Am I crazy?

Ok, I've been an adamant pc user and recently bought an Alienware m15x. The computer is fine and I haven't had any hardware problems with it at all but I'm not really gaming as much on it as I anticipated and I find myself really wanting to jump ship to Apple due to continued problems that I have with Windows Vista. I mean, the m15x is beautiful but I just feel like it's overkill for me right now and wish I had something a little more sleek and elegant and definitely would prefer a different OS. So... after much consideration, I've decided that I definitely want to make the Macbook pro plunge. Therein lies my dilemma...

I know a MBP refresh is right around the corner but I'm going to be having to do a great deal of traveling starting in October and NEED a stable laptop during this time with no surprises and proper time to acclimate. As much as I'd love to wait for a new MBP, I "think" I'd be just as satisfied with the current revision. The 8600m is probably more than enough for my needs. I do enjoy gaming and would probably use bootcamp to do so but I don't really need the latest games or anything. As long as I could run Orange Box, WoW, Assassin's Creed type games, etc.. I think I'd be fine. I do enjoy gaming but older games are just fine for my purposes.

So, my question is do you think I have good enough reasons to purchase one of the current MBP or should I perhaps just keep my current Alienware for a few more months? What I wouldn't want to happen is another Alienware to be released which would depreciate the value of my m15x. It's a great laptop but I just don't feel like I'm as hardcore a gamer as I used to be and I'm really growing tired of Windows. I'd like to sell it while it is the "latest and greatest" from Alienware. LOL, I can't believe I'm wanting to sell this thing and go mac.

Anyway, the order has already been made, I just am sitting here pondering whether I should cancel it or not. Help me out here guys.

Also, should I stick with Apple's 200gb hd or is it safe to put in my 320gb that I have lying around? Does that void warranty? Can I purchase applecare within the first year at any point without problems? Thanks fellas.

 

Wait for the refresh, sept 15. Order quick and 2-day delivery..

Its well worth it.

 

For whatever reasons, Mac's tend to age better than PC's. PC models tend to come into being and are discontinued rapidly where Macs hold models for many years with minor upgrades. There is nothing wrong with current MacBook Pro's and general feeling is this is a minor upgrade year not a redesign year for them.

Only memory is user upgradable in the MBP and other upgrades should be done by an authorized Apple tech to avoid warranty problems. Technically Apple has to honor your warranty for the rest of the machine provided your work is not the cause of any issues. BestBuy will swap your drive for $35 (often very quickly) and they are certified Apple techs so no warranty issues. Thats the route I chose.

Yes you can buy AppleCare anytime in your original warranty period. But you loose tech support after 90 days until you buy AppleCare.

It will likely take you a bit to get used to OS X and find all the equivalent software you were used to in Windows. So give yourself a few weeks to resume good productivity.

 

Note that the refresh is all speculation/rumor. Nobody but Apple really knows if there will be a refresh in sept or not.
Apple is behind everyone else (sans Dell's consumer line) in releasing montevina models, so it's kind of expected (read: hoped for) Apple will release new models soon.
In fact there's really no evidence of it per say. I'm trying to be optimistic like everyone else and believe there may be a refresh in sept though.

 

There's no guarantee a MBP refresh will be anytime in September or October for that matter, no one but Apple has that information.

 

There is no set date for the new releases, so if you are rushing, I think it is a good idea not to wait. The current MBP models are already really good, the only minor concern you may have is all the news/rumours of NVIDIA problems.

Technically your warranty will be voided if you change the hard drive of the MBP yourself, but you can have an Apple Certified Technician change it for. As jimboutilier noted, Best Buy is certified.

AppleCare can be purchased anytime up to one year from purchase .

 

Groove im with you. trying to get rid of my m15x because i know apples new annoucment will be epic.

 

It's not going to be epic if they FORGET THEY MAKE COMPUTERS. Again.

If it's going to be another iPod/ iPhone 2.1 crap announcement, I'm getting something else.

This is Apple's chance to make me buy a new Macbook Pro. Otherwise, I'm just going to keep this old fellow here and buy a new gaming laptop.

 

yeah, a macbook pro is good right now. its a good speedy version and is plenty for u. buy the minimum of ram though. apple kills on ram.

 

****, I don't know what to do. If the refresh didn't happen until end of October, I'd rather get the mbp now, but I would kick myself if it came out in middle of September.

 

I waited and waited..and I bought the current MBP cause I couldn't wait any longer.

 

Go ahead and get it now if you need it. I also made the switch after going through countless gaming desktops and notebooks. I had one of the first original iMac flatscreens when they were first introduced and then bought pc after pc but was never happy with any. Now that Boot Camp is available I have no reason for a pc. You can't beat Apple's designs. I have a 24" iMac with the 8800GS and a baseline MBP and I haven't found any games or anything else for that matter that I cannot do with them. BTW, are you the same groove75 that hung around on NBF? I used to hang around the Alienware and Dell forums there. I believe you gave me advice to get a M1710 at one time.

 

hey! good decision going with the mbp. i travel a lot and its thin and light to bring on planes, ect as well as powerful enough to meet my needs.

but to be on the safe side... maybe you should wait until mid sept. just to make certain you waited until the last possible minute so you wont kick yourself if something did come out when you didnt absolutely need it

on another note, you will enjoy using os x! i was a pc user my entire life and installed windows on my mbp thinking i would miss it/feel the need to use it and i just think it is wasted space now. dont miss vista at all!

good luck!!

 

Yo man, also keep in mind that Apple has its back to school deal right now. When they announce a revision that deal will no longer be an option, so if you are rushing and don't mind saving some money, buying now may be a valid option. If I were you though, I would definitely wait.

 

I think you'll be completely happy with the current MBP. Since you're on a bit of a deadline and still need to get acclimated to a new OS it would make sense to get it now.

I highly suggest getting a refurb though because they are just as good as the brand new ones and will save you hundreds of $.

Sure something could come out sometime in september, or october, or maybe even november and have better specs. But it's nothing that will make the current one obsolete. Next year it will be the same song and dance all over again.

 

by buying it now you get an extra $500 in value- student discount + free ipod touch. that deal won't carry over to the revision.

 

Also, as some have noted in other threads, there may/possibly will be minor bugs and stuff that comes with the new redesigned MBP, so you will "bypass" that if you get a current MBP.

 

Hey bro welcome to Apple Notebook Forum where alot of very helpful friendly people hang out.

I am also in your shoes but I went ahead and bought a Mac Book Pro as well as an iMac for my family.

It was the best move i have ever done. Apple MBP and the iMac are bought very good. NO BSOD no crashes none of that stuff like MS.

I highly recommend it. I was a PC FANBOY now i am a Mac/PC lover.

Back on track.. you will find not a lot of people are willing/afford to buy used Alienware for the same price of other brand new Laptops so don't worry too much about losing value of your beautiful m15x especially with the fast pace new technology constantly being released everyday.

I'd say wait for 2 more months and get a new Mac book pro like me. I however have already bought the MBP for my daughter a few weeks ago and it's one of the best move we have made although we were disappointed that Apple doesn't support HD Blu Ray.

Good luck.

 

What are these "minor bugs" you speak of?

 

Well, that remains to be seen . But what I mean is the original Core Duo MBPs had some heat issues and such, and some of the early iPod Touches had screen quality issues, so sometimes the first batches (of any product from any manufacturer, really) have some issues that are refined over time.

 

Ohhh ok makes sense. For a second there I thought you knew some stuff about the possible redesign (external not internal) we didn't. xD

 

I travel by air pretty much every week. While I'd agree that the MBP is plenty poewrful for prettu much any business use, its a bit big for use in coach class and its weight with accessories really adds up.

I traveled for about a year with a Black Macbook. It was a great travel size, plenty powerful enough, and fair travel weight. With care you could use it in coach class (the top of the screen was under the tray lip of the seat back so you had to be careful the person in front of you did not suddenly put their seat back and crush your screen).

I traveled for a bit less than a year with a MBP. Its power, screen, and backlit keyboard were awesome. But its size did not permit comfortable use in coach class. And its weight starts to get up there for travel.

Now I'm traveling with a Macbook Air. Great screen and keyboard, much thiner and lighter than other Macbook models. Just enough shorter than the normal MB (because of its thinness) that its easily used in coach class. Had to get used to limited disk space and mearly adequate performance but for travel this thing is awesome. For me at lest the tradeoffs were worth it, although I could not use it as my ONLY machine (fine when combined with my iMac at home).


Food for thought for you frequent travelers.

 

Well, I cancelled the order and am just going to wait for the new revision. I just don't think I'd be very happy if Apple released another one in the next month or two after having just purchased it. I'd rather lose a few hundred on the depreciated Alienware than lose a few hundred on a mbp purchased too soon that's a hardware revision behind. Ah well, they say patience is a virtue...

I'm really looking forward to switching over though. I'd like to get away from pc's and I've been very impressed with Apple, especially their increased market penetration in the past year. I think I just need to start using the xbox 360 more for gaming and stop stressing out about latest and greatest pc graphics hardware. The funny thing is with my current situation. I spend all this time and money investing in the best gaming laptop from Alienware and I haven't even gamed on it for 2 minutes in the past 4 weeks. Vista is painful also...

 

I wish . I don't have any inside Apple contacts...I just keep up with all the news and make my own predictions .

 

I placed and cancelled several orders on the way to becoming a Mac owner. I ended up buying at the local Apple store. I like the idea of being able to return easily. I picked up a SantaRosa Macbook with 1 gig of RAM and the Penryn came out 3 weeks later with 2 gig for the same price. I paid restocking to get the new one and this worked out cheaper at the time than buying the RAM from a third party. When I finally got my main desktop moved over to Mac, I only had one regret. I waited too long.

I'm not saying you should jump on the eve of a new release. I just want to make sure you know how much better it is and not merely because of some hype or some cool looking gimmick or alleged perfection. There are bugs and glitches on the Mac side, too. The overall design philosophy and usability on Mac is simply superior to anything the PC side has to offer.

 

You have a laptop now. I'd wait a month or two and then test which way the wind is blowing. There is always a week or two before a refresh/product release when you sense there is something coming down the line. Apple is secretive, but people can usually smell the pie before they see it.