MacBook: 2.4 Ghz vs. 2.0 Ghz

Hello, I am considering a MacBook but I am rather conflicted between choosing the 2.4 Ghz or the 2.0 Ghz version. The higher end model has a backlit keyboard and 90 more gbs of hdd. Here are the prices of each model at my school (including AppleCare and taxes):

2.4 model - $1666
2.0 model - $1443

A $223 price difference. I plan on using the notebook for light gaming (Diablo 3 whenever it comes out; actually mostly any Blizzard game for that matter), web browsing, email, writing some papers, music, movies, opening rar files.

Any advice? Thanks!

 

The base version is quite powerful already - you can upgrade the HDD yourself at a nice price, perhaps in the future when SSDs are more commonplace.

You won't be compressing movies and doing stuff that is that CPU-intensive... I don't see a point getting the 2.4 GHz version.

 

Yeah, I agree.

 

I agree with EntreKnight but then again if you want to be more "future proof", a mere $223 is worth it.. I'm in the same boat as you except I can't choose between the high-end macbook or the low-end macbook pro

 

How much does your shop charge for apple care?

 

Get the low-end with the intel x25-m. Intel recently dropped it's price by 30% I think. Newegg has a $30-off sale, so it'd be yours for $369. More worth it to me, than 90gb of extra space, backlit keyboard and .4ghz increase.

 

how can there be only a $223 difference when its a $300 difference between the 2 models? I would go for the higher up only because it would have a higher resale value. But, if money is tight, definitely the lowe end since the 400MHz won't make a noticeable difference for what you intend to do with it.

 

^educational discount I guess...

 

The keyboard is better on the 2.0 Ghz Macbook because it doesn't have illuminated keys.

The illuminated keys are shallower and "feel" more unsteady.

 

But isnt backlit keys a good thing? even if the buttons feel shallower?

 

LOL!!!!!!

There's nothing wrong with the illuminated keys on the 2.4 model and I would certainly recommend the OP go with the 2.4 because of the backlit keyboard, and also to "future proof" as Tolkannn suggested.

 

The backlit keys are great in the dark, but for me I found I was making more typing mistakes with the backlit keys because they seem a bit too shallow.

With the 2.0Ghz model there is no backlit keys, so the keys are taller and I made less typing mistakes on them.

LOL

Have you seen the complaints with the illuminated keys? Apple have changed the design on the 17" Macbook pro keys to fix the problems.

If I were you i'd try both models before LOLZing in my direction, because I have, and I can support the complaints first hand.

FAIL.

 

FYI Prices before tax:
2.0 - $1149
2.4 - $1349
AppleCare - $183

All the prices are from my school. I've never heard of the keyboard thing before because all I could try out at my school was the 2.0 one and I couldn't compare to the illuminated keyboard option. I guess I'll have to go to an Apple store to really see the difference.

 

Really, do it, that's what I did. I played with the Macbook 2.0ghz and the keys gave great tactile feedback.

Then I played with the 2.4ghz with the illuminated keyboard, and then the Macbook Pro which has the illuminated keyboard as standard. I found the keys much shallower and I was making more typing mistakes.

So try it out for yourself and choose what's best for you

 

To put it another way, you can get you can get a dell S2409W 24-inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD Monitor 1920x1200 for $310 excluding educational discounts.

So, you have the following options:
Macbook 2ghz $1150
Macbook 2.4Ghz $1350
Macbook 2ghz + nice large 24" flat screen monitor with 1920x1200 resolution for watching movies, etc: $1450

Hope this helps

 

Your education discount is $150 and $250 respectively? How much do you get off the Pros'?? My school gives only $100 and $150, for the regular macbook.

same boat, you should make a thread. i suck at putting my thoughts down.

 

If I were you, I wouldn't speak on topics that you aren't fully versed on. I have tried both models and found very little (if any) difference between them. Perhaps you just can't type.

I couldn't have summed up your comment any better.

 

No this isn't going to work is it. I should learn not to get involved in a battle of wits with the unarmed

 

IMO, keyboard feel is all subjective, just like this 2.4GHz vs 2.0GHz. One will have to consider a lot of factors before buying the MacBook. My best advise for the OP is to check out both the 2.0GHz & 2.4GHz MB, if possible before making a decision. Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, I went to the Apple store yesterday and didn't notice anything too major about the keyboard. However, right now I am looking into the .4 ghz increase and the extra hdd space (the back lit keyboard is a bonus).

 

if you can, get the top backlit keyboard model, avoid buyer regret afterwards. so you wont wonder 'what that extra 0.4ghz will do' or 'how nice would the backlit keyboard be'.

thats why the new one has a black key.

the backlight key even on the old silver-keyed MBP exudes an air of premium-ness.

 

Get the 2.4

Only $223, it is worth it. How about paying an extra $300 for unibody and 40GB of HD? Therefore why not get the white? Oh yeah, it's not in style. Haha.

$223 will "future proof" your laptop, and you'll be much happier with a illuminated keyboard. These goons talking about typing accuracy with the 2 keyboards are OCD.

90gb of HD and the .4 extra power will be useful too.

That's what you'll mainly find at forums, OCD people....especially the Apple crowd.

 

Mr D is 10000% correct if you ask me

More Space,
More Speed,
Type in the dark

 

Thanks again. I have a quick question though. I know people have been flaming the MacBook for its screen, but isn't it the same/better than the previous white ones?

 

Yes.
Its a little better as it now has an LED backlight, but its not that much better overall.... but definitely no worse.
a

ps I just ordered the 2.0, for me the extra 300euro wasn't justified, so I spent the money on a 320gb 7200rpm hdd and the 4Gb memory upgrade, this will give a bigger improvement in speed over the 0.4ghz.

 

Thanks for the answer underpantman and that's a good for what you're going for but the difference between 300 euros and 223 usd is a lot. Anyways thanks for everything guys you helped me a lot

 

So... Is it worth the 300 CAN$ difference?

 

I think so.. I mean more speed, bigger hard drive and also you get backlit keys!

 

Definitely worth the difference! I've got the 2.4ghz and love everything about it.

 

About those future proofing comments. If you plan on replacing this laptop in 4 years or sooner the 400Mhz is not going to make a difference as to whether or program is going or run or not.

 

Yea, I agree. Keep the couple hundred dollars for now to buy a new macbook in a few years.

 

As many posters have said before, for 233 dollars you might as well get the flagship macbook (i.e. 2.4 GHz version). The backlit keyboard IMHO is definetly the huge plus.

N.B. - You can get a 500 GB 2.5" 5400 RPM drive for about 90 bucks or less these days and the 4GB RAM upgrade is running about 80 bucks. If you do decide to go for the 2.0 GHz version, I would certainly consider getting these upgrades.

 

yeah... 2,0 Ghz (with 4Gb of ram) vs 2,4 (stock) is the question i guess...

 

It's going to help resale value however, and that's part of "Future Proofing" your purchase too.

 

Future proofing is process of futility. The next generation's processors are going to be twice as fast as the previous generation in a year or so.

CPU Architecture > small speed bump.

I would save my money unless I had a specific application in mind that would require the speed.

 

Like Khris said, for resale, it's going to be a huge plus. And I can't stress how important the backlit keyboard really is.

 

The resale value argument is not valid in my opinion. I would wager it would tack on $200 to the resale value if sold 2+ years from now. So you are spending $300 more, so you can add $200 to resale. Mathematically that is bad. If you are going to opt for the higher-end model, get it because you want the extra HDD space and backlit keyboard.

The processor speed bump is not significant unless you are transcoding video or performing some other very CPU intense task on a very regular basis where the small increase in speed would be a benefit over time. Otherwise, the very small bump in speed won't even be noticeable.

 

Well if he plans to resell it on eBay or somewhere of the like, many people on there don't really know the true difference between the two, and fall for the "High end model" in the description. They want the very best of whatever they are looking for, and can get suckered into a "high end" purchase. Apple products hold their value very well, just like Honda does in the automobile industry. Honda cars hold 55% of their purchase price, as compared to the American cars like Ford and Chevrolet, which hold only 25-30% of their purchase price. Think of Mac's as Honda's, and PC's as Fords and Chevrolets (American Cars). So this extra $$$ being spent on the higher 2.4GHz model will eventually come back to you in the long run...

 

I'd have to agree with winterymix. I have been following ebay sales on macbooks circa 2006-7 for the few past weeks, and here is what I have found.
a) they ALL sell like hot cakes @ high prices
b) haven't seen one black one for sale yet only white ie low end model.
c) even a broken down macbook which had no battery, charger and wouldn't start properly was won with a bid of ~450 euro !!! NB: the correct price for these machines is supposed to be between 450-600 euro ( http://www.mac2sell.net/) depending on specs.
d) so in general the end sale price on ebay (here in france) is generally above the suggest value of the machine... which is all that is really matters in the end.

Thus I think it really depends on the usage needs of the OP. Why waste money on features you might not need on the theoretical/hypothetical possibility that it might sell for more latter on? The reality is you spend more you'll sell for more, spend less you'll still sell but for less. However you'll still be out of pocket the about the same in either situation.

If general speed is more important I say spend the extra on a bigger faster hdd and 4Gb of ram.
a

 

Hmm now that I think of it, I'd rather have more ram and a faster hd. But will applecare still cover my laptop if I add that? And since I am not very well with parts can apple add ram and make a new hd for me.

 

Yes those two things are user upgradeable without affecting your warranty. You can also get apple to add more ram and a larger but not faster hdd (5400rpm is max offered by apple on the mb). I just ordered a alu mb 2.0 and I got apple to upgrade the ram to 4Gb, but I ordered a wd 320Gb 7200rpm hard-drive myself as it was half the price of the apple upgrade. I could have also got the memory for much cheaper online, but I had read that there were some compatibility issues with 3rd party brands so I paid the extra and got the apple stuff
a

 

Regarding the hard drive - if you do purchase your own outside you can bring it in to an Apple Genius and they will install it for you, at a fee of course. Alternatively, if you are comfortable doing it yourself, there are several video guides on You Tube and on the Internet in general about replacing the hard drive and RAM. Apple made it real easy with the new unibody macbooks to replace the HD and RAM.