High-End MacBook or Low-End MacBook Pro?

Maybe I have misunderstood, but I often use my macbook with an external screen. and when I do, I use the external one as main and the built-in as extra workspace. Meaning, no mirroring.. From reading the text, I take it as the macbook is only capable of mirroring its built-in to an external. If that’s the case, it is false.

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I find that the MacBook’s integrated graphics is only capable of driving the internal screen.

When I use an external monitor, expose really starts to slow down, especially with many apps running.

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for me, who is currently an iBook G4 owner, I probably won’t upgrade to the Macbook, simply because of the glossy screen. I like the matte, more comfortable on the eyes. I’m also not so crazy about the Macbook-keyboard. In any case, an upgrade is still at least a year away for me, and who knows what crazy stuff will come out by then.

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Kenny is correct; the MacBook can run an external display in exactly the same way a MacBook Pro can.

The other nod you give to the Pro is in processor speed - don’t be fooled. The difference between 2.0 Ghz and 2.16 Ghz is a difference of 8%… not something you’re going to notice day-to-day while you use the machine.

The three primary differences between the machine are 1) screen size, 2) the extra oomph of the graphics card for audio, video or photo editing and 3) the expresscard slot on the Pro.

(Also, the Pro has a the Ambient Light Sensor to illuminate the keyboard.)

(Finally, this article compares the $1,999 MacBook Pro to the $1,499 high-end MacBook but the same comparison could be made to the $1,299 MacBook and all you’re giving up is 40 GB of drive space and the color black.)

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The F7 key on the Macbook and the Powerbook G4 12″ allows you to switch how you display works with an external display. When you first connect it, it will give you an extension for you current screen, hit the F7 key and it will mirror your screen, hit it again and it will go back to the screen extension.

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I don’t understand that infatuation with large laptops. I actually bought a MacBook Pro, and then wound up selling it and trading down to a MacBook simply because of the form factor. I really like the smaller size of the MacBook so much more. I find that I use it more, and in more places, because it is smaller and lighter. And frankly, that’s what having a laptop is about really: mobility.

If you want a stationary machine for use with a larger monitor, then maybe you should look at a desktop system, or even a MacMini for some portability. But, if you need a work-on-the-move machine, get the smallest laptop that will do the tasks you need.

God I miss the 12″ PowerBooks….

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you should have ran benchmarks and such, to really show the proof of performance

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I am considering a MacBook purchase and would love to hear more from people who have extended their desktop onto an external monitor (not in mirrored mode). I have a 12″ Powerbook G4 (1.33 GHz) and it runs great while connected to my 19″ monitor. I haven’t actually noticed a performance hit, but Marvin indicates that the MacBook does take a large performance hit when connected to an external display. This sounds like a downgrade from my current machine, so I’m curious to hear other experiences.

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Josh: I run my MacBook with a 20″ or 22″ in external display 2/3 of the time I use it. Sometimes I extend, but usually I just close the lid and use only the external one. I can’t tell if there is any real performance hit. have 2gb of ram in my macbook, but I doubt that it would make a difference in this case. Someone else have to answer that.

allthough, a lot of open windows does cause exposé to slow down, but I wouldn’t call that a very big problem.

Generally this setup works very well I have to say.

I have one issue though, but I’m not sure if it is me that is exceptionally stupid or what. The problem I have is that with my 22″ display, I have to plug in the power to the macbook to get a picture. With the 20″ I use in the office it works withouth the power. Maybe there is some difference depending on screen sizes, or maybe it is something with the brands. Or maybe it’s just me.. I have no idea, all I can say is that I have this problem.

On the other hand, if you’re plugged into another display, you probably won’t move around, so it’s not a biggie.

Just my 2 cents on the actual article as well; I have tried a few Pro’s that some friends have. And I can honestly say that I would never play those extra dollars. To me it feels like paying for the “pro” part of the model name. But then again, if you’re doing really heavy graphics stuff, maybe there is a difference. But in my work (web dev and music production), I can’t say that the gfx card makes a real difference. (Before my macbook I was running iMac, with the same gfx card as the pro).

Only once have I noticed difference, and that was when I was adjusting screen candy in Age of Empires, where the gfx in the pro could handle a little more 3d stuff.

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@Josh: The slowdown is only slightly noticeable. If you’re running 2D apps, it will be fine. It’s only when you start running 3D apps like games or video rendering where you will see a huge slowdown.

Take into account that I only have 1gb of ram. I’m going to upgrade to 2gb sometime soon, that should help with multitasking.

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I have the Macbook 2 ghz C2D with 1 gig of ram and 90 percent of the time I’m using it with a 17 inch external display as well as external keyboard and mouse. I pretty much use it as a desktop. Most of the time it is plugged in and I have the lid shut, but sometimes I’ll keep it open with extended desktop when I am podcasting and drag my cart software onto the macbook screen. I almost considered getting the high end, but I’m glad I didn’t, it wasn’t worth the extra $$ for what I was getting in return. The MBP’s look sleek, but I like the glossy screen and the keyboard and the laptop is awesome.

I find that I’m also fine with the hardware. I do a lot of audio editing, graphic and web design work, aperture actually works great for me even though some say it’s really slow on a macbook and I’ve even used Final Cut on it, and while I’m sure It would be much faster on the MBP, I don’t use final cut enough to where I’d need the MBP’s graphics card. For what I use it for, it’s great and I like that I’m able to use it as a desktop and portable. About a week after I got it, I ended up giving my powermac g4 to my mom.

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I had this problem when I was at the apple store buying my laptop.

The lack of dedicated graphics on the macbook threw me off as I am an extreme graphic hobbyist (Been designing for 6+ years).

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One big difference between the two laptops is the expansion card slot. The MacBookPro has it while the MacBook doesn’t. That will come in really handy for an eSata connention or EV-DO connectivity card.

The Firewire 800 plug on the ‘Pro would be my tipping point, anyway.

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The SHOOTOUT @ BareFeats details how well the MacBook (C2D) performs against a MacBookPro: http://barefeats.com/mbcd8.html

That is until is comes down to the 3D engine needed by games.

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I had this same debate for myself and I chose the MacBook. Although the form factor of the Pro is better and the screen size is larger, the price savings and features comparison of the MacBook really sold me. If you don’t need the bigger screen or a dedicated graphics card, the MacBook is an excellent choice nobody will regret.

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The section titled “Graphics Card Info” has a lot of errors, and incorrect information in it. I’ll try to clear some of it up:

“Because the MacBook Pro has a larger display, it will require a more powerful graphics card.” — No, having a physically larger display makes no difference. Having a higher resolution display does make some difference, however both machines will have more than enough “graphics horsepower” to run any of OS X’s eye candy at any supported resolution.

“Also included is the ability to have multiple displays connected and used for more real estate. MacBooks can use multiple displays, however they only mirror what you show on the main one.” — This is incorrect. Both the MacBook Pro and MacBook support Extended Desktop and Video Mirroring modes, however the MBP can run a 2560×1600 external display (think Apple 30″), while the MacBook is limited to a 1920×1200 external display.

“The MacBook has only 64MB. Let me break this down for you. Mac OS X requires a minimum of 80MB. I know what you’re thinking. How can the MacBook run with only 64MB? The MacBook shares it’s main memory with the graphics card memory.” — This is somewhat correct, and somewhat incorrect. Mac OS X 10.4 does not have any minimum video memory requirement. However, some eye candy requires the use of the CoreImage architecture, which requires a “supported video card”, all of which have 64MB of VRAM or more.

The major difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro’s video hardware is that the MacBook uses an integrated graphics card, the Intel GMA 950. An integrated graphics card shares it’s memory with the main system memory. This is a less expensive, although less powerful option. By “borrowing” up to 80MB (64MB + 16MB for overhead) of memory from the main system memory, less is available for other operations, and system memory is generally slower than the dedicated memory in a MacBook Pro. Conversely, the dedicated graphics card in the MacBook Pro has it’s own bank of memory (either 128MB or 256MB) all of which are reserved for the graphics hardware alone. This dedicated memory makes the graphics hardware capability of the MacBook Pro much better than the MacBook, as it’s significantly faster. There is also a difference in the speed and “horsepower” of the X1600 graphics processor in the MBP versus the GMA 950 in the MacBook.

The area you’re going to notice the most difference between the video capabilities of the two machines are anything that utilizes 3D. Games and 3D rendering/design will be significantly faster on the MacBook Pro. Video editing, 2D graphics editing will also see a speed difference on the MBP versus the MacBook, but it will be slightly less significant than anything 3D.

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I have the MacBook 2.0 GHz, and I’m quite happy. I have a 7200 RPM hard drive installed (100GB) and will soon be going to 2GB RAM, but so far 1GB has been pretty decent. I play some games in Boot Camp, and they seem fine to me. No, I’m not going to be playing Oblivion on the MacBook, but that’s what my XBox 360 is for. I can, however, play Sims 2, Star Wars Empire At War, City of Heroes, and Neverwinter Nights with most- of not all- effects turned on and little or no slowdown.

People sell the GMA 950 short. It’s a decent chipset for being an integrated solution. It’s not a games/3D workhorse, but it does an AMAZING job of rendering high definition video, and handling Core Image effects nicely. I wish I could tell the chipset to use more of the main RAM than 64MB (I’d be willing to dedicate 128MB or more of my 2GB for graphics in certain applications, for example) but I’m happy with my choice of computer.

The MacBook is an exceptional value when you consider that for $1299 you’re getting a notebook computer than can run OS X, Windows XP, and Windows Vista without a hitch (although Vista Premium may suffer without more video RAM), and has a built-in camera, bluetooth, WiFi (with 802.11n support), gigabit ethernet, glossy widescreen, one of the best keyboards EVER, a BIG trackpad, a SUPERDRIVE that also happens to be Dual Layer, and excellent battery life.– Not to mention it’s incredibly easy to upgrade the RAM and hard drive!

The ONLY advance I could see in spending another $799 for the MacBook Pro was the screen size (and I prefer smaller for a laptop), the dedicated video chipset (better for games, but I’m not exactly running 3D modelling software here and can’t justify it) and the expansion ports which I’d likely never use.

This is a classy, excellent notebook computer. I had an aluminum 17″ PowerBook a few years ago, and this beats the hell out of it in every way.

OK… I’d like the lighted keyboard, I suppose.

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I use a macBook pro with 2 Gigs of ram, any less and the computer will be too slow. I always go for high-end 15″ since it is more portable than the 17″. Very nice machine but it dents easy. I recommend that you invest 30 dollars in buying a protective skin for your notebook. I did not and wished I did.

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