Does it worth it ?

I am sorry for the mistake in the thread's name, the right one would be : Is it worth it? (I'm french.)

I've been searching for a couple of months to find the right notebook for me. After this long research I stopped on a thinkpad, R500 or T500. BUT, all the time I was searching I was on my father's computer, a iMac, and I discovered how the os was nice. With that being said, I decided to go check the mac notebooks to compare with the thinkpads. I was chocked by the price difference compared to the components. So I started asking myself a bunch of existential questions about my future notebook. The main question is : Is it worth it? a 15'' laptop was the perfect size for me so I first thought I could get a 15'' macbook.. but that doesn't exist, that's at that moment that I realized that the only 15'' option was the mbp and that the price was outrageous. More than 1000$ more (with the extremely significant student discount lol). So... I'm refering to you guys to help me figure out the best option. I'm gonna put the link of my needs if it could help you helping me.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=343067

Thank you.

Tell me if you need any other info about my situation,

Peace!

Thomas

 

I always thought that 13'' was really too small, but maybe it's not that bad... I will prolly be multitasking a lot, and maybe watching movies, tv shows, etc... That's why I thought 13'' was too small and 15'' pretty good. Maybe a 14'' or 13''(i never thought I could say that one day...) would be okay if i start bringing it to class next year...

 

I'm going to be totally upfront and honest with you: personally, screen sizes don't matter as much, at least for the stuff I do with my laptops.

Also, it's "Is it worth it". Just letting you know in case someone makes fun of you or something.

 

Ah lol okay... Thank you! I'm french... that type of mistake happens to me often.

 

Ah and I did not count the protection plan that is over 280$...

 

you can grab that on ebay for a really good price

 

Oh I did not know that. You buy your warranty on ebay and it works on your computer !?

 

I *think* the warranty is like a separate "software package" you buy. Rather than calling up the company and registering it directly.

 

Pretty sure it's like that too. It's basically a box with a code in it, and you go to Apple's site to register that code to your computer.

 

I was concerned about working all day on a 13" laptop for work when I got my mb 2 years ago. And the reality is that its fine and you can get by. Also the 13" is more portable, both is size and weight which is a bonus.
If your budget is tight have a look at the reconditioned Mac's. You can get a white macbook for 799euro at the moment and a 2.4 alu mb for 1299.

so my advice is go the 13". If your really struggling with the size then buy a cheap 20" monitor for 100euro from carrefour !
a

ps your english is better then a lot of native speakers

 

I was always against Apple's price difference as I couldn't imagine what was so great about them. That was back when I was a closed minded Windows person. I've slowly had my eyes opened to Linux and recently OS X and wonder how I could have been so stupid for so long.

Anyway, the price difference is worth it for me to be rid of the problems I had been trying to ignore with my windows systems. Last week was my first MB purchase (my wife wanted one) and it was so nice and easy to use my mother-in-law bought one the next day. They are both into casual games and I was shocked at the load time difference between Windows and Mac. While the windows game would take a good 30 seconds to load the Mac version took about 5 seconds. They both are hooked and wouldn't switch back to windows even if the system was free.

I fell in love with the multi-touch trackpad since it makes life so much easier. I also like the included software as well as the lack of trial programs that always clog up a PC. I ordered myself a MBP and it is due to arrive Friday.

 

Okay.. Thank you guys. I'm still open for advices. I will try to see what would be the best option for me. I will try to see a real 13'' laptop to see if it's that small. I dunno if it's better to buy the computer from the official website or by and authorized reseller (there are 2 of them in my town). Is seems to me like there is no refurbished macbooks on the official canadian apple website right now (im a french canadian, not from France hehe).

 

Never mind i just found out that there are some new ones... I dunno how reliable are their refurbished ones...

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB467LL/A?mco=MjE0NDk5Mw
http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB470LL/A?mco=MjE0NDk5Mw

 

I bought a refurbished mbp I had to send the 1st one back as the speakers kept crackling and popping so they just replaced the notebook, the replacement one so far is working good. I purchased the macbook 1st but wasn't impressed with the screen it looked washed out and from what I read alot of them were like that so that is why I went with the mbp. The mbp cost a little more that is why I bought the refurbished it has the same warranty.

 

yeh i'm sorry but unless youre loaded, you'd be a fool to buy a $1500 computer for casual games and casual web browsing.

its like this middle aged old man at the apple store one day, giving his parents, in their 70s, reasons to switch to mac. i just giggled inside...
true story.

 

Does it worth it to get an english lesson, YES!!

 

Might as well switch just before they die.

 

So in fact you guys would not get the 3 year warranty. And.. is it worth it to take the 2,4 Ghz instead of the 2 Ghz version? Will I see a big difference?

 

There is always the backlit keyboard on the 2.4GHz, which I have found to be worth every penny. It doesn't have to be total darkness to use the backlighting, and you will find out that you will be using it alot more than you think.

 

hmmm okay... and Do you like the screen size ? or you plug it on a bigger screen? I'm used to 15'' i have the feeling that 13'' is too small...

 

There isn't really much difference IMO. Or lets put it this way: You won't notice a difference. I plug mine into an external monitor, but I could function perfectly fine without it. Nothing wrong with the 13". I mean, it's only 2 inches. Not that much difference, and it won't stand out much.

 

I thought about that too, and bought that version - now I realize that it was really just a gimmick. Then again, it might be because I'm a touch typist clocked at 110 WPM.

 

110 WPM . I am about 60 WPM, so mabye that's why I needed this backlit keyboard.

 

for the backlit keyboard, i'll take it if it has it, but i'm not planning to pay a lot for it, i never used one and never felt i'd need one in any occasion. My main question is between 2 Ghz and 2,4 Ghz...TY
Although, your config is nice Colton! I'd like to have that in my hands (without removing 1800$ of my wallet).

 

Why thank you! . Yeah, it surely is expensive... But it really is worth it, no matter which model you get, you will still be satisfied with it by far.

 

I guess anybody who pays more than $15,000 for a new car just to go to work and the store is a fool too by those standards. I'm not rich, but I am willing to pay more for better quality. Perhaps the real fools are the ones who keep buying cheap windows systems and then complain when they don't work properly. :wink:

 

Is there any option/configuration/extra/adapter/etc... that I really shouldn't miss if I buy the macbook?

 

You need to buy an adapter if you want to hook up the MacBook to an external monitor.

I would take 2.0 GHz model. Apple wants $300 more from you if you want backlit keyboard. It's a rip off and ridiculous that you can't configure backlit keyboard on the base model for say $20 more.

 

Does this adapter work with a potential external monitor and a tv ? How much is it? Do I need any other extras? And... Is it better to buy it from apple's website or from a authorized reseller in my town ?

 

I dunno if the refurbs are good deals, it's a little cheaper but I don't know it's as reliable as a brand new one. Any of you experienced the Apple Outlet?

 

I live in canada and bought a refurbished mbp it was about $250.0 cheaper plus less tax, I had to return the 1st one as the sound made crackling and popping sounds the whole time there was any sound but they sent me another one within a couple of days. The warranty is the same, the software is the same the only thing you don't get is the apple box.

 

More often than not a refurb will not have any factory-QA related problems, like slanted keys and stuff like that.

There are of course, rare horror stories about lack of testing, but those are very infrequent.

 

Does it worth it?? LOL, sorry I cant stop laughing at the title!

 

I can't stop laughing too... That is so funny ! LOL !

 

Do you guys recommend the extended warranty?
Whats the difference between buying it on the website and from a authorized reseller if the price is the same?

 

Haven't read anything except your first post, so this might no longer be relevent. But I just got the 13" Macbook and honestly have been in heaven since. The OS is so nice, like you said, and everything the computer is so friendly/sleek that you'll be finding reasons to use the computer. I use it for a lot of movies too, so far I don't really mind the screen size, I am ordering cables to let me hook it up to the TV, maybe that's a solution for you?

I would definitely recommend it to you, you won't regret it.

 

Cool thank you. I really consider it. I gotta decide if i get the adapter (dvi...vga... im not used to these things) and the warranty or not... the 2 Ghz or the 2,4 Ghz also... And decide if I buy it from the website or at a local reseller...

 

If you are good with computers then the extended warranty isn't essential... but you can always buy this latter or pick it up on ebay for a cheaper price.
So I say hold off, see how well your lappie is running, and just before the end of the 1st year, decide if you want the extension.
There is no difference between buying from either place, so go with the one that gives you the best deal.
a

 

Okay cool, that's prolly what I am gonna do for the warranty.
I heard that the screen of the macbook was bad in quality compared to the mbp is that true?
Remaining decisions :
- 2Ghz or 2,4 Ghz
- adapter? vga or dvi..?
- buying from the website or an authorized reseller
If i buy from a reseller, he will be available to help me with software/hardware problems. If i buy it from the website, may i get that type of on-site support? I don't think so.
I gotta also find a 13'' laptop to see if it's too small.

 

If you read Apple's website, these models go through rebuild and then the same QC that new systems do, are reassigned a new serial number and carry an as-if-you-purchased-new standard 12 month warranty (take that, Dell and everyone else).

The only difference is that these don't come straight from the factory, unopened, to your own little fingers. And for that, you save 10-30%.

 

Do you get the same technical/warranty support when you buy from the website than when you buy from a reseller?

 

I had and currently have a T400 on top of a MCP and I can say the MCP is worth it. The Lenovo has too many quality problems(you get what you pay for)