Laptop..techies please help!

[radquish7]

Hello all,

I'll be starting my PHD in Psychology this fall and was wondering if anyone had any advice on what type of laptop to get. I've narrowed it down to Macbook Pro...but not sure about all the details? how many GHz are enough? 13 or 15-inch? what is really the different between the macbooks that cost almost 2000 vs those that are closer to 1000 dollars? i am quite ignorant when it comes to technology and would appreciate any help. thank you so much!!!!

-rad

[joro]

Don't worry too much about all the small details unless you're really anal about technology. For the most part, any MBP will be good enough for your daily tasks unless you plan on running power hungry graphics intensive programs such as video games or computer graphics applications then you might experience a bit of a slow down.

The big difference between the 13inch and 15inch:

The 13 inch MBP uses older technology for their CPUs (basically the GHz you're worried about). The 15 inch uses newer technology which will allow you to use more programs without any noticeable slow downs. I don't think you should worry about the CPU in either the 13 or 15 inch.

The 13 inch also uses a slightly less powerful graphics card, but I honestly don't think you'd be able to tell the difference. I would steer clear of the more expensive options for either the 13 or 15 inch. They only offer a bit more powerful CPU and a bigger hard drive, but you really don't need either.

I think either the 13 or 15 inch should work out for you, but it's really how much you want to spend and whether you'd prefer a 13 or 15 inch MBP. You should definitely go to an Apple store and test out the laptops to find out what size screen you'd feel more comfortable with.

[TheDude]

I've owned macs all my adult life. I used to go with the Powerbook (the former to Macbook Pro) and the only reason I needed that much power under the hood was because I was studying music and needed studio programs to run marginally okay. I have since switched to a macbook 13.5 inch. I run stats on this and can keep email open amongst other things...I even can have linux running and can do stats in OS.

Get the cheaper Macbook and make sure you buy AppleCare.

[anthropologygeek]

I second the apple care and apple does give student discounts and if you wait to late august or September a free iPod

[radquish7]

thanks for all of the help guys!!!!

[timuralp]

The big difference between the 13inch and 15inch:

The 13 inch MBP uses older technology for their CPUs (basically the GHz you're worried about). The 15 inch uses newer technology which will allow you to use more programs without any noticeable slow downs. I don't think you should worry about the CPU in either the 13 or 15 inch.

This is not entirely true. It can overclock the processor for periods of time to ~500 MHz higher, but that doesn't necessarily mean no slow downs when using multiple applications. For some workloads this could be true, but for others (think intensive I/O), it will not have much of an effect. Sorry, I just have a pet peeve about the "higher clock speed = better performance in general" statements

It also doesn't have more cores or hyperthreading, so context switches will still be common with more than two processes going on (multiple applications) and just a bit less expensive.

The 13 inch also uses a slightly less powerful graphics card, but I honestly don't think you'd be able to tell the difference. I would steer clear of the more expensive options for either the 13 or 15 inch. They only offer a bit more powerful CPU and a bigger hard drive, but you really don't need either.

The shared memory (13") vs on-board memory (15") is a significant difference. However, it probably doesn't matter for most workloads, as you already said.

By the way, a lot of the Apple accessories could also be purchased somewhere else cheaper, like a bigger hard drive, memory, etc.

[joro]

This is not entirely true. It can overclock the processor for periods of time to ~500 MHz higher, but that doesn't necessarily mean no slow downs when using multiple applications. For some workloads this could be true, but for others (think intensive I/O), it will not have much of an effect. Sorry, I just have a pet peeve about the "higher clock speed = better performance in general" statements

It also doesn't have more cores or hyperthreading, so context switches will still be common with more than two processes going on (multiple applications) and just a bit less expensive.

I was referring to the Ghz as the cpu because it's difficult to explain to a person who has no background on computer hardware different things. I know the whole higher clock speed equals better performance thing too. I also never mentioned that higher clock speeds equal better performance, right? I come from a P4 and use an i7 really understand the difference between that notion. But it is older tech and I had to point that out. You're looking at an i5 (2 cores / 4 threads) vs core2duo (2 cores). I did mention that they wouldn't notice any kind difference with either option.

The shared memory (13") vs on-board memory (15") is a significant difference. However, it probably doesn't matter for most workloads, as you already said.

By the way, a lot of the Apple accessories could also be purchased somewhere else cheaper, like a bigger hard drive, memory, etc.

You should probably take into account what the OP plans on doing. There is a significant difference depending on what you're doing and I don't think the OP plans on doing anything to really take notice of the difference.

And you're telling the OP to buy their own parts for their Apple when they will most likely not know what to buy and how to install it. You need to figure out what kind of audience you're talking to. I know you have a CS background so these things all make sense to you, but not to those who are completely clueless about computers. Have you seen the youtube video of tech support helping a lady close a tab on Google to "stop the pac-man game" so she can study? I tried to keep things simple for her, it wasn't necessarily for the techie people out there. Here's a link to that video if you haven't seen it already:

Edited July 6, 2010 by joro

[Postbib Yeshuist]

My humble opinion is to buy as much as you can afford. This will give you some "future proofness" and you shouldn't have to worry about a new one for some time. That being said, even the cheapest MBP will be plenty for academic purposes.

PS You can also "eBay" your free iPod Touch (after rebate when you purchase a Mac) to offset the price. I would also suggest Applecare, which is at a significant discount if you buy when you purchase the Mac and you are a student (all this assumes you buy in a store). The discount brings it down to Amazon prices, and Applecare is a great deal if anything ever goes wrong.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Postbib Yeshuist

[Postbib Yeshuist]

I second the apple care and apple does give student discounts and if you wait to late august or September a free iPod

Free iPod is going on now: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/back_to_school?aid=www-naus-bts2010-00011

[timuralp]

I was referring to the Ghz as the cpu because it's difficult to explain to a person who has no background on computer hardware different things.

Well, you could get core 2 at the same clock frequencies (2.4 and 2.66, as the two comparison points), so that statement was just awfully misleading.

I know the whole higher clock speed equals better performance thing too. I also never mentioned that higher clock speeds equal better performance, right?

This comes from the "GHz" confusion above and the point I was harping on was this: "The 15 inch uses newer technology which will allow you to use more programs without any noticeable slow downs." Since at that point it sounded like you're talking about higher frequency. Anyway, my point was that even with more threads of execution certain I/O intensive workloads will not benefit since the bottleneck is elsewhere.

You should probably take into account what the OP plans on doing. There is a significant difference depending on what you're doing and I don't think the OP plans on doing anything to really take notice of the difference.

I have no idea what the person is planning on doing. I was only saying there is a difference and then I did say that you're write in that it probably doesn't matter. Not sure how that got misinterpreted.

And you're telling the OP to buy their own parts for their Apple when they will most likely not know what to buy and how to install it.

And that's why it was a suggestion. If this person figures out how to do it from numerous how-tos online or asks a friend, more power to her/him. Especially, parts like memory and hard drive, since they are easy to install. If not, that advice can go on ignored - not twisting anyone's arm to do it.

Did not expect this to turn into a big debate of some sort.

[joro]

Did not expect this to turn into a big debate of some sort.

When someone quotes me I usually respond since it feels like they're talking to me.

Edited July 6, 2010 by joro

[timuralp]

When someone quotes me I usually respond since it feels like they're talking to me.

Sure. I was just commenting on what you said, that's all

[Jae B.]

I think either the 13 or 15 inch should work out for you, but it's really how much you want to spend and whether you'd prefer a 13 or 15 inch MBP. You should definitely go to an Apple store and test out the laptops to find out what size screen you'd feel more comfortable with.

I can't agree with this more. Definitely go to the Apple Store and try 'em both out. In my case, being interested in big visual designs, viewing art and graphics-intense gaming, the 15 inch MBP would be more appropriate. Compared to the light and bright 13 in. white MacBooks (that I'm most used to), I found the 13 in. MBP screen -- while more beautiful -- actually feels even smaller and more boxed-in because of the big black border around it. Even though I'd rather not lug around a larger computer (or pay more for it). But the 13 in. would be fine for heavy reading, writing, and normal web surfing. So it should be about finding what you're most comfortable with looking at and carrying around everyday.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Jae B.