MacBook vs MacBook Pro Article

[Tonio Loewald]

Rather than say mean things in public, I thought I'd make some comments here. I hope this is appropriate.

This is a very interesting topic which has been taxing my mind quite a bit, but I don't think the article really addresses the issue very well.

First point -- the "high end" MacBook features black paint and a bigger hard disk. The comparison really should be between the mid-range or even bottom-end MacBook. For most intents and purposes, when you go from $1299 for the mid-range MacBook to $1999 for the bottom-end MacBookPro you're buying a very nice video card and keyboard.

The main difference between the two is the graphics card. Expresscard slots will only be of interest to a tiny minority. (Speaking as someone who uses a laptop in bed and on red-eye flights, the backlit keyboard on the MacBook Pro is wonderful, I am very jealous of my wife (I use an iBook right now). This is FAR more useful than the ExpressCard slot for most people. I imagine folks using MBPs for -- say -- live control of audio in stage performances regard it as a killer feature. I see a lot of MBPs around at concerts and plays.)

Second. I think hardware articles should really show some or link to benchmarks.

Finally. Concrete examples of why you'd pick one over the other. E.g. if you want to use Aperture, you have no choice. If you want to use Motion, you have no choice. If you want to play World of Warcraft, you have no choice.