MacBook - Macbook 4GB or Macbook Pro 2GB?

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #1 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 09:17 AM

Hi there, I'm from Malaysia and will be getting my first mac soon but I can't quite decide due to my budget. I'm thinking of either the macbook with 4gb ram or macbook pro with 2gb ram. The difference is about RM400(malaysia currency) so it's about $110.

I'll be working a lot with Photoshop cs4, dreamweaver for html editing and maybe adobe premiere elements for video editing.

What I would like to know is whether there will be a significant difference, performance wise?

Do suggest if you have other opinions, because I have no computer hardware knowledge.

xxBURT0Nxx · xxBURT0Nxx #2 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 10:32 AM

running graphic intensive programs like that would be better off with 4gb of ram. Have you thought about getting the pro and upgrading the ram yourself instead of having apple do it? You could also shop the classifieds here or try a refurbed from apples website which will lower your costs if you are looking to stay within a certain budget.

iLaw · iLaw #3 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 11:04 AM

Go with a MacBook Pro with 2 GB... then upgrade the RAM later.

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #4 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 12:01 PM

Thank you very much for your replies guys. Why didn't I thought of upgrading later. Thanks for the opinion.

True Bassist · True Bassist #5 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLaw

Go with a MacBook Pro with 2 GB... then upgrade the RAM later.

Definitely the best option here.

chrismac · chrismac #6 (**permalink**)

06-30-2009, 06:20 PM

Do what I did:-

YouTube - Guide: How To Swap / Upgrade Hard Drive / HDD and RAM / Memory In A 2009 Apple MacBook Pro 13"

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #7 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 02:33 AM

Is this the upgrade RAM for Macbook Pro?

4GB kit (2GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500

CrimsonRequiem · CrimsonRequiem #8 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakerlover

Is this the upgrade RAM for Macbook Pro?

4GB kit (2GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500

Aye but they are cheaper here.

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #9 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 07:02 AM

Thank you very much guys.

sprite · sprite #10 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 02:04 PM

Hiya

I've recently had to make this decision myself, too.

I went to the Apple store and took one look at the machines side by side and knew I had to have the Macbook Pro instead. It's the screen that does it for me. Everyone says it's very reflective/glossy, I don't find it a problem myself, but the reason the screen did it for me as it were is because the colours and the brightness on the MBP is just so much better, it made the price difference worth it.

I'll admit, I notice the extra 2GB missing on this machine, compared to my iMac with 4GB. However, it would've been silly to miss out on the higher all round specs for the sake of some memory that'll cost me £50 to upgrade at a later date

The manual that comes with the machine tells you how to upgrade the memory (and hard drive if you want, I'll probably do that too, at a later date).

I have a problem with shopping. I'm a bit of an addict; I really like buying new things. So getting this base model now gives me a couple of things I can do to improve it later, still keeping my buying addiction satisfied to a tame level (rather than going out buying more computers, for example, ahem).

So yes - in your shoes I would go for the MBP

livinitup1 · livinitup1 #11 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 04:40 PM

This thread has got me thinking too. I was originally going to get the 13" Pro with 2.53Ghz and 4GB RAM until I realized that I didn't need all that power and probably won't for years. I always thought it'd be good to get high specs now because they'll last for years but I won't need that much power anytime soon and most things will run well on 2.26Ghz Core 2 Duo for quite some time. I wonder how much faster 1066Mhz front-side bus is than 667Mhz? If it's a lot faster then 2.26Ghz will do me good for a while. Wow, I'm saving at least $300 because of this decision. Thanks OP.

sonnycheeba23 · sonnycheeba23 #12 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 05:06 PM

I went with the 2.5ghz 13"
2.5 seems to be becoming the standard for new laptops

Article about the new series with comparisons
MacBook Pros (13-inch, Mid 2009) Review | Laptop | Macworld

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #13 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 11:16 PM

Well, the 2.5GHz certainly looks better. But it cost $300 more. I'm a little concerned whether the 21% faster performance is worth that $300.

Thrilling · Thrilling #14 (**permalink**)

07-01-2009, 11:24 PM

I think you should upgrade later and get the MacBook Pro.

sneakerlover · sneakerlover #15 (**permalink**)

07-02-2009, 02:29 AM

Yup, I think I'll do that. Thanks everyone.

chrismac #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 12, 2009 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 356 Mac Specs: 15.4" uMBP: iPhone 4	06-30-2009, 06:20 PM Do what I did:- YouTube - Guide: How To Swap / Upgrade Hard Drive / HDD and RAM / Memory In A 2009 Apple MacBook Pro 13" Click Here For My Video Mac Guides[/CENTER]
	QUOTE Thanks

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sneakerlover #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	06-30-2009, 09:17 AM Hi there, I'm from Malaysia and will be getting my first mac soon but I can't quite decide due to my budget. I'm thinking of either the macbook with 4gb ram or macbook pro with 2gb ram. The difference is about RM400(malaysia currency) so it's about $110. I'll be working a lot with Photoshop cs4, dreamweaver for html editing and maybe adobe premiere elements for video editing. What I would like to know is whether there will be a significant difference, performance wise? Do suggest if you have other opinions, because I have no computer hardware knowledge.
	QUOTE Thanks

xxBURT0Nxx #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 16, 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 47 Mac Specs: 15" MBP \| 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo \| 4 GB Ram \| 250 GB HDD	06-30-2009, 10:32 AM running graphic intensive programs like that would be better off with 4gb of ram. Have you thought about getting the pro and upgrading the ram yourself instead of having apple do it? You could also shop the classifieds here or try a refurbed from apples website which will lower your costs if you are looking to stay within a certain budget.
	QUOTE Thanks

sneakerlover #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	06-30-2009, 12:01 PM Thank you very much for your replies guys. Why didn't I thought of upgrading later. Thanks for the opinion.
	QUOTE Thanks

sneakerlover #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	07-01-2009, 02:33 AM Is this the upgrade RAM for Macbook Pro? 4GB kit (2GBx2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500
	QUOTE Thanks

sneakerlover #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	07-01-2009, 07:02 AM Thank you very much guys.
	QUOTE Thanks

sprite #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 29, 2007 Location: Surrey or Sheffield, UK.. or I might even be in Aarhus, Denmark Posts: 73 Mac Specs: iMac 24" (mid-2009 edition), 2.66Ghz, 4GB, 640GB HDD	07-01-2009, 02:04 PM Hiya I've recently had to make this decision myself, too. I went to the Apple store and took one look at the machines side by side and knew I had to have the Macbook Pro instead. It's the screen that does it for me. Everyone says it's very reflective/glossy, I don't find it a problem myself, but the reason the screen did it for me as it were is because the colours and the brightness on the MBP is just so much better, it made the price difference worth it. I'll admit, I notice the extra 2GB missing on this machine, compared to my iMac with 4GB. However, it would've been silly to miss out on the higher all round specs for the sake of some memory that'll cost me £50 to upgrade at a later date The manual that comes with the machine tells you how to upgrade the memory (and hard drive if you want, I'll probably do that too, at a later date). I have a problem with shopping. I'm a bit of an addict; I really like buying new things. So getting this base model now gives me a couple of things I can do to improve it later, still keeping my buying addiction satisfied to a tame level (rather than going out buying more computers, for example, ahem). So yes - in your shoes I would go for the MBP
	QUOTE Thanks

livinitup1 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 16, 2008 Posts: 314	07-01-2009, 04:40 PM This thread has got me thinking too. I was originally going to get the 13" Pro with 2.53Ghz and 4GB RAM until I realized that I didn't need all that power and probably won't for years. I always thought it'd be good to get high specs now because they'll last for years but I won't need that much power anytime soon and most things will run well on 2.26Ghz Core 2 Duo for quite some time. I wonder how much faster 1066Mhz front-side bus is than 667Mhz? If it's a lot faster then 2.26Ghz will do me good for a while. Wow, I'm saving at least $300 because of this decision. Thanks OP.
	QUOTE Thanks

sonnycheeba23 #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 26, 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 23 Mac Specs: New 13" Macbook Pro 2.5 ghz, 4gb ddr3, 500gb hd \| 16gb Nano	07-01-2009, 05:06 PM I went with the 2.5ghz 13" 2.5 seems to be becoming the standard for new laptops Article about the new series with comparisons MacBook Pros (13-inch, Mid 2009) Review \| Laptop \| Macworld
	QUOTE Thanks

sneakerlover #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	07-01-2009, 11:16 PM Well, the 2.5GHz certainly looks better. But it cost $300 more. I'm a little concerned whether the 21% faster performance is worth that $300.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thrilling #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 01, 2009 Location: Canada (Dubai shortly) Posts: 13 Mac Specs: 2GHz Mac Pro, 2.33GHz MacBook Pro, 20 inch ACD, a few cows...	07-01-2009, 11:24 PM I think you should upgrade later and get the MacBook Pro.
	QUOTE Thanks

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sneakerlover #15 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 30, 2009 Posts: 6	07-02-2009, 02:29 AM Yup, I think I'll do that. Thanks everyone.
	QUOTE Thanks