tims4789 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I'm gonna get an Apple to use for college. I need to be able to run Windows (preferably Vista). I just need a change of scenery. I've used Windows since I was a kid but lately its making me sick. All my college software runs on Vista. I would also like to play all my Steam games and maybe FSX. What would be the perfect Mac for me? I'm trying to decide between the entry level Pro at 1799 and the mid level Macbook. Is the Pro worth having to finance? What do you think would be best for me? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
drvr8 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 macbook has no gfx card choices and the macbook pro actually has some gfx card choices...probably the macbook pro is a better choice if you want to do any gaming on it. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-819851 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatshitcat Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I'd say pro for college. But wait if you can till September when they are rolling out the new ones. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-819927 Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaled_acmilan Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 yes MacBook Pro is good enough to you. it's good for gaming and Vista. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-819943 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BebopBlues Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Depends on whats more important, gaming or school. The macbook has longer battery life and is smaller and lighter to carry around. But doesn't have the power to run games well. It should run Vista decent enough. The MBP can run Vista well, and can play games, but battery life isn't as good and its bigger and heavier to carry around. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-819972 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 The Macbook Pro is ideal, if you can afford it. Yes, it's bigger but it's only very slightly heavier than the Macbook, and has great battery life. It's an awesome laptop. The only problem is it costs quite a lot of money! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-819995 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tims4789 Posted July 15, 2008 Author Share Posted July 15, 2008 i guess i'll spend the extra money and get a pro. does anyone know if financing is a good option? is there a penalty for paying it off early? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-820219 Share on other sites More sharing options...
drvr8 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 financing is not good at all. You need to take a financial management class while you're at college and learn about interest rates, credit card debit and responsible spending. If you can't afford to pay off the entire amount now for the laptop you should wait until you save up enough. You'll have plenty of access to computer labs at school and can do your work for your classes in the labs. Get a job working at one of your computer labs and you'll have after hours access to them as well if you need a fix for late night gaming. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-820414 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tims4789 Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Drvr8 you're probably right. I'll have the money to buy it in cash in 4 months. I just don't wanna wait til then. I will though, my mom has always gave me this long speech about instant gratification and it'll feel alot better to not have a ~$3000 debt hanging over my head. Also, I don't think I have to take an accounting class as I'm a Computer Information Systems major and Military Science minor (ROTC = 2LT when I graduate! w00t). Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-820977 Share on other sites More sharing options...
drvr8 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 an accounting or financial management class could satisfy one of your math general education requirements for your degree though, and an economics class could satisfy math or social sciences GE requirements. Get in to see your enrollment services office as soon as possible to find out your GE requirements for your degree...if you're in your school of engineering you probably don't have any GEs but other B.S. or B.A. degrees will definitely need GEs. While you're at college, remember your ultimate career goal. Your mom is right though about maintaining a large debt, they do nothing but continue to grow over time. Your degree, your credit score and your physical health and well being will be lifelong assets long after you outgrow your mbp. Also as new technology is introduced, the prices start out initially high and then fall as demand falls off to attract more customers, i.e. first iphone users who experienced spending more money early on. I wanted a macbook 2 years ago but knew i didn't have a major need for one and instead waited till now to buy one for my graduate school work as i spend about 5-8 hrs in class per day over the summer and will be working on location in the fall and my access to computer labs will be limited. Plus i got a "free ipod touch" - it's not really free since it's a mail-in rebate so you pay the full price on it + tax (shipping is free) so ends up costing you the tax, which in california is 8.75%. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-821000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Generic Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 I have the regular MacBook, and it's been all I ever needed in a laptop. Since I hardly have any time to play games at all, it runs some basic Mac games, as well as Mame. Parallels and XP give me access to the few Windows programs I absolutely have to run (mostly lab software), as well as Baldur's Gate I and II. Other than that, it's a very good companion, has great battery time (if you turn the Wifi and Bluetooth off), a fairly speedy DVD writer and a decent temperature even when running full tilt. The fans could be a little quieter, but that's about it when it comes to critique. Honestly, I couldn't have justified going for the premium of the 'Pro. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-824427 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJgonza Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 financing is not good at all. You need to take a financial management class while you're at college and learn about interest rates, credit card debit and responsible spending. If you can't afford to pay off the entire amount now for the laptop you should wait until you save up enough. You'll have plenty of access to computer labs at school and can do your work for your classes in the labs. Get a job working at one of your computer labs and you'll have after hours access to them as well if you need a fix for late night gaming. What about time value of money, if you can pay it off before you get hit with the interest rates, then that would be your best option. Otherwise, it would be best to pay for it all up front. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/115811-macbook-or-pro/#findComment-827807 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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