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Opinions please

Heller

Heller

Diamond Member
looking for a computer for university,would also like to use my 32"lcd as a second monitor for hd content.

i've found a couple for sale locally
pro
macbook

i want to stick with the older models that use DDR2[i have 2x2gb's waiting to be used]

do i need the pro for the HD content? I do also plan on popping in a 7200rpm HDD, is that difficult? I've replaced HD's in desktops before but its always a pain looking for drivers, if i load up OSX with a new HDD will everything being gravy?
 
Originally posted by: Heller
looking for a computer for university,would also like to use my 32"lcd as a second monitor for hd content.

i've found a couple for sale locally
pro
macbook

i want to stick with the older models that use DDR2[i have 2x2gb's waiting to be used]

do i need the pro for the HD content? I do also plan on popping in a 7200rpm HDD, is that difficult? I've replaced HD's in desktops before but its always a pain looking for drivers, if i load up OSX with a new HDD will everything being gravy?
Click to expand...

1: If the res of the 32" does not exceed 720p (which I cannot see how it would) then either system will be fine to output 720p HD to it. If the res is 1080p, then the Pro is the better option because although the MacBook will output that res, it will not be able to playback 1080p

2: If we are talking non-unibody (cannot get to craigslist from work) MacBook Pro, then it is quite a chore to replace the hard drive. A person that is familiar with the process and skilled can do it in maybe 15-20 minutes, but that is compared to the 3 minutes (conservatively) that it takes for the MacBook.

3: If you are planning on replacing the drive, I would suggest getting a bare enclosure for it, then using SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner, you can clone your internal drive to the external. This will also allow the external to be booted off of (which you should do to test to make sure). Then, simply swap the drives and boot up as normal.
 
I don't mean to be immodest or rude, or whatever word you want to call it, but you are almost certainly not going to get anyone coming in here and disagreeing with me. Certainly no one that is serious about it at least. What I said before it not so much opinion as it is... expertise.

If you want to replace the drive and not do a clean install, then you get an enclosure and clone the drive, that is the OS X way of doing things, at least around here.

If you want to replace the drive in a non-unibody MacBook Pro, then you are looking at a bit of a challenge if you have never opened a laptop or something similar before.

And if you want to do 1080p video playback, then the MacBook is not your system of choice. The 9400m in the latest MacBooks can do it, but nothing before that could do it, at least not well.
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
I don't mean to be immodest or rude, or whatever word you want to call it, but you are almost certainly not going to get anyone coming in here and disagreeing with me. Certainly no one that is serious about it at least. What I said before it not so much opinion as it is... expertise.

If you want to replace the drive and not do a clean install, then you get an enclosure and clone the drive, that is the OS X way of doing things, at least around here.

If you want to replace the drive in a non-unibody MacBook Pro, then you are looking at a bit of a challenge if you have never opened a laptop or something similar before.

And if you want to do 1080p video playback, then the MacBook is not your system of choice. The 9400m in the latest MacBooks can do it, but nothing before that could do it, at least not well.
Click to expand...

okay so looks like i need either a, a new unibody macbook or b a last gen mac book pro. correct?
 
Yea, very steep for the age. Especially since for $750 you can get a straight from Apple refurbed MacBook.

Education discount does not apply to refurbished systems, the new $999 MacBook is $949 after discount, the MacBook Pro 13s get $100 off, and I think the 15s get $200 off. BUt then you are looking at a $1800 system (if you want dual GPUs)
 
Originally posted by: Heller
Originally posted by: TheStu
I don't mean to be immodest or rude, or whatever word you want to call it, but you are almost certainly not going to get anyone coming in here and disagreeing with me. Certainly no one that is serious about it at least. What I said before it not so much opinion as it is... expertise.

If you want to replace the drive and not do a clean install, then you get an enclosure and clone the drive, that is the OS X way of doing things, at least around here.

If you want to replace the drive in a non-unibody MacBook Pro, then you are looking at a bit of a challenge if you have never opened a laptop or something similar before.

And if you want to do 1080p video playback, then the MacBook is not your system of choice. The 9400m in the latest MacBooks can do it, but nothing before that could do it, at least not well.
Click to expand...

okay so looks like i need either a, a new unibody macbook or b a last gen mac book pro. correct?
Click to expand...

No.

Well... what exactly are you going to be doing with this system?
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: Heller
Originally posted by: TheStu
I don't mean to be immodest or rude, or whatever word you want to call it, but you are almost certainly not going to get anyone coming in here and disagreeing with me. Certainly no one that is serious about it at least. What I said before it not so much opinion as it is... expertise.

If you want to replace the drive and not do a clean install, then you get an enclosure and clone the drive, that is the OS X way of doing things, at least around here.

If you want to replace the drive in a non-unibody MacBook Pro, then you are looking at a bit of a challenge if you have never opened a laptop or something similar before.

And if you want to do 1080p video playback, then the MacBook is not your system of choice. The 9400m in the latest MacBooks can do it, but nothing before that could do it, at least not well.
Click to expand...

okay so looks like i need either a, a new unibody macbook or b a last gen mac book pro. correct?
Click to expand...

No.

Well... what exactly are you going to be doing with this system?
Click to expand...

torrents,school work,i'd like to link it to my lcd tv for HD Content
 
Alright, well what is your budget?

Honestly, if it is anywhere close to $1000 then get the new MacBook. Powerful, serious battery life, lightweight, nice screen, there is a lot to like.

If it closer to $750, then go for a refurbed last gen MacBook, as that is also a pretty great notebook.

If it is $500 or so, then get a Windows 7 laptop from a brick and mortar, my buddy got an Asus system from Best Buy for about that price with Vista, and I really don't have much to complain about it, at least not beyond the obvious.
 
thanks for the info stu i guess im going to be looking for a deal on a new mac book , the unibody design is so sexy.
 
You can get a new refurb MBP for $1000 that comes with a 7 hour battery. I have one and the battery is definitely worth it.

I'll pretty much echo TheStu's recommendation, and add you can look at a netbook in the $300 range (dell mini10) that you can turn into a hack if you really want OSX.
 
Originally posted by: silverpig
You can get a new refurb MBP for $1000 that comes with a 7 hour battery. I have one and the battery is definitely worth it.

I'll pretty much echo TheStu's recommendation, and add you can look at a netbook in the $300 range (dell mini10) that you can turn into a hack if you really want OSX.
Click to expand...

If OP is patient and willing to jump just as soon as they are available then yea, the $1000 MBP13 refurb is a great deal.
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: silverpig
You can get a new refurb MBP for $1000 that comes with a 7 hour battery. I have one and the battery is definitely worth it.

I'll pretty much echo TheStu's recommendation, and add you can look at a netbook in the $300 range (dell mini10) that you can turn into a hack if you really want OSX.
Click to expand...

If OP is patient and willing to jump just as soon as they are available then yea, the $1000 MBP13 refurb is a great deal.
Click to expand...

i don't see the pro anywhere near 1g in the refurb section. what am i missing?
 
Originally posted by: Heller
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: silverpig
You can get a new refurb MBP for $1000 that comes with a 7 hour battery. I have one and the battery is definitely worth it.

I'll pretty much echo TheStu's recommendation, and add you can look at a netbook in the $300 range (dell mini10) that you can turn into a hack if you really want OSX.
Click to expand...

If OP is patient and willing to jump just as soon as they are available then yea, the $1000 MBP13 refurb is a great deal.
Click to expand...

i don't see the pro anywhere near 1g in the refurb section. what am i missing?
Click to expand...

http://store.apple.com/us/prod...90LL/A?mco=MTA4MzQ4MDk

They come and go, but when they are there, they are a great deal.
 
can a mbp run 1080p? I know my desktop has issues sometimes at 3.4ghz and gtx 260. With power dvd though it does it pretty freaking good using gpu, in windows though. VLC is best in mac, but worst in windows. Kinda weird.
 
I am tempted to say that any MacBook Pro (meaning even the Core Duos) could handle 1080p playback under OS X. However, I can definitely say that any of them with the 8600m or better can handle it. A lot depends on the encoding, the player, and if you are doing crazy things in the background. But the more recent MBPs can absolutely handle 1080p playback.
 
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