Macbook

TerrorFirmer

I need a new laptop, and portability and battery life is more important then hardware performance. I was looking in PC World today, and notice they sell the basic Macbook cheaper then Apple do - 950. So I'm quite tempted - 13.3", very light, very portable. But a few questions:

1) Battery. Is it 6-cell? 9 cell? Looking online, all I can see is the battery lastability, which seems impressive....

2) Video card. X3100, right? Which is perfectly fine - but I'd rather if it wasn't the older GMA950.

All I'll be doing is browsing the web, watching video content and typing documents - so compatibility isn't really a huge issue as I will get Office for the mac.

Thanks

Dont be at yourself

Sometimes PC World sell old stock. They were selling oudated Mac Minis at a knockdown price a while ago. The Macbook received a minor upgrade some months ago, so it could be stock previous to this. It's rare for retailers to undercut Apple because the margins are so tight as it is.

PeakOutput

i get about 3 and a half hours battery which is great

pc world is almost definitely older stock so be sure u want to buy the older models if thats the route you go

TerrorFirmer

Well I checked it against the Apple Store model, and it's spec wise, identical - 2.1Ghz core 2 duo, 1gb ram, 120gb hard drive, etc....

I doubt that would be older stock, unless the 'upgrade' was from an older core 2 to a newer one with more l2 or something?

im...LOST

Mine's a 2.16 ghz and it was the more expensive white Macbook. I got it a good few weeks ago. I'd imagine that the new Lower end Macbooks would be better than 2.1 ghz, no?

ethernet

Be sure to check the student prices on Apple's site as well or pop into the 3G store in Eyre Square.

stooge

yeah, if youre a student you can get a good student discount online with apple. If not, there is a refurb store on the apple website where I bought my current macbook. Looked brand new and cost 200E less than the same model in the main apple store.

Bought a desktop off pc world before and would never do so again. It was a hp and caused so man problems it wasnt worth it. customer service was so-so.

My advice (althought I'm no expert), buy off apple directly. Saves hassle in the future.

ronnie3585

Yea Galmac in the Liosbaun indst est give 6% student discount. I think that's the standard Apple student discount in this country. They didnt even ask me for a student card or my student number.

justfortherecor

If you're looking for great portability and robustness from a laptop, maybe the Macbook isn't ideal.

I switched to a Macbook for the 1st time last Oct and I'm paranoid I'll break the casing any time I bring it out. Very flimsy feeling plastic that is prone to creaking even when I'm just carrying it in my hand between faculty buildings.

There are certainly more robust laptops out there. Thankfully, if romours are to be believed, a new brushed aluminium macbook is on the cards in the near future.

TerrorFirmer

Yeah spent a bit of time today looking at one - doesn't seem very solid. Think I might go for the M1530 instead....

culabula

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Yeah spent a bit of time today looking at one - doesn't seem very solid. Think I might go for the M1530 instead....

Had mine for two years: goes everywhere with me, every single day. Trains, buses, boats, planes, cafes, restaurants, kitchens, studios. Opened, shut, opened again constantly. Not a single problem or bother with it. No cracks,no bits falling off -only thing is an extremely shiny trackpad from the use it gets.