Macbook PRO Configuration Question

[doctordoctor]

Buying a Macbook Pro for my wife. She's been a Dell user forever, but wants to "go MAC." She's an academic, and has run some stats packages (e.g. SAS) but now is mostly doing "usual" stuff, i.e. word processing, excel, occasional stats, internet, etc.

"Base" 15" MBP is $1999, while the upgraded 15" is $2499. She will get education discount but the price difference remains. Is it worth it to upgrade?

1. Here are the differences:
   
   1. 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo w/ 6MB L2 cache versus 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 3 MB L2 cache
   
   (can upgrade to 2.6 GHz with either system for $250 more dollars)
   
   2. 250 GB 5200 RPM drive versus 200 GB 5200 RPM drive
   
   (can upgrade to 200 GB 7200 RPM drive for $50)
   
   3. NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB GDDR3 versus 256MB

The final relevant configuration option is to upgrade the memory from the standard 2GB (same on both systems) to: 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 2x2GB for $200 bucks.

 

[sk560]

For "usual" stuff, i'll go w/ the base w/o RAM upgrade.

 

[TheStu]

heck for usual stuff I would recommend the MacBook, smaller screen and a little less powerful, but it would be more than sufficient for what it sounds like she will be using it for.

 

[RESmonkey]

Get Applecare; the 8600M GT is going to have problems later on.

 

[TheStu]

RESmonkey is right, if you do decide to get the MacBook Pro, then you should absolutely get AppleCare. nVidia has publicly stated that basically the all 8 series mobile cards are going to fail at some point, long before they rightfully should, inside the 3 year mark probably.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: TheStu
RESmonkey is right, if you do decide to get the MacBook Pro, then you should absolutely get AppleCare. nVidia has publicly stated that basically the all 8 series mobile cards are going to fail at some point, long before they rightfully should, inside the 3 year mark probably.

What are you serious? Ok I have Apple Care but shizzle I'm scared.

 

[IlllI]

you dont need a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo for word processing =/

 

[afoygel]

Within the next 1 or 2 months Apple should have all new Macbooks and MBP's, which should be significant improvement if you can wait that long. If you can't wait that long, the basic is probably fine, although you might want to check them out in store to figure out if you want a matte or glossy screen. The Macbooks are nice too, but their screens aren't as bright, and not nearly as good as the Pros. Even the Macbook Air screen gave me a bit of a headache.

 

[RESmonkey]

Wait for Centrino 2.

 

[doctordoctor]

Conclusion and Action:

1. We moved from Chicago to Raleigh, NC in May.

2. Point #1 is irrelevant except that as it turns out, the state of North Carolina has a sales tax holiday once per year and it runs today through Sunday (tax here is 6.75%)

3. My wife wanted a 15" screen and that ruled out Macbooks. I don't blame her, I can't stand < 15" on a laptop, though the portability is amazing.

4. As it turns out, Apple has rebates for a free printer ($100 rebate to be used toward any of the printers sold through Apple, we bought the HP Photosmart C4385 for $119.95, thus costing us $19.95, and it was also tax-free) AND an 8GB iPod Touch ($299 rebate) when purchased with a new Mac. These rebates can be combined.

Thus, we bought:

1. Macbook Pro Base Model ($1999 - $200 educator discount = $1799 tax free thereby saving > $121
2. A new inkjet printer for her for $20 (tax free)
3. A free 8GB iPod touch

We added Apple's OnetoOne teaching service since she can't stand my personal tutoring and I wanted her to have as much space as possible. That service is $100 for a year of classes.

I'm sure that something better is coming, and it's probably coming soon, but that's almost always true and the deal this weekend is too good to pass up.

For what it's worth, we didn't get the Applecare service but we can buy it anytime within the first year of ownership. We'll see what happens over that time span.

--Thanks for the input

 

[RESmonkey]

1. Bought?
2. Satisfied?

If yes to both 1 and 2 = Good, you now have a new Macbook Pro. Have fun