Macbook and Pc or Macbook pro

NiSmO

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Red Alert

I went for a MBP which replaced the combination of my Dell Latitude laptop and a custom built PC. I couldn't be happier with it, though I don't do any hardcore gaming. I use Win XP on Parallel's if I need it.

J-blk

Well since you're already using a laptop for gaming, you can replace it with a MacBook Pro with similar (or better) specs and get the same performance - though I'd recommend you install Windows in Boot Camp for running the games at full power. For everything else, stick to Mac OS X and virtualizing Windows (Parallels or Fusion) for the odd-Windows only programs...

zAbbo

Why order now? There'll be new macbooks out in less than a month...

NiSmO

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NiSmO

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J-blk

NiSmO wrote: »

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Oh right, didn't know the Vostro line includes desktops - I've only seen some of the laptops around at work. The problem then is that you're going to lose the ability to easily upgrade things like the graphics card - so if graphics performance is really important to you in your gaming, you may miss that. The top end graphics card in a MacBook Pro at the moment is the GeForce 8600M GT 512MB but it can't really compete with a mid-to-high end desktop part and that'll be the main limitation. On the other hand, the MBP can handle games at its' native 1440x900 (for the 15.4") resolution quite well with its' current graphics card.

Not really sure how good or not it will be for the games you may want to play - I tend to do all my gaming on an Xbox360 these days.

NiSmO

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J-blk

Upgrading the RAM yourself is the way to go - so much cheaper than Apple. Picked up 4GB for my MBP for around €90 delivered from Crucial, right after I bought it. I think the upgrade price from Apple was at least twice that.

As for the speed, I don't think you'll see a massive difference between a 2.1Ghz and a 2.4Ghz, unless you're doing a lot of video encoding or something. Memory and hard drive are easy to replace on the MacBook so I would go for the cheaper one and upgrade the components myself as needed - only negative of the 2.1Ghz model is the combo drive, which may or may not be a problem for you (and is a massive pain to replace down the line).

NiSmO

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J-blk

Yeah, Apple is notorious for RAM upgrade prices! I'd highly recommend Crucial though - never had problems with them and good prices.

I hate that the remote is now an extra accessory - I have like 3 or 4 them lying around as I got one with my Mini, my MBP had one (cause it was a refurb even though the new MBPs don't have it either), another from an iPod accessory kit... I like the remote for media applications - I use my Mini as my media center and have Plex installed (must have app if you want to use your Mac for media) and use the Apple remote. If you don't think you'll be using your MacBook for media though, I wouldn't bother buying one, you can always get one later anyway...

Passenger

No harm in having the best of both worlds, especially if your getting into programming.