5 ms·

The MBP is not great bang-to-buck. I bought one 4 years ago (PowerBook, then) and it ended up costing about $3,000. The MacBook costs just over 1/3 that. 1 year

by sc 18y ago

The MBP is not great bang-to-buck. I bought one 4 years ago (PowerBook, then) and it ended up costing about $3,000. The MacBook costs just over 1/3 that. 1 year ago, I bought a MacBook to replace the failing MBP, and the difference was incredible: the regular MacBook well-exceeded everything about the MBP. I could buy a new MacBook every year (if I needed to) and it would cost the same as buying a MBP every 3 years, and that's if we don't factor in resale. Given that the poster is using the system to learn to program, I doubt he needs the MBP. The MB should more than suit that need.

deleted 18y ago
[deleted]
- sc 18y ago
  Sorry, I said "PowerBook, then". And in 4 years from now it may hold some other moniker. My basic point was that if technology continues to change, the best bang for your buck is rarely the higher end. Only buy the high end if you need it and you're milking it for all it's worth.
  - neilc 18y ago
    If you're optimizing for the best bang-for-your-buck, then I agree. But if you spend all day working on a computer or depend on using a computer to make your living, I think it is very easy to justify buying highend equipment. $2.5k vs. $1.5k is not a very significant difference if it is amortized over 8 hours per day * 300 days per year.
    - xlnt 18y ago
      you only use a computer 300 days a year? and only 8 hours a day?
      - neilc 18y ago
        Well, those were just madeup numbers. If you use a computer more often, the case for getting good equipment is more compelling, of course.
    - mattmaroon 18y ago
      Well, it's certainly justified, but if you have $1.5k to spare and not $2.5k, then that doesn't matter.
donw 18y ago
I agree wholeheartedly. Unless you need to do serious 3D work, the Pro is overkill. For everyday use, the plain-Jane MacBook is quite adequate. True, the hardware isn't quite a nice as ThinkPads of yore, and I loathe the glossy screen, but these are really my only complaints.
markbao 18y ago
I'll agree with that. I own a MacBook Pro and although it has some nice features (larger screen, better video card, aluminum finish...) it's not totally worth the difference in price, if you're looking for an economy system. With that said, I'll also recommend that you get a ThinkPad instead of a Mac. They're time- and battle-tested machines, and work well. The Mac may seem to have less problems, but both usually have about the same amounts of problems, but just of some different natures. I like the Mac, and I can live with Windows. Both are good machines, and you have to try both to see which one you like better.
- apgwoz 18y ago
  Even better is a Thinkpad running some flavor of GNU/Linux. They're well supported because well, frankly, they're incredible machines and hackers everywhere love them.
  - Shadow84 18y ago
    For people trying to run a Thinkpad with Linux i can recommend ThinkWiki (http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki). It helped me alot in setting up my ThinkPad. Back to the original Question: IMHO Thinkpads are very good and especially reliable Notebooks, but they also aren't cheap. When getting a Thinkpad then a T-Model most of the others don't differ that much from Notebooks sold by HP or Dell.
- deleted 18y ago
  [deleted]
- vlad 18y ago
  Get both.
- holygoat 18y ago
  Our company has been using ThinkPads for years. In the past year standard issue has been T60p and T61p — and they're awful. Crappy display drivers, a tendency to shut down when you plug them in or dock them, etc. etc. We're switching to HPs now. Me, I'm on my second MBP in 3 years and I'm happy. Another friend of mine just replaced his MacBook with a MBP, because it just wasn't quite keeping up.
vlad 18y ago
You're talking entirely about a different computer and a different time. A new Macbook Pro (such as one he might buy) comes with a much better operating system, can run Windows programs side by side, has the same processor and graphics card as leading PC counterparts, does not cost $3,000 ($1599 with Student Developer discount), has an LED Glossy option versus fluorescent matte, has more mac native apps and dev tools than ever, gives many more reasons to use it for programming like for the iPhone, as well as opportunities to create web apps in ROR, Django, and other web frameworks that did not exist at the time that now need to be tested on a Mac since it also happens to have much greater marketshare. All of this means that his computer might last for more years than before, since the hardware is already top of the line compared not just to mac machines released a year prior, but to high end pc laptops, as well, which means he might as well get the MacBook Pro.
- sc 18y ago
  > You're talking entirely about a different computer and a different time I know, just as it'll change again in the next 3 years. > A new Macbook Pro (such as one he might buy) comes with... Most of these things come with a standard MacBook, too, so why not buy a MacBook? Some of the things that MacBook doesn't have that the MBP does: > $1599 with Student Developer discount Actually, it's $1799, but that doesn't factor in taxes, which bring it to about retail, or $2000, and that's without any configuration options (the one I bought, spec'ed out again, is still $3000). (By the way, If you're looking to buy a Mac, look at the Amazon discount over Apple's store: with free shipping and no taxes, it's almost always cheaper.) > LED Glossy options versus fluorescent matte True. > All of this means that his computer might last for more years than before, since the hardware is already top of the line compared not just to mac machines released a year prior, but to high end pc laptops, as well I guess it's whether or not you're willing to make that bet or not. > which means he might as well get the MacBook Pro. Or, he could save a lot of money, get an equivalent machine for his needs, and buy a new one every year and still not spend as much.
  - maximilian 18y ago
    >> LED Glossy options versus fluorescent matte >True. False. The matte screen is LED and its unclear from the specs whether the glossy is LED or fluorescent. From apple.com: "15.4-inch (diagonal) antiglare widescreen TFT LED backlit display with support for millions of colors; optional glossy widescreen display"

by sc 18y ago

deleted 18y ago

[deleted]

sc 18y ago
Sorry, I said "PowerBook, then". And in 4 years from now it may hold some other moniker. My basic point was that if technology continues to change, the best bang for your buck is rarely the higher end. Only buy the high end if you need it and you're milking it for all it's worth.
- neilc 18y ago
  If you're optimizing for the best bang-for-your-buck, then I agree. But if you spend all day working on a computer or depend on using a computer to make your living, I think it is very easy to justify buying highend equipment. $2.5k vs. $1.5k is not a very significant difference if it is amortized over 8 hours per day * 300 days per year.
  - xlnt 18y ago
    you only use a computer 300 days a year? and only 8 hours a day?
    - neilc 18y ago
      Well, those were just madeup numbers. If you use a computer more often, the case for getting good equipment is more compelling, of course.
  - mattmaroon 18y ago
    Well, it's certainly justified, but if you have $1.5k to spare and not $2.5k, then that doesn't matter.

donw 18y ago

I agree wholeheartedly. Unless you need to do serious 3D work, the Pro is overkill. For everyday use, the plain-Jane MacBook is quite adequate. True, the hardware isn't quite a nice as ThinkPads of yore, and I loathe the glossy screen, but these are really my only complaints.

markbao 18y ago

I'll agree with that. I own a MacBook Pro and although it has some nice features (larger screen, better video card, aluminum finish...) it's not totally worth the difference in price, if you're looking for an economy system. With that said, I'll also recommend that you get a ThinkPad instead of a Mac. They're time- and battle-tested machines, and work well. The Mac may seem to have less problems, but both usually have about the same amounts of problems, but just of some different natures. I like the Mac, and I can live with Windows. Both are good machines, and you have to try both to see which one you like better.

apgwoz 18y ago
Even better is a Thinkpad running some flavor of GNU/Linux. They're well supported because well, frankly, they're incredible machines and hackers everywhere love them.
- Shadow84 18y ago
  For people trying to run a Thinkpad with Linux i can recommend ThinkWiki (http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki http://thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki). It helped me alot in setting up my ThinkPad. Back to the original Question: IMHO Thinkpads are very good and especially reliable Notebooks, but they also aren't cheap. When getting a Thinkpad then a T-Model most of the others don't differ that much from Notebooks sold by HP or Dell.
deleted 18y ago
[deleted]
vlad 18y ago
Get both.
holygoat 18y ago
Our company has been using ThinkPads for years. In the past year standard issue has been T60p and T61p — and they're awful. Crappy display drivers, a tendency to shut down when you plug them in or dock them, etc. etc. We're switching to HPs now. Me, I'm on my second MBP in 3 years and I'm happy. Another friend of mine just replaced his MacBook with a MBP, because it just wasn't quite keeping up.

vlad 18y ago

You're talking entirely about a different computer and a different time. A new Macbook Pro (such as one he might buy) comes with a much better operating system, can run Windows programs side by side, has the same processor and graphics card as leading PC counterparts, does not cost $3,000 ($1599 with Student Developer discount), has an LED Glossy option versus fluorescent matte, has more mac native apps and dev tools than ever, gives many more reasons to use it for programming like for the iPhone, as well as opportunities to create web apps in ROR, Django, and other web frameworks that did not exist at the time that now need to be tested on a Mac since it also happens to have much greater marketshare. All of this means that his computer might last for more years than before, since the hardware is already top of the line compared not just to mac machines released a year prior, but to high end pc laptops, as well, which means he might as well get the MacBook Pro.

sc 18y ago
> You're talking entirely about a different computer and a different time I know, just as it'll change again in the next 3 years. > A new Macbook Pro (such as one he might buy) comes with... Most of these things come with a standard MacBook, too, so why not buy a MacBook? Some of the things that MacBook doesn't have that the MBP does: > $1599 with Student Developer discount Actually, it's $1799, but that doesn't factor in taxes, which bring it to about retail, or $2000, and that's without any configuration options (the one I bought, spec'ed out again, is still $3000). (By the way, If you're looking to buy a Mac, look at the Amazon discount over Apple's store: with free shipping and no taxes, it's almost always cheaper.) > LED Glossy options versus fluorescent matte True. > All of this means that his computer might last for more years than before, since the hardware is already top of the line compared not just to mac machines released a year prior, but to high end pc laptops, as well I guess it's whether or not you're willing to make that bet or not. > which means he might as well get the MacBook Pro. Or, he could save a lot of money, get an equivalent machine for his needs, and buy a new one every year and still not spend as much.
- maximilian 18y ago
  >> LED Glossy options versus fluorescent matte >True. False. The matte screen is LED and its unclear from the specs whether the glossy is LED or fluorescent. From apple.com: "15.4-inch (diagonal) antiglare widescreen TFT LED backlit display with support for millions of colors; optional glossy widescreen display"