MAC lovers and computer-savy brethren, faced with a dillema...

[OnSlaught]

Real Talk...

I just came out of Kayanation's thread talk about OS and hardware and just wanted to ask the BGOL fam that if I was considering getting another Apple laptop because I like the fluidity of the OS and the product development of Apple products along with the programs it offers. That's the main reason why I wanted to stay within the Apple family.

However, should I:

1. Keep the current laptop I have (12 in. PowerPC G4 with upgrades made to it)

2. Buy a discounted refurbished 15 in. Macbook Pro

3. Buy a New 15 in. Macbook Pro (try to find the best price online)

4. Buy a New 15 in. Macbook Pro out of the store

5. Buy a New 13 in. Macbook

Which one of these options would you choose to take and why?

Thanks for the assistance and advice in advance....

 

[Mo Pizorn]

Avoid the Apple store. Why? Because they stick you with the highest price. eBay or craigslist. Fuck The Apple Store. Now which one to get depends on what you do on the computer. Don't worry about buying a used mac. Macs don't break down all that much. Every last one of my old macs still work and would work right now if I needed them to. Even my old Power Mac 7500 and my Quadra 950. When I bought my G5, all of my G4s and my G3 still worked perfectly. Your safe in the used mac market for the most part.
What are you planning to do on the computer? Just email and surf the net or do you use it for work?

Here's a good comparison site:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

 

[THE GREAT ONE]

Depends On What You Are Doing.
I Would Say Look On Ebay For A Good Deal And Buy.com To Price Compare
Then Go To The Store See What's Up
Then Geeks.com
Go With The 15" Why Pay For A 13 When A 15 Is The Same Price And More Monitor Space
Just Me Though
That All

 

[OnSlaught]

Avoid the Apple store. Why? Because they stick you with the highest price. eBay or craigslist. Fuck The Apple Store. Now which one to get depends on what you do on the computer. Don't worry about buying a used mac. Macs don't break down all that much. Every last one of my old macs still work and would work right now if I needed them to. Even my old Power Mac 7500 and my Quadra 950. When I bought my G5, all of my G4s and my G3 still worked perfectly. Your safe in the used mac market for the most part.
What are you planning to do on the computer? Just email and surf the net or do you use it for work?

Thanks for the response Mo. I would be lying if I said that I don't use my computer the majority of the time for email, surfing and downloading software. I just wanted a laptop that had is faster, has the intel/apple core duo chip so I could use the mac windows software at a faster clip if I ran across an app or program that had to be used on Microsoft OS. I also wanted to use my computer for music production too. I use my current G4 for that purpose as well and with all my files from my research and school data (using Mathematica) I need more memory and RAM space.

 

[kwazdog]

aint nothing wrong with a used mac pro.... unless you doing A/V or rendering OR heavvy graphics, used is the way to go... they fucked us "pros" with the mac book, no firewire.. that's lame...

I bought a used dual G5 over the summer, loaded it with DSP cards...Does me well...

 

[J Storm]

Upgrade a G4? With what? Other outdated Stuff?

buy a used intel mac on ebay.

 

[OnSlaught]

Upgrade a G4? With what? Other outdated Stuff?

buy a used intel mac on ebay.

Nah J, when I bought it, I had upgrades made to the RAM, VRAM, and video card. You are right, why would anyone update a G4?

 

[OnSlaught]

BuMP^^^^^

 

[Garifuna]

If you study all the responses above, and factor in your reasons for asking, then the answer is obvious.

Buy the most powerful Mac that you can afford!

Macs last! In a few years, you'll have a perfectly good Mac that may or may not be fast enough for what you want it to do. It's your choice today.

Go with the Pro for the graphics processor. I predict that Mathematica will be able to use that processor in the future.

 

[OnSlaught]

Bump like the in grown hairs of a black man! ^^^^

 

[VegasGuy]

That's no dilemma, 2 or 3 would work. Next question.

-VG

 

[OnSlaught]

If you study all the responses above, and factor in your reasons for asking, then the answer is obvious.

Buy the most powerful Mac that you can afford!

Macs last! In a few years, you'll have a perfectly good Mac that may or may not be fast enough for what you want it to do. It's your choice today.

Go with the Pro for the graphics processor. I predict that Mathematica will be able to use that processor in the future.

That's no dilemma, 2 or 3 would work. Next question.

-VG

Thank you guys for your in put...I'll consider this. I'll keep bumpin' this thread to the end of this week and see how many responses I get and then make my decision...

 

[MonkeyBizness]

it all depends on what you want to do on it.

heavy graphics and video - new macbook pro w/maxed out RAM
everything other than heavy graphics and video - new or refurb macbook
email, surfing, itunes - refurb macbook

get applecare if you get a refurb.

 

[OnSlaught]

^^^^^

I just looked at the spec differences between the Macbook and Macbook Pro:

Seems like the only thing different is the graphics card and the fact that the Macbook is missing the Firewire port and ExpressCard to go with it.


Tell me, for a $500.00 difference, do these spec differences really matter for the shit I said I required it for?

1. Email, surf, watch videos and movies and download music
2. Use Mathematica for research work, science based data
3. For occasional music production

 

[PoppaSo]

#2.

 

[Mo Pizorn]

^^^^^

I just looked at the spec differences between the Macbook and Macbook Pro:

Seems like the only thing different is the graphics card and the fact that the Macbook is missing the Firewire port and ExpressCard to go with it.


Tell me, for a $500.00 difference, do these spec differences really matter for the shit I said I required it for?

1. Email, surf, watch videos and movies and download music
2. Use Mathematica for research work, science based data
3. For occasional music production

You NEED firewire for music production unless you are ONLY doing MIDI based music production. If that's the case, yo can get something like Reason or Logic and a MIDI controller and use softsynths. Best advice: "Buy the most powerful mac yo can afford."
When I bought my G5, I was debating on whether or not to get a dual or single processor. I went with the dual because I could. It ended up being the smartest move for me.

 

[smax51]

anyone who tells you to get a mac anywhere other than an authorized dealer needs a bullet in their head. that being said, get one from there, get apple care, and go about the rest of your merry life for 4 years.

 

[Mo Pizorn]

anyone who tells you to get a mac anywhere other than an authorized dealer needs a bullet in their head. that being said, get one from there, get apple care, and go about the rest of your merry life for 4 years.

Steve Jobs? Is that you?

 

[OnSlaught]

Steve Jobs? Is that you?

I am thinking about giving my mom my current laptop since all she needs it for is emailing, surfing the internet, and using it as a word processor. I think this particular notebook actually will exceed her expectations, but I'm gonna try to get the Macbook Pro.

Even though I didn't see much difference between the Macbook and Macbook Pro, I think it's fucked up how they just didn't include a Firewire port in the Macbook and I also think the ExpressCard is crucial.

These may be my two biggest deciding factors.

Besides Firewire, do you think the ExpressCard option is worth the extra $500?

 

[Mo Pizorn]

I am thinking about giving my mom my current laptop since all she needs it for is emailing, surfing the internet, and using it as a word processor. I think this particular notebook actually will exceed her expectations, but I'm gonna try to get the Macbook Pro.

Even though I didn't see much difference between the Macbook and Macbook Pro, I think it's fucked up how they just didn't include a Firewire port in the Macbook and I also think the ExpressCard is crucial.

These may be my two biggest deciding factors.

Besides Firewire, do you think the ExpressCard option is worth the extra $500?

Personally, I do but again, it depends on what YOU plan to use the comp for. Firewire is a monster and can turn your computer into a better machine via external devices.
You should be looking at processor speed above all. Buy the FASTEST mac you can.
And max your RAM out as soon as possible. Those two things weigh heavily on your computer's performance.

 

[OnSlaught]

Personally, I do but again, it depends on what YOU plan to use the comp for. Firewire is a monster and can turn your computer into a better machine via external devices.
You should be looking at processor speed above all. Buy the FASTEST mac you can.
And max your RAM out as soon as possible. Those two things weigh heavily on your computer's performance.

Good lookin' out Mo...this info is needed greatly 'cause I've been surfing the net trying to find comparisons and they keep on saying that the new Macbook is just a miniature Macbook Pro. I'm looking to keep the notebook I buy around for at least another 4 yrs, and by that time I'll have enough again to just buy the updated Pro version. I stick with the Pro line.

Again, good thanks...

 

[Mo Pizorn]

Good lookin' out Mo...this info is needed greatly 'cause I've been surfing the net trying to find comparisons and they keep on saying that the new Macbook is just a miniature Macbook Pro. I'm looking to keep the notebook I buy around for at least another 4 yrs, and by that time I'll have enough again to just buy the updated Pro version. I stick with the Pro line.

Again, good thanks...

Connectivity is what makes Firewire greater than USB.
USB - you can connect up to two devices
Firewire - unlimited. You can connect as many external drives as you need or want as well as external DVD burners and audio and video interfaces.
I run my computer from an external drive via Firewire. I can take all of my info with me at the drop of a hat (or at the knock of a fed at my door). PCs won't run from an external drive. That's not a factor since you're buying a laptop but if you think you will ever need external drives, I'd suggest the firewire connection.