difference between a macbook and macbook pro

bruce wayne

dumb question I know, but essentally what are the differences between a nex macbook and mackbook pro, I'm thinking of picking one up from the us refurb store and i can figure out exactly what the differences are, particulary when the processor speeds are the same

Refurbished MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - Aluminum

13.3-inch 1280-by-800 pixel LED-backlit display
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in iSight camera
Illuminated keyboard

versus

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

15.4-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Built-in iSight camera
Illuminated keyboard

€300 difference in price....what would I be paying for with the pro ?

Sad Professor

Bigger screen mostly. 13 inch vs 15 inch. Also a better graphics card. Click on each and you'll get the full specs.

Those are the previous gen models. What now defines a Macbook and Macbook Pro has changed a little since then. Apple re-branded all the unibody Macbooks at the last refresh. So what was the 13 inch aluminium Macbook is now called a Macbook Pro.

J-blk

You'd also see a pretty big difference in the screen quality. The 13" MacBook you have listed is the fist gen. unibody (which is now called a MacBook Pro like Sad Professor mentioned) but it has an inferior screen to the current 13" MacBook Pro and all past/present MacBook Pros.

Here's what I mean:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57819064&postcount=40

Bear in mind that this was changed with the current gen. 13" MacBook (Pro) which matches most other MacBook Pro models (and the Air) quality wise.

You also lose Firewire with the first gen. unibody...

I still love mine though .

Sad Professor

J-blk wrote: »

You'd also see a pretty big difference in the screen quality. The 13" MacBook you have listed is the fist gen. unibody (which is now called a MacBook Pro like Sad Professor mentioned) but it has an inferior screen to to current 13" MacBook Pro and all past/present MacBook Pros.

Yeah I forgot about this. The early screens were awful. However, Apple started using new, much improved screens used towards the end of that revision. There were posts on Macrumors about it. It would be a bit of gamble but the OP could always return it if it had one of the bad screens.

Do you have a preference regarding screen size?

bruce wayne

not really, I'm thinking the smaller screen size for portability and I have an extra screen at home shouls I need a bigger workspace

Would this be a better option - same price as the other mac pro above? How do I know if its the newer screen or older screen ?

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
250GB Hard Drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Illuminated keyboard

J-blk

bruce wayne wrote: »

not really, I'm thinking the smaller screen size for portability and I have an extra screen at home shouls I need a bigger workspace

That's the way to go if you have an external screen anyway. 2 gens. ago I had a 15" MacBook Pro and it was just too big to cart around all the time. The 13" form factor is much nicer to carry around and I just hook it up to a 24" monitor at home, best of both worlds...

Sad Professor

Would this be a better option - same price as the other mac pro above? How do I know if its the newer screen or older screen ?

Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
250GB Hard Drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
SD card slot
Built-in 7-hour battery
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Illuminated keyboard

The above is one of the current gen. It has firewire and improved screen, etc. Not to mention vastly increased battery life. I would definitely recommend it.

J-blk

bruce wayne wrote: »

How do I know if its the newer screen or older screen?

Anything classed as a "MacBook Pro" has the "good" screen. You only need to worry about 1st gen. unibody MacBooks, everything else should be perfectly fine...