08-13-2009, 07:17 PM

im really considering buying a MBP but am stuck as to which size screen to get. APPLE.com has 13 inch refurbs w/a 2.53 ghz proc., 4gig of ram and a 250gbhd for 1299 and a 15 inch for the same price with 2gig ram and 250gig hd and a 2.4 processor. please people help me! ill be using it for some light picture editing, browsing, music, etc. i know i probably wont need that much ram but i figured having the extra memory wouldnt hurt in the long run as well as the 2.53 proc. honestly i want to go with the 15inch but the higher mem. and better processor on the 13 inch is whats holding me back...would i even see a difference between the 2.4 and 2.53 processor? because if not, than i might go with the 15 inch and upgrade the memory myself....or should i get the mbp 13inch brand new w/the standard 2.26 ghz with 4gig ram and 320gig hd for 1279 w/student discount? again will i see a major difference w/a 2.2, 2.4, and 2.5 ghz processor...id expect the higher the number the better, but is it that much of a difference to justify the increase in price.?

08-13-2009, 09:15 PM

This is REALLY a no-brainer...I don't know what you're getting all worked up about!

Look at it this way...if you're trying to decide between the 13" & the 15"...which is easier to upgrade the screen size or the amount of ram???

I'll give you about 1 nanosecond to answer...ding!...the ram!!!!!

If you buy the 13" with 4gig of ram...guess what, you can't upgrade the screen to a 15"!

If you buy the 15" with 2 gig of ram...guess what...you can easily upgrade the ram later on! And guess what else...you can do it cheaper than what Apple would charge you!

You already said you wanted the 15"...so get the 15"!!!

- Nick

08-13-2009, 09:16 PM

I honestly do not think you will see any major difference. Go with the MBP that best suits you. You can always upgrade to 4 gigs of ram later for under 80 dollars. If you think you want the 15" go for it!

08-13-2009, 09:18 PM

There is really no tangible difference in processor speeds with such minor increments.

I wouldn't let the amount of installed memory be a deciding factor. Memory is typically much cheaper if you upgrade it yourself, and it's easy to do.

I think what you need to decide is whether you'd prefer the better portability of the 13" or the larger screen of the 15".

08-13-2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by LV718

im really considering buying a MBP but am stuck as to which size screen to get. APPLE.com has 13 inch refurbs w/a 2.53 ghz proc., 4gig of ram and a 250gbhd for 1299 and a 15 inch for the same price with 2gig ram and 250gig hd and a 2.4 processor. please people help me! ill be using it for some light picture editing, browsing, music, etc. i know i probably wont need that much ram but i figured having the extra memory wouldnt hurt in the long run as well as the 2.53 proc. honestly i want to go with the 15inch but the higher mem. and better processor on the 13 inch is whats holding me back...would i even see a difference between the 2.4 and 2.53 processor? because if not, than i might go with the 15 inch and upgrade the memory myself....or should i get the mbp 13inch brand new w/the standard 2.26 ghz with 4gig ram and 320gig hd for 1279 w/student discount? again will i see a major difference w/a 2.2, 2.4, and 2.5 ghz processor...id expect the higher the number the better, but is it that much of a difference to justify the increase in price.?

I have the 13" MBP which is outstanding for its portability and I find the screen big enough for the work I do. On-line college courses, web-surfing, email, music, and so on.

08-14-2009, 12:41 AM

all good points, ram and hhd size should not be a factor, they're the cheapest and easiest to upgrade,. bought my MB with 1gm ram and 80gb hhd, cost me $20 to upgrade the ram to 2gb and $0 to a 320gb hhd (i had a external drive setting around, why not use it)..

08-14-2009, 10:47 AM

i got 13" and live the size compact and light and fits good in my back pack i take it everywhere..

08-14-2009, 11:09 AM

i bought the macbook unibody 13 when it first came out simply due to the portability factor.

i'm also a photography hobbyist and a graphic doodler who likes to travel... and the 13" display, although perfect for portability, was just too small at 1280 x 800 pixels to manage some of my workflows. so instead of packing up my 24" desktop to carry with me on trips, i decided to buy a 15" macbook pro.

the 15" macbook pro is definitely not as portable as my 13" macbook, but its thinness does help to offset it's size... my predicament could be worse with a traditional 15" laptop's size. at this point though, i know i'd never be able to live with lugging around the 17" macbook pro. but i expected to be satisfied with the 15" macbook's compromise and end up selling off the 13" macbook.

after a month now, i've shamefully decided to keep both... the 13" goes with me whenever i leave home without my camera or when i know i wont be catching up on any graphic work. otherwise, i stuff the 15" into the bag and head out. (this has actually become a blessing in disguise, since it forces me to take needed time off as i'm unable to effectively do any 'work' when i'm out and about with the 13".)

so yeah, i know the predicament you're faced with. as for processor speed, you're not going to notice the 133MHz difference. as others have said, RAM is easily user upgradable, and dont sacrifice screen size for an unnoticeable bump in internal specs for the obvious reasons already stated. but between you, me, and everyone else, though, i wish the 15" had a higher resolution screen, like an optional 1920 x 1200.

if i were forced to choose, i'd ditch my 13" and keep the 15" simply to suit my needs... although the only right answer in your case is to simply find a way to afford both.

08-14-2009, 11:17 AM

I tend to agree with all of the above, but it's not something for others to decide, it's really all up to you, but if you're asking our opinion, go for th 15".

Mine just came in today, and I LOVE IT !!!

08-14-2009, 11:37 AM

If price isn't an issue and you don't mind carrying around the slightly bigger 15" MBP, I would roll with the 15" MBP if I were you. End the end though, it's all about personal perference.