Buying a MBP this weekend, is it the right decision?

Hi guys, birthday is finally around the corner and Im planning on buying the basic spec (15.4") MBP.
My question is: will it last, not in terms of build quality or performance. But will the "woohoo got the macbook pro" last. I have a feeling that in 8 months or so when the macbook pro gets a complete update, mine will start to feel old and i just won't feel the same about it due to the fact that i know there's a newer, better, cooler one out?

Basically this laptop has to last me atleast 3 years, and its quite an expensive buy. Just dont want to buy it only to feel that i want the new one whenever it comes out.

Pretty silly question really, i guess im just talking to myself outloud. Anyone else felt like this about there new (but soon to be old) mac?

 

I doubt there will be much change in the MBP in 6 months. They will drop in a faster processor and motherboard platform, but it will probably only be a 10% difference in speed. Noticeable, but nothing nothing that will make you regret getting it now.
Only other thing I see them adding in that model will be the fully supported gesture trackpad as seen on the MBA.

Others think that Blu-ray will be an option, but I don't see that until Sony decides to start releasing the final spec.

 

I felt the same way a couple days ago, but after a few posts about this on another thread, it turns out the current MBP will last a long time, on the order of 3 to 4 years. Apple might update the MBP in the summer but even then the current line will still handle a lot of stuff thrown its way.

Even Vista

 

Well, all I'd recommend is you get the 8600m GT model, so when the MBP is eventually updated, you won't feel like you took *such* a big hit. I got the 8600, basically, so it can last 3 years.

 

yeah, I have the old version, and my coworker bought a new MBP a few weeks ago. It's nice, but I don't feel like it has too much over mine. Better video card, LED screen.... better build quality...

 

OK then, so its a safe bet. Can anyone from the UK please confirm (or anyone that knows). My friend told me that you can get a 12% or a 16% student discount if you're at university on apple products. Does anyone know what the exact discount is? and does it apply to everything bought from the apple store or just computers?

Thanks

 

Just go to the Apple store online, and choose the Education option where it says Stores:

Select your university and you will be able to see what the discount is. Not sure if that will work for international, but thats what I did to get student prices in the US.

 

Well, i would expect a MBP redesign sometime this year, as the current design is derived from the Powerbook G4 Aluminum from years back...anyhow, the MBP definitely won't be obsolete in a year or two, but you may crave for the new ones . That's what technology is like...it constantly gets better. But you can't just sit there and wait, because the moment something is released, its already outdated. You'll have to enter in sometime, and when you need it is the best time, if you ask me.

Unfortunately, in Canada, if you want to see educational pricing you actually need to select your university/college and then enter your Student ID...I have no idea why, but that annoys me, because I don't have a university Student ID to check the educational prices (I'm only in high school )!

I don't know if the UK site is like Canada or easier like the USA site.

 

For the MBP, the educational discount is $200 CAN for the baseline Pro, like the one I got.

I bought mine in April 2007, it was the base model back then and although there have been some fantastic updates, I still feel as if I got it yesterday. If you take good care of it, it will look like new for a long time. Mine does not have a scratch or a mark on it, and everyone still asks me, is that the NEW Apple laptop?

 

I just checked, it looks like you will be saving 100 pounds with an education discount. Also this should easily last you 2-3 years, the only updates to future models will be CPU, possibly Video and style. Just think there are tons of PC's that have been running longer than 3 years, not all of them can run Vista, but I blame that on Microsoft. I would just purchase it and enjoy, I have had my MBP for 6 months and it still has that new computer feel. Good luck

 

I think some specialty Mac stores still sell old PowerBooks and iBooks... it appears that Apple notebooks have a very long life.
You will not be disappointed with a current MBP... it's a great machine and should last for years to come.

 

Yeah well when i click on education store (on the uk site) i get a list of 2 options. 'Apple Store for Education' (high school etc.) and 'Apple Store for Higher Education' (University). If i click the university one i have to be going through my university network, i'm not back at uni until the 30th but im getting it this sunday. No worries anyone, i'll just ring up the apple store and ask them.
My friend said that the high school discount is like 6% and the university one is either 12% or 16%. Thanks everyone for the replies, 100% on my decision of a macbook pro now.

 

If you really wait, then continuing waiting, because new technology will come out shortly and your computer will lose its value any way.
It is being stupid to just wait for upgrade.

 

You guys get High School discounts?!?!

Here in Canada, there's only Higher Education discounts and K-12 discounts for teachers and educators, etc. No high school students, too bad for me.

 

I'll play the devil's advocate and suggest the opposite of what everyone else is saying here then.

While a good general rule is to simply buy when you need without regard for when the next refresh will occur on the theory that a person can't always wait forever for the next update because there'll always be yet another update after that, there are often times when that's just not practical.

I don't think it will be too unreasonable to suggest that the MBP might very well be refreshed this month. Are they going to be revolutionary upgrades? Most likely not.

On the other hand, if there's no pressing need for you to buy one right at this second, why not be patient and wait until the end of the month or so? Obviously, you can't keep waiting for the next refresh, but surely it's not unreasonable to hold off for just 2 weeks for a purchase that will cost $2000+ and will need to last 3 years.

Sure, those 2 weeks might be agonizing, but just think how much worse you'll feel if you buy now and 2 days later a brand new MBP model is released to the public?

 

^ good point~

 

^^ agreed, i dont feel it is unreasonable to just wait for the next update. Technology changes constantly but it doesn't mean u cant spend the longest time with the new tech by buying at the start of a cycle

 

Wait at the very least till this Tuesday

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=209539

 

Then when the two weeks come and nothing happens. Should he wait another two weeks to see what happens? Its a vicious circle

Just buy one when you need it. Saves you alot of headaches. Unless you know for certain that a refresh will happen at a certain date dont worry about it and just buy one

 

I think the Macbook Air actually shows that the MBP won't get a chassis upgrade for a while. The MBA keeps the same overall design that the MBP has (aluminum chassis, few ports on the sides, rear vent, etc), so I think it would be odd for Apple to release a new product in that vein and then pick a new design for an older product right afterwards. That's all speculation, of course, but I'm a firm believer in buying what you want when you want it - no matter what technology might come in a few months, the current MBP will be a very capable computer for years to come.

 

Well, we're not talking about a change to the MBP platform (the chassis). Just an upgrade to it's innards.

 

The whole post about "MBP update info leaked" says about how the mbp will get all these wonderful updates on tuesday. Was planning to buy on sunday, should i wait? I would kick myself if i missed out on an update by 3 days.
I live in the UK so "if" there were updates, would the updated MBP be in the UK by the 23rd or not? (thats my birthday and REALLY want a mac by then...)

 

I´m in the same situation as you are. I WILL absolutely not buy my MBP any time before end of January. It´d be just too bad if there would come anything new just days after I bought an "old" MBP.

 

Well, if you really really really want a Mac by the 23rd, then just wait til the 23rd and buy whatever model is the newest at that time.

The reason I suggest waiting until the end of January is that it is plausible that Apple might refresh their MBP this month, according to their past refresh timing and speculation. It's not really an issue of waiting 2 weeks, and then 2 weeks more, and then 2 weeks more...but rather that there's a greater likelihood that the MBP will be refreshed in the near future.

 

I agree. MacRumors has stated they are hearing "rumblings" about an MBP refresh. Apple is probably ready to pull the trigger at any time, but Marketing practices would seem to dictate that they need to let the MacBook Air get some solo time on the Apple front page. How much time is enough solo time? I would guess two or three weeks before the whole line shows up on the front page with "New" on everything except the MacBook. Tax season is here and people have refunds to spend. No way they will wait 'til may to refresh the MBP with Penryn.

 

Well, iPhone had the front page for a long time, if I remember correctly .

But it really depends. I'd say two weeks are enough for the MBA hype to cool down, and if Apple has something ready to release I'd say its probably a week or two from now.

 

And Leopard had it for something like two months!

 

Well i rang the apple store this morning to ask a few questions and i have decided that i am going to buy the MBP tomorrow with parents, but seeing as i won't be able to use it until the 23rd anyway (birthday present), i won't open it out of its box till then. This way, if there is an update on the 22nd, i can take the still boxed mbp back for a full refund.

 

Why not wait until the 23rd to go to the store to pick it up?

 

Store is quite a way away and my dad can easily go with me this weekend but wont be able to take me in the week. So atleast if there is no update/if its not significant enough then i can still use my new mbp on my birthday.