Why I decided to NOT buy a new Macbook Pro
Yesterday I drafted an email to my friend Avi at Apple about ordering a new Macbook Pro. I had been drooling over these since the launch, and they were finally available through Apple's employee discount program. So I wrote an email with all the needed information. The computer I wanted (MBP with 4gb RAM and 7200rpm hard drive), free printer (Canon MX700), addresses, credit card numbers, everything.
But then I didn't send it. I really wanted to, but i couldn't do it. I started asking all my friends at Apple if it made sense for me to trade in my perfectly working, previous generation Macbook pro for the new one. And the overwhelming response was "no".
So why didn't I do it:
1. Lose firewire 400 (I have devices that use this)
2. WORSE graphics for the same battery life. To get the same 5 hours my current machine gets, I have to use the integrated graphics. Booo
3. Glossy screen. Not a deal breaker, but definitely not a plus
4. You need another $100 adapter to use a 30" screen
5. You lose the USB port on the right side of the machine. I like having one on each side
6. While it's thinner, it's slightly larger and heavier
And what do I gain? A newer, GORGEOUS design. More rigid frame. Magnetic latch. These things are nice, but not worth swapping out the machine. My current Macbook Pro is PERFECT. It hasn't had a single problem. I REALLY get 5 hours of battery life.
I've always been the type to upgrade my electronics often. I constantly buy the newest camera/phone/ipod/computer and throw my old one on ebay, and pay the difference in upgrading (which usually isn't much if you buy the new item at a good price).
But that wasn't the case here. The new machine will cost me $2000. My old machine? It's on Amazon brand new for only $1450. So that makes my used one worth about $1200. Definitely NOT worth $800 to upgrade to a machine that isn't faster (might be slower) and generally is only improved by design.
So I'm sticking with the machine I have at least until the next generation. And I just saved $800. Yay.
Update: yeah, i know you can get a firewire 800 to 400 adapter. But that's still lame. And that still means 1 firewire port vs 2 on old machines
And as for the dual graphics: the integrated graphics is slower than what i have now. The discreet graphics is A LOT faster. But i'll never use it. Why not? Because it eats your battery life. So i'll use the slower one for sure. And i'll never switch to the faster graphics because you have to log out to switch. I NEVER log out. I hate closing windows and apps. Right now my machine has an uptime of 41 days.
