Still shopping, a few questions

Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
Hi

I posted a couple of months ago that I was interested in switching to a Mac Mini or an iMac. Well, some things came up and I never made the purchase. Which is actually a good thing, because it would have been an impulse buy.

I've had time to reconsider, and am now looking at Macbooks. My mind is pretty much set on a Macbook Pro 15" 2.4ghz (i guess waiting wasnt such a good thing for my wallet though).

I have a few questions. First, Apple Care, is it a really bad idea not to take it?

Second, RAM, most people recommend not taking the Apple RAM and buying in computer stores and installing yourself. Ok, but would it cause the warranty to be voided on a MBP?

Third, for some reason i'd be tempted to upgrade the hard drive to the 200GB 7200RPM. Would there be a noticeable difference in doing this?

I plan to get Photoshop CS3, it's probably gonna be the most intensive thing i'll do with it (i do have the habit of opening 4 to 6 10 megapixels RAW pictures at the same time). Other than that, i'll be using it mostly for internet, iTunes, movies, porn (... what? O:) ), and lastly travel. That lastly is the main reason i'm looking at laptops now, i plan on traveling some, with my camera. I tend to shoot a lot and sort out later, which is why I settled on getting a laptop.

Lastly, will the remote i got with my iPod Dock work? ;D
 
Joined
Mar 17, 2008
Messages
6,879
Reaction score
191
Points
63
Location
Tucson, AZ
Your Mac's Specs
Way... way too many specs to list.
RAM is user serviceable. You can install it yourself and not void your warranty. I like the 7200rpm drive, but I tend to do things that are IO intensive so it does help. I believe the remote will work ;)
 
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
58
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Perth, Australia
Your Mac's Specs
MacBook, 2.4GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 150 GB
As someone who recently took the plunge into the Mac world recently, I have to say it's WAY better than Microsoft.

Anyway, I'll recommend Apple Care. Firstly, you have extended phone support, which is always handy. Then you'll also get an extended warranty, so it's good. It's kind of like insurance... You buy it hoping that you won't need it... And be thankful in the event that you do because Apple parts are very expensive...

As for the RAM, if you upgrade the RAM on your own, it won't invalidate the warranty. However, if you kind of screw up the thing while installing it, there goes your warranty though (that was my understanding). But then again, it's pretty simple to do it yourself so chances are you'll be fine.

As for Hard disk space, if you have the money, go ahead and just upgrade it. From what I understand, it's worth it to upgrade to get more hard disk space, but not worth it to upgrade to get more RPMs.

And I think a MBP will do what you want it to do well... And yes, even porn too ;) .
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
75
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
sydney, australia
Your Mac's Specs
2.4GHZ Macbook (black), OSX Leopard 10.5.5, 1GB Shuffle,4GB Nano,2GB nano 2nd generation
The Macbook Pro is about $700 more expensive than a Macbook with all specs the same (except graphics card). The 250GB hard drive is currently large enough for everything, but there will be a laptop revision very soon, as the Centrino 2 platform has just been released.

;D
 
OP
NumberSix
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
The Macbook Pro is about $700 more expensive than a Macbook with all specs the same (except graphics card). The 250GB hard drive is currently large enough for everything, but there will be a laptop revision very soon, as the Centrino 2 platform has just been released.

;D

Well, i thought about the Macbook first. But a few things bother me on it. First, the video card. Shared memory is teh suck, and while i'll probably only play one game very occasionally, having a dedicated video card would be best.

Second, the 13" bothers me a little. Also, the MBP has a better color :p And i kinda like the idea of a backlit keyboard on the MBP.

Lastly, the Macbook doesn't have the upgrade for the 7200RPM disk drive :(
 
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Messages
46
Reaction score
4
Points
8
IMHO Apple Care really is a must with any laptop you choose because repairs can be costly. You don't have to buy the Apple Care when you get the MBP, you have until the end of the first year to purchase it. Just make sure you purchase it before your first year expires...so less up front money on your initial purchase.
 
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
59
Reaction score
0
Points
6
let me tell you.
changing the RAM on a MBP is VERY EASY so don't even worry about that.
www.crucial.com is a good website It scans your website and then shows you what you need and the RAM is pretty cheap too.
 
OP
NumberSix
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
let me tell you.
changing the RAM on a MBP is VERY EASY so don't even worry about that.
www.crucial.com is a good website It scans your website and then shows you what you need and the RAM is pretty cheap too.

I'm not worried about the steps themselves, i've built my last 4 PCs myself, i've also taken apart my brothers' old Toshiba laptop and put it back together (and it was working)

I was only worried about the warranty.

Is it also true for Macbooks, or only MBP users can change the RAM themselves?
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
1,186
Reaction score
73
Points
48
Location
New Orleans, LA, USA
Your Mac's Specs
13" Macbook Pro 2.26Ghz Unibody 4G RAM 160G HDD Superdrive
Macbooks are very easy to change both RAM and hard drive. I've upgraded my RAM to 2 gig and HD to a 160 gig and each took less than five minutes.
 
OP
NumberSix
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
Changing the hard drive yourself doesn't void the warranty?
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
1,186
Reaction score
73
Points
48
Location
New Orleans, LA, USA
Your Mac's Specs
13" Macbook Pro 2.26Ghz Unibody 4G RAM 160G HDD Superdrive
Not on a Macbook. A Macbook Pro is kind of a different story, but my understanding is that on a Macbook the HD is a user replaceable part. Remove battery, remove three (very small) phillips screws, slide out old drive, and slide in new drive.

Always nice to have a spare drive. Reverse procedure to install old drive if there is some Apple Care issue you need to take it in for not related to the HDD.

Oh, the RAM is pretty much in the same place. All it involves is removing the battery.

Other Macs you have to disassemble the chassis, which is a bit warrantee voiding, but with a Macbook it's easy and isn't.
 
OP
NumberSix
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
Well darn it, now i'm torn

The MBP looks so much better, but a Macbook sure is cheaper lol

Good thing i still need some time to get the money together, i can try and figure out which to get
 
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
124
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, OSX 10.6, 1TB Storage
RAM is user serviceable. You can install it yourself and not void your warranty....


Unless you buy a mac mini. Definitely moved RAM around with those 3 times. Grab the pizza cutter and lets void some warranties.

On my current iMac though it was very easy.
 
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
151
Reaction score
0
Points
16
I thought that the 13" screen on the MacBook would bother me because I work all day on a 19" but it doesn't... I haven't even noticed. I like the speed and portability of a MacBook for the price.
 
OP
NumberSix
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
269
Reaction score
5
Points
18
Location
Montreal
Ok, so I'll most likely go for either a 2.1 or a 2.4ghz Macbook.

First thing i'll probably do is switch the hard drive to a 7200 RPM.
So, I'll need to install the OS i guess. Do the CDs that come with the Macbook allow for this kind of upgrade easily?

Is the Mac OS an easy install, or not so easy?

I'm mac illiterate, but not computer illiterate. I've used and installed/reinstalled (many times) every Windows OS since Windows '95 ...although i realize that might not mean much, since they are different OS
 

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