Beta Version?

B

blokie

Guest
I'm in the process of buying my first apple laptop for school, my first apple computer regardless. And I'm interested in buying the new macbook pro (regardless of what ppl's opinions are on the new macbook name) but I don't want to buy a beta version and then in a couple months after its been released that they improve it and potentially come out with the "REAL" macbook pro. My reason for concern is I've come across lots of forums, alot more negative and less informative than this forum, suggesting that the new macbook pro is basically a beta version out for consumer trial.

So my real question is whether to buy the powerbook 15" or the macbook pro, nothing to do with "what's inside," based on apple's potential to come out with a more refined version of it in a couple months and therefore leaving me to buy the powerbook (no disappointment either way).

Thanks ppl.
 
Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
6,188
Reaction score
254
Points
83
Location
New Jersey
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Pro 8x3.0ghz 12gb ram 8800GT , MBP 2.16 2GB Ram 17 inch.
If you have the time I would say wait for the next realease of macbook pro, or if you have the money, buy a used 12 inch ibook to hold you over until the time comes when the powerbook is realeased, I personally would not buy an old technology, (even though its still new but we know its not going anywhere) when the newer computers are right next to it.
 
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,229
Reaction score
75
Points
48
Your Mac's Specs
2.6GHz Core i7 15" MacBook Pro - 8GB DDR3 SDRAM - 750GB 7200 RPM HDD - GeForce 650M GT 1GB VRAM
I agree with PowerBookG4 on the waiting thing. Presumably your semester starts around late August, so I would wait until the very last possible moment to get the laptop. That's what I did with my PowerBook G4 (January 2005 revision) to make sure I'd be getting the best possible version before heading off to school. If you want to get it early because you're worried about learnng the OS, I'd recommend finding the nearest Apple Store and playing with those computers as much as possible. Of course, if you still have questions left after that, we're here. :)
 
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
3,378
Reaction score
61
Points
48
blokie said:
I've come across lots of forums, alot more negative and less informative than this forum, suggesting that the new macbook pro is basically a beta version out for consumer trial.


I would wait till they are actually out and people have used them before you start listening to what people on forums are saying. I don't understand why everybody things they are going to have problems. Intel has been doing mobile chips/chipsets for awhile now and OS X has been running on x86 since version 10.0.
 
OP
J

jn4jenny

Guest
mynameis said:
I would wait till they are actually out and people have used them before you start listening to what people on forums are saying. I don't understand why everybody things they are going to have problems. Intel has been doing mobile chips/chipsets for awhile now and OS X has been running on x86 since version 10.0.

Apple has a history of introducing a new product, even one that allegedly "passed its beta stage tests with flying colors," and then the first buyers are the unlucky ones to find out that the product has SERIOUS design or programming flaws. The iPod battery debacles, the iBook G4 logic board scares, and the first release of OS X 10.0 come to mind as examples.

There's no way to predict whether or not this will happen with the MacBook. It's totally possible that the MacBook will roll off the presses as an outstanding, durable, problem-free product. But it's also possible that it will be a big fat waste of $2000 that will promptly be replaced in a few months with a far superior MacBook that retails for the same price.

To the original poster, I'd say to wait until the MacBooks have been out for at least a month and see how things are looking then. But if you need a computer now, buy now--some people are knocking the G4's as "old technology," but the truth is that not every Apple user out there needs the power and sophistication of a MacBook, just like not every PC user needs a 4.0 Ghz machine with 2 GB of RAM. The current Powerbook G4 is making a lot of users perfectly happy and has plenty of juice for the price, and if you decide to get rid of it in a few months, you can probably do so for a minimal financial loss.
 
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
204
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Location
Baltimore, MD (USA)
Your Mac's Specs
Powermac Dual G4 1.25 Ghz
It may be a good idea to wait until school starts for the reasons mentioned by other posters and because you can most likely get a discount from the university's bookstore.
 
OP
M

menace3054

Guest
timswim78 said:
It may be a good idea to wait until school starts for the reasons mentioned by other posters and because you can most likely get a discount from the university's bookstore.


i just went with a family friend to the apple store because he wanted to buy an imac. He wanted the 17" G5, they were out, he then shelled out the extra 350 for the 20" G5 becuase he wanted anything BUT the intel.

I would totally hold off on the macbook pro. first of all, as you yourself are worried about, it could potentially have hardware glitches. and second, not all hardware companies have intel versions out yet, i wouldnt want to rely on rosetta
 
OP
B

blokie

Guest
wow, thanks for the replies and to reassure myself that I was potentially going to make the right choice and wait. I guess for now, like one poster mentioned, I will purchase a 12" ibook or powerbook until after the summer when my next semester starts and then potentially buy one.

Thanks again.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top