Macbook Pro opinions?

Elessar

With the ability now to run Windows apps and games without Windows (Crossover) I am seriously considering upgrading my iBook 12" for a 15" MBP in the near future and I'm looking for opinions from people who have them.

Any problems?
Any ghosting on screen? (damn you iBook!)
How is the sound from the speakers - they seem to be better than your average tinny laptop speakers.
Game performance opinions?
Worth €2000?

And most of all, would you recommend it?

Urban Weigl

No problems, and I got one of the first ones within days of them starting to ship. No ghosting on screen. In fact, this is the best laptop screen I have used so far. Very bright, high resolution.

Sounds from the speakers is, in my opinion, fine. Actually sounds good, which is surprising for laptop speakers. When I need more, I hook up a set of €300 Sennheiser headphones.

Gaming performance is very good, thanks to the Core Duo and ATI Radeon X1600 graphics (with 256MB VRAM).

I'd recommend it if that's what you need.

On a side note, installing your own RAM is a cinch. I installed 2GB in mine right away, as I tend to run a lot of heavy duty apps. Oh yeah, and I'm installing Half Life 2 in Crossover Mac right now. So far so good... If it doesn't work, I guess I'll have to reboot into Windows to play it.

Elessar

When you say gaming performance is very good can you be more specific? What games have you played in Windows or OSX on it and how were the FPS/settings?

I was THIS close to ordering a Pro today, apple rep on the phone was selling it cheaper than the website but I said I'd call him back...

Next Tuesday cannot come fast enough! ARGH!

Anyone else with an opinion?

Redhairedguy

i love my Macbook pro... It is pure sex!

I have never had any problem with it... EVER!

Used to heat up a bit, but now tis all cool (literally)

Have yet to install Xp, but from the OSX point of view, it is brilliant. I constantly watch DVDs on my laptop because the sound is so good from the speakers

DadaKopf

Aye, I'm thinking of getting the 15" from Americer (global warranty), with an extra GB of RAM - that ends up being €530 cheaper than over here. You reckon if I rang America, I could get a rep to sell it even cheaper?

I resent what Apple do in order to get you to buy the 17" 2.16GHz model - one Firewire 400, 2 USB, no dual-layer (8x) DVD drive. Booo, Apple. I'm also not bothering to wait for the Intel Core Duo 2. It'll be faster than what I have anyway, energy consumption is grand.

heggie

are you planning to buy it from a 3rd party or apple direct in america? if its the latter you'll find a problem or two

deevey

I'm also thinkiing of shopping from the states via third party, even if i get hit for import duty i'll save a few hundred!

Plenty of ebay shops doing good deals too .. then end of this month cant come fast enough.

Urban Weigl

DadaKopf wrote:

I resent what Apple do in order to get you to buy the 17" 2.16GHz model - one Firewire 400, 2 USB, no dual-layer (8x) DVD drive. Booo, Apple. I'm also not bothering to wait for the Intel Core Duo 2. It'll be faster than what I have anyway, energy consumption is grand.

I can't comment on why the 17" MacBook Pro has Firewire 800, but not the 15", however I do happen to be "in the know" as to why the 15" MacBook Pro does not have a dual-layer DVD burner: no dual-layer DVD burner existed that was small enough to put in it.

In brief: Apple wanted to put in a dual-layer DVD burner, even in the 15" model, but there simply was none small enough. As soon as there is, the next update will include it.

440Hz

I would marry my MBP if I could - best mac I have owned. Gets a little rattly sometimes but I can put up with that.

I use bootcamp for when Im coding, very happy with it. In short, my advice, get one, you will love it. Out of the 6 macs in my house, my MBP is by far my fav!

Hugh_C

440Hz wrote:

I would marry my MBP if I could

Steady on Katie, there's machine love and there's technophilia, but marriage is a bit steep!

DadaKopf

heggie wrote:

are you planning to buy it from a 3rd party or apple direct in america? if its the latter you'll find a problem or two

What problem(s)?

DadaKopf

Urban Weigl wrote:

I can't comment on why the 17" MacBook Pro has Firewire 800, but not the 15", however I do happen to be "in the know" as to why the 15" MacBook Pro does not have a dual-layer DVD burner: no dual-layer DVD burner existed that was small enough to put in it.

In brief: Apple wanted to put in a dual-layer DVD burner, even in the 15" model, but there simply was none small enough. As soon as there is, the next update will include it.

Any chance, if i NEEDED it (no guaruntees I would if I have reliable external storage) that I could, in time, but a dual-layer separately and install it?

Urban Weigl

DadaKopf wrote:

Any chance, if i NEEDED it (no guaruntees I would if I have reliable external storage) that I could, in time, but a dual-layer separately and install it?

Yes. The same way you can crack open an old iBook or PowerBook and install a dual-layer burner. That has been confirmed to me, though you'd either want to get it professionally installed, or know what you are doing. The drive itself I'd expect to cost about €100 once it's available.

Hugh_C

DadaKopf wrote:

What problem(s)?

You need a US address to buy from the US store. Or possibly a credit card with a US address - not sure about that though - I don't know if they'll deliver to a country other than the credit card address. I doubt it.

DadaKopf

Yep. That's all sorted.

440Hz

hughchal wrote:

Steady on Katie, there's machine love and there's technophilia, but marriage is a bit steep!

lol!! oh no my secret internet identity has been compromised /off to get new name!! heehee... but but I love him... I could not devote myself to any other machine! surely that means marriage is right for us... should I take this to PI?

DadaKopf

One more question: power supply.

Is it workable to attach a combined transformer/US-UK plug converter to make it go? If I bought a basic plug adaptor/Apple adaptors, does the packaged MagSafe power supply work in different currents (eliminating the need for a transformer)?

The website explains nothing.

I mean combine the US adaptor with these things.

440Hz

I would imagine you would be ok yeah, for €39 I would buy the Apple set, just in case they are doing anything odd, if its going to work then they will def do the job. Id go for that option anyway

DadaKopf

Is anyone SURE it'd work? The product description is very sketchy.

rogue-entity

Apple's powerbricks work on 100-240V, just like their iPod chargers do, just go out and buy an Irish plug-head to replace the american one that you will get. You can probably replace the plug on the longer lead they also supply as well with an Irish one too. No problems.

Scráib

The Macbook Pro is a savage cabbage machine. Savage cabbage I say! The only downside I find is the heat to be honest.

Urban Weigl

I second everything rogue-entity just said.

Oh, and all it takes is a screwdriver and 3 minutes.