Looking to buy a Mac soon...
Dagget88
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hi guys,
So I've been wanting to get a MacBook Pro for a while, and I think this year is the year as I am going to college in the fall. Even though I've been around computers for many years, I realized that I don't really know what the specs and all that stuff mean, or at least how much of an effect they have. For example, when ordering a MacBook Pro from the Apple store, you have the option to upgrade things like the processor. Is it worth $250 to upgrade from 2.4 GHz to 2.4 GHz? Is .2 Ghz really going to make a difference? What about paying $700 for a 2GB upgrade in RAM?
I'll be majoring in something like Industrial design, if that helps.
I also know nothing about video, graphics, and sound cards. Will the hardware included in a new Macbook Pro play games with decent graphics? I can barely run Guild Wars on my PC.
Oh, and if I install Windows on a Mac, Will I be able to use my Zune with it? Random question, I know.
Thanks.
So I've been wanting to get a MacBook Pro for a while, and I think this year is the year as I am going to college in the fall. Even though I've been around computers for many years, I realized that I don't really know what the specs and all that stuff mean, or at least how much of an effect they have. For example, when ordering a MacBook Pro from the Apple store, you have the option to upgrade things like the processor. Is it worth $250 to upgrade from 2.4 GHz to 2.4 GHz? Is .2 Ghz really going to make a difference? What about paying $700 for a 2GB upgrade in RAM?
I'll be majoring in something like Industrial design, if that helps.
I also know nothing about video, graphics, and sound cards. Will the hardware included in a new Macbook Pro play games with decent graphics? I can barely run Guild Wars on my PC.
Oh, and if I install Windows on a Mac, Will I be able to use my Zune with it? Random question, I know.
Thanks.
Dagget88 on
0
Posts
So someone else will have to answer those other questions. But seriously, avoid paying them for RAM upgrades if at all possible.
It has full access to the USB ports in the laptop, so yes, your Zune will work under Windows. It probably also works under OS X but I don't know because I don't own one. Try google.
Don't pay for the RAM upgrade, it's cheap and easy to do yourself.
And no, I wouldn't say 200 MHz is worth the extra $250, at all. But there had to be some option in between the base MBP and the big one to justify the big one's price. Oh, also more RAM on the video card. This might matter if you game on it, but even then it's unlikely.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
200MHz is not worth the money. The RAM upgrade is easy, as long as Apple supply you with one stick of RAM rather than two.
I put another 1gb in my macbook pro from this site without issue.
Honestly Macs feel pretty much all the same speed. I have owned macs from the 1ghz days up to my Mac Pro 4 core 2ghz. Unless I am using Handbrake, Logic or Poser I honestly wouldn't know what machine I was on in a blind taste test.
Also, I believe that the AppleCare warranty allows you to install your own RAM; I don't think Apple is that fascist. You might want to look into that, however.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5157698
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=391929
I see no reason to believe a RAM upgrade would void AppleCare.
What does this even mean?
Do you have a link to these rumors?
My understanding is that if the laptop is opened by anyone other than authorized Mac personnel, AppleCare becomes void.
Unless there is a way to put the ram chip in there without opening up the thing...
Well then you'd have a strong case to sue their ass given that if you'd bothered to read those links before running your mouth you'd have seen that one is a statement from Apple that upgrading your RAM (as well as a couple other upgrades) do not void your warranty.
Just telling you what the Apple store tech support dude told me. Chill.
Edit: I suppose it's also possible that Apple would provide step-by-step instructions on how to void your warranty from their website.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303721
I suggest you mostly ignore the specs (except boosting the RAM) and get the lightest Macbook Pro you can get. I got a 13.3 inch Macbook, and I often wish that I had gotten one that was smaller/lighter. It's kind of a pain carrying it all around university.
We have an authorized Apple repair shop at work and we sell a lot of Macs in a year. You can upgrade the RAM without voiding the warranty. It is not a problem. You pop the battery out and it is two screws underneath. I upgraded both of mine in less then 5 minutes a piece.
DO NOT BUY RAM FROM APPLE UNLESS YOU ENJOY ASS RAPINGS WITH NO LUBE. I love Apple but their RAM prices are insane. Any RAM vendor will due, but I have used Other World Computing several times and I have been quite happy. They are a Mac-centric store so they make it quite easy to buy upgrades but any place will work.
For the processor upgrade, I always look at it like this. More then likely I will never be able to replace the processor. Right now, it probably isn't that big of deal, but it might make your computer viable longer towards the end of its life. That is all it take for me to justify spending the extra money there. Your mileage may vary.
My I got a new 17" MacBook Pro in July. It is a very fast Windows machine, although I rarely boot into the Windows partition. I normally use Parallels for the few Windows apps I need and I really like that. You will get decent performance using it as a gaming machine.
I believe there are a few hacks to use the Zune with OS X but it might be easier to use Parallels or Boot Camp so you can take advantage of the full functionality of the Zune client.
Make sure you wait until you are eligible for academic pricing before you buy your Mac. Save yourself a little cash.
If you have anything else specific, let me know and I will help if I can.
you should keep all the hardware that originally shipped with your apple product, and should you ever need to take it in for service, re-install the original hardware. this removes any obstacle to apple honoring it's warranty.
this may pose problems if you self-upgraded your harddisk. If the problem is in the OSX system installed on your self-upgraded harddisk, and the original OSX system/disk combination does not give the faulting state then apple is under no obligation to fix your self-upgraded components. of course, they might be nice and fix it anyway.
The online store discount applies to those who have just been accepted as well as those currently in school. He should be able to get it with no problem.
Ah, good point. I had forgot about that.
BTW OP, check your college to see if they have any deals over and above what you get from the stock Apple store. Some schools get special pricing so you should check into that.
I've checked the academic discounts and whatnot already and my colleges are eligible, assuming I get accepted ^^;;.
Would you guys trust Craigslist for buying a Mac? I've seen a few that are slightly older, but cost about $1,000 less than if I buy from the Apple Store. Is it worth it to buy the laptop from a store and get the Apple Care plan?
thanks again for all the help!
I also thought I'd lost my OSX disks once and when I phoned apple, they said they'd get me some new ones free... little things like that make me lean towards buying from them.
Rumors say 13" Macbook Pro with solid state hard drive (read: faster, quieter, safer, less power) and a multitouch touchpad. Not sure how it's going to be different than the current touchpad, but yea. Wait two weeks. At the very least, Intel's rolling out a new chip and it'll probably get popped into the Macbook Pro line.