Mac People, advice please

I have a MacBook Pro, which was part the first group ever designed.  I love it, but, sadly, due to improper usage by husband's who shall remain nameless  , the hard drive is failing.  I am not a happy camper and the folks at the Genius Bar have advised not spending the money on the drive repair because they think there are other issues caused by said improper usage (he spilled liquid on it) and may not be viable once "repaired."

I don't have the money to buy a new MacBook Pro.  It was the only functioning computer in the house.  Would a MacBook be able to handle the tasks I currently do?

I have some pretty intense video and photo editing software, but, it was the first thing removed when the computer went a bit weird. I do play WoW (though very rarely).  I run typical office type software (spreadsheets and word processing).  I do use wireless internet and stream music through the house with Airport Extreme (yes, I am a dork).

Or, should I just switch to the iMac?  The Power Mac is much more than I need at this time.

Suggestions?

Hi this is Jenn's boy.

It sounds like a Macbook will be able to do most of the job without much problem. I used one until recently for some pretty intensive stuff... and the new chips in them are super fast.

The only minus with them is they have an on-board graphics card... so they share RAM. This means you can still do all the photo editing and video stuff if you want to go back to that... however may not be able to run a few programs.... Aperture and Final cut for... example, but can still run others, Photoshop or iMovie.

With extra RAM you might find 'cause of the new processor a Macbook may be faster than your Macbook Pro. 

If you do get one don't upgrade the RAM and HD with Apple. You can fit any small laptop drive yourself if you need disk space and RAM can be bought cheap on somewhere like www.dabs.com... I bought 2GB for mine for about £50, Apple charges 3 times that.

The only downside sounds like WoW... Because of the shared graphics card... this could effect frame rate... You'll need to check minimum and recommended specs for it.

Hi this is Jenn's boy.

It sounds like a Macbook will be able to do most of the job without much problem. I used one until recently for some pretty intensive stuff... and the new chips in them are super fast.

The only minus with them is they have an on-board graphics card... so they share RAM. This means you can still do all the photo editing and video stuff if you want to go back to that... however may not be able to run a few programs.... Aperture and Final cut for... example, but can still run others, Photoshop or iMovie.

With extra RAM you might find 'cause of the new processor a Macbook may be faster than your Macbook Pro. 

If you do get one don't upgrade the RAM and HD with Apple. You can fit any small laptop drive yourself if you need disk space and RAM can be bought cheap on somewhere like www.dabs.com... I bought 2GB for mine for about £50, Apple charges 3 times that.

The only downside sounds like WoW... Because of the shared graphics card... this could effect frame rate... You'll need to check minimum and recommended specs for it.

That's great!  Thanks!  I don't play enough WoW to matter, really.  I haven't played in months and used to play on a pre-Intel chip iMac.  The Aperture is a bit of a downside as I do have the program, but, that can always go on the desktop when we decide to get one.  As long as I can run Photoshop, I am happy.  Thanks for the info!

My Macbook from 2 years ago runs WoW no problem. Great frame rate!

I have a Macbook that's just over a year old, and it's fabulous.  In fact, it's faster and smarter than our two year-old iMac!

Arg, I really want to buy the Mac Book now, but, DH is holding back saying it isn't essential.  Not for him, but, it is for me!  That is how I stay in touch with almost everyone in my life!  Once the currrent Mac dies (I give it a week or so), we will no longer have a functioning computer in the house!  GAH!

And once I do buy it, it is off limits to DH.  I love him, but, he killed my MacBook Pro!  Grrrr!

I would KILL my boy if he caused my macbook any pain!

Hope you get a new mac soon!!

dar- sounds like we should send my boy & your boy on a "how to treat computers lesson". 

dar- sounds like we should send my boy & your boy on a "how to treat computers lesson". 

Yes, indeed!  Silly athletic types with no understanding of technology! 

I would KILL my boy if he caused my macbook any pain!

Hope you get a new mac soon!!

Is it bad that it crossed my mind? 

I love my regular macbook.  My ex-boyfriend had a macbook pro, but honestly, mine does everything his did without any issues at all (and he was a hardcore gamer).  I also (personally) feel that the plastic body makes mine feel rougher and tougher than then the titanium shell and it doesn't get nearly as warm underneath.  My 2 pence. 

I love my regular macbook.  My ex-boyfriend had a macbook pro, but honestly, mine does everything his did without any issues at all (and he was a hardcore gamer).  I also (personally) feel that the plastic body makes mine feel rougher and tougher than then the titanium shell and it doesn't get nearly as warm underneath.  My 2 pence. 

Thanks!  That's good to know!

Has anyone bought one of the refurbished Macs direct from Apple?  The savings are substantial and it includes a standard year warranty.  I am still a bit wary though....

The boy said its very important to check the model in terms of chip speed, hard disc, graphics card, etc.  Compare these to the current range in the Apple store as you could be buying an older released Mac.  Admittedly the savings are appealing, and we thought about it before buying our new Mac Book Pro, as we could have gotten a 17" instead of 15".  However, it was the previous 17" model which means our new 15" has a better chip, more hard disc, more ram and is about 25% faster.

Just make sure it's a current release if you do buy from Apple. 

The boy said its very important to check the model in terms of chip speed, hard disc, graphics card, etc.  Compare these to the current range in the Apple store as you could be buying an older released Mac.  Admittedly the savings are appealing, and we thought about it before buying our new Mac Book Pro, as we could have gotten a 17" instead of 15".  However, it was the previous 17" model which means our new 15" has a better chip, more hard disc, more ram and is about 25% faster.

Just make sure it's a current release if you do buy from Apple. 

Ahh, thanks!  I went back to look and the one I was looking at is not a current release.    Boo!

Has anyone bought one of the refurbished Macs direct from Apple?  The savings are substantial and it includes a standard year warranty.  I am still a bit wary though....

Yes!  I got a MacBook Pro a year ago Christmas from the refurbished list.
Love it.
Never had a problem.
Upgraded to Leopard.
Never had a problem.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.

Yes!  I got a MacBook Pro a year ago Christmas from the refurbished list.
Love it.
Never had a problem.
Upgraded to Leopard.
Never had a problem.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.

Good to know!  I think that I will ring them today about the refurbished ones.  If I do this, I can get a MacBook Pro to replace my dying MacBook Pro!