Macbook Pro Overpriced???

Stainless_Steel

Hi guys,

Yes we all know all macs are overpriced relative to the cost of similar goods.

But I can't get my head around the latest mac tax:

For the new Macbook - 2.26 GHz, 250 GB HD, 2 GB RAM - €929
But for the new MBP - 2.26 GHz, 160 GB HD, 2 GB RAM - €1,149

So that's €120 euro extra for a lower spec'd mahine! The only extras I can see are the back lit keyboard and the SD card slot - not exactly a deal breaker is it?

Am I missing something?

cornbb

Stainless_Steel wrote: »

Yes we all know all macs are overpriced relative to the cost of similar goods.

You get what you pay for. Having worked in both the PC and Mac worlds, I can honestly say that PC vendors have no qualms about shipping sh*t products (why would they bother shipping quality stuff when there's a good chance that it will just end up in a €300 box owned by an idiot?) whereas Apple do.

So that's €120 euro extra for a lower spec'd mahine! The only extras I can see are the back lit keyboard and the SD card slot - not exactly a deal breaker is it?

Am I missing something?

Yeah, that seems a bit off alright. Maybe they will update the MBP soon to bring it in line with the Macbooks (which were just updated today).

Creamy Goodness

different casing in the MBP.

engadget also reporting that the screen in these new white macbooks isn't as bright as the one's in the aluminium macbooks.

Stainless_Steel

cornbb wrote: »

You get what you pay for. Having worked in both the PC and Mac worlds, I can honestly say that PC vendors have no qualms about shipping sh*t products (why would they bother shipping quality stuff when there's a good chance that it will just end up in a €300 box owned by an idiot?) whereas Apple do.

The products are the same - seagate, Intel, nvidia etc etc. - believe me there is a higher mark up on macs. But software is worth it

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

different casing in the MBP.

engadget also reporting that the screen in these new white macbooks isn't as bright as the one's in the aluminium macbooks.

Humm...thats good to hear if the screen is better, thanks.

Creamy Goodness

just so people don't think i'm making it up

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/a-video-walkthrough-of-apples-newest-additions/

around 2:25 minute mark.

Sad Professor

Stainless_Steel wrote: »

Hi guys,

Yes we all know all macs are overpriced relative to the cost of similar goods.

But I can't get my head around the latest mac tax:

For the new Macbook - 2.26 GHz, 250 GB HD, 2 GB RAM - €929
But for the new MBP - 2.26 GHz, 160 GB HD, 2 GB RAM - €1,149

So that's €120 euro extra for a lower spec'd mahine! The only extras I can see are the back lit keyboard and the SD card slot - not exactly a deal breaker is it?

Am I missing something?

The MBP has the following:

* Aluminum unibody design (vs the Macbook's plastic)
* Thinner, lighter than the Macbook
* Firewire 800 port
* SD card slot
* Backlit keyboard
* RAM expandable to 8GB (vs 4GB on the Macbook)
* option to install SSD drive (which is much faster than HDD)

Well worth the extra €120 imo.

The unibody design on the MBP accounts for a lot. See the two notebooks in person, there's no comparison. The white Macbook looks and feels cheap compared to the MBP.

Stainless_Steel

Sad Professor wrote: »

The MBP has the following:

* Aluminum unibody design (vs the Macbook's plastic)
* Thinner, lighter than the Macbook
* Firewire 800 port
* SD card slot
* Backlit keyboard
* RAM expandable to 8GB (vs 4GB on the Macbook)
* option to install SSD drive (which is much faster than HDD)

Well worth the extra €120 imo.

The unibody design on the MBP accounts for a lot. See the two notebooks in person, there's no comparison. The white Macbook looks and feels cheap compared to the MBP.

Thanks Sad Professor, that paints a more compelling case for the extra €120.

But still is silly to give the base MB Pro lower HD size than the base MB

Kenny_D

They didnt give the base MB pro a lower HD. That MB was only released yesterday. The MBP has been out a while. Obviously parts get cheaper so they went with a bigger hard drive because they could afford to do so at that price point. They werent going to give the new MB a lower hard drive just to keep the current MBP owners happy. The MBP will most likely get an update soon with a bigger hard drive

Elessar

The MBPs will get updated and bumped up specs eventually.

Personally I won't be updating my 2006 2.16GHz MBP until the i7/i5 processors are adopted across the board, and there is a major hardware spec change, like USB 3. My 3 year old machine can do all my everyday tasks just as well as the current lineup.

Ham'nd'egger

Sad Professor wrote: »

The MBP has the following:

* Aluminum unibody design (vs the Macbook's plastic)
* Thinner, lighter than the Macbook
* Firewire 800 port
* SD card slot
* Backlit keyboard
* RAM expandable to 8GB (vs 4GB on the Macbook)
* option to install SSD drive (which is much faster than HDD)

Well worth the extra €120 imo.

The unibody design on the MBP accounts for a lot. See the two notebooks in person, there's no comparison. The white Macbook looks and feels cheap compared to the MBP.

There is also no Firewire port on the new model Macbook; for many people this port is worth the €120.

PeakOutput

dont the macbook pros have a dedicated graphics card aswell? wereas the macbooks have the built in intel one?

that could be old info now but i thought that was one of the big differences between mb and mbp

Dublin_Gunner

PeakOutput wrote: »

dont the macbook pros have a dedicated graphics card aswell? wereas the macbooks have the built in intel one?

that could be old info now but i thought that was one of the big differences between mb and mbp

Yes and no.

Both come with the GeForce 9400M as standard, but the MBP can indeed be purchased with an additional 9600GT installed (so hybrid SLI is possible).

J-blk

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Both come with the GeForce 9400M as standard, but the MBP can indeed be purchased with an additional 9600GT installed (so hybrid SLI is possible).

Not if we're talking about the 13" MBP which I assume is what the OP is comparing to the MacBook. The 13" only has the 9400M as an option and nothing else.

Dublin_Gunner

J-blk wrote: »

Not if we're talking about the 13" MBP which I assume is what the OP is comparing to the MacBook. The 13" only has the 9400M as an option and nothing else.

I know, the statement from Peakoutput was in general with regard to the differences of MB & MBP - as was my statement.

Stainless_Steel

Thanks guys.

I accept the point that the MB was only released and therefore apple could get the higher spec HD in there.

Anyone know if the Pros will be refreshed soon? Not a full refresh as they are new enough...but rather put in line as the complete 'Pro' version of the macbook.

Sad Professor

Stainless_Steel wrote: »

Anyone know if the Pros will be refreshed soon? Not a full refresh as they are new enough...but rather put in line as the complete 'Pro' version of the macbook.

Not this side of Christmas. They were only refreshed in June. I'd say the next MBP refresh will be Spring sometime.

Hugh_C

Sad Professor wrote: »

Not this side of Christmas. They were only refreshed in June. I'd say the next MBP refresh will be Spring sometime.

Just ordered a refurb 17" mbp 3.06GHz/4/500 for mobile final cut editing - would have gone with the older 15" with the express card 34 slot but I couldn't find one anywhere reputable, thus the 17



@dublin gunner - what's hybrid SLI?

I plan to hook the mbp up to a 24" lcd as well for extra desk-bound screen real estate

K.O.Kiki

Apple's implementation of hybrid SLI is that you can either run graphics off the 9400m alone (saving battery power), or turn the 9600m GT on as well (for 3D/workhorse duties).

IIRC you have to log out/restart to change it, though (something a few Windows laptops can do with a simple hard-/software switch).

hupyago

came across this crowd recently
<snip>
they have great deals on macbooks
heres what was said in the comments on this
<snip>

'Hello, How much to ship this item to ireland? Thanks

AdministratorDear friend, The product costs 430eur and the shiping cost is 45eur, so the total is 475eur. You only need pay product price and shiping cost. If you have other problem, please contact me. Greetings!'
sounds good!

Gregor Samsa

hupyago wrote: »

came across this crowd recently
<snip>
they have great deals on macbooks [...]

Just be careful. They're shipping from China, so you could be stung with import duty and VAT once it gets here, which might not make it such a great deal.

Third Eye

I just googled the web name and these guys are to be avoided as they only use money transfer (western union money transfers should be a warning to anyone). If it's too good to be true (Imac 24" for 408 euro) then it ain't a good idea.

Check these out..


http://www.scamwarners.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3728&start=0

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Computer-Mail-Order/koreadeal-com/koreadeal-com-hkeles-com-fal-386e2.htm

J-blk

No legit business would demand payment by Western Union (I love how they have the Paypal and Visa logos on the site - badly sized too - and then they mention they don't accept those ) - it's most definitely a scam.

And like Third Eye said - if it's too good to be true... there is no chance in hell that a 24" iMac would cost €399...

swirlser

Scam or not aside, you can bet your ass customs will ride you like a pony and anything you think u'll save will be out the window.

Stay within the EU

Third Eye

I was only checking (viewing only) <snip> website and they sent this email ...seriously dodgy, avoid like a plague.

Dear friend
hi, u...! I bought a laptop from a website: <snip> last week. I have got the product. Its quality is very good and the price is competitive. They also sell phones, TV, psp, motor and so on. By the way, they import product from Korea and sell new and original products. They have good reputation and have many good feedbacks. If you need these products, look at this website will be a clever choice. I am sure you will get many surprise and benefits. Greetings!

<snip>

Sad Professor

Third Eye wrote: »

I was only checking (viewing only) www.******.com website and they sent this email ...seriously dodgy, avoid like a plague.

Did you get the email first? That site is notorious for hacking people's gmail accounts and sending spam to everyone in their address book.

Third Eye

Sad Professor- I did not get the email first and use eircom for email. They must be able to trace back anyone who is viewing their site.

K.O.Kiki

Yo Mods, would be a good idea to remove tags from all the above posts, no?

J-blk

Third Eye wrote: »

They must be able to trace back anyone who is viewing their site.

That's odd - I took a look at their (very obviously dodgy) site too and haven't received any rogue mails from them...

Sad Professor

The senders address was presumedly a hacked email account. When they hack an account they send that spam to everyone in the address book. Are you familiar with the sender, Third Eye? I'm just wondering if maybe it was a coincidence. Either that or they are able to nab your email by taking advantage of your browser's autofill feature or something.

It's not a virus anyway. But their site is best avoided.

440Hz

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

Yo Mods, would be a good idea to remove tags from all the above posts, no?

Done!

Third Eye

Sad Professor - I checked the other recipients on the email and I do recognise one person's email address on it.