08-25-2009, 06:11 PM

Hey guys! I am brand new to this forum.... I have owned several different Macbooks in the past but never a unibody.... With that being said now is the time to make the switch..... However, I really need some help and have a few questions and for some reason every person I speak with at Apple just cannot tell me what I want to hear. The 2 links below are the 2 laptops I am debating over.

Refurbished MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - Aluminum - Apple Store (U.S.)

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - Apple Store (U.S.)


The first link is 1st Generation Unibody Macbook 13" 2.4 250GB HD $999

The second link is the 1st Generation MBP 13" 2.26 160GB $999

I mean everything points towards getting the Macbook because of faster processor and bigger HD... Can someone please tell me what the major differences are?

I know that the MBP has an internal battery and the MB has a battery that can be removed without having to take the laptop apart.

I would really like to know what your opinions are and I really value them. It seems like whenever I get anyone from Apple on the phone they just read the specs and that doesnt really help me out at all....

*** I REALLY APPRECIATE ANY REPLIES***

08-25-2009, 06:51 PM

The 2.26Ghz MBP is a superior machine and here is why (aside from that I have one because I waited for a refresh when the unibody first came out):

AMB = Aluminum Macbook
MBP = Aluminum Macbook Pro

AMB - no Firewire
MBP - Firewire 800 in addition to the two USB ports
AMB - no slots of any kind
MBP - SD card slot which I find handy for my SD card using DSLR
AMB - 4 GB RAM capable
MBP - 8 GB RAM capable
AMB - removable battery. Good for it. You can maybe stretch it to 4.5 and have another if you need.
MBP - non-removable battery that can last for 7 hours.


They both have the illuminated keyboard, which I find spiffy.
They both have bluetooth.
They both have WiFi
Yes, the AMB comes with a bigger internal HD, but the MBP can easily be upgraded to the same and/or bigger internal HD.

So there you go. I would, given the same price as is the case here go with the MBP because you get much better expandability at the least, and the screen is brilliant.

Oh yeah, you're not going to notice the diff between a 2.26GHz and 2.4GHz CPU over the other aspects.

08-25-2009, 07:08 PM

Great reply!!! I really appreciate it... This really helps me out in making my decision! I have an external WD 1TB Hard Drive so I am not at all concerned about the size of the HD, Can you elaborate on the screen being much better?

They are both LED screens correct? I have heard that one of the reasons they came out with the 2nd GEN Unibody was because of having issues with the screens??? I really appreciate the replies everyone!

08-25-2009, 10:49 PM

Hey guys sorry for the stupidity but where would this topic go? I dont think I put this in the correct area?

08-26-2009, 09:38 AM

I pretty much agree with everything walkerj said in his comment. Good luck with your future purchase

08-26-2009, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by MacbookWoo

Great reply!!! I really appreciate it... This really helps me out in making my decision! I have an external WD 1TB Hard Drive so I am not at all concerned about the size of the HD, Can you elaborate on the screen being much better?

They are both LED screens correct? I have heard that one of the reasons they came out with the 2nd GEN Unibody was because of having issues with the screens??? I really appreciate the replies everyone!

I'm not sure if this is the case with the latest MB and MBP but the Pro screen is both LED and made of glass which covers the entire inside of the lid. The white Macbook display may be plastic, but I don't absolutely know that; I'm going on what my old Macbook was, and it was plastic.

The MBP screen kind of looks like a giant iPhone. Don't know how the newer generation screens are, but my 13" MBP's screen looks far better than my old MB's screen, and even looks better than two external LCD monitors I've had it hooked up to, and I thought they were pretty dang good screens. Smaller, but much brighter and clearer.

Edit: Scratch that - the Macbook you were looking at is aluminum, so it has the newer glass display, which probably is as brilliant as the MBP. AMB is also LED, but that model still doesn't have any firewire that I'm aware of. That was a show stopper for me since I have a firewire external as well as a USB.