Torn

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

I have only recently decided to try a Mac after many years of using Windows based PC’s but I have a dilemma, I want the specs of the Macbook Pro but want the housing of the Black mackbook, is this possible?

baggss · Jul 8, 2007

In short, no.

docinsano · Jul 8, 2007

anything is possible if you use a can of spraypaint

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

Well that sucks, is there anything out there Mac or PC that has the looks of the Black Macbook but something similar in spec to the Mackbook Pro?

Alexis · Jul 8, 2007

But if you found a black laptop PC, you wouldn't have a Mac! With a MacBook Pro, you can have a PC and a Mac.

Have you seen them in the flesh though? They still look funky in aluminium.

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

Alexis said:
But if you found a black laptop PC, you wouldn't have a Mac! With a MacBook Pro, you can have a PC and a Mac.

Yeah I know

I would get the Macbook Pro but I can’t bring myself to buy it in that hideous aluminium housing

Number2MVP · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
Well that sucks, is there anything out there Mac or PC that has the looks of the Black Macbook but something similar in spec to the Mackbook Pro?

Why don't you tell us what you need your computer for, that way, we can tell if you really need the specs of the MBP.

ste6168 · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
Yeah I know

I would get the Macbook Pro but I can’t bring myself to buy it in that hideous aluminium housing

that is such an insult to me ;D, i do think the aluminum looks amazing though.

on topic, depending on how much you are willing to spend, you could get a black MBP from colorware

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

Well where to start:

I need it primarily for Photo editing and would also require the abilities to do web browsing (must be wireless connectible), word processing, weekly/calendar planner, some minor gaming (mainly FPS like FEAR or CS:S and some real time strategy too, would like to try C&C-3 and SC2 in the future), Music, usable as a DVD player on long journeys, Needs to be portable because I need to be able to take it every where with me

I’m sure there’s something I’ve missed but that’s about it

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

ste6168 said:
that is such an insult to me ;D, i do think the aluminum looks amazing though.

on topic, depending on how much you are willing to spend, you could get a black MBP from colorware

I guess the housing is personal preference - i don't know why but i just hate the aluminium case with a passion!

I live in the UK so to pay the extra to have the colour changed, and then to ship it here and then pay the import duties would take it way way way out of my price range

I have about £1000 to spend, which unfortunately isn’t very much when it comes to buying a decent laptop these days

walkerj · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
Well where to start:

I need it primarily for Photo editing and would also require the abilities to do web browsing (must be wireless connectible), word processing, weekly/calendar planner, some minor gaming (mainly FPS like FEAR or CS:S and some real time strategy too, would like to try C&C-3 and SC2 in the future), Music, usable as a DVD player on long journeys, Needs to be portable because I need to be able to take it every where with me

I’m sure there’s something I’ve missed but that’s about it

Then you pretty much just need to get a black Macbook. The specs are pretty darn close to the MBP, other than the graphics card for gaming, the screen size, and some of the little things like illumintated keyboard or firewire 800.

Everything else comes in the Macbook package, and it'll do everything you mentioned other than the games.

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

walkerj said:
Then you pretty much just need to get a black Macbook. The specs are pretty darn close to the MBP, other than the graphics card for gaming, the screen size, and some of the little things like illumintated keyboard or firewire 800.

Everything else comes in the Macbook package, and it'll do everything you mentioned other than the games.

So if i can manage to put the gaming aside then the Black Macbook with an additional 1GB stick of RAM (bringing it up to 2GM of RAM) should be fine? Is the Macbook ok to use programs like Photo Shop CS3 - Extended edition?

schweb · Jul 8, 2007

Yep, a Macbook is more than enough to do all that. I have a Macbook and use it with Photoshop CS3 all the time.

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

So say i do decide to go with the Black Macbook with additional RAM, is now the time to buy? because I've bought things in the past to have an upgrade come up only a few weeks/months later making me wish i had waited.

Also on a side note my brother is a university student, will he be able to get me any discount or will all the paperwork and warranty for the Macbook end up in his name, because although he would have no problem ordering me one, i doubt he would want to have to sort things out if anything went wrong.

Number2MVP · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
So say i do decide to go with the Black Macbook with additional RAM, is now the time to buy? because I've bought things in the past to have an upgrade come up only a few weeks/months later making me wish i had waited.

Also on a side note my brother is a university student, will he be able to get me any discount or will all the paperwork and warranty for the Macbook end up in his name, because although he would have no problem ordering me one, i doubt he would want to have to sort things out if anything went wrong.

No, the MacBooks were recently upgraded. Buy now.

schweb · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
So say i do decide to go with the Black Macbook with additional RAM, is now the time to buy? because I've bought things in the past to have an upgrade come up only a few weeks/months later making me wish i had waited.

You will always be waiting if you're afraid of a future upgrade. No one can tell you for certain when they'll be. They could be tomorrow or they could be a year from now. If it does what you need, buy it now.

Also on a side note my brother is a university student, will he be able to get me any discount or will all the paperwork and warranty for the Macbook end up in his name, because although he would have no problem ordering me one, i doubt he would want to have to sort things out if anything went wrong.

Technically, legally he can only purchase a computer for himself. Unless you meet the criteria outlined in the agreement for an academic discount, you can't take advantage of it.

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

Number2MVP said:
No, the MacBooks were recently upgraded. Buy now.

Thanks for that

Just out of curiosity when was the last update and when is the next expected - also does the HE Discount (one on apple-UK website) apply to university students because my brother isn't back at university until September 29th meaning i wouldn't be able to get any discount until then or is it not worth the wait for the discount?

Stetwin · Jul 8, 2007

schweb said:
Technically, legally he can only purchase a computer for himself. Unless you meet the criteria outlined in the agreement for an academic discount, you can't take advantage of it.

Oh i didn't know that - please ignore my post above

Does apple offer discounts for Mr. Average?

schweb · Jul 8, 2007

Stetwin said:
Oh i didn't know that - please ignore my post above

Does apple offer discounts for Mr. Average?

Unless you see one on their site, no.

JRV · Jul 8, 2007

I didn't see anyone mention this but buying a computer based on looks probably isn't the best way to go.