's a desktop hard drive. You're gonna want to find a 2.5" SATA hard drive (I'm pretty sure they aren't available in 1TB sizes yet).

 

Yep no 1TB 2.5" drives yet and in terms of when to buy, if you can't hold onto until Q1 2010 you may as well just buy it now.

 

Just to clarify... it is expected that around New Year (or 1st Qtr) 2010 the mobile i7 will be in the MacBook Pro line?

I am really wanting a UMBP, but not needing right away. I know the June update just happened, but if the next 1Q 2010, I may wait.

Also, with the new big batteries, how tough is it to change HDD and RAM? Will this void Warranties? I have built PCs and worked inside a variety of cases, changed laptop HDDs before. Is it worthwhile to buy the low spec RAM and HDD and upgrade on my own?

Thanks

 

1. you just have to take out a bunch of screws to get the case off, and put the right ones in the correct holes on reassembly. Pretty straightforward..

2. No.

3. Depends on whether you want to take the time and effort or pay Apple to do it for you. RAM upgrades are pretty non-essential these days, with 4GB shipping standard and 2x4GB upgrade kits a) still very expensive and b) 8GB not needed for 99.8% of Mac users. Better latency RAM etc isn't going to provide more than a minimal (if even that) performance delta over stock.

 

I couldn't wait for mine after struggling with the 13" screen of my MacBook for about 2 months. (Im new to Mac)

I gave them a ring yesterday and ordered a 17" MBP and they offered me the student discount (-300 pounds), free £50 laptop sleeve, free applecare worth hundreds and an iPod touch for half the price. Just waiting for it to shipped now.