time to upgrade to macbook pro?

[KelvinK]

my asus v6v recently died completely
it depreciated pretty fast, as it was only going into its fourth year.. the battery life went from 2.5 hours to now just 20 minutes (lol)

i'm looking to switch over to a macbook pro, as i have a gift card to be used at the apple store which would cover a significant portion of the cost

i'm wondering if now's the best time to buy a MBP or wait for a redesigned version of the pro (i'm in no rush, but hopefully no more than 3 months)

[Silver Bullet]

I would wait till the back to school deals start in mid-late Aug before buying anything. Also there are rumors of a new mac book pro in the works. This I would expect to be out in time for just after the school season starts. It should carry the new intel centrio 2 setup and have the newest 45nm chips (good for battery life).

[KelvinK]

i thought the back to school deals were on right now?
- $200 discount for student
+ free ipod touch 8gb?
so thats essentially a $350 discount

i received an email about this, which intrigued me even more

thanks for the update on the MBP line refrehs.. battery life is a big factor for me

[Waninator]

pros probably won't be coming out for another few months - I have doubts they'll make it for the start of the school year...

every 3-6 months tends to be the norm for a product refresh but a major redesign like this may take longer

new macbook pro cases, btw, if you were looking at the current gen model: http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/09/leaked-macbook-pro-casing-confirmed/

it should have a similar design as the macbook air

so you might want to check those out before making a decision on whether to wait

[IronMac]

If you need a system, then, buy the system.

Also, if there is a new-gen MBP, do you really want to get the first-gen model of a whole new design? The current MBP (fifth version now?) is a pretty solid machine.

[KelvinK]

do you really want to get the first-gen model of a whole new design? The current MBP (fifth version now?) is a pretty solid machine.

even 5th gen systems are not flawless:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/all-nvidia-8400m-8600m-chips-faulty/

[gordholio]

i thought the back to school deals were on right now?
- $200 discount for student
+ free ipod touch 8gb?
so thats essentially a $350 discount

i received an email about this, which intrigued me even more

thanks for the update on the MBP line refrehs.. battery life is a big factor for me

The kids just got out of school! I think back to school deals happen during the last 2 weeks of August usually.

[itsjed]

their back to school sale's been active for a bit now.
they've been running the student discounted price + ipod rebate for the past summers = back to school promo for the past several years.

like they said, if you need a new system, pick it up. i was going to pick up a macbook, but decided to hold off for their next announcements just in case.

i'm in no hurry to pick one up, nor do i really need an ipod.

[sexyj]

if u didnt have the credit @ the apple store, i wouldnt suggest gettin a mac at all

i've had a macbook for the past year, gone through tiger and leopard... and seriously... os x is all hype

os x is really all eye candy, really doesnt have things that make me go wow..

and then the worst of all, i found myself using more bootcamp to boot xp or paralles with xp than the actual os x environment

[KelvinK]

if u didnt have the credit @ the apple store, i wouldnt suggest gettin a mac at all

i've had a macbook for the past year, gone through tiger and leopard... and seriously... os x is all hype

os x is really all eye candy, really doesnt have things that make me go wow..

and then the worst of all, i found myself using more bootcamp to boot xp or paralles with xp than the actual os x environment


sadly, the credit is at apple store
if you don't mind me asking.. what turned you off about the macbook.. and would it be any different if you had gotten the macbook pro instead?

[sexyj]

sadly, the credit is at apple store
if you don't mind me asking.. what turned you off about the macbook.. and would it be any different if you had gotten the macbook pro instead?

nothin much really, if u just use it for normal web surfin, email, word processing or you know you have a dedicated reason to use a mac such as audio processing... its fine

BUT after a few months, ull start noticing the application factor. For example; I needed something to rip asx streams. I can simply fire up google and find many different apps that could do that for windows. You'll find the huge difference when searching for apps when using a mac. Literally, you will hope the results the shows up on the search engine will do exactly what you wanted or at least it is compatible with the Intel OSX. Because A LOT of the "special" apps out either doesn't work you wanted or it is only compiled up to the PPC and there is isn't a Intel version available.

On windows, you have choices. Whether the apps are good or bad, you'll still have choices... with Mac... not so much

I mean hell... Ive searched for a good alternative mp3 player other than itunes, which is at least comparable to winamp... but guess what... nada

There is macamp, which emulate the look of winamp.. but the functionality is a pos...
and of course other players such as realplayer, vlc player, quicktime...

Just forget all the mac hype and ask yourself what you need a mac for

[sulk]

Macs arnt for everyone, and it seems that you either love them or hate them.

There seem to be a lot of people, who want to see what a mac is like, get turned off by it, and are upset at their purchase. But yea, nothing is every perfect for everyone.

Yea, there will be a refresh, but it probably wont be until the student discount is over. Apple usually sells all their old stock, and then introduces new ones in the fall.

Current gen MBP is a really good deal, as its on par with other laptops on the market, for the specs. I have a previous gen MBP, and although I love the computer and it does everything well, I was kinda upset when they came out with a new generation, because it seemed really good.

But yea, you have until september to use the student discount (if youre a student), and probably in october/winter time is when the refresh is going to come out.

[sexyj]

oh yea.. just need to stick this in...

in os x, u cant cut/paste files by default without hacking the OS

i mean... CMON

[sulk]

nothin much really, if u just use it for normal web surfin, email, word processing or you know you have a dedicated reason to use a mac such as audio processing... its fine

BUT after a few months, ull start noticing the application factor. For example; I needed something to rip asx streams. I can simply fire up google and find many different apps that could do that for windows. You'll find the huge difference when searching for apps when using a mac. Literally, you will hope the results the shows up on the search engine will do exactly what you wanted or at least it is compatible with the Intel OSX. Because A LOT of the "special" apps out either doesn't work you wanted or it is only compiled up to the PPC and there is isn't a Intel version available.

On windows, you have choices. Whether the apps are good or bad, you'll still have choices... with Mac... not so much

I mean hell... Ive searched for a good alternative mp3 player other than itunes, which is at least comparable to winamp... but guess what... nada

There is macamp, which emulate the look of winamp.. but the functionality is a pos...
and of course other players such as realplayer, vlc player, quicktime...

Just forget all the mac hype and ask yourself what you need a mac for

Well .asx is a windows media stream, so obviously you might come into some problems there. kinda expected, because its a microsoft thing.

And there are a LOT of good programs out there, and a majority of them are free. I guess not everyone will like itunes, and some people do. It does what I want it to do, and it works with my ipod, so I'm happy.

Most apps nowadays are Universal, meaning theyll work on both intel and ppc macs, but I havn't come across any that are still powerpc. If this was when intel first came out, sure there woulda been not as many that were compatible, but now pretty much anything thats been updated int he past year, has moved onto a universal build. Sure there may be specific cases where a program hasn't, but theres usually an alternative to it.

I'd say if youre really hesitant about it, go to the apple store and try out a MBP. See how you like it. It does take a little while getting used to form windows, but most people like the switch, and enjoy it. But not everyone does.

[sexyj]

Well .asx is a windows media stream, so obviously you might come into some problems there. kinda expected, because its a microsoft thing.


honestly.. that's just a lame excuse

ms format or not, you NEED to have choices. NOT using formats dictated by your os.

if a tool is not available, its just not available. It DOESN'T matter if its a ms or a apple format.

[KelvinK]

I guess not everyone will like itunes, and some people do. It does what I want it to do, and it works with my ipod, so I'm happy.


the only issue i have with itunes is that when i delete songs in the library section of the prog, the actual file is still present in my HD.. so i have to manually go through all my 5000+ songs and delete them one by one which ones i don't like when im cleaning up my playlists




I'd say if youre really hesitant about it, go to the apple store and try out a MBP. See how you like it. It does take a little while getting used to form windows, but most people like the switch, and enjoy it. But not everyone does.

i've had some light exposure to macs in their store, through friends, etc. but have yet to go through a full-out tutorial that reflects the potential of mbp

[KelvinK]

I needed something to rip asx streams. I can simply fire up google and find many different apps that could do that for windows.

no .asx?? oh nos how will i stream raptors games?




Just forget all the mac hype and ask yourself what you need a mac for

i'd be lying if i said that the "hype" factor didnt infleunce my decision, but i'm also due for an upgrade in laptops and i'm kind of stuck with the gift card (as stated earlier)

mostly i'd need it for some heavy-duty photo and movie editing, which is why i'm goin with the pro and away from the integrated card
and of course diablo 3 / sc 2 (kind of a stupid question but would running these games be a problem, seeing as how you only have 1 mouse button?)

[sulk]

honestly.. that's just a lame excuse

ms format or not, you NEED to have choices. NOT using formats dictated by your os.

if a tool is not available, its just not available. It DOESN'T matter if its a ms or a apple format.

Well, I dont know how much research you did, but literally less then 30 seconds on google and I found a asx stream recorder for osx. Havn't tested it, but it looks like theres atleast some out there (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/all-streaming-video-recording-software.htm#recmp).

But not everything is compatible with OSX. Not all companies make their code open, so if they don't offer a OSX version, then you might be stuck. Other things (like some video rental streaming) didn't work with osx in the past, because the dev didn't allow it. So no, not everything has alternatives, and there are cases of programs that dont have windows alternatives that are only for OSX.

Back on topic, you should be able to play asx streams perfectly fine, as long as you have Flip4Mac installed (bacisacally the codec). Also there seems to be other players such as vlc and mplayer that can do it.

MBP should play SC2 and D3 fine, im guessing since theyre not out yet, but it should be okay. And I dont think you would want to play any game with a trackpad, in windows or osx, just cause they usually arnt the best for gaming.

You can use any usb mouse on a mac, and it works fine. And you can right click in osx, its there, though you don't need to do it too often.

Also in itunes, there shuld be an option somewhere, that lets you delete the song when its deleted from the library. I know I have a window pops up for me whnever I delete stuff, asking me if I want to delete the original file as well.

And you FCP should be good for video editing, its built up its own reputation over the years, and any MBP can run it fine.

[IronMac]

From the sounds of it, you're probably better off selling that gift card and buying a Wintel laptop.

[trini]

just buy a macbook star.
When are they going to start making mac's with bluray players?

[sfu_lifer]

From the sounds of it, you're probably better off selling that gift card and buying a Wintel laptop.

OP can install Parallels and XP. Best of both worlds. I love how well integrated Parallels is with OSX unlike vmware which just chugs.

Regarding right-clicking, I got used to doing it in XP and it seems to work just fine with osx as well. Sure I can keep hitting that damn option key and work with a single button but that got annoying to me real quick. Much faster right clicking than memorizing hot keys and navigating up to the main menu area.

[Emancipated]

oh yea.. just need to stick this in...

in os x, u cant cut/paste files by default without hacking the OS

i mean... CMON

Hah! Guess I don't use that feature enough to realize it was missing in OSX.

That is pretty lame.

[sexpuppet6000]

Macs arnt for everyone, and it seems that you either love them or hate them.



More like you either love them or refuse to love them. :o

[sexyj]

Well, I dont know how much research you did, but literally less then 30 seconds on google and I found a asx stream recorder for osx. Havn't tested it, but it looks like theres atleast some out there (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/all-streaming-video-recording-software.htm#recmp).



i didnt say there isnt asx ripper. I'm saying the choices AREN'T there. All these mac commercial talks about how much os x is better, but it fails at providing specialty apps

[ceraf]

Hah! Guess I don't use that feature enough to realize it was missing in OSX.

That is pretty lame.

I heard it was the iphone's operating system that couldn't do that...I'm 100% sure that osx can copy/paste files.