03-24-2008, 09:50 AM

Alright, so I've got an original 2006 MacBook (Intel Core Duo Yonah) 2GHz, 2GB RAM. I'm looking at getting a Merom 2.2GHz MacBook Pro.
I'm a student and musician going to Music College. So I'd be doing quite a bit of music recording, editing and notation. I also do video as a hobby, but I'm not heavy into it, though I'd like to get into it more. I would, of course, sell the MacBook if I get the MacBook Pro.
I welcome all thoughts and opinions and advice. Thanks a bunch. (And any kind of helpful hints at what to bring up to convince my mom and dad)

03-24-2008, 10:41 AM

Having upgraded from a CD (Yonah) MBP to a C2D (Penryn) MBP, I can tell you that there's not a huge performance difference between the CD and C2D (at least not in my opinion), although thermal and power efficiency are greatly improved.

You really won't benefit much from the discrete video card in the MBP unless you're doing 3D modeling or playing games, so I don't see that as a justification either.

I know it's probably not what you wanted to hear, but I'd suggest you save your money and wait to see what the future holds in terms of the MBP. It doesn't sound like you "need" a new machine right at the moment.

03-24-2008, 12:39 PM

what cwa107 says is true...i got a macbook pro but then again it was my first mac...& my old system was nothing close...i do audio editing & midi work too...& there were too many lags on my old system...it was pretty much dying out on me (under the pressure of the kind of work i needed it to do...it's with my dad now & i don't think he has any complaints against it)...if you arnt having problems with your system...stick with it...a ram upgrade for the time being may help...

03-24-2008, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by rohan

a ram upgrade for the time being may help...

I've maxed out the RAM to 2GB already.

03-24-2008, 12:45 PM

The biggest benefit to the new models is the amount of RAM you can have - 2 gigs is slightly restrictive on the original MacBooks (I have one). Video editing and even serious music recording benefits from this a lot.

The bigger screen area would be nice too - I bought an external screen and suddenly Logic 7 is a whole new world on my MacBook (that extra Screen Space is amazing). However the screen cost $300, not $3,000 and yet it feels like having a whole new computer.

The performance difference between a 2ghz CD and a 2.2ghz C2D is probably about 25% in real life applications. In video editing this could make a difference, with music recording, unless you're producing an album or recording 20 musicians, the Core Duo will be fine.

03-24-2008, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

Having upgraded from a CD (Yonah) MBP to a C2D (Penryn) MBP, I can tell you that there's not a huge performance difference between the CD and C2D (at least not in my opinion), although thermal and power efficiency are greatly improved.

You really won't benefit much from the discrete video card in the MBP unless you're doing 3D modeling or playing games, so I don't see that as a justification either.

From what I've read online there is quite a difference in the CD to the C2D, not sure what the tests from them are compared to you. I'm assuming yours is standard use testing, which I usually count a lot more than the tests reviewers run. Also, if I remember right the CD is 32-bit and the C2D is 64-bit. IMO, this is a fair difference.

03-24-2008, 12:50 PM

Also, anybody happen to have the exact tech specs of the Merom MBPs? The Apple site has the Penryn specs.

03-24-2008, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Also, if I remember right the CD is 32-bit and the C2D is 64-bit. IMO, this is a fair difference.

Only if you need to address more than 4GB of memory for a single application. The current performance difference is virtually non-existent, because the 64-bit OS has to deal with more memory registers and has to move larger (longer) data bits around and this more than mitigates any speed improvement because of wider memory access.

There is probably a 5% or so improvement, assuming your applications are all 64-bit (which they won't be).

The C2D is not faster because it's 64-bit, there are other factors at play.

03-24-2008, 04:40 PM

When I go to the store, how can I find out for sure which release it is? And is there anywhere to see what the max RAM I can get into it is?

03-26-2008, 09:00 PM

I have a question about heat. I should be receiving (tomorrow) a refurb MB 2.2 Merom(?) tomorrow to replace my aging-but-still-dear-to-me Powerbook. I hear you folks talk about heat and speed ... I want to know ... will this be cooler than my PB and will it be noticeably faster?