spec my macbook

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

right i have just sold my old ipad for more than apple is selling them for now so im just about to upgrade to a mac book pro as the ipad isn't good for what i need it for. other than watching movies and surfing the web.

i need all the basics from my imac so photoshop illustrator garage sale. MAM needs to be very quick im uploading around 1000 items an hour at the moment to the web and also designing templates adding products to amazon and selling items through MAM software etc all at the same time.

so far iv decided on the 15" with 2.2ghz quad core. 750gb

but should i upgrade to the 2.3 ghz and 8gb of ram. or will i not notice the difference.
also with regards to the display should i upgrade to the hi res glossy widescreen or the antiglare hi res screen. The anti glare isn't as good looking but is it worth it? im kinda thinking that if i upgrade it to a good spec when i come to sell it on i wont loose very much on it.

im buying it through my company so i kinda want the best aswell as i have to use it when i'm traveling and out of the office... Help this is my first apple lap top i have only ever bought off the shelf models with no upgrades.

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

All the bumboys on here love the glossy screen, mainly because the anti-glare has a silver border.

DO NOT GET A GLOSSY SCREEN! I am so surprised a company like Apple still use that as standard. You cannot see what you are doing, and they only work in a pitch black room, and even then you can still see reflections on it.

Also, DO NOT UPGRADE THE RAM FROM APPLE!

I've have just installed 8GB RAM in my MBP, cost me £70. Apple charge a s**t load more for the same.

Upgrade the specs that you cant do yourself, like screen and processor etc.

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

oki doki thank you. but im a ***** and the glossy screen looks hot. but not practical? lol

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

Not practical in the slightest.

Adam. · Mar 4, 2011

What he said. Glossy screens are shat.

Get ram from crucial

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

oh but they look nice. i think ill go into apple and try them out.

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

lol. Would you rather have a screen that (debatably) looks nice?! Or one that works?!

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

tbh though im really only going to be working on it in the evenings i have my imac at work so use that there...

the anti glare screen just looks like they have ripped the black layer off

Rob · Mar 4, 2011

I've had no issues with the screen I must say, so I'm not sure why you hate it so much?

SC03OTT · Mar 4, 2011

I find the glossy screen fine. I've not tried using it outside though.

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

the glossy? or the anti glare?

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

think ill go glossy it does look nicer. however would it be possible to use it on a plane i fly a fair amount so if thats the case would the anti glare be better. as i guess sunlight would hit it.

i keep changing my mind, its looks or practicality

Rob · Mar 4, 2011

Glossy. It's not like I use my laptop outside anyway.

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

yer but the impression i get from online reviews is that if you use it near a window its almost impossible to work with. my desk is start right in front of a big window... will this annoy me

Mot! · Mar 4, 2011

Hell yes, you'll be moving your desk if you go glossy.

I'm on my 15" glossy now and wish they'd do a standard res' anti glare..

Might even try a film on mine!

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

ok think im gunna go anti glare but im gunna go to apple shop in mk later and have a look at one.

Danny133 · Mar 4, 2011

second the ram thing .. buy it from crucial .. i bought 8GB this week for £62

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

You cant just base it on our advice. Go and try them yourself.

I'm not basing my glossy hatred on nothing. My siss has a glossy MBP, and after about a minute on it, it almost got chucked out the window!

And I use a glossy Toshiba at work, which has a massive window behind me, so you can imagine what that's like!

I will NEVER buy an iMac with a glossy screen, until they do remotely professional grade displays, I'm not interested!

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

Is it just as easy to replace on the new ones?

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

my imac 27" at work seems fine in the sun light. its just the anti glare dont look very nice.

Munson · Mar 4, 2011

Shadowness said:
DO NOT GET A GLOSSY SCREEN! I am so surprised a company like Apple still use that as standard. You cannot see what you are doing, and they only work in a pitch black room, and even then you can still see reflections on it.

LOL what a load of cobblers. Serial mate, that's just utter b****cks. You need some refurbished eyes.

chowiekid · Mar 4, 2011

ha so its not that bad then...

sn00p · Mar 4, 2011

He seems to have a thing about the glossy screens.

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

It is actually a fact - glossy screens are s**t. I will NEVER change my opinion on that.

But bear in mind I use mine a lot for photography, another reason why I can't stand the glossy screens.

Rob182 · Mar 4, 2011

just swapped from glossy to anti-glare and i will never buy a glossy one again.

Glossy has better colour side by side, but when there apart you really would not tell the difference!

IMO get the anti glare!

Christopher · Mar 4, 2011

I don't care if they're better, which they're not for me... but the matte screens have the f*cking ugliest border ever around the screen.

Pass.

Munson · Mar 4, 2011

Still see reflections in a pitch black room? Reflections of what? That's actually scientifically impossible.

If you're near a window then yeah of course you will get some reflections but generally it's not an issue for most people. Direct light will wash out a matte screen so it's not like they're the perfect solution. Don't use computers in direct sunlight. What about plasma TV screens, or all CRT TVs that everyone used for about 60 years? Did/does everyone need blackout curtains? Not that they would help because you can still see reflections in the pitch black. LOL.

Self justification for an ugly MBP

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

Yourself? The backlit keys?

lol at the 'ugly border' comments. I love how the argument for getting glossy is because it has a better border, which is personal preference anyway.

Munson · Mar 4, 2011

SRS dude, you need your eyes detailing if you can see yourself in an MBP in a dark room. As for the keys, WTF? Do you fold the screen down and peer in through a letterbox? Honestly mate, I'm sure you're happy with your choice but you're just clutching at straws IMO. Sure, it's personal preference, but you're making out like the glossy screens are a nightmare, when they are not. Not to most normal people at least. I'm using one right now in a normally lit room and I can't see a single reflection of anything.

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 4, 2011

You're getting hung up on this 'pitch black room' thing. Let it go

Munson · Mar 4, 2011

LOL fair enough. You started it

dk · Mar 5, 2011

Lol, glossy screens are much better, colours and everything for that matter just looks better.

If you are ever going to watch a video on your laptop then it's much better glossy.

I have never had an issue with reflections, I've had glossy laptops now for the past 10+ years when they first came out and have never thought of not buying one. My work laptop is matte and the colours are terrible in comparison.

I'm surprised that someone so heavily into photography who would benefit from seeing a better colour representation is so against them, use the laptop in your dark room

DanFreemanPhoto · Mar 5, 2011

With the risk of adding more fuel to this fire, the anti-glare screens are actually better for photography, not only because of the reflection issue, but they have brighter whites, and many photographers say they have better colour accuracy.

The only advantage the glossy screens have for this purpose is slightly deeper blacks....that's it.

Just FYI

Revels · Mar 5, 2011

If that's the case, why do so many photographers have big iMacs/ACDs etc?

There's no way I'd ever have a matt screen. Not only do it look ugly but you barely gain anything. You can sit in direct light but how often does that happen?

chowiekid · Mar 5, 2011

went into apple today, deffinatly getting a glossy screen but in two minds now, 13" or 15"

with the 13" i noticed that you can get a 2.7ghz processer and its so much cheaper than the 15" 2.3

most the time the laptop will be connected to a monitor at home. or used side by side at work with a imac 27" so is it better for me to get the 13" and save some money.

Also can i get a high res screen on the 13"

im down in plymouth seeing a mate on sat for his birthday to whos a student so how much is student discount aswell?

thanks for the help

SamP · Mar 5, 2011

15'' ftw. I've never had any problems with my glossy screen, use it all the time on trains etc during the day and never notice the reflections. Use it for loads of photography work as well :S

Munson · Mar 5, 2011

13" sucks. I have one, and the screen, compared to other Apple products, is SH*T. I'm still shocked that they didn't upgrade it for the 2011 model.

Adam. · Mar 5, 2011

2.7 is dual core. 2.2/2.3 is quad core.

Brian · Mar 5, 2011

Very useful thread as i'm in the middle of looking at getting a MBP (thanks to TEG for heads-up)

Although, the different opinions doesn't help me so much, ineviteable really though.

wozzaa · Mar 5, 2011

Roy Munson said:
13" sucks. I have one, and the screen, compared to other Apple products, is SH*T. I'm still shocked that they didn't upgrade it for the 2011 model.

Personally I am shocked they continue to use shitty 6 bit TN panels in the MBP's. A panel that is actually not capable of hitting 24bit true colour. While every other Apple device around uses far superior IPS panels. f**king stupid.

spec my macbook

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