[ChangeandHoliday]

I have been a Windows user ever since I started using a computer (I started at 8, so that makes for almost 12 years). A few months ago I made a plan for my life. I'll be moving back to my birth town in a couple of years, maybe a bit longer, and this means staying with my dad, but in a caravan because he doesn't have enough bedrooms, so I was going to get a laptop.

A change is as good as a holiday. I decided when I move, I want a Mac. Something different. I have decided I'll get a MacBook or MacBook Pro.

I thought MB at first because of the price, but then if the MBP is better, for just a few hundred dollars more, I would get that.

What's the difference between the two? Is one better than the other? I would use it for the following:

*Web browsing
*Watching videos
*Listening to music
*Pictures from my digital camera
*Reading and writing stories, probably using OpenOffice (don't want to pay the price for Mac version of Word, and will probably only use the Word part anyway.)
*Games (but only simple ones that use Flash and open in the web browser, or ones that run from a CD and require minimal installation, aka old games.)
*Watching DVDs
*Watching TV

[half goon half god]

The MacBook Pro is better than the Macbook, yes. But for what you want to do, the Macbook is more than capable.

[ChangeandHoliday]

Thank you for your help

[iFanboy]

For $300 more you are getting
- Firewire 800 port (great for External Hard Drives and Video Cameras)
- SD card slot (Super useful for cameras normally $10 separate though)
- Sexy, Durable aluminum casing
- Backlit Keyboard (great for night typing)
- 90GB smaller Hard Drive (no big deal)

Some are saying there will be a MBP upgrade in the next two months just to leave that in mind. The MacBook does everything you need it's just that the Pro makes it a tiny bit easier.

[ChangeandHoliday]

All of those sound like good reasons. I am planning on using Time Capsule, so the FireWire port would be handy.

I have a card reader which does the memory card for my phone and camera, so the SD card slot I wouldn't use much, but still useful.

Backlit keyboard sounds good. Though I can type at 59WPM, I have always used a desktop, so a laptop keyboard will take a bit of getting used to; at least I'd be able to see where the keys are different.

Why is the hard drive 90GB smaller? *puzzled*

I don't plan on buying the Mac for another couple of years, but I'll keep an ear out on upgrades.

[half goon half god]

There's really no point in questioning the differences now if you're not buying for a couple of years. With the way things are going, there's a good chance that none of this will be relevant by then.

[ChangeandHoliday]

I do like to know what the differences are though. There is a chance, however slim, I may buy one before I move, but at the moment I've got one old computer that runs Windows 98 and one I share with my bro that runs XP. At some point I may just decide 'stuff it' and get one, and then be fun to see my bro try to figure it out, though he may pick it up easily

[iCantwait]

I always try and up sell people to the MBP because I hate looking at the crappy MacBook all day long.

[ooiboy]

Hello and Hello This is my first post so here we go...

Ok you sold me too....

Just Bought 13 Inch MacBook Pro 2.53Ghz (the faster one) and a 16GB iPhone 3GS from JB-HiFi Victoria... ported my old virgin mobile number to Telstra via the install sales consultant took just over 35 mins and for that i got a $200 instore voucher to use against the MBP...

if it helps you decide what to do (wait or just dont wait)

the package came to $2100 ... less my instore voucher i paid $1900 for the MBP 2.53Ghz - 250GB HDD usual standard stuff
including the iWorks software DVD
and a apple Remote control (silver stick thing which i havent opened yet...)
since i missed out on the Black friday internet sale this would have to do...

the iPhone 16GB 3GS is on a 24 month telstra plan called 'ultimate $85' this is basically a $75 plan and a $10 Data pack bundled into one you can upgrade the plan or data pack independantly of one another when ever you choose (oh and there is a $169 once off payment on the first bill for the phone)

Hope this helps....

ooiboy

13' MBP
16GB iPhone 3GS

newbie and learning fast... help me ok?

[gehenna]

I'm not a fan of the polycarbonate casing on the MacBook, never have been. Had a world of hurt with the non-unibody MacBook before the latest iteration. While most of the problems I experienced are probably fixed given the new polycarbonate unibody design, I'd always go with the aluminium unibody given the option.