Macbook Pro worth buying or should I wait?

[Onefastdak02]

So I bought a 667mhz Powerbook G4, back in 2002 when I graduated high school, and it served me really well until I built a PC desktop to handle the work I was doing in school two years ago. Graduated college, got a job, and now working on a masters degree. Now my old G4 has gone from iTunes duty back to having to be used for class. In a nutshell; it's time for a new notebook.

I have been looking at some Vista laptops, but given all the hassles; I think I am going to keep my laptop a Mac. My powerbook has never had any significant problems in the 5 years I have used it. I was debating between a Macbook and a Pro, and given the extra features and 15 inch screen I think I am going to get a Pro. I don't mind spending (financing) the extra money for something that is going to last me a long time. On top of that I can sell my old powerbook on ebay for a couple hundred bucks.

Thinking 2.2ghz Pro, with a 200gb hdd, and glossy screen. (my buddy has a glossy screen and I like it over the matte.)


But, when I bought my g4 last time, 2 weeks after I got it Apple came out with a 1ghz and superdrive for less money than I paid. Do you think I should wait a couple months or just go for it? I wouldn't know where to start to research if anything new is coming down the pipes so I figured I would ask here. I'm not in really looking for an ultra portable or anything that I seem to be reading about..


Thanks!

 

[Kaido]

If you're looking for a 15" laptop, I'd say go for it. The Pros have the latest Santa Rosa chips in them, while the 13" models still have the regular C2D Meroms. The only rumor for laptops right now is about an ultraportable, either an entirely new sub-notebook or a design modification to the 13" MacBook laptop.

 

[Kaido]

I just came across a new rumor: January 2008 MacBook Pros with Penryn Processors

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80435

 

[TheStu]

I am fairly certain that you should be ok if you were to get it soon. However, wait until Leopard comes out, cuz it will be amazing (personal opinion, but I have been using it for the past 2 months) and then get it. I have heard many times in the past that if you get a mac and they upgrade it within 2 weeks you can usually return it for the newer model.

You will probably want to get the standard hard drive on the the MBP when you order it. It will probably be cheaper to order the 200GB drive from newegg and install it yourself. Though if you are at all hesitant about that, then get the pre-installed HDD.

 

[KeithP]

There have been some grumblings that the MacBooks might see an update at the same time, or around the same time, that Leopard gets released. You might want to wait until Leopard ships just to see if an update does happen. Who knows, maybe if they upgrade the MacBooks enough you might find them acceptable.

New MacBook Pros might be announced at MacWorld as well. Apple has in the past announced hardware a MacWorld that doesn't become available for another 1-3 months so you may want to keep that in mind. Waiting until January could mean waiting until February or March for the actual product.

-KeithP

 

[timswim78]

Even if the MBP's get updated, they currently kick butt. I'd say save a few hundred dollars and buy one from Apple's refurb store. Use the savings towards Apple care / iWork / Mac Office / etc.

-Tim

 

[Stiganator]

I would say wait until until after Apples big event in Jan. 2008. If it does what you need it to do, then let it keep doing that. Most time is email, web, IM and anything will run it.

 

[Tarrant64]

Yeah, if you're within 2-3 months of Apple's big events(keynotes or whatever), wait for it. Sometimes they have cool new features and what not(often the day of the keynote, you'll notice the site will be down for a few hours, and when it's back up it's filled with awesomeness).

I'm glad I haven't jumped on getting a new Mac yet. I almost bought an iMac before the newer ones came out. I would have shot myself.

 

[umrigar]

Here's a link to the "buyer's guide" for Apple products.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Pro

 

[macophile]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Even if the MBP's get updated, they currently kick butt. I'd say save a few hundred dollars and buy one from Apple's refurb store. Use the savings towards Apple care / iWork / Mac Office / etc.

-Tim