Can't choose between MBPs
Alright, so I'm a current senior in high school, though I'm targeting things for college so I can save up. As far as laptops are concerned, I'm really thinking about investing in a MBP because I've heard they are excellent for use with the adobe creative suit, which I will be using religiously because I'm going to get my BFA in photography. I just can't decide between the 15" 2.66ghz or the 17" 2.53ghz. The 17" is really attractive to me mainly it's got the large screen (I have a 22" lcd for my pc desktop) and in turn a higher resolution. The 15" however has that faster processor speed (i7) and I've heard it's much more compact. I also heard the keyboard placement on the 15" is a bit more comfortable.
Is that increase in resolution worth more than the small jump (I think I read it was about 5% faster in some google search) and smaller size for my field of work?
Is that increase in resolution worth more than the small jump (I think I read it was about 5% faster in some google search) and smaller size for my field of work?
Comments
But why choose an MBP in the first place? In your place I would get me a 27" i5 quadcore iMac and an iPad2 and run my iMac remotely on the iPad with (free) Teamviewer software. Much more screen real estate, much more power and storage, and much more portability.
Thing is I need something I can take to school as well as travel with. As much as I like the thought of getting a new desktop, it's not going to happen for a while unless I start making bank. Plus I do enjoy my Windows 7 desktop :P
@Tallest Skil
Sandy Bridge update? Care to elaborate on this and how it affects buying an MBP? I'm a Zune user, so the iPod doesn't really spark my interest anywhere near as much as the free printer. Details on that?
@Mr. H
Is the high resolution option for that 2.66ghz MBP? Or is does that option come up when you actually go to add a laptop to your cart online? I have a 22" monitor currently that I bet I could use with the MBP.
I plan on buying this next year during the summer or so before I go to college in the fall quarter. Do I need to be actively enrolled to get that student discount?
Is the high resolution option for that 2.66ghz MBP? Or is does that option come up when you actually go to add a laptop to your cart online?
The standard resolution for all 15" MBPs is 1440 x 900. 1680 x 1050 is a build-to-order option. Hi-Res + Anti Glare costs an extra $150.
I have a 22" monitor currently that I bet I could use with the MBP.
Does it have an IPS panel and LED backlight?
Do I need to be actively enrolled to get that student discount?
Probably. Discounts are substantial so probably better to wait.
Sandy Bridge update? Care to elaborate on this and how it affects buying an MBP? I'm a Zune user, so the iPod doesn't really spark my interest anywhere near as much as the free printer. Details on that?
Sandy Bridge is the new processor family. They're saying, what a 10-15% improvement in performance, and the graphics cards will be forced to change (read: update), among other things.
Also, the next update will probably remove the ODD from models and add a solid-state drive for the OS and some applications, probably in addition to a standard hard drive. It's just worth waiting.
I plan on buying this next year during the summer or so before I go to college in the fall quarter. Do I need to be actively enrolled to get that student discount?
If you buy online, the checks are random. If you buy from a store, they require your ID and possibly schedule.
@Rocket Scientist
Thing is I need something I can take to school as well as travel with.
There's nothing more portable than an iPad (2).
As much as I like the thought of getting a new desktop, it's not going to happen for a while unless I start making bank. Plus I do enjoy my Windows 7 desktop :P
In that case you don't even need an MBP at all! A fully decked out iPad (2) loaded with free Teamviewer is all you need because you can operate your beloved Windows7 desktop machine remotely from your iPad. Wherever you are.
And you save HUNDREDS between that MBP and that iPad! You do the math! Savings that you can apply towards e.g. extra RAM, or to a bigger/better screen, or to software (CS5 is about 200 bucks with all discounts applied!). All extremely useful!
And since it is free you can already try out Teamviewer (Teamviewer.com) right now! Simply install it on your mom's or a friend's machine, and on your own Windows7 machine, fire up both and see for yourself how it works.
There's nothing more portable than an iPad (2).
In that case you don't even need an MBP at all! A fully decked out iPad (2) loaded with free Teamviewer is all you need because you can operate your beloved Windows7 desktop machine remotely from your iPad. Wherever you are.
And you save HUNDREDS between that MBP and that iPad! You do the math! Savings that you can apply towards e.g. extra RAM, or to a bigger/better screen, or to software (CS5 is about 200 bucks with all discounts applied!). All extremely useful!
And since it is free you can already try out Teamviewer (Teamviewer.com) right now! Simply install it on your mom's or a friend's machine, and on your own Windows7 machine, fire up both and see for yourself how it works.
That made me queasy. I think I'll just wait for that Sandy Bridge update. By forcing the graphics cards to change, would that necessarily mean for the better?
That made me queasy. I think I'll just wait for that Sandy Bridge update. By forcing the graphics cards to change, would that necessarily mean for the better?
If Apple makes their new GPUs worse than the current model, zero people will buy their computers. It's pretty simple to understand.
If Apple makes their new GPUs worse than the current model, zero people will buy their computers. It's pretty simple to understand.
You can't possibly actually believe that.
You can't possibly actually believe that.
No, of course not. It's an idiotic move that we won't see, however.
No, of course not. It's an idiotic move that we won't see, however.
I think it's likely that the 13" Macbook Pro will grow a discrete GPU, even if it has to sacrifice its optical drive. But the plastic Macbook? I can definitely see that returning to Intel integrated graphics.
And forum kvetching notwithstanding, I don't think that will hurt sales one bit.
Now that there's a high resolution option on the 15" MBP (1680 x 1050), I think this offers the best price, performance and portability tradeoff. If it was me, I'd get the 15" with Hi-Res antiglare screen option, and an external monitor. Make sure the external has an IPS panel.
AGREED!