So close to purchasing a 13" MBP. Need a little help.

Ok for the past 2+ months I planned on buying a Lenovo T400 when the Windows 7 upgrade program came out (Around July 1st). Since then, the 13" Macbook has graduated into a MBP with a reasonable price, making me think more and more about an Apple.

I have never owned an apple in my life and the original reason I did not want to go with a MBP was because I felt that a 15" was too big for my personal needs. Now that the 13" has come out I am tempted to purchase it, especially with the Ipod Touch included.

Figured I would ask a few questions to help convince or deter me from purchasing my first Mac.

For a significant amount more is the .27 ghz processor (2.26 v 2.53) worth it?

How would I go about replacing the hard drive (I understand the physical part of installing it, I mean getting the computer to run properly with it), how do you reinstall OSX?

I think I would stick with the base 160GB hard drive and upgrade to something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136314

Unfortunately, I do not know how I would go about transferring the OS and anything else needed onto the new HDD. How hard is it?

I would upgrade the RAM from the 2 GB to 4 GB by adding this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148192

Any feedback on this product? Any other recommendations?
EDIT: Just noticed that it is 2x1GB so I would need to purchase a 2x2GB Crucial instead, I would just purchase 2x of the above link.


Would a 2.26 ghz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD be substantial enough to do just about everything without too much of a hassle (not including video/graphical editing). Will this computer build be able to last me for at least 3-4 years or will it become outdated too soon because of the 2.26 CPU?

Will the new Snow Leopard OSX be available to me for a reasonable price when released? Not sure how that will even work (if it was an update or separate purchase, etc.)

Sorry if some questions may have been answered elsewhere on this forum and thank you for any help!

Nick

 

Snow Leopard will be a $29 upgrade I think.

 

For a significant amount more is the .27 ghz processor (2.26 v 2.53) worth it?

In most cases that processor jump won't be worth it. What do you plan on using your new comp for?

How would I go about replacing the hard drive (I understand the physical part of installing it, I mean getting the computer to run properly with it), how do you reinstall OSX?

Just toss in the recovery dvd that comes with the computer and your comp can boot off the dvd to install the OS onto your new harddrive




Would a 2.26 ghz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD be substantial enough to do just about everything without too much of a hassle (not including video/graphical editing). Will this computer build be able to last me for at least 3-4 years or will it become outdated too soon because of the 2.26 CPU?

I'm not so sure about the CPU but the ram and HDD seems good enough for 3-4 years. Again, is this just for daily mail checking and word processing?

Will the new Snow Leopard OSX be available to me for a reasonable price when released? Not sure how that will even work (if it was an update or separate purchase, etc.)

It's only 10 dollars if you buy computer anytime from now until Snow Leopard is released. http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/

 

Basically just word processing, internet browsing, and if any game play it would be very minimal. No extreme editing whatsoever.

With the recovery DVD would I have to install my drivers or anything else on the HDD? Does it need to be formatted at all or is it literally as easy as installing HDD into the computer and inserting a disc?

 

a 2.2 Ghz is still very fast, you won't notice a difference between that and a 2.53 in daily computing. The 2.53 would probably only be about 20% (made up by me) faster in video/design. All 3d work would be done by the 9400m which is very fast for an integrated card. Basically you won't notice a difference between any mac if your just web browsing and doing basic stuff.

As for the next couple of years in terms of performance your computer should be fine. The new mobile intel cpus coming out next year or two are geared to be extremely power efficient, more so than performance. What you have to consider more than just speed is will the display be good enouph for 3+ years (its only 1440x900), and what about your optical drive, is blue-ray important? (the mac doesn't have it, but it may not mean a thing to you), as its becoming cheaper and cheaper and might replace dvds. Good thing about a mac is they have good resale value, so down the road you should be able to get some money back for it.

 

Well I would just have to hope for the best as far as lasting me a long time.

If the HDD installation can be confirmed (just the recovery dvd? seriously? or does more go along with it..?) I will be purchasing my mac tomorrow morning

 

The 13" has a 1280x800 screen, not a 1440x900 - that's the 15".

 

Found this MB tutorial on replacing HDD's:

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/130

I assume this tutorial would be the same for MBP's even though it is older.

 

That's for all Leopard users who bought before WWDC. Anyone buying now will get Snow Leopard for free; they only have to pay $10 shipping cost.

 

By installing Snow Leopard it would just update the software right not reinstall everything?

 

y4nk335- I believe that tutorial won't be useful because the new mbp have the 10 screws on the back which you need to take off. To actually replace the hd I believe you need to take off the keypad and it is under it.

 

Ahh thank you for the information. The physical installation should be the easier part for me. I was mainly worried about transfering the OS, etc and if that will work from that tutorial that would suffice for me.

 

Y4NK- with Macs, you get one disc, maybe two. You put in the first disc. It installs all the drivers. You put in the second disc. It installs iLife. That's it. Done. That's why I like Macs. I have the necessary skills to use pretty much whatever OS I please, but I like the ease of Macs.

 

Y4NK333: Thanks for making this thread. I had mostly the same questions as you regarding the Mac. I have used Windows for the past 16 years of my life and have been recently very tempted to switch to the 13" MBP.
Earlier, I was waiting for a good time to purchase the Dell Latitude E4300.

The HDD swap and RAM swap has been explained above well (are you sure that the ram in the 2.26 model comes in a 2x1GB config?).

Aren't you concerned about how you will like Mac OS X? Or do you plan to run Windows on it exclusively? From what I have read, Windows on a Mac can be a problem (unoptimized drivers, etc.).

For me, I am both excited and weary of switching to a Mac, mostly due to my unfamiliarity with them. Excited, because its a new platform to learn and it seems so inviting. Weary, because I am sure it also comes with its own set of problems, specially during the switch.

 

I just bought me one last week and I was worried about the same thing because I've always used PC's. I tried my brother's MacBook before and my university has Apple desktops all over the art labs. At the beginning using them was a little confusing but I got used to them pretty fast with no problem. Once you know where everything is, which doesn't take long, you'll be fine.

Before purchasing mine, I was looking to get a PC but looking at the deals they have at Apple.com for college students ($100 off the laptop + a free iPod Touch 8GB) I could'nt resist.

For me I will probably either run Windows through Boot Camp or Parallel because I already own MS Office for Windows and I don't want to pay the $100 to get Office Mac. Plus, I have a free copy of Windows from school .

 

I have been using windows all my life too. I recently upgraded(spec wise severly downgraded) from a Latitude e4300 to a 13" MBP and I strongly prefer the MBP in every way.

Definately not. a 2.5 GHz Core 2 will be "outdated" the same time as a 2.2 GHz.

Upgrading the new MBPs are kinda annoying cuz you have to unscrew 10 very tiny screws, and be very careful not the strip them, but it's certainly possible. Reinstalling Mac OS is much easier than installing windows and the necessary driver/software.

 

Make sure you get the free printer, too.

 

I just bought a MBP 15-inch. I got no 100$ off, ipod touch, printer. I got screwed didn't i?

 

I could have gotten a free printer??

 

If you break down the value of the different components, with 4GB of DDR3 RAM availabe for $50* and the difference between 160GB and 250GB HDD worth maybe $20, then in the end you are paying about $230 for a 10% boost in CPU speed. It's unlikely to be a good value to most people, and certainly doesn't come anywhere near to the actual cost difference of the two processors. That difference is even more exacerbated when you consider the actual difference of cost between components you get in the two machines (i.e., 2GB vs 4GB RAM, 160GB vs 250GB HDD), which is only about $20 total. In other words, Apple's profit margin skyrockets above the base model.
*My cost estimates are based on prices at newegg.com.

 

J8II: Thanks for the reassuring comments!

sathyaterry: Did you buy the new MBP model (June 2009)? Because India's website still isn't updated with the latest models. If so, can you let me know where you got it from?

Detail: Wow! Did you know that I was considering either the Dell E4300 or the new 13" MBP? I have also almost made up my mind to go for the MBP but the only niggle I have left is that the E4300 is supposed to be smaller, lighter and cooler. Even if I overlook small and light issues, do you notice any significant heat on your MBP? That's one thing I simply hate.

I do agree about the comment that a 2.2ghz will be as outdated as a 2.5ghz in the coming time.

 

edit: Woops, wrong topic, sorry.

 

During normal operation, the MBP runs significantly cooler than the e4300. I can use the MBP on my bed no problem, where as for the e4300 I needed a notebook cooler. Though the MBP unibody may spread heat more during high intensity tasks, like gaming.

The Dell is slightly smaller and slightly thicker with the 3 cell battery. However with the 6 cell battery, the MBP clearly has superior size/form factor.

 

Really? Hmm, good to know.

 

That really is good to know. I was getting the E4300 with the 6 cell battery, as 3 cell is too small for me.

I guess I will be going for the MBP very soon. Just one more question. Do you use Windows on it? Or do you solely use Mac OS? If you do use Windows, any real world problems?

 

There is a recent thread about many of the issues with running windows on a MBP.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=391867

Overall the issues with a boot camp install seem to be poor drivers, worse battery life, and higher temps due to the poor drivers. I am also planning on getting a MBP sometime soon and will probably do a boot camp install but run it through Fusion so I can have both options available.

 

Just wanted to drop in and let you know that I just got my MBP 13" delivered today and until now I like it. What impressed me the most is how quite the system is. Yes I'm not doing much other than some basic things, but before purchasing this one I got the Sony Z690 (which is one of their best laptops) and it wasn't this quiet (I returned it to get this one). I don't hear a thing even when I put my ear close to it. It's running cool until now. The screen is looking good, at least to me. It's just a little heavier than I though it would but not so bad. You'll be able to carry it around, which I am going to do too. The trackpad is amazing. I thought I would have problems with it but I love this thing and I think it's better and more useful than the other ones. Anyway, I'm feeling my way around but I don't think it will take me long before I get used to it.

 

I do have Windows 7 installed for the occasional use of programs/hardware that are not supported in Mac OS. Basic functionality is there, but there are a lot of little bugs and missing features. If you want to use Windows as your primary operating system I wouldn't buy a MBP.

 

Congrats. Yeah the trackpad is just amazing, isn't it? I always wondered, as a windows user, how usable an oversized trackpad that doesn't even have a button would be and boy was I blown away by it. It's so smooth, never heating up (like HP ones do - those thing can burn your finger after a while) and the size and multi-touch makes it infinitely more useable than any trackpad I've ever used. I don't even bother with a mouse anymore, it's that good.

To a degree I have to agree with that. Running Windows on Mac hardware feels like an afterthought IMO. Yeah it works but the differences in driver optimizations between OSX and Windows are huge. Battery life, performance, features and temperature control are all somewhat thrown out the window when using Windows.

 

Yep, you could have gotten a free printer on top of everything else, if the printer was under $100. If it was over, then you'd get $100 back anyways.

 

Actually, I have been lurking in that thread. It seems some of the people might even be hostile to running Windows on a Mac, that's why I also decided to ask over here for some more opinion.

Overall, I think I get it. I think when I get mine, I am going to be running things through Fusion or whatever the other emulator is called, rather than even dual booting, because I don't think I will have use for a lot of special Windows apps.

This is great! It's just what I was waiting to hear. Everything sounds good to me, except for the weight. Although, 2kgs obviously can't be expected to feel light. I am also eyeing the newly released T400s thinkpad with its lower weight but I think that will be a lot more expensive.
Anyhow, it should be way more portable than my current Dell.

Thanks. I actually have a desktop and a laptop for running Windows. So I wouldn't need to use Windows on it, although the ability to run it seamlessly won't hurt. As I look at it now, the Macbook gives me a chance to use the Mac OS as my primary OS, with the option of running Windows if I really need it.

 

I don't see how that's possible on Apple's online store. When doing the educational purchase it offers only the iPod Touch OR the free printer but not both on the same purchase. If there's a way to combine them please enlighten. us.

 

Yes, please...

 

Just put them all together in the same cart and check out. When you get the items, make sure they're exactly what you want and not defective in any way. Then, go to Apple's promo place and submit a rebate online. When you enter your receipt ID they'll say it's "processing", and after 24 hours when you check back they'll recognize that there are two eligible rebates.

I didn't do mine online, but I did mine in store. I also confirmed with the employee first that it was possible to stack the education discount on top of the iPod touch offer and the free printer offer, and they gave it the OK. I also see two rebates processing when I log in to my account so I'd imagine it's fine.

 

@ PhoenixAG

The iStore here is pathetic. The cost here is absolutely ridiculous. The 1700$ costs 109,000 INR which comes to about 2,500$. So if i buy it here, i get a student discount of 100$. Which still comes upto 2,400$ which is pretty sucky.

So I'm doing the only sensible thing. I'm getting it from the US

I won't get the student discount, but i end up saving money in the end.

 

What is the iStore that you refer to? And if I may ask, where are you located? I am in Delhi.

Getting it from the US is a sensible idea, provided you also get the AppleCare warranty, which gives you global coverage.

 

I'm located in chennai.

I'm referring to istore launched by reliance.

About the apple care, I'm not sure if it's any use here in india. The people at the iStore were pretty clueless as to what it exactly is.

 

Thanks for the information.

Well, I'm having a different experience here in Delhi. The people over here are telling me that not only will they honor the AppleCare warranty, they have over 55 trained engineers to do so.
I am not sure how true their claims are, of course, as the true test of any warranty is only when you need it.

But for now, everything seems reassuring. You should still get AppleCare because if things do go wrong, at least you can go to the US or any other country and get it fixed.

 

Why do you need applecare for international warranty? Doesn't the normal 1 year warranty also get international? Oh and on an unrelated note: Does applecare cover more things than normal 1 year warranty?

 

Well, it says on the Apple site that if you purchase AppleCare, you get global coverage. I am pretty sure this is not covered under the 1 year warranty.

It doesn't cover anything more than the standard warranty, but just makes your phone support and warranty period to 3 years.

 

From what I understand, Apple Care just extends the normal warranty from 1 year to 3 years. Same coverage and such.

I too had been using Windows for 8 years and the only reason I went with a MacBook (bought mine a month and a half ago before these great deals on MBP were out) was I couldn't find a windows computer I liked and was sick of problems with Vista. I got VMWare Fusion and transfered my Windows XP over (yes you can transfer your old laptop over, programs and all!) Even though I have XP on here, I really hardly ever use it. iLife does everything I want and then some, just took getting used too!

 

Really? How ??

 

There is a video on VMWare's website on how to do it. I have done it before and it isn't hard at all. Works like a charm!

http://www.vmware.com/download/fusion/windows_to_mac.html

 

I'm confused... on that page it says "With the free VMware Converter tool and these easy steps, you can bundle up your entire Windows PC—including files, applications, and operating system—to run on your Mac using VMware Fusion."

BUT... in the video it appears that the operating system (Windows XP) is already installed on the Mac machine.

So... can the operating system actually be copied over from PC to Mac -- or not?

 

Yes it can! In the video he has Windows XP from one laptop on Fusion and imports a different Windows XP (it is named different). You can have multiple versions of windows imported and decide which one you want on. I have done it, you can import the actual operating system!

What I did was, I didn't want to loose much space on my Mac so I did a fresh install on my Dell (needed to sell it anyway) and imported the clean install.

 

Hmmm, I'll have to take a closer look. Thanks!