Which MacBook Pro?

[jbmalone]

I am looking at MacBooks and have narrowed it down to the 1.83 or 2.00 ghz models. I would upgrade both to 2GB of RAM and the 120GB harddrives. The 1.83 is 2429 and the 2.00 is 2649. My question is, would I see that big of a processor difference between the 1.83 and the 2? My mom wants to keep the price under 2500, since it is for graduation. So, essentially, should I get the 1.83 or save some money and get the 2.00?

Thanks.

[bjweeks]

Unless your doing encodeing or some other cpu intensive stuff you wont see it anyway.

[kadymae]

What bjweeks said. Unless you are doing something majorly processor intensive, the small difference in speed won't be noticble.

My DH also has 1.83 coreduo iMac. It's wicked fast.

[briancurtin]

are you locked down to a laptop? $2500 could get you quite a nice desktop setup

[jbmalone]

I am getting this for college, and I already havea desktop. Yeah, I was thinking that I wouldn't need the 2.00Ghz but I am not familiar with Apple hardware at all. I'll rip albums and stuff, but I'm not speed obsessed or anything. I'd rather spend the money on more ram and harddrive space. So, is the 1.83ghz the verdict?

[drizek]

Yes. Spending money on minor cpu upgrades is almost always a big waste of money.

[jbmalone]

All right, thanks for your help.

[drizek]

oh, and dont buy ram from apple. Upgrade it yourself.

[jbmalone]

Why's that? I would have where to buy it from or know how to install it. I have never dealt with laptop installations like that. Does it make that big of a difference?

[drizek]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820221043

It is 87 dollars so you will have 1.5gb total for an extra 90 bucks.

If you buy from apple it will cost 100 dollars just to get to two 512 sticks for 1gb. If you only want one 1gb stick it costs $200!

[jbmalone]

If I bought that RAM and had a problem with my laptop, could I put the old RAM in so that Apple wouldn't know the difference?

[drizek]

The ram is compatible with the macbooks. If you have a problem then you need to RMA it back to newegg and theyll send you another stick.

Upgrading ram on your own doesnt void the warranty AFAIK, but you should double check.

[jbmalone]

Thanks a lot for your help!

[jbmalone]

Ok, I need to bring this thread back for another quick question. Should I get 2GB or 1GB of RAM? This is a big jump in the price, and I need peoples opinion. 2GB or 1Gb with both the 1.83Ghz or 2GHz.

Thanks again.

[zachtib]

also consider that the 2.0GHz model has a 256mb video card, and the 1.83 model has a 128mb card

[jbmalone]

Yeah, if I get the 2GhHz with 1GB of RAM it still falls under my price limit. I just didn't know if 1GB is enough with a 2GHz Macbook

[ssam]

unless you are doing heavy duty video/audio editing 1Gb is enough. though more ram might improve the battery life slightly (by reducing swapping and allowing more disk caching).

[jbmalone]

Yeah, I am really torn with it. These are the two options as of now.

Both have 120GB harddrive.

1.83GHz with 2GB RAM and a 128MB video card. This one is 2439.

2.00GHz with 1GB of RAM and a 256MB video card. This one is like 2389 or so.

[drizek]

get the 1.83 with 1gb ram. It will be just as fast as the 2ghz and youll have a lot of money left over to buy accessories and stuff.

[devnulljp]

So...ubuntu (and linux in general) works good/great/perfect on these new macbooks? Would like to hear experiences with it as my thinkpad is getting older and I don't fancy the lenovos now - so looking for a new laptop in the next year. The macbooks look nice, but only if I can run Linux on it.

[jbmalone]

get the 1.83 with 1gb ram. It will be just as fast as the 2ghz and youll have a lot of money left over to buy accessories and stuff.
Yeah, I was actually thinking about that option too. Hmm, I guess I'll have to think it over. I don't know what I'll end up getting. That option is only 2069, which is a lot lower than the other options, which would allow me to buy a lot of extra stuff. HmMMMMMMM.

Thanks a lot you guys have helped a lot.

[erikpiper]

I would go for the 2 ghz with 1 GB of ram- Beacuse of the much better video card.. For games and fun stuff like Xgl/Compiz.. And you can always upgrade ram at a later date...

[drizek]

the video card isnt much better. In reality, you probably wont even notice a difference at all.

[ssam]

ram is very easy to upgrade. get less ram now, then in a year or two when you need a speed boost it will be cheaper

[zachtib]

So...ubuntu (and linux in general) works good/great/perfect on these new macbooks? Would like to hear experiences with it as my thinkpad is getting older and I don't fancy the lenovos now - so looking for a new laptop in the next year. The macbooks look nice, but only if I can run Linux on it.

probably not, as they use an ati x1k series video card. i wouldn't bet on linux running very well on them

[drizek]

So, any specific reason why you want the macbook pro?

[jbmalone]

Yeah, because I don't like Windows and I am in love with OS X. I don't know why, but I just really like it. And I need a good solid laptop for college.

[zachtib]

Yeah, because I don't like Windows and I am in love with OS X. I don't know why, but I just really like it. And I need a good solid laptop for college.
the MBP would be, in my opinion as a college student, perfect for college.
I've got a thinkpad that I love to pieces, but there is hardly a day that running linux doesn't cause one headache or another. Hardly a day goes buy I dont wish i could come up with the cash for a new MBP

[drizek]

ive always heard that thinkpads run linux very well.

[jbmalone]

Well, I talked to my mom tonight and I think that I am goin gto get the 1.83Ghz with 120GB harddrive and 1GB of RAM. If I need more RAM later, I can upgrade it and I don't really ever play video games except like Ball Revamped online nor do I edit anything other than pictures in Photoshop (in regards to the 128MB and 256MB difference). It's a little over 2000, which is around 300 less than she was excepting, so I think it's a done deal.

But, I would like to say thank you to everyone that helped me. Your generosity shows me why this board is one of the best boards I have been a member of. Thank you.

[zachtib]

ive always heard that thinkpads run linux very well.

thinkpads are, IMHO, the best laptops for running linux: hands down

even with ATI graphics, thinkpads run great

and to the OP: i have a lenovo thinkpad (i wanted a 'true' ibm one, but just barely missed it) and it runs great, the same quality of the IBMs is still there in the new lenovo's

plus, lenovo is considering using AMD cpus and nvidia graphics in future thinkpads, which would be amazing

[ssam]

are you a student? there are quite good edu discounts from apple.

also you might want to read Ubuntu on an Intel Mac (http://cipherfunk.org/diary/archives/monthly/2006-04.html#e2006-04-27T19_11_33.htm)

[jbmalone]

Yeah, I get 200 bucks off. So really the laptop is like 2250 for like 2050.