The new Macbook and Macbook Pro - Hate it or love it?

Its nice, but my macbook serves my needs just fine.

 

I'm disappointed with this update. You won't see me running to the local Apple Store to replace my "old" MBP (15" 2.4GHz, 256MB, 4GB) to a new one. The difference between the old and new models is not big enough! I'll wait until quad cores find their way into MBPs.

 

Dunno if youd get any more battery life. I'd like to think that there was a little bit of difference between the 2.2 and 2.4 in battery life, but if there wasnt, then I dont think that the 2.6 would consume less battery. (If anything it might take a bit more)

And just a note, you can use vmware/parallels to run your bootcamp partitions in osx. As oposed to installing bootcamp + having extra virutal pcs in osx.

Though 320gb still is a lot in a laptop, and you wont be running out of space anytime soon. (Though external hdd's help a lot)

 

well, the jump from 256 to 512mb 8600 is pretty unimportant since the performance gained is barely there. I think this update was huge for the base model though, as the jump from 128 to 256mb on the 8600 will definatley give you a clear boost in performance while gaming.

Penryn though... meh, another month, another processor. CPUs are released so regularly that you have to anticipate a new one coming out pretty soon whenever you buy a computer lol. I'm definatley not running out and exchanging my Mac for that CPU. The extra 90GBs however, would be nice.

 

Pretty much expected for me...I didn't see the Penryn update as any significant update to the Mac lines. Although I still am waiting for a MBP redesign .

I did not think Apple would update the MacBook too though. November seemed too recent.

 

There's really no reason for you to upgrade. You have a very capable machine that will last a long time. These types of upgrades are for people that have much older hardware such as the older PowerPC Macs that are becoming long in the tooth.

 

I just realized something. The jump from 128 to 256mb on the 8600 for the base model means that the price between low an high end MBPs is now... very much a rip-off... maybe the 512mb one does indeed perform better than we think? Although the difference between the 256 and 512 GDDR2 versions was very minimal... maybe this is different. Are there any benchmarks out?

 

Been waiting for the Penryn update for quite a while now, and wasn't really expecting a significant update, and I am quite sure the MBP will exceed my expectations.

I am in a tossup though if it's worth the extra $250 for the 2.5 to 2.6GHz processor upgrade, but I don't know if it'll be worth it for me. I don't do extremely intensive work in OS X, but plan on some gaming in Boot Camp when not working, but I don't think the small processor upgrade will do much for gaming.. thoughts?

Anyways, really excited to order this thing, hopefully tonight!

 

.1 GHz will not effect gaming at all. $250 is really just not worth it.

 

This is my first mac and I started out by using your mac beginners guide and I'm trying to calibrate my battery but this freaking thing won't run out of battery power. It's been going strong 5 hours plus, watching DVDs, etc but it won't die! This penryn processors conserves power! i'm loving this thing so far. Need to learn a lot more though. Thanks for that guide sam

 

Gosh, why can't Apple seriously make their Macbook base model have a SUPERDRIVE DSHAJDKSHAJKDAS.

I don't need 160 GB, and I don't need 2GB of ram (I can do that on my own).
I JUST WANT THE SUPERDRIVE.

Then again, I guess it's better than before, when all they upgraded, was 80gb to 120 gb. Now it's 120 - 160gb .

 

probably the 15inch basic and upgrade the HD to 7200, add a remote.
no need for 512mb VRAM for me

 

These higher capacity higher platter density drives are pretty solid. Don't rush into getting a 7200rpm drive. 250GB and 320GB drives are faster than the 5400rpm drives of yesteryear and of course the capacities are higher.

 

Really? You would add the remote?

I guess for me...I don't mind it, but I wouldn't pay $20 extra for it. I see no extreme purpose for it, other than presentations, and I don't do those much.

 

oh? i thought only the 320GB 5400rpm beats the 7200rpm but not the 250GB version

lol. why not?
i guess sometimes i like to sit back and watch stuff and being in control
is it big? like.. will it become a luggage?

 

No, its really small and thin, if anything though there's no slot anywhere on the Macs to keep them in.

 

aw dang. that would be awesome thought
they should give a remote bag lol.

btw. is applecare important?? so..expensive

 

If you're willing to spend the $20 on it then go ahead. It's real small, and easily fits in your pocket , or you can just toss it into your bag somewhere. Just $20 for a dinky remote that used to be free seems like a bit of a rip-off. But if you want/need it, there isn't much choice in the matter.

 

Apple Care is important if you want your Mac to be safe for 3 years. If you don't get Apple Care your warranty only lasts 1 year, so if a part fails after that, it might cost an arm and a leg to repair.

 

I'd go for AppleCare, its a good investment and Apple's customer support is highly regarded most of the time .

 

Hmm i see. As long as i buy it before the 1yr expires im OK i guess right? i mean i can still buy it later right? the one at the config page isnt like discounted in price or anything is it?

 

Yeah, anytime in the first year of purchase, you can purchase AppleCare . Its the same price, no discount at purchase of Mac.

 

Where are you? There are a lot of places in the US and Canada that you can find applecare for 1/2 price. I got mine for $199; apple charges $399. Also .mac is sold at a lot of places for $79 and it's $109 from apple.

 

Actually, when your first year just finishes, Apple gives you a phone call - if you registered your Macbook.

And just to clarify things, the Applecare is for 3 years of service - starting from the first day you bought the computer. So even if you buy it half a year later, it's 3 years from the first day - and the price doesn't change, even though technically, you're only paying for 2 years.

 

im from canada

omg that stinks!
and
what happens after 3 year too?

 

After three years, the warranty is over, and there's no more extension of it, unfortunately.

 

After 3 years people usually buy a new laptop, lol.

 

That's true, Arquis .

 

Is it me or did CheerCake just say that it stinks that he is from Canada?

 

He'd better not, eh! .

No, he was talking about AppleCare, its a multi-quote .

 

lol no i didnt say that

i meant it stinks that warranty expires after 3 yr o_o
since i was planning to keep this laptop for 4yrs <_<

 

Well then you're in luck. Check out this.

They are out of stock from time to time, but not for long. Keep checking.

 

Well you CAN still "keep" it, it's just that if you break it, it's not covered anymore... You just need to be careful with it.

 

hmm cool xD

oh just one Q.. i never used OSX before.. been using windows all my life..
so there just this remorse thing going on
right now for me its the LG P300 or MBP..
my father is kinda liking the P300 saying windows is better <_<...

dam remorseeeeeeeee

 

You do realize that you can have windows on your mac right? So you can get the best of both worlds.

 

Just tell him you can use Windows on the Mac as well...

 

Drag your dad down to an Apple Store if possible, and have him use a Mac with OSX for a while. He'll change his mind about which OS is better!

I like the new machines - always liked the looks of the white MB. The new, lowest spec machine is nicer than my old Mac which, at the time, was the middle machine and I think cost somewhere around $14-$1500. I'd love to have another one.

 

i know but then he goes that LG is super light and stuff ._.
bah. LG is like 3.7lbs and MBP is 5.9lbs.. <_< thats a big difference?
im currently carrying a 3.3kg laptop in a leather bag w/ adapter and mouse.. so heavy!

thats cheap

 

Nothing overwhelmingly good, but not overwhelmingly bad for an update either. I'd give the update a B+.