MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo vs. MacBook Pro Core Duo

Question

I currently have a MacBook Pro 2.0Ghz Intel Core Duo. Is it worth it to upgrade to the most recent MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo? What will I gain by spending the money? Does the battery get as hot on the Core 2 Duo as it does on the Core Duo or was that issue resolved?
Any insight and/or advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm sitting here making a list of the helpful Mac software to download for my new 2.4 LED MBP Core 2 Duo (2 GB memory) with the Santa Rosa chipset, and looking through the Applications folder of my 1.83 MBP Core Duo (2 GB memory).
I've actually been doing side-by-side comparisons throughout the day, and here are my admittedly subjective impressions. Please understand that I'm not doing benchmarking---you will soon find lots of places giving you those numbers, and they don't mean much to me anyway. I use my computers in my job and they are tools, albeit fascinating, but a tool nonetheless. My impressions are just that--what does it "feel" like to me. So, if you want benchmarks with numbers, I apologize.
1. Everyday work-type use (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Safari, e-mail): About equal in terms of speed and ability to manipulate large Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. The new MBP "feels" slightly faster but not that "wow, this is fast" that I experienced when going from my old Dell laptop to the MBP Core Duo. What I have experienced is a new appreciation for my old Core Duo--it has no trouble keeping up with the new one.
2. Video and photo editing: Again, the new MBP feels slightly faster, and timing the rendering of a short video clip was faster on the new one compared with the old one, but not by much. In fact not enough of a difference to retire the old one for less demanding tasks---it will remain one of my main computers.
3. Heat: Sometimes it feels like my old MBP could cook eggs on it after doing some video editing or after a long DVD session. The new one seems to run a lot cooler---a lot cooler, although I haven't had a real chance to stress it, but comparing the same tasks side-by-side for transferring and running through my photo collection, the difference in heat was very noticeable. The old one was hot, and the new one actually felt cool to the touch (a little warm, but compared to my old one, it felt cool). I suspect I will continue to see that the new one runs a lot cooler.
4. Battery: In running the battery down to empty today, I got 4 hours and 40 minutes on the new one and 3 hours 10 minutes on the old one---quite a difference. I expect more once I calibrate the battery on the new one. I should say that when I run on battery, I shut down Bluetooth and Airport if I don't need them in order to save on power.
I'll do some more comparing in the next few days, just to see if there are major differences. Right now, I like the LED screen but it looks the same as my old one---maybe I just can't tell the difference.
All in all, the new one is fast and cool with a longer battery life, whereas the old one is fast and hot with a shorter battery life.
I would recommend the new MBP to anyone considering a new computer. Would I recommend that people with the old Core Duo upgrade? Not really---the old one really holds its own against the new MBP--not that much difference in speed. I don't think the difference in operating temp and longer battery life is that big a deal nor enough to justify an upgrade yet. I did it because I wanted to, not because I thought I needed to. And as my day has proved to me, the speed difference perceptually is pretty slight--they are both fast and a pleasure to work on.
I have a new appreciation for my old workhorse, the 1.83 MBP Core Duo--it's still a great computer. I almost gave it to my wife, but not after today.