Macbook pro questions please

[JABB]

Looking to replace my 2006 MBP which is a 17" Intel 2.16 Core Duo.
Is there advantage in the new plastic key model over the older alloy key? Mine is alloy and I like it. Looking to buy secondhand and because of price, would be looking at 15" screens.

[iphonedyou]

JABB said:

Looking to replace my 2006 MBP which is a 17" Intel 2.16 Core Duo.
Is there advantage in the new plastic key model over the older alloy key? Mine is alloy and I like it. Looking to buy secondhand and because of price, would be looking at 15" screens.

The older ones aren't unibody, and aren't i5 / i7. I'd strongly recommend going for the newer model.

[JABB]

And what about the new standard glossy displays, are they as bad as people make out?

[TheHeretic]

JABB said:

And what about the new standard glossy displays, are they as bad as people make out?

Never had a problem on my unibody MacBook.

[Pete102]

Nor me...2011 i3 MBP.

[Big_Dog]

I have an I5 13" that replaced my IBM laptop.
The screen is a lovely thing.

[iphonedyou]

JABB said:

And what about the new standard glossy displays, are they as bad as people make out?

Nope. Though you could look out for ones with the optional matte display if you preferred.

[craigjm]

Never had an issue with the screens. I have got myself a new one each year from 2008 onwards and last year moved onto an Air and have never had any issues.

[JABB]

Thanks for the input.
Sometimes all the online reviews are useful, others, peoples personal opinions give the wrong overall impression.
Looking at SSD also. I don't need acres of space and this gets good reviews

[craigjm]

The SSD in the 2011 Air's really improve performance. I went from an MBP to the Air and reduced the speed of the chip but the performance is better overall due to the SSD

[JABB]

craigjm said:

Never had an issue with the screens. I have got myself a new one each year from 2008 onwards and last year moved onto an Air and have never had any issues.

Just interested, why a new one each year? Do you wear them out? lol
Do you have any previous ones for sale?

[craigjm]

JABB said:

Just interested, why a new one each year? Do you wear them out? lol
Do you have any previous ones for sale?

My main work tool and I generally sell them for about 40-50% of what I buy them for. They do get a lot of use. Current one due for sale when next upgrade comes out which is probably June - July.

[marcgti6]

craigjm said:

My main work tool and I generally sell them for about 40-50% of what I buy them for. They do get a lot of use. Current one due for sale when next upgrade comes out which is probably June - July.

I was about to ask the question 'when's the new MacBooks due out'. You say June-July, is this for both the Air and Pro?

Also, do you know if the new Pro will have an optical disc drive?

I've been talking myself into getting a 15" Pro for a while now - I just don't want to buy one if a new version is just round the corner.

Cheers

[craigjm]

Marc the portable macs of all types are usually refreshed in June or July. As for the features each will have I have no idea. Although I am pretty sure that an optical drive will remain on the MBP

[marcgti6]

craigjm said:

Marc the portable macs of all types are usually refreshed in June or July. As for the features each will have I have no idea. Although I am pretty sure that an optical drive will remain on the MBP

Thanks. I think I'll wait for the new model then.

[craigjm]

I think it may be July this year as they will probably launch in conjunction with Mountain Lion

[marcgti6]

Just read this on Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/5884734/the-next+generation-mac...

They're saying no optical drives. If this is the case, I'd be rather disappointed and would probably spend my money elsewhere.

How would I get music from CD's to iTunes? Seems like a daft idea to get rid of CD/DVD drive, if you ask me.

[craigjm]

marcgti6 said:

Just read this on Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/5884734/the-next+generation-mac...

They're saying no optical drives. If this is the case, I'd be rather disappointed and would probably spend my money elsewhere.

How would I get music from CD's to iTunes? Seems like a daft idea to get rid of CD/DVD drive, if you ask me.

They currently sell a usb optical drive for the air and its tiny and only £60. Getting rid of it onboard saves lots of space and will mean they can make them thinner and lighter (something you really notice if you hold a MBP in one hand and an air in the other).

Edited by craigjm on Monday 7th May 15:23

[x5x3]

craigjm said:

They currently sell a usb optical drive for the air and its tiny and only £60. Getting rid of it onboard saves lots of space and will mean they can make them thinner and lighter (something you really notice if you hold a MBP in one hand and an air in the other).

Edited by craigjm on Monday 7th May 15:23

I agree with getting rid of the optical drive - I have swapped mine out for a 1TB HDD and replaced the original HDD with an SSD. I do hope they don't get too carried away with the air design, for me the P bit of MBP is important - it means it is a workhorse, i.e. nearly a desktop but still portable.

If I wanted a MBA then I would buy one.

[marcgti6]

craigjm said:

They currently sell a usb optical drive for the air and its tiny and only £60. Getting rid of it onboard saves lots of space and will mean they can make them thinner and lighter (something you really notice if you hold a MBP in one hand and an air in the other).

Edited by craigjm on Monday 7th May 15:23

Yeah, that's true. I suppose a external USB CD/DVD drive isn't too much of an issue really.

Looking forward to seeing the new models once they're released.