Notebookreview has a new review for Macbook Pro latest model (late 2008). Here is the spec:
- Mac OS X v10.5.5 Leopard and Windows XP SP3 (Boot Camp)
- Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz frontside bus)
- 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
- 250GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive
- 15.4″ glossy widescreen LED backlit display (1440 x 900)
- Integrated Nvidia 9400 graphics (256MB of shared memory) and Discrete Nvidia 9600M GT (256MB of shared memory)
- iSight webcam
- AirPort Extreme WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
- Mini Display port, 2 x USB 2.0 port (480Mbps), Audio out, mic, ExpressCard, FireWire 800
- Dimensions : 0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 inches (H x W x D)
- Weight: 5.5 lbs
- Integrated 50-watt-hour lithium-polymer batter
- 85W MagSafe power adapter with cable management system (6.5oz)
- Price: $1,999 ($1,899 with education discount)
Compare to my HP 6910p:
- Windows XP Prof. (i run Linux anyway, this doesn’t matter)
- Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 1.8GHz (2MB L2 cache, 800MHz frontside bus): This is the biggest difference, but see the price i paid under there
- 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM
- 80GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive
- 14.1″ matte widescreen LED display (1440 x 900)
- Discrete ATI Mobility Radeon X2300 with 128MB VRAM (lame i know, but it does it’s job and i don’t play games)
- Finger scanner
- Intel 4965 WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g)
- Bluetooth 2
- VGA and S-video out, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, audio out, mic, SD reader, FireWire 800
- Weight: 5.0 lbs
- 6-cell (55 WHr) Lithium-Ion battery
- Ability to dock
- Price paid total: 510 Euro (eBay, but it’s brand new)
Or a better competitor Lenovo Thinkpad T500:
- Windows Vista Home Basic
- Intel Core 2 Duo P860
- 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM
- 80GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive
- 15.4″ WSXGA+ CCFL Backlight (1680 x 1050)
- Discrete ATI Mobility Radeon 3650HD with 256MB VRAM (with ability to instantly switch to integrated chip to save power)
- Finger scanner
- Intel 5100 WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n)
- VGA and S-video out, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, audio out, mic, FireWire, SD-card reader
- Weight: 6.0 lbs
- 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery
- Ability to dock
- Price total: $1378
Consider that you can easily find a 10-15% discount coupon for Lenovo T series notebooks on net, what are the reasons to buy a mac except’s the OS and it’s look ? Leopard is a good OS, but does it justify the 45% price difference ? I don’t think so.
Comments 2
I use both actually, and for me, yes it’s worth it. I am installing SuSE 64 on a T61 right now, and I also use a Mac Pro and 1st gen Macbook. The VPN issues alone that you described here (http://www.lamnk.com/blog/computer/cisco-vpn-client-freezes-system-with-dual-core-cpu/#comments) is just about enough for me. I’ve been a desktop Linux user for 10 years, and got the Macs not to switch from Windows, but to switch from KDE3. It’s not that I hate Linux or KDE, but they just run, they’re fast, and any KDE apps I’m missing can be pretty easily compiled and run using Fink, so you get the best of both worlds.
I also really just like the Macbook better from a user standpoint, the keyboard and trackpad are better for me than the keyboard, trackpad and trackpoint on the T500/T61. It’s just the one I’d rather sit and use all day. Downside, big downside: No docking stations/port replicators for the Mac.
Posted 04 Jan 2009 at 11:23 pm ¶Hi Chris, each has his own preferences. I know “you get what you paid for” however the price tags of Apple products are simply not justified for a poor student like me who lives on minimum existence :p
Secondly, i doubt the “just run” words. You know, it’s all about the users when it comes to computer security/stability. My windows xp boxes run for weeks without reboot and they are not infected by any virus or spyware. Yes, out of the box mac may be more secure, more stable than windows but hey, linux is also the same. And free.
PS: there is the new Cinema Display which can be used as a docking station for macbook
Posted 06 Jan 2009 at 8:02 am ¶Post a Comment