To buy or not to buy MBP...

Like pretty much everyone here I've been holding out for a new MBP refresh since, ohh June and the wait is finally getting to me. I think the current MBP would largely satisfy my needs, but I can't help but want to see what's next. Anyways, the main items on my wishlist for a new MBP are an upgraded video card, which I think is likely, but again the best we can hope for is a 9600GT b/c of power/heat constraints (according to benchmarks at the most would be a 25% increase in performance but most likely significantly less) and HDMI-out which barring a case redesign is not in the cards. I could live with the MBP otherwise. I'm mostly a gamer, but I love OS X, use it for a variety of creative tasks like making comics and using Final Draft. I know a PC would much better serve my gaming needs, but I need OS X for work too.


The thing that's killing me is that I'm also in the market for an iPhone as well and the BTS promo would net me a new iTouch that would could be sold/traded towards an iPhone. Pretty sweet deal. I'm obviously going to hold out until tomorrow on the off chance they upgrade the MBP, but I'm not expecting it.

What would you do in my situation fellow NBRers?

 

I'd buy if you really need it. I don't know why apple is taking so long to update to centrino 2.

 

See that's the thing, though. I don't NEED it, but the BTS deal is very attractive and would satisfy both my iPhone and Mac fix in one fell swoop. /sigh

 

may i know what deal?

 

Student promo for -$200 and the free iPod Touch, which I'll flip for an iPhone most likely.

 

student promo lasts for full year

 

Student Discount lasts all year, however the iPod special ends Sept 15th (at least for me)

 

Yup, that's what I meant. The iPod is the potential deal maker here.

 

I would look at the iPod deal as more of a "carrot" to lure you in. It may better serve you not to give into your temptations. Apple's been talking about lowering prices lately and they may offer more features. If you go for it now you may be upset for not waiting. New models should be coming around mid to late October.

 

that is true, but I can't see them lowering the price of the MBP, maybe the itouch to 200 or so.

 

yeah, i bought my one couple of months before the update to peryn. i have october/november 2007 model. i dont really need the speed boost, but they did add some more HDD space, improve the graphic card and drop the price. overall im not really dissapointed. but that is a relatively minor update. this is expected to be a major update, so i think it is wise to wait around.

just a note. minor update goes on continuously for aproximately every 6 months or so; major update like a case redesign could go for 2-4 years. who knows, they might have 4 usb ports now .

 

Apple is having an IPod announcement tomorrow, in which many speculate some sort of surprise by Apple to introduce an update to the MB, MBP, Air, and even the Cinema display. You can wait 24 hours, can't you?

 

Well, yeah as i said in the OP I would at least wait until after tomorrow's event. Just wasn't sure about waiting past the expiration of BTS. I think I'm leaning towards wait now.

 

By bad, didn't read the OP all the way through.

Here's hoping to a revamped MB/MBP, that's easier on the wallet.

 

Im sorry to be so ignorant in the conversation but what is happening tomorrow? Posts are saying that it is best to wait until tomorrow...

Since this is my first post... my 2 cent story is that I am getting a MAC for my wife because I am sending to school for graphic design and I have a friend who may be able to get her an internship at his company. He told me that she should know "indesign and quark". She does a lot of photoshop and Illustrator so I am thinking about getting the 17" MBP with the upper end graphics card. The only question I have is it it worth it to get the 17" or the 15"? From the specs.. 15" stops at 1450x980 and 17" is 1920x1200. Very large difference for graphics right?

 

Gimmie09, really hold off on buying until the new Macbook Pros roll out. There is a problem with the current graphics cards as well. The new macbooks will be rolling out within a month or so, so I highly recommend you wait.

And in terms of graphics i am no expert, but I am pretty sure the difference between the 8600M GT 256mb and 8600M GT 512mb is minimal because of a bottleneck created on the BUS or something like that... So don't opt for the highest graphics card. In terms of the screen, think of how portable your wife needs to be and buy according to that, because the difference between the 17" and the 15" is definitely noticeable. I as well as many others here would recommend you and your wife go to a local Apple store to check out the computers themselves before you buy.

Edit: Ohh right, and tomorrow Apple is supposedly updating its products. People are speculating it will only be the ipods though. But you never know...