Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
6/29/2010 3:44:44 PM EDT
Should I get the top of the line 13" Macbook pro or the bottom-line 15"?

13": http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC375LL/A?mco=MTc0Njg1NzE
15": http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC371LL/A?mco=MTc0Njg1OTY
6/29/2010 3:50:29 PM EDT
[#1]
Unless you NEED it, I'd wait:

Wait for:

- USB 3.0.
- A processor that is new (Dell and Gateway have been using those for about 8 months now...)
- A bluray drive

Also, you might want to try the URBAN COMMANDOS subforum...

If you NEED it, the 15" is WIDE.  It is a PITA to carry around.

FYI: the wife has the 13" and likes it.  I have last year's 15" with the 2 video cards.  It is nice, but it would've been better off to get a Dell, than have to bootcamp it...
6/29/2010 3:55:21 PM EDT
[#2]
The MBP was updated in April, so it's an OK time to buy. LINK









I have a 15", but I have no strong feelings about which is the better size. Obviously, a bigger screen is better for watching films, editing video, and some games, but it's more to lug around.










It's your call, really.


 
6/29/2010 3:56:48 PM EDT
[#3]

Depends on your wallet.  More money to spare, go to 15 inch, otherwise go to 13 inch.




Using the 15 Inch as a Base:



Go straight to 8GB, do not stop at 4GB.  This will leave most other PC's in the dust.
Get the 512 MB Solid State Drive.  No problems with Hard Drives getting messed up when the laptop accidentally dropped.

Get whatever screen and keyboard works best for you.

Get what other hardware and software options are needed for your setup.




iMac Owner



6/29/2010 3:57:52 PM EDT
[#4]
buy a hackintosh compatible laptop = save about $700-$1000
6/29/2010 3:59:21 PM EDT
[#5]
15" all the way.  It's still plenty portable, but the extra 2" make a huge difference.

ETA: Even the base MBP hardware is fine for what you will need, unless you want to do very intensive applications. Just go with 4 GB of ram, and you'll be fine.
6/29/2010 4:03:28 PM EDT
[#6]
I agree that 4GB with OSX is plenty, unless you're doing some pretty intensive processing.



I have 2GB and never skip a beat.
6/29/2010 4:12:40 PM EDT
[#7]
I would recommend the 15". Mine is WONDERFUL.

My wife's MacBook Air is a 13", and I consider it puny by comparison.
6/29/2010 9:28:22 PM EDT
[#8]
I'm using the 13" pro right now. I think the size is perfect.
6/30/2010 12:35:24 AM EDT
[#9]
been using a 13 in MBP for 2 months now and love it.

It was a hard decision between the 15 and the 13 but I chose the 13 because it was more portable and it is fast enough for me.
6/30/2010 8:02:31 AM EDT
[#10]
I have a 15" but mine is a desktop replacement.  If you value portability more, then go for the 13" MBP.
6/30/2010 8:03:32 AM EDT
[#11]
I'm very, very happy with my 13"

If portability isn't a major concern, look at the 15"
6/30/2010 8:21:20 AM EDT
[#12]
Go Big or Go Home

I have the 15" and personally I wouldn't want a smaller one unless you are a student and have to carry it around all the time.  I am used to 17" models so to me the 15 is just perfect and practically like a netbook compared to my larger XP laptops.
6/30/2010 8:40:03 AM EDT
[#13]



Quoted:


buy a hackintosh compatible laptop = save about $700-$1000


I've never been a mac guy but the macbook hardware is half the appeal of one.  If I had the money I'd own one in a heartbeat.



 
6/30/2010 8:51:58 AM EDT
[#14]



Quoted:


Go Big or Go Home




I have the 15" and personally I wouldn't want a smaller one unless you are a student and have to carry it around all the time.  I am used to 17" models so to me the 15 is just perfect and practically like a netbook compared to my larger XP laptops.


Hell yes. I lug a 17" Lenovo around, not too bad, burns fat.



 
6/30/2010 10:07:52 PM EDT
[#15]
Sorry about my absence in my own thread fellas, my macbook pro failed on an update yesterday and left the hard drive inoperable, so I went and bought a new one ahead of schedule today.  15", 4GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive.  So far I love the new model.  Keyboard is great to use, LED backlit screen is very very nice, everything's good.  Thanks for everyone's input.
6/30/2010 10:08:52 PM EDT
[#16]
The reason you get a laptop is because it's portable.

15" notebooks are not nearly as portable as the 13"
6/30/2010 10:15:09 PM EDT
[#17]



Quoted:



Depends on your wallet.  More money to spare, go to 15 inch, otherwise go to 13 inch.




Using the 15 Inch as a Base:



Go straight to 8GB, do not stop at 4GB.  This will leave most other PC's in the dust.
Get the 512 MB Solid State Drive.  No problems with Hard Drives getting messed up when the laptop accidentally dropped.

Get whatever screen and keyboard works best for you.

Get what other hardware and software options are needed for your setup.




iMac Owner





I love when people advise people to immediately pop as much RAM as possible into a computer.



While it's possible to have too little RAM (resulting in lots of disk swapping), it's also possible to have too much RAM.  The only saving grace is that having too much doesn't impact performance.  



RAM is like your work desk.  If your desk isn't big enough for all of the things you're working on, you have to take some things off and put them away while you work on other things.   Adding RAM is making your desk bigger.  Eventually you'll get to the point where your desk is big enough to have all of your active work on it.  Anything bigger is just empty space.





FWIW, I ran a 13' MacBook with Fusion that had 4GB RAM.  Running three VMs and several Office for Mac applications simultaneously, I never ran out of RAM.