thinking on getting a macbook pro ... need some advice!

I've been pondering over the last couple of days on whether to go for a new macbook pro or an hp dv9500t ... till now iv essentially been a windows user... and used macs ever so seldomly ... but ahm.... iv been doing a lot of reading around and reviews and im really thinking on going ahead and investing in a MacBook Pro...

I have done quite a bit of searching and have a few doubts that remain unclarified and it'ld be really kind of you to give your two pence on them so that I can finalize my decision on whether or not to go ahead with procuring the MBP...

I'm thinking on getting the
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo version of MBP.

1. Have pondered long and hard on the HDD speeds and capacity. I have an external HDD usb 2.0, so capacity isn't a big deal. However, there are 3 options on the speed, the 160 gigs are @5400 rpm and @7200 rpm and there's a 200 gig option @ 4200 rpm. Which one is recommended and why? Isn't 4200 rpm a little too low for being the primary hard disk?

2. My external HDD has a lot of stuff stored and is in NTFS. I have read that osx will manage to read from NTFS but will not be able to write onto it; however, by using a patch "macfuse" this can be overcome. Are there any pitfalls/cons/restrictions to this? Also, I'ld like to know a bit on the reverse scenario which is - say i'm using bootcamp & parallels or vmware fusion, in this case, can i read/write to hfs from windows? (sidenote: I know that creating a FAT32 partition would let me write onto it from osx... however, I don't want to create a FAT 32 partition ... it's way too antiquated.. i'ld rather stick with NTFS..)

3. The Windows XP CD i have isn't SP2 .... i had SP2 installed seperately ... so ... from what I gather, this won't work in bootcamp? Has anyone tried/ can comment on whether slipstreaming SP2 with a pre-sp2 win xp cd will work ?

4. Has anyone here bought RAM for the MBP from an online store(newegg etc..)...(basically installed it seperately ...and not from apple) ..? And if so, can you point me to which company's RAM you would recommend as well as models (I am thinking on getting the 2GB ram option from apple and then adding another 2 GB after getting it form an online store) ;

Can you tell me the pros and cons of getting RAM externally and not from apple (by jove..apple reallly overcharges for tthe extra 2 GB ofram .... 700 bucks for 2 more GB of ram (making it a total of 4 GB) is mighty expensive --- which is why I want info on alternatives and getting ram from an online vendor) .. and also is there a way to ensure that i get a 2 GB (1x2GB DIMM) instead of a (2x1GB DIMM) from apple when i order my MBP?

5. I've been a windows user throughout and so I think atleast for a forseeable amout of time I'll be wanting to dual boot quite a bit till the point I'm comfortable enough to totally focus on mac applications that can substitute the windows programs i have gotten so used to. During using parallels, vmware fusion, incase i have a modded/themed windows xp running with windows blinds on, will i see a reflection of that in the virtual version of windows i see that's loaded through parallels/vmware fusion?

6. Lastly, is the Airport Extreme Base Station worth the cost? ($180?) what would you recommend for 802.11n routers...
Thanks a lot for listening ... and it'll be really nice to hear your advice.
Ananda

 

ask yourself...do you really need it now?

i'm in the same boat, I almost pulled the trigger on the mbp, but I have decided to just wait until my trusty dell 500m gives out. It is running quite smooth for a 1st gen intel Centrino. 4.5 years with this one, and I feel I have definitely gotten my money's worth.

If you can wait it out, wait it out. If not, definitely go for the mbp. You won't be disappointed. I know when the time is right, i will go for it.

 

I'm curious to know the answer to #3 as well.

good luck with your decision.

 

1) Yes, 4200 RPM is slow. Don't get that drive. 5400 RPM is good enough, although 7200 RPM is faster; but it also is louder and generates more heat. And there isn't a significant difference between 7200 RPM and 5400 RPM.

2) There is an application called MacDrive for Windows that is the vice versa of MacFuse on OS X.

3) Can't guarantee, but I believe slipstreaming will work.

4) I recommend Crucial RAM. There's no cons to installing RAM yourself; save some money, Apple RAM is expensive .

5) I'm not too sure what you're asking...

6) I don't see the need for Airport Extreme. Its a good router, but there are cheaper options from Linksys and D-Link out there that work perfectly fine.

 

To be fair, I haven't found too many manufacturers where 2GB RAM chips are "cheap"; at Dell and Lenovo and Sony as well, upgrading to 4GB of RAM is incredibly expensive.

If you're looking to save some money, check out G.SKILL RAM at Newegg. It's inexpensive, but seems to work great (I've used it in MacBooks and an iMac, and have seen plenty of good user experiences with it from other people).

 

well.... i don't know what to wait for .. i mean... this is an incredibly fast paced market... every 6 months there'll be something or the other that will take ur attention ..new chip technology... new product line upgrade... new o/s.. there's always something or the other.. the core 2 duo is nicely settling down in the industry... i guess i'll give it a go.. don't want to wait for jan for the nxt gen chips frm intel... neither do i want to try out leopard as soon as it comes out .. every os has it's issues initially ... ...

on top of that i might be heading to foreign shores soon ... as soon as next month and might not be back for a while ... so ... hmm... i want to get myslf a good notebook prior to that... but thanks for the point of view.

ya... looks like i'll be going in for the 5400 rpm option.... i wonder whether linksys/d-link have a router that can have an external HDD connected and allow for wireless streaming of files to and from the laptop. ... i should prbbly do some research on that

as for point 5. ...there's a software called windows blinds that can skin/theme win xp... works similarly to shapeshifter for mac i guess.... so... was just asking that if i were using parallels to access win xp, whether i would get to see a themed version of windows ... or would it be the default win xp theme that i would be able to see...

crucial and g.skill it'll be then as far as checking our RAM is concerned...

will be checking it out!

 

I know what WindowsBlinds is , I was asking what you were asking about it.

Anyways, yes you can theme Windows all you want in Parallels/VMware Fusion and Boot Camp. Its just like Windows anywhere else; you can change the theme, change desktop wallpaper, add applications, install Google Desktop, etc. No problem.

 

ahmm... following up on this ... since i want to upgrade to 4GB ram ....
between the following ... which one's would u recommend?
1. 2 of these -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145172
2. one of these -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231135
3. 2 of these -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148087
between g.skill and crucial and corsair ... are they all pretty much in the same league?

 

those are all good brands, get whatever is cheapest.

 

I like number 3 the best (Crucial), but Corsair (no. 1) is great too. I'm not too familiar with G.Skill.

 

In response to #5, I have both VMWare Fusion and WindowBlinds installed on Windows XP. The theme's used work very well with Fusion's Unity as well. No problems there at all.

When I get home tonight I can take a snapshot of Fusion running a themed Windows XP (with WindowBlinds) and upload it here.

 

1. While normally 4200 RPM is really slow, the density of that drive will help make up for the lost RPM's. If you don't really need the space then go with the smaller drive with more RPM, otherwise the difference should not too noticeable. Take a look at this:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/storage25.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=150353

2. I would keep it NTFS and use MacFuse or use HFS+ and use MacDrive. A third option is to get the AirPort Extreme Base Station that you asked about and just use it as a AirPort Drive. That way it looks like a shared drive to all computers and the format does not matter.

3. As Sam said, slip stream SP2 with your Xp CD and it will work

4. I am using Mushkin and have had great results. The plus side is you always will have backup RAM for diagnostic purposes. Get the most you can afford now though unless you want a lot of RAM sticks for diagnostics, LOL!

5. Don't know

6. I hesitantly bought an AirPort Extreme Base Station, and am so glad I did. Especially now that they have gigabit, I think it is about the best consumer level router. First, it's fast. Secondly, it will allow you to attach a USB hard drive and share it, plus if you add a USB hub as I did, you can share a printer and a hard drive. Third, and I think this too often gets overlooked, it has by far the best setup utility of any router I have seen. It is very easy to setup and maintain. I say it is worth the $30 or so premium over a comparable Linksys or D-Link.

 

that'll be awesome ... thanks! i'm hoping to make my decision sometime late tonight.... ... looks like im going to bite the bullet and head in for the mbp... how long have u been using ur mbp for? ... what's your initial impression of it?

 

I've had it for a grand total of about 4 and 1/2 days . Here's links to thread postings about my initial impressions of the MBP:

First Looks
Second Looks

I plan on writing a third "X Looks" impression review this weekend with even more insight on some more stuff like applications, such as iLife '06, FrontRow, Finder, Spotlight, and more. I'll also shed some more of my experiences with VMWare Fusion and Boot Camp as well.

 

thanks a lot cashmonee ...
i have pretty much come to the conclusion that i'll be using my ext. HDD in NTFS form ... will be pondering on the ram upgrade from newegg... ofcourse.. if i give my order for my mbp today... i shall be rxing it on about the 27th... so i have a lot of time to decide on the ram. I shall be going in for the airport extreme base station... since i will be able to use my HDD wirelessly from now on.. which is a big plus!
oh.. and what's the deal with the AirPort Extreme 802.11n MAC enabler? do i have to go to the apple website and get it enabled in the event i don't buy an Airport Extreme base station?

great...! thanks a lot for all the info...

i'll be researching the threads soon .. scouring up info on things to look out for while switching.. and preparing for when my mbp arrives... have a lot of questions to ask ... and prbbly a lot to search around for ..

 

I believe new MBP's are coming with N already enabled so you should be good to go out of the box.

 

Just to confirm, that is exactly correct. The 2.2/2.4GHz MBP's are already N-enabled. You do not need to purchase the $1.99 enabler. Once you physically have the MBP you can check to make sure:

Do you need the AirPort Extreme 802.11n Enabler?
Before purchasing the 802.11n Enabler software, please check to make sure that your Mac does not already have the 802.11n enabler already installed.

• Open Network Utility (found in the Applications > Utilities folder)
• Under the Info Tab, choose Network Interface (en1)
• In the section "Model: Wireless Network Adapter," if it says (802.11a/b/g/n), you already have the 802.11n enabler installed. If it says (802.11a/b/g), you do not have the 802.11n enabler installed.

For more information see AirPort Extreme 802.11n* Enabler for Mac.

 

thanks a lot for the info cashmonee and eternal ... am going to be heading back home shortly.. and then its time to order this baby... ... and time to start thinking of what softwares and stuff to procure ....

i have to say .... the response from everyone in this forum has probably been quite instrumental in swaying me towards going in for the MBP ... thanks to everyone for being so responsive! ... u guys are

 

I would also go with Crucial. I have been using it for years from desktops to laptops to servers. Never had a problem, fast shipping and priced right. I can't say that about any other brand out there.