My Macbook Pro Decision

I am want to get a Macbook Pro (it will be my first one), but I'm not sure whether to wait and see if the price for the retina display reduces or more storage for the same price. Or should I get the non retina 2.9 GHz i7 Macbook instead as I can also change it to SSD storage at a later date to boost its performance.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Nobody here knows future Apple plans. However, as technology moves forward you will get more power in the future for less money. As soon as you buy something, something else will change and it will be better/less expensive. So make an intelligent choice on what works for you now, buy it and use it. Being able to upgrade to an SSD is good thinking ahead.

Similar Messages

About to buy a new Macbook Pro, decisions...

I have been reading all the discussions I could find pertinent, over the last couple weeks... Many different points of view, different ways to go... I've had Macs since the Mac Plus first came out... Presently a 17" MacBook Pro I've had since 2006... It seems it's time to go forward... :-)
First question is to get an Apple installed SSD or a third party SSD.. I think I sort of grok the pros and cons both ways, and would definitely like to save the money if it results in a machine as least as solid as Apple's with their SSD... I'm quite comfortable switching out the HD for an SSD and putting the HD into an enclosure, first putting the SSD into the same enclosure to format and install Mountain Lion onto it... I want the optical drive, so putting the HD there is not an option... Also creating a boot disk with a flash drive, so can boot and set the SSD as the startup, as well as have a boot disk around... Also running TRIM install software, seemingly understanding the real need to do that for the benefit of the SSD long term... I realize no one can tell me what I want, there in the final moment of ordering, so to speak... But any direct thoughts on this decision in the meantime would be more than welcome...
Second question, which third party SSD to buy, not size necessarily, but manufacturer... aprox 256GB, possibly up... And specifically for the new 15" MB Pro, NOT Retina, with a link to a particular SSD, if it is possible... I ask that because I've looked at the Crucial site, and what they recommend for the new 15", and their # on it doesn't seem to match Crucial's manufacturer numbers on sites like OWC, J&R, etc... Got me confused... Any help on this greatly appreciated... Criteria for me in order of importance are quality (durability) and reliability, costs, speed... With quality and reliability including its interface with the new MB Pro as a third party SSD... Any other thoughts more than welcome...
Third question, which ram upgrade (16 GB possibly 8 GB), re manufacturer again, and specifically of course for the new 15"... Same criteria as above... I understand that 1.35 volts could be important, enough at least for me now that that is what I think I want to get... Interestingly MacConnection"s ram specs don't show the voltage,... Other places do... So again, which particular ones, and again links would be hugely appreciated...
Thanks ,
John.

The 15" will be fine ... the lack of ExpressCard slot means you have limited expansion options eg no way to add fast eSATA storage, but for your web production needs then the limited options should not cause any great impact. If you need I/O then there are firewire based options out there. If you need broadcast quality monitoring then you could use the Matrox MXO solution. For high speed dedicated storage you can use a FireWire 800 based drive or RAID.
Best
Andy

Macbook Pro Decision

Having just received my refund on a 2011 15" Macbook Pro BTO and 27" Cinema Display (which were to replace my aging 2006 iMac 24" with 20" Cinema Display), I'm now back in analysis paralysis based on my experiences with said laptop.
I used the computer over four days, and determined it was not a fit for me since:
1. The low resolution screen I opted for was too low for my liking
2. The fans would ramp up to noticeably audible ranges during moderate tasks
3. The portability factor just wasn't as portable as I had hoped; this thing is big
I had spent nearly $4500 on a laptop and Cinema Display and while I achieved huge performance gains and connectivity thanks to Thunderbolt, couldn't help but feel like I made the wrong move. So I packed it up, shipped it back, and am back to square one.
When at the store, I played around with the 13" Macbook Pro, and while the resolution seemed all to similar to the default resolution of my returned 15" Macbook Pro, the form factor was perfect for transportation.
So I ask the community this: Would pulling the trigger on an SSD-enabled 13" Macbook Pro keep me satisfied until the 27" iMac lineup is refreshed with Sandybridge technology?
My theory is that I get two computers for the price of one (when you include the cost of the monitor), with the heat dissipating properties of a desktop all-in-one being better than a laptop enclosure. I also solve the portability issue since the 13" is light and nimble, and gain the ability to do a dual screen multi-monitor setup c/o the iMac without needing to splurge on a Mac Pro should I feel 27" isn't enough for me.
My concerns are the lower horsepower options on the 13" and the lower screen resolution which was an issue at 15", but may be a better fit in the smaller form factor.
Any guidance is greatly appreciated!

I've been doing a lot of photo work on my 13" and have been happy with the screen. The resolution is a little disappointing, but as you said, it's a great portable machine. If I need higher resolution, I just plug into my external monitor and work at my desk.
Noise is not an issue most of the time, but if I do heavy video rendering, the fan does ramp up and get fairly loud. It cools back down quickly.
By the way, as an experiment yesterday I ran a transcode in Handbrake while streaming an HD flash video and loading web pages. The fan ran full speed, but absolutely no lock-ups or slowdowns on any of the processes!

When are the faster i7 quad core (2.7ghz) chips going to ship in the MacBook Pros, Intel announced them over a month ago. Trying to make a buying decision.

When are the faster i7 quad core (2.7ghz) chips going to ship in the MacBook Pros, Intel announced them over a month ago. Trying to make a buying decision.

We can't speculate, when it appears it will appear.
Are these mobile processors? Because that will answer your question right there.

Final decision on what Macbook pro to buy?

Ok, so lots of Photoshop, Creative Suite, FCPX work. Not a big budget... Opinions? Alternatives?
Help? Decision?
Choice one:
Refurbished 15.4-inch MacBook Pro 2.0GHz Quad-core Intel i7 with Retina Display
$1,699.00
Originally released October 2013
15.4-inch (diagonal) Retina display; 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch 
8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB Flash Storage1
720p FaceTime HD camera
Intel Iris Pro Graphics
Choice two:
Refurbished 15.4-inch MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Quad-core Intel i7 with Retina Display
$1,659.00
Originally released February 2013
15.4-inch (diagonal) Retina display; 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch
8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L SDRAM
256GB Flash Storage
720p FaceTime HD Camera
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory

Sorry but if you could pay particular attention to graphocs, integrated vs stand alone, also the performance update from model releases.

I have a 500 GB hard drive and a 1TB Time Capsule running on a MacBook Pro. It was all working well until the MacBook went in for a repair a week or so ago. Since then, TC will not perform a backup; instead, it says the backup is too large for the disk

Since having my MacBook Pro repaired (for a video problem) Time Capsule returns the following message: "This backup is too large for the backup disk. The backup requires 428.08 GB but only 192.14 GB are available."
I notice that there is also a new sparse bundle.
Since TC has my ONLY backup (going back about 4 years) I am reluctant to wipe it and start over fresh as I am afraid of losing files.
Is there a way of dealing with this?
I am using Snow Leopard 10.6.8

The repair shop likely replaced a major circuit board on your MacBook Pro, so Time Machine thinks that you have a "new" computer and it wants to make a new complete backup of your Mac.
You are going to have to make a decision to either add another new Time Capsule....or USB drive to your existing Time Capsule....and in effect start over with a new backup of your Mac and then move forward again.
For "most" users, I think this is probably the best plan because you preserve all your old backups in case you need them at some point, and you start over again with a new Time Capsule so you have plenty of room for years of new backups.
Or, as you have mentioned, you have the option of erasing the Time Capsule drive and starting all over again. The upside is that you start over and have plenty of room for new backups. The downside is that you lose years of backups.
Another option....trying to manually delete old backups individually....is tricky business....and very time consuming. To get an idea of what is involved here, study this FAQ by Pondini, our resident Time Capsule and Time Machine expert on the Community Support area. In particular, study the pink box.
http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/12.html
Once you look through this, I think you may agree that this type of surgery is not for the faint of heart. I would suggest that you consider this only if one of the other options just cannot work for you.

HT203254 MacBook Pro 2007 NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT issues

I have a MacBook Pro from 2007 that all of a sudden went black. Unfortunately it was out of warranty by one month when it happened. What would be the least expensive way to replace the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphic processor. Also, is there a way to use a different graphic processor?
Is it difficult to replace it by myself? Thanks...

Hi Reddmanz
How interesting! I posted a reply to you this afternoon asking about Mr. Cook and it appears it was never posted.
It appears a nerve has been touched - how strange. Fortunately I took a print of the discussion page so that's stuffed up their corporate effort - what a load of plonkers. I do have to deal with CEO's, SVP's and the like. All is well until their little apple cart is upset. I have no idea who, or should I say at what level, the editor is that makes these decisions. In most cases they have a lot to learn about corporate trust and public relations. It is highly likely that the person responsible is at a very low level. If he does not think so, he will when he reads this.
Ah well, no Steve to write to - it will have to be the other one - is his name Cook?
Best regards to all and do not get upset by one lowly corporate plonker.
TY
PS To Mr. Plonker - I've been using and buying Apples since 1986 - probably a long time before you were born.
PPS I suppose you pull this before it goes out but at least you will have read it.

Hey, I have $2350-2400 and I want some proper guidance for the macbook pro

HEY!!!
Guys I will try to make this as easy as possible!
First let me tell you I am 15, I love graphics, music and literature and I have no credit card, my iTunes account has no money, I'm using an account that doesn't require credit cards! So (ugh) I buy all the free apps
Anyway
Dad gave me $2400 to buy a macbook pro and keep the change but since I live in Italy, I have to convert them to Euros.
$2400-1821 EUR
So I came up with 2 conclusions and I just want some opinions on which is the smarter decision.
Well apparently there are 4 types of laptops I can get right now from the macs.....
to make this as simple and as easy as possible (and to show off my ICT skills ) I made a table which includes
1) the laptop mentioned
2) the price in dollars (which I got directly from the apple store in the US)
3) the price in euros (which I got directly from the apple store in Europe)
Macbook Pro Kind
Price in dollars
Price in EUR
13-inch: 2.5GHz
$1119.00
1249.00 EUR
13-inch: 2.9GHz
$1499.00
1549.00 EUR
13-inch: 2.5GHz with Retina Display
$1499.00
1549.00 EUR
13-inch: 2.6GHz with Retina Display
$1699.00
1749.00 EUR
But you can install somethings on to your laptop right there in the shop and I wanted two things,
1) pages: I thought would help with my writing because I write poems, novels, stories, etc
2) numbers: this program just deals with spreadsheets and charts and just the mathematical area and thought that this would help when doing A levels and GCSE math
3)keynote: This is basically like power point and it just makes presentations.
each of these programs are 18 EUR
One more thing, since I am planning on using this laptop for several years, I change changing countries often and so the laptop can come with an adapter that works in both European and American countries
But thats 80 EUR
The laptop (the edition i want) is 1749 EUR
that means with all these additional stuff
I calculated it on the apple store
1749.00 EUR + 18 EUR + 18 EUR+ 18 EUR 80 EUR = 1883.01 EUR
If we were in america then according to the website's store
$1699 + $19.99 + $19.99 + $19.99 + $79.00= $1847.96
I'd be buying the SAME amount of things in the States for $1847.96 and I'd have 552 dollars change but in Italy everything would cost 1883.01 EUR which is the equivalent of $2481.61 which is more expensive than the US!
BUT
You have to consider the fact that this is with all the additional costs
The additional things I thought I'd need
If I said "no just buy the laptop"
then the correct price in dollars is $1699
the correct price in euros would be 1749 EUR
the laptop only. No extra features.
1749 EUR in Dollars would be $2305!
Exactly $2305!
That means I would only have had 95 dollars difference.
Anyway the bottom line is all these additional things that I was talking about, the softwares and everything, they're going to help me in the near future, not RIGHT now.
So what I can do is just buy the laptop and then as I progress in to year eleven, slowly by slowly, I can start buying the softwares.
I'm sorry I'm unburdening ALL these different information on you, but I just wanted to approach this from as many angles and be as aware of all the variables as possible.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(THIS IS THE CONCLUSION)
OPTION ONE
Buy the 13-inch: 2.6GHz with Retina Display Macbook Pro for 1749.00 EUR including all the additional features (the three softwares and the adapter which together have the total value of 134 EUR)
Therefore the total amount of money we'd be spending is
1883.01 EUR
That means the total cost of everything would be $2481.62 and I'd get no difference
OPTION TWO
Buy the 13-inch: 2.6GHz with Retina Display Macbook Pro for 1749.00 EUR and then when I am 16 or 18 I buy these softwares with a credit card and apply them for my A levels later.
That means the total amount we'll be spending is
1749.00 EUR
Which is $2305
I will have $95 (72 EUR) pocket money.
(BY THE WAY, MY PARENTS WORK FOR THE UNITED NATIONS AND DON'T PAY VAT OR SOMETHING AND SO WE KIND OF SOMEHOW GET A 20% DISCOUNT SO THE PRICES WILL BE A BIT OFF AND CHEAPER.... I JUST CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO DO ALL OF THE CALCULATIONS BUT YEAH.....................)
Thanks for reading
Please reply ASAP I'm buying the mac extremley soon.....

Never heard of .MOD format, but generally VLC player will play most any format.
It's free, open source so no harm in trying:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Should I get a 13" or 15" Macbook Pro with retina laptop?

I, FINALLY, after one year of wanting to get a new laptop to use as my primary computer replacing my desktop computer at home.........have decided to switch gears from a Windows computer to a MACBOOK PRO with RETINA laptop. It's not an easy decision when you are spending SO much money on something you hope will last a long time as I do NOT plan on getting a new laptop once I buy this one for a very long time (until it breaks / can no longer function)!
My dilemma now is whether to go with the high end 13" Macbook Pro OR get a similar if not higher end 15" Macbook Pro. Here's background on myself and what I plan on using the laptop for:
I plan on using it as my new primary computer for home so primarily for my personal use, but I will be using it also for work so I will be using it for basically EVERYTHING!
I will use it to do word processing (MS Word), to do my finances (reconcile my bank stmts/accounts), using MS Excel for accounting work, check my emails, research the Internet, photo editing (pretty much basic, definitely not advanced) and creating slideshows with my photos/music, downloading/playing music. I do not plan on using it to play any games.
I use alot of MS Office / Excel and some Powerpoint - either for work or home.
I need alot of storage space for photos (recreational - up to 400 per vacation trip) and I plan on creating slideshows with the photos using Apple's great photo/video/slideshow apps! At last count, I had about 100GB of photo files.
I also need alot of storage for my music files - I have @ least 12GB of music right now and am always downloading more each year.
I plan on taking it with me outside of home only on the weekends for the most part like to a cafe (Starbucks) or library, but not for anything further than that (not for travel as I will just take my ipad).
I know it's only ~1lb difference in weight, but a couple of my concerns is since it will be my primary home computer (i.e.I'll be using it in the evenings/on the weekends and probably more (since it's an Apple!) to work on photos/slideshows, if the screen size difference will matter in the longrun in terms of having any impact on my vision (not sure if the 2" will make a difference in that). I'm only 45yo, but I do worry about that! I tried both the 13" and 15" in the Apple store and the only difference I saw was that the 15" screen allowed you to have multiple programs visible on the screen side by side, but viewing the actual programs was the same (in size). I don't really view programs side by side right now (I use the ALT-TAB shortcut alot to view multiple programs I have open at once), but I could see how having programs viewable side by side could come in handy.
I had a Toshiba 17" laptop before that was too HEAVY to lug around even if on the weekend so I no longer want a heavy laptop and want something more portable to take with me on my weekend excursions to the local cafe/library which basically means going from home to car and car to location at most, but when I go to use the restroom, I like to take it with me (do not feel safe leaving it behind on table) so I don't want it too heavy.
I do plan on getting me a Western Digital external hard drive to backup ALL my files yet since I plan on keeping the computer for as long as it'll hold up, I want to make sure I have alot of storage to keep up with me. I like the flashdrive component because there are fewer moving parts so less likely to have problems in the long run and given that (despite my need for alot of storage), I'll backup my photos/music to external drives should I end up maxing out on my storage.
I value your opinions, please help me DECIDE!!!!! I'm frustrated and it's driving me nuts!!! I know it's too much to ask, but if they had a 14", I would probably go with it! A 2" difference seems pretty big. :-)
THANK YOU!!!

Thanks guys. I'm set on the 15" now and am now deciding on whether I should go with the standard MBP or the MBP with retina display? I'm not an advanced photographer, but I do like to take alot of photos especially when travelling and I do plan on creating slideshows with my photos synched with music. I don't think I'd be one to really be able to tell the difference between a retina vs. non-retina screen given that since I can't really tell the difference between a tv screen with vs. without HD. So for me, I don't think it'd be about the retina display at all. It is more about the storage capacity AND the fact that I hear with the retina/flash storage, that there are less apt to have problems down the road so a more sturdy a machine. Given I take alot of photos/will be creating slideshows wth my photos, and downloading/playing music, I'm thinking the standard MBP might be better storage-wise. But also given I plan on keeping this laptop for a long time (basically, until it breaks or becomes too slow to function productively), that makes me want to go the retina/flash storage route. SIGH.
Should I not be so concerned about the longevity of the machine, but rather opt for the one with more storage?

Should I keep my MacBook Pro or exchange it for more Ram and SSD space?

Hello,
I decided to purchase a MacBook Pro 15 inch with Retina display. I thought I would just bite the bullet and get it with the upgraded 16gb Ram and 512 SSD as I want this computer to last me at least 5 years. I don't know exactly what I will be using it for but potentially I will be running a small business with it as well as using it for photos, some videos and all the other things we all use everyday. This brought the total price tag up to about $2900 before tax. Way more than I wanted to spend, but again, I plan on this being my last computer purchase for at least 5 years...and this would be my only computer...not a secondary one but the primary one.
As I was asking the guy in Best Buy about any sales or discounts, he mentioned a MacBook Pro with retina display that was just retuned to the store by a lady that decided to go with a MacBook Air instead. It had been opened but not used and was in perfect condition. The sales manager said he could sell that one to me for $470 off the normal price. The problem was, it was the base model and only had 8gb Ram and 256gb SSD storage. So, I had the option of buying the computer I wanted...that I know would last me for years and years, for $2,900 OR buy the base model for $1,729. What would you do?
I decided to buy the base model as it was just to good a deal to pass up. Now, 2 days later, I don't know if I made the right decision. I know that 256gb of memory is not going to last me very long...especially considering how much more space modern software takes up nowadays...and its only getting worse. My solution is to just buy an external hard drive and store everything I don't immediately need on it. But I don't know if I'm being realistic as maybe it will be a major pain to constantly have to carry around an extra storage device. Then again, even if I had the 512 SSD model MacBook, I would still eventually run out of space and need an external drive. Has anyone else relied on an external device for their daily computing needs? Is it a major nuisance or easy to get by with?
My bigger concern is that it only has 8gb of Ram and can NOT be upgraded in the future. 8gb ram is fine right now, especially with the flash drive and i7 quad core processor, but in a couple years, I'm afraid it won't be enough and that ill be forced to purchase another computer. The sales manager said that because its a Mac and because of the "monster processor" that the 8gb of Ram will be more than enough for years to come. According to him, Macs require less Ram than PC's due to their operating system being much more efficient. (This is my first Mac so I'm a bit unfamiliar)
So this is my dellima, should I return the base model and buy the one I originally wanted or should I make do with the base model and be thankful for the great deal I was able to get?
Will the 8gb of Ram be enough in a few years? I realize that depends on what I'm using the computer for but, since I'm not sure what my needs will be in the next year, lets assume I'll be using it to run a small business as well as the typical storage of pictures and home videos, etc.
Bottom line, will the 8gb of ram be enough to prevent the need to buy another computer for another 5 years or so or do I need to suck it up, return the base model, pay the extra $1,100 and get the 16gb of ram I originally wanted?
Sorry for the long story, I just need some solid advice as money is tight and I want to make the right decision. I'd rather pay $1,100 extra now and not need to buy a new computer for 5-6 years than save the money now but have to buy a whole new computer in 1-2 years. If however, the 8gb ram will still make for a solid computer in a few years, I will gladly save the money.
Thanks in advance for your help. ;-)

Generally (and in my opinion):
1) do not buy any computer you cannot replace the hard drive and the RAM in.
2) do NOT (EVER, EVER, EVER) purchase RAM or expended hard drive from any vendor (like Apple, Dell, etc). they mark up the RAM
purchase the lowest machine that will work for you and upgrade the RAM and hard drive down the road. Just look at the price Apple charges for the upgrade from 4GB to 8 GB:
Apple is charging the (4GB RAM + $100) for the 8GB upgrade. You can easily get 8GB for $100. later you should be able to get 8GB for $60.
Same thing for the hard drives:
Applis charging the price of (500GB + $100) for the 750GB drive. I just bought a 750GB notebook drive for $99
I, personally, would return the retina notebook for a MacBookPro that you can upgrade the hd and ram

Do not buy a MacBook Pro?

I am a lifelong mac user and Apple cheerleader and I just got off an absolutely devastating phonecall.
About a month ago I finally convinced my fiancee to switch to Mac. I've loved my Powerbook G4 and so she decided to get a MacBook Pro 15". She is a writer/editor, so her computer is her daily livelihood.
The computer exhibited some strange behavior from day one, freezing as I was synching a calendar, but I wrote it off to installation bugs. I called Mac and mentioned it on a service call and they suggested I reinstall the OS just to be safe, so I did. The computer seemed to work for a week or so but then started intermittently freezing upon waking from sleep.
You've read a bunch about this in these forums, seems to be a known issue and common problem. I called Mac and they said they would repair it if we'd send it in for a week.
Thing is, my fiancee can't be without a computer, so I asked them to issue a refund on this defective machine and we would purchase a new one, so there would be overlap.
Apple will not do it. Even though they SHIPPED me a DEFECTIVE product, they are refusing to refund it because it's been 30 days (and they only refund for 14). Even though I called in with the issue on day 2 and have been giving them the benefit of the doubt trying to fix it myself (Anacron, maintenance scripts, etc...), they won't take it back.
I've probably sold my friends and family on $50k to $100k of Apple products over the past several years and so I am aghast. Maybe I'm being too prideful here, but they've just lost a customer for life.
I can't believe they are beta testing these MacBooks on their customers. Today is the day I switch back to PC and get everyone I know to do the same. It'll make my life miserable, but I am just too hurt to go on.
Thanks for listening people.
Disillusioned and Disappointed
12" PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)
12" PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

sounds like a pretty unfortunate experience.
the thing is though, the 14 day 'dead on arrival' period is a pretty reasonable time frame in which to allow a customer to determine if the machine they received has inherent flaws. and when within this period, apple are very good about swapping the machine for a new one, no ifs no buts. however, once you cross this 14 day period, anything that goes wrong is covered by warranty repair. no fun to have to send a shiny new machine off for repair when you just got it.. but this could have happened(and does happen) with anything and everything you might buy, from time to time.
if anything, I'm not sure that apple make clear enough their 14 day cool-off 'dead on arrival' period to purchasers.. everyone should know this is the deal with apple products, so if you run into anything suspicious from day one, like you did, you should immediately contact apple and get something done about it right away. in my view, there's nothing wrong with a 14 day period for this. it's nothing to do with a warranty, it is purely about replacing a machine immediately if it is defective as shipped, and 14 days is more than reasonable an amount of time for a customer to check the machine over to see if it is working or not.
I wouldn't be too rash in any decision to abandon apple forever over something like this. any electronics goods you buy can be faulty, and this is not likely to be the last time you'll ever have a problem with anything you buy. to apple's credit, they can be pretty reasonable if problems persist. I personally know a number of people who had hardware issues that came up after the 14 day from purchase period.. they had the machine fixed, then something else went wrong. after the second time (months down the track), apple seemed to have a 3 strikes out policy, and they no longer offered to repair the machine again, they replaced it new for old. this happened to my brother with his black macbook (the first core duo version), his motherboard failed, then the hard drive, and by the time they got to this stage, they just replaced the machine with a brand new core 2 duo black macbook. that seemed pretty fair to me.

How do I get my Macbook Pro 15" to run dual monitor setup with Dual Link DVI outputs

I own have two 27" 2560x1440 WQHD LED IPS Computer monitors and have been trying to get them to work with my macbook pro 15" w retina for over a month now. I have purchased multiple products and nothing has worked. The big problem is that the only input that the monitors have is a Dual Link DVI input. The closest that i have gotten to getting them to work was this morning when I bought 2 Mini Display Port to Dual Link DVI Adapters for $99 a peice. Below is a link
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571Z/A/mini-displayport-to-dual-link-dvi-ada pter?afid=p219%7CGOUS&cid=AOS-US-KWG-PLA
Problem is that when I hook them up, I still only get a picture on one of the screens. Also, it requires you to plug into a mini Display port and USB port which takes up all of the space for me to run any othe peripherals. Though it has a built in USB port, when I plug my apple keybaord into it, I get an saying "USB Device Needs power, connect "keyboard Hub" to power or usb port on this mac"
I have looked everywhere for a docking station that would satisfy my needs, however, it does not exist. I use my macbook as my main office computer and take it home with me every night. I switched from the lenovo thinkpad to the macbook and have been satsified with my decision except for the fact that i cannot connect my monitors to it.
Please help!

Yes, that would work, however it would cost me $2000 for the monitors.

MacBook Pro (Mid-2009, 13", 2.26) Memory Upgrade Question

I currently own a MacBook Pro (2.26; 13") (Mid-2009) with 2GB of memory. I purchased a single 4GB memory card that I plan to add in one of the slots. If I understand correctly that would leave me with a total of 5GB of memory (4GB 1GB). Is this workable?
I have heard rumours that both slots must have the same amount of memory. Regardless - will this be detrimental or an improvement?

Running Lion I would say go for more RAM. 2 GBs is Lion's minimum. If you run more than a couple of applications concurrently then you will quickly find yourself low on memory which would slow down the machine a lot more than the lack of matched pair RAM modules. I would say 4 GBs is a good compromise for casual uses. But if you're trying to run all the Adobe CS5 apps or all of the Office apps concurrently, then you'll be happier with 6 GBs of RAM. But it's hard to know what to suggest since only you know your operating situation, so here's some info that may help you make the decision.
About OS X Memory Management and Usage
Reading system memory usage in Activity Monitor
Memory Management in Mac OS X
Performance Guidelines- Memory Management in Mac OS X
A detailed look at memory usage in OS X
Understanding top output in the Terminal
The amount of available RAM for applications is the sum of Free RAM and Inactive RAM. This will change as applications are opened and closed or change from active to inactive status. The Swap figure represents an estimate of the total amount of swap space required for VM if used, but does not necessarily indicate the actual size of the existing swap file. If you are really in need of more RAM that would be indicated by how frequently the system uses VM. If you open the Terminal and run the top command at the prompt you will find information reported on Pageins () and Pageouts (). Pageouts () is the important figure. If the value in the parentheses is 0 (zero) then OS X is not making instantaneous use of VM which means you have adequate physical RAM for the system with the applications you have loaded. If the figure in parentheses is running positive and your hard drive is constantly being used (thrashing) then you need more physical RAM.
Adding RAM only makes it possible to run more programs concurrently. It doesn't speed up the computer nor make games run faster. What it can do is prevent the system from having to use disk-based VM when it runs out of RAM because you are trying to run too many applications concurrently or using applications that are extremely RAM dependent. It will improve the performance of applications that run mostly in RAM or when loading programs.

Mid-2010 MacBook Pro Safari/Graphics issue??

Hi. Below I've posted a picture of what I've been experiencing on my mid-2010 MacBook Pro that is running Mac OS X Lion (10.7.1).
Usually, my screen stays like that for a few seconds, then those little things go away. However, when I took the screenshot, my screen stayed like that for about 20 minutes. I've had this issue in both Safari and Firefox. Even updating to 10.7.1, this still happens.
What could possibly be wrong? Is it a bug with Lion or is my graphics card at fault?
I really appreciate your help! Thank you!!

jodifromcinnaminson,
nope — one reason why the cost of Apple products in the US is low compared to prices in other countries is that the prices in other countries often include seller’s warranties which extend beyond the manufacturer’s warranty; that’s not the case in the US.
If you’re intent on purchasing no more Apple products because of how they’d handled the 15-inch Mid 2010 MacBook Pro defect, then I’d highly recommend writing a letter to Apple explaining exactly why you’ve made that decision.

Upgraded 2012 MACBOOK PRO 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB an alternate for RETINA MBP 15 or NOT?How good is its potential, reliability ?

I am a student and an aspiring filmmaker.I am also into digital cinematography (Canon 550D) and now will be venturing into editing. I am in DIRE NEED of help
I have a few problems regarding the purchase of Macbook pro.I live in Kolkata(India).I have been waiting for the past 1 and a half years to buy a Mac but after the release of Retina Macbook pro 15.I am left confused. Its near unupgradability and unreparibility rumors, delayed delivery, and 1st generation hardware issues especially the lack of Optical drive made me reconsider my decision of buying one.
I want to know whether I can go for the top model of Non Retina - 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1 GB Nvidea as an alternate choice for Retina MBP pro or NOT ?
1.I wanted to buy the Retina Base model. Though it is very recently launched and there is a big risk buying it because they say it is unrepairable and unfixable as 'everything is glued into the motherboard' dialogue scares me. Something goes wrong after purchase and they send it back to US, is what the Apple officials said. Moreover they don’t keep one on a demo at Apple stores in kolkata. I have searched almost everywhere and have been to many resellers in my city but no use.
NOW,I am very sceptical about custom ordering a Macbook 15 non retina with High-Res 1680X1050p from US.I don’t know how much custom duty or expenses I have to pay and is it safe or not. Time is also a factor. Sadly, I have to buy one in Kolkata (my city) it seems.
2. I am opting for Macbook Pro 15,2.6 Ghz,8GB RAM. Buying it for the sole purpose of editing(audio, video, photos).I need something which is fast along with a good screen size. My original decision was to buy the 17inch but after the launch of Retina and the upgraded 15 inch, I am only looking forward to the upgraded models. Many say 13 inch is fast, but it features a dual core with a maximum of 2.9Ghz clockspeed. I on the other hand want a quad core i7 with good upgradability options and a good screen size. The 13 inch may be a favorite for many, but I want nothing less than a 15 inch. One good option I get with non Retina 15 is its upgradability, while many say Retina MBP 15 can be made upgradable in future but that time is yet to come and by the time the whole web becomes ‘retina friendly’ and all applications supporting its 2880X1800 resolution, I may end up waiting only. Yes the picture quality remains unbeatable when compared to Retina Pro and it will always be. Though friends, I am a student, I want something which is fast, can run almost anything and future dependable. Retina Mac book Pro in India is 2799 USD - Base model. I cannot pay that amount just for the screen. As far as speed is concerned, I plan to get an OWC SSD and a 16 GB OWC RAM in the future resulting in greater speed when comparing the configuration with Retina 15.That problem is solved.
My problem here is this: The web is filled with reviews and videos of Retina Macbook Pro and the upgraded Macbook Pro 15 is just no where, if you even find a few videos, they only feature unboxing videos of Macbook pro 15 (i7-2.3Ghz-4GB-500GB-500MB Nvidea).Other videos compare the 2.3ghz model with Retina 15 pro. They are not elaborate like the 15 Retina Pro reviews.
1. I want to know about the real performance, potential, pros, cons of Macbook Pro 15 (i7 2.6Ghz 8GB RAM 750 GB 1GB Nvidea graphics).
So my question to you is what is your opinion on the 15 inch non retina ? HOW FAST do you think is the new upgraded 15inch non retina i7-2.6Ghz-8GB-750GB model really is ?I have read on many mac forums and seen on a particular youtube video that 15inch 2.3Ghz model takes an alarming 40 seconds to start because of traditional hard drive ! A normal DELL Inspiron starts at 15 secs max with i3+4 GB RAM and this particularly confuses me about the whole quad core processing and stuff and speed when running applications like C6,FCP,Lightroom etc is to be determined in regard to the model I want to buy.
2. Is it necessary to buy APPLE CARE WARRANTY when buying a laptop from Apple.What are the benefits and how is it different form the normal customer care ?
3. Please enlighten me on some nice headphones from Sennheizer under 90 USD.I am considering Sennheiser HD 439.I am not a bass freak and I want something to use for listening to voice, loud clear. In short, a headphone for all purpose. I heard the HD 449 is not that good compared to HD 439.They say it is Jazz oriented. Another confusion !
Finally, If you know anyone who knows about this configuration (15inch 2.6 8GB RAM 750GB) and its performance than please help me out my friends. Any small detail, input, you feel like please let me know. Please help me be sure and satisfied am buying my Macbook Pro very soon and I am awaiting your response.

Well, are you talking about a 750 Hard Drive or SSD? If SSD (quite expensive) it will certainly be as fast. One option is to get the smallest HD they have and with the Non Retina you can upgrade the HD to an SSD later or now but save a little money. Check with iFixit or OWC for instructions. HD's do take longer to start up and load, but once open, the processor and video work just the same as on the Retina model. The SSD speed is nice, but really not critical. So you have to wait a minute for your computer to boot up. The other big question is you need to find out if the non-retina model will take 16GB of ram. According to OWC's site, it will, 16GB for 150USD. Once you get programs open and resident in ram, everything will fly.

My Macbook Pro Decision

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