REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post - Difference between Macbook and Macbook Pro

skholla · 04-08-2009, 10:52 AM

Macbook (plastic) uses DDR2, max 4GB
Macbook (aluminum) uses DDR3, max 4GB
Macbook Pro 15", uses DDR3, max 4GB
Macbook Pro 17", uses DDR3, max 8GB

If you go with the Macbook make sure you buy the Aluminum model. I have a 2 year old plastic one and the body has many hairline cracks and discoloured areas. I also have a 2 year old Macbook Pro 15" and its takes a beating, a few scratches here and there but no cracks. Also the new aluminum Macbooks offer LED backlit screens and backlit keyboards just like the Macbook Pro. The only thing you are missing is the bigger screen, more powerful videocard, firewire and express card slot (next generation of PCMCIA, aka PC card)

Here's a review of the Geforce 9400M in the aluminum Macbooks.... if that is not powerful enough for you then you will have to go with the Macbook Pro instead.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...G.11949.0.html

If you plan on upgrading the RAM make sure you place a custom order from Apple.ca or the Apple store in Pacific Centre. It only costs $120 more to go from 2GB to 4GB. If you do it yourself the RAM will cost almost $200 after taxes (DDR3 is more expensive than DDR2) and in the end you will be left with 2x 1GB DIMMS laying around collecting dust.

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...acture=Corsair

Keep in mind that Apple is not going to cover any troubleshooting under warranty for issues related to your 3rd party RAM. You will have to pay for their time (or any other technician's time) diagnosing any problems where the RAM is the culprit. Be safe and go the painless route, place a custom order, the shipping is free too!

My biggest advice is to make sure that you purchase AppleCare (Apple's 3 year extended warranty) for $299 on your Macbook. You have 1 year to purchase it from the date your buy your Mac. The sooner you buy it the quicker you can call in for hardware and software tech support though (yes they cover software, call in with questions on any preloaded software). I repaired laptops for many years, both Macs and PCs and they both break down. Mac OS X is great and Mac laptops offer much better/convenient/innovative/stylish features than PC laptops but in the end a laptop is a laptop and it will break one day. That day may be after 2 years of user or may be after 6 years of user, unfortunately Apple parts are really expensive (ie. $700 for a motherboard or LCD panel), buy AppleCare and be worry free.

04-08-2009, 10:52 AM	#16
skholla Diagonally parked in a parallel universe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,486 Thanked 66 Times in 61 Posts Failed 3 Times in 2 Posts	Macbook (plastic) uses DDR2, max 4GB Macbook (aluminum) uses DDR3, max 4GB Macbook Pro 15", uses DDR3, max 4GB Macbook Pro 17", uses DDR3, max 8GB If you go with the Macbook make sure you buy the Aluminum model. I have a 2 year old plastic one and the body has many hairline cracks and discoloured areas. I also have a 2 year old Macbook Pro 15" and its takes a beating, a few scratches here and there but no cracks. Also the new aluminum Macbooks offer LED backlit screens and backlit keyboards just like the Macbook Pro. The only thing you are missing is the bigger screen, more powerful videocard, firewire and express card slot (next generation of PCMCIA, aka PC card) Here's a review of the Geforce 9400M in the aluminum Macbooks.... if that is not powerful enough for you then you will have to go with the Macbook Pro instead. http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...G.11949.0.html If you plan on upgrading the RAM make sure you place a custom order from Apple.ca or the Apple store in Pacific Centre. It only costs $120 more to go from 2GB to 4GB. If you do it yourself the RAM will cost almost $200 after taxes (DDR3 is more expensive than DDR2) and in the end you will be left with 2x 1GB DIMMS laying around collecting dust. http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...acture=Corsair Keep in mind that Apple is not going to cover any troubleshooting under warranty for issues related to your 3rd party RAM. You will have to pay for their time (or any other technician's time) diagnosing any problems where the RAM is the culprit. Be safe and go the painless route, place a custom order, the shipping is free too! My biggest advice is to make sure that you purchase AppleCare (Apple's 3 year extended warranty) for $299 on your Macbook. You have 1 year to purchase it from the date your buy your Mac. The sooner you buy it the quicker you can call in for hardware and software tech support though (yes they cover software, call in with questions on any preloaded software). I repaired laptops for many years, both Macs and PCs and they both break down. Mac OS X is great and Mac laptops offer much better/convenient/innovative/stylish features than PC laptops but in the end a laptop is a laptop and it will break one day. That day may be after 2 years of user or may be after 6 years of user, unfortunately Apple parts are really expensive (ie. $700 for a motherboard or LCD panel), buy AppleCare and be worry free. Last edited by skholla; 04-08-2009 at 10:59 AM.