08-17-2010, 05:20 AM

Dear Friends,

I intend to buy a MacBook Pro 17-inch. The basic specifications from Apple are:


# 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
# 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X2GB
# 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
# SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
# MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Resolution Glossy Widescreen Display
# Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide


Apple provides options to configure and up-scale some specifications (http://store.apple.com/us_edu_188440...gure/MC024LL/A), and I have some questions in that regard:


1) Adding to the normal uses such as browsing, emailing, word processing, watching movies, etc. I expect to do some video editing work on my laptop. Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 is the program I used to use. For my school work, I usually only produce short videos with a final cut of less than 10 minutes, although my original footage sometimes occupy two 60-minutes mini DV tapes. I wonder if the basic set-up of the laptop (as specified above) would qualify/satisfy the video editing work I'll be doing. Or would it worth to add $180 for an upgrade from i5 to i7, $360 for 4GB of RAM to 8GB, or the upgrades for the hard drive:
# 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
# 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm [Add $45.00]
# 128GB Solid State Drive [Add $180.00]
# 256GB Solid State Drive [Add $585.00]
# 512GB Solid State Drive [Add $1,170.00]


2) Apple says on their web that the glossy display would be better for watching movies than an anti-glare. I do watch movies a lot. However, I am also sensitive to reflections and do not like them. Therefore I'm not sure if I should just stay with the glossy screen or add $45 for an anti-glare one.


3) Would it be cost efficient to add $239 to extend the complimentary 90 days telephone technical support and one-year limited warranty to 3 years?




I would highly appreciate any advise. Thanks a lot.

08-17-2010, 05:31 AM

Note: Moved to appropriate forum. Not really related to "Movies and Video".

08-17-2010, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by rw1029

1) Adding to the normal uses such as browsing, emailing, word processing, watching movies, etc. I expect to do some video editing work on my laptop. Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 is the program I used to use. For my school work, I usually only produce short videos with a final cut of less than 10 minutes, although my original footage sometimes occupy two 60-minutes mini DV tapes. I wonder if the basic set-up of the laptop (as specified above) would qualify/satisfy the video editing work I'll be doing. Or would it worth to add $180 for an upgrade from i5 to i7, $360 for 4GB of RAM to 8GB, or the upgrades for the hard drive:
# 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
# 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm [Add $45.00]
# 128GB Solid State Drive [Add $180.00]
# 256GB Solid State Drive [Add $585.00]
# 512GB Solid State Drive [Add $1,170.00]

You current configuration will be adequate enough for your requirements. I am currently running 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo 15" MBP with 4GB DDR3 RAM and editing 3 hour shows using Premiere Pro CS5. If you can upgrade to better parts, I would as it gives you more future proofing.
I would get the i7 processor and the 500GB 7,200rpm Hard Drive.

Originally Posted by rw1029

2) Apple says on their web that the glossy display would be better for watching movies than an anti-glare. I do watch movies a lot. However, I am also sensitive to reflections and do not like them. Therefore I'm not sure if I should just stay with the glossy screen or add $45 for an anti-glare one.

Get the anti-glare screen. I have the glossy screen and while it is lovely to look at, it can be a pain with reflections and sunlight.

Originally Posted by rw1029

3) Would it be cost efficient to add $239 to extend the complimentary 90 days telephone technical support and one-year limited warranty to 3 years?

I bought my MBP using my University discount and so received the 3 Year Applecare for free. My Magsafe Power Adaptor began to bare wires a few months ago and I walked straight into my nearest Apple Shop and exchanged it for a new one in about 5 minutes. You may never use it but it is extremely helpful when something does go wrong.

Hope this helps!

08-17-2010, 09:14 AM

Hi RW,

For me the screen has never really been a big issue for me in regards to watching films, because I am normally in a place where I have control over the light levels, ie putting the screen towards the sun isn't a good plan! Having anti-glare is nice, however not really a major selling point.

In regards to AppleCare; always go for it. It is worth every penny, not because Mac's are unreliable, but parts do fail, it's not a perfect world (yet). I have yet to need my AppleCare after two years, however I have seen many people who have been very glad they did.

(Good to see you TB, the internet is a small place!)

08-17-2010, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by thedoc

(Good to see you TB, the internet is a small place!)

Haha! Nice to see you to thedoc!

08-17-2010, 06:42 PM

My wife uses the 17" version and I am kinda jealous
The anti glare is a must especially if you are working in day time, it makes it easier to see what's on your scrreen. As a hard drive I would go for 320GB as everyone is using external drives nowadays. Apple care is a must!

08-17-2010, 06:50 PM

Sorry, Applecare is not a must, particularly when you consider it only covers manufacturers defects.
This is a personal choice everyone needs to make for themselves.

I now have two Mac notebooks, both over three years old and would be out another $500 for nothing if I had paid for Applecare. I am not in the minority here. I have personally owned over 50 computers and have never had the occasion to use a warranty on a single one of them. I have made use of the original warranty on 2 (two) computers used in one of my businesses during the last 25 years.

The ones that make money on extended warranties are the ones selling them.

08-18-2010, 02:46 AM

i've heard of buying Applecare from ebay, for instance. perhaps I can wait and get a feel of how things go...?

08-22-2010, 04:49 AM

Thank you guys for all your comments/advises! I got my MBP 17'' yesterday!

Happy Maccing!