MacBook vs. MacBook Pro
Suzie-Q
I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
--
8^)~ Sue (remove the x to email)
~~~~
http://www.umbrellahatsociety.com/
http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
Gerry
Suzie-Q <sme...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Posted for a friend:
>
> I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
> work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
> trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
> different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
> instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
> difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
> I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
You did mean 13" didn't you, as the MacBook only comes in that size, if
so, then the extra costs is a better graphics card and stronger case.
David Empson
> Posted for a friend:
>
> I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
> work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
> trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
> different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
> instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
> difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
> I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
You must be talking about the 13" MacBook vs the 13" MacBook Pro, since
there has never been a 15" MacBook.
You can compare the main details of the various models on Apple's store,
by going to the MacBook or MacBook Pro page, scrolling down and clicking
the Compare item.
Note that there are strong rumours of a pending new MacBook model
(possibly as soon as tomorrow, or within the next two weeks). If the
MacBook Pro is not updated at the same time, this may temporarily confer
a few advantages to the MacBook, but I expect the only significant
changes will be a faster CPU, maybe a higher capacity hard drive, and
maybe an external case redesign.
Summarising the current MacBook vs cheapest 13" MacBook Pro:
Price difference is US$200, not $300 ($999 vs $1199).
MacBook Pro's aluminium body is much more robust than the plastic body
of the MacBook.
MacBook Pro is lighter than the MacBook (4.5 vs 5 pounds).
MacBook Pro is a little thinner (0.95 vs 1.08 inches when closed) but
0.02 inches wider.
MacBook Pro's trackpad supports multi-touch gestures and has an
integrated button, while the MacBook one supports two finger gestures
and has a separate button.
MacBook Pro has keyboard backlight, so you can use it in a dark room and
read the keys.
MacBook Pro's display has LED backlighting. This is significantly
brighter, goes to full brightness immediately instead of having to "warm
up", has longer lifespan and uses less power.
MacBook Pro has higher quality display, e.g. better viewing angle.
MacBook Pro has an integrated battery (you can't swap it) which gets 7
hours of running time compared to 5 hours for the MacBook (real world
usage will be somewhat lower for both). The MacBook Pro's battery should
also have a much longer lifespan (number of charge cycles). This alone
almost pays for the difference - the MacBook will probably need a new
battery in two or three years, while the MacBook Pro's battery will
probably last for five years (as long as you use it properly).
MacBook Pro has a slightly faster CPU (2.26 GHz vs 2.13 GHz).
More memory can be installed in the MacBook Pro (8 GB vs 4 GB), though
it is still expensive to go above 4 GB. (It will get cheaper.)
MacBook Pro has Firewire 800 instead of Firewire 400, which allows
faster data transfer if you have Firewire 800 peripherals. (Firewire 400
devices can be used on a Firewire 800 port with the right cable or an
adapter.)
MacBook Pro has an SD memory card slot.
MacBook Pro has a Mini DisplayPort instead of Mini-DVI for video output.
This is mostly a neutral issue (different adapters required), but the
Mini DisplayPort (MacBook Pro) is able to drive a 30" Cinema display
with an expensive adapter, while the Mini-DVI (MacBook) cannot use an
external display that large.
MacBook Pro has one small disadvantage: it has a combined audio in/out
port which loses optical input and can't be connected to independent
input and output devices without some kind of adapter.
--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz
AES
> I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
> work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
> trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
> different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
> instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
> difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
> I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
I've had MacBook, my wife MacBook Pro, of similar vintages for several
years. Obvious differences:
1) Her screen is much more gorgeous for photos and such -- not just
bigger, but seems to have much wider viewing angle (but maybe it just
seems this way).
2) The Pro is (or certainly seems) much heavier and clunkier for taking
on trips. I wouldn't want to lug it on my trips, and it wouldn't fit in
my wheeled briefcase/computer case.
3) My reception of Airport throughout our house is _much_ better. I
can get Airport with no difficult throughout our entire house; she can
only get it in the central rooms nearest the base station.
4) MacBook has all its cable connections on one side (left side); Pro
has its connections distributed between the two sides.
David Empson
> In article <sme617x-24A2D7...@news.giganews.com>,
> Suzie-Q <sme...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
> > work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
> > trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
> > different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
> > instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
> > difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
> > I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
>
> I've had MacBook, my wife MacBook Pro, of similar vintages for several
> years. Obvious differences:
>
> 1) Her screen is much more gorgeous for photos and such -- not just
> bigger, but seems to have much wider viewing angle (but maybe it just
> seems this way).
That's definitely one of the characteristics. The MacBook Pros use more
expensive LCD displays which have better characteristics, one of which
is the viewing angle.
> 2) The Pro is (or certainly seems) much heavier and clunkier for taking
> on trips. I wouldn't want to lug it on my trips, and it wouldn't fit in
> my wheeled briefcase/computer case.
One essential point missing there: if you are comparing a "several
years" old MacBook Pro and MacBook, you must be talking about a 15" or
17" MacBook Pro vs a 13" MacBook.
The 15" MacBook Pro is somewhat heavier than the 13" MacBook, and
obviously bigger. The 17" MacBook Pro is much heavier.
By comparison, the 13" MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter than the 13"
MacBook.
In ascending order of weight:
The MacBook Air (13") is 3.0 pounds.
The 13" aluminium unibody MacBook or MacBook Pro is 4.5 pounds.
The 13" plastic MacBook is 5.0 pounds (some older ones are 5.1 or 5.2).
The 15" MacBook Pro is 5.5 pounds (some older ones are 5.4 or 5.6).
The 17" MacBook Pro is 6.6 pounds (some older ones are 6.8).
> 3) My reception of Airport throughout our house is _much_ better. I
> can get Airport with no difficult throughout our entire house; she can
> only get it in the central rooms nearest the base station.
True for all models with aluminium bodies. The metal body interferes
with WiFi reception.
> 4) MacBook has all its cable connections on one side (left side); Pro
> has its connections distributed between the two sides.
That's only true for older MacBook Pro models. All three sizes of the
current (aluminium unibody) MacBook Pro has all connectors on the left
side, same as the MacBook.
--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz
Lou Pecora
<meet.me-E189CF...@feeder.eternal-september.org>,
Gerry <mee...@three.com> wrote:
> In article <sme617x-24A2D7...@news.giganews.com>,
> Suzie-Q <sme...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Posted for a friend:
> >
> > I've been looking at a new laptop for work -- we don't use a laptop at
> > work much, so it's shared by anyone who needs one for a presentation or
> > trip. I compared a comparable 15" MacBook and MacBook Pro. The obvious
> > different is the MacBook is $300 cheaper and made of polycarbonate
> > instead of aluminum so is probably less durable. Besides that the only
> > difference I can find is the screen quality and trackpad sensitivity. Am
> > I missing anything? Can someone enlighten me why I'd spend the $300 more?
Go with the better graphics and, especially, the better durability.
Laptops take a beating and one that is shared will take more beating.
$300 is a small price to pay for a business investment that will last.
My son runs the IT dept. for a database company and they went from Dells
to Mac Book Pros because they can take that beating (and several other
nice things associated with Macs).
--
-- Lou Pecora