Need help deciding between MacBook Pros...

I have recently decided to switch to the MacSide and I narrowed my quest down to one of the 15" MacBook Pros.
I will be editing for stop motion videos mostly. I will be using Final Cut Express. I imagine I will want to have FCE, garageband, iChat, and Safari all open at once. (I tend to multitask) I am unsure if the slight change in processor will make the $500 difference... or a big enough difference for the money. The 2.66GHz model also has a slightly better graphics card and 4GB of ram by default.
Has anyone been in a similar situation in which they can share their thoughts?
Thanks!
( I realized I put this in the incorrect category, so I am reposting.)

i say if you can afford it do it! "go big or go home"
i've had my powerbook g4 for about 5 years now, and it's running fine, a little slow! Sure, i know an upgrade is needed soon (im also running tiger). the macbook is a lot faster then my powerbook, n im runnin adobe suite and / or logic! but the main thing my old computer still rocks a little slower but runs fine!
u could also invest in apple care ($350 us)!
as for the graphic card, mine is older n crapier but it's fine, and i'm mostly doing visual stuff.
so ya if you got the extra 500 do it, if not or u don't think its at necessory upgrade get apple care.
Message was edited by: icahayes

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Regards,
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PS: side-by-side specs, graphics and drive data rates,
the newer of the two may be the better one to get, as
it has later Thunderbolt with higher capacities, too.
Look into mactracker or other specification chart that
can be opened beside each other (as I have now) &
then you can see sections in each model, one at a
time. MacTracker shows general-software-memory+
graphics-connections-history by category.
2013 model Thunderbolt, Hard Drive Interface, graphics
spec all look good. Not sure if the history of graphic issue
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If yours is one that shipped with Mavericks OS X 10.9
you may do well to get a copy of the installer on a
USB and dedicate it as a backup or set up a second
drive or other device to safe a download of the installer
and/or a copy-clone of the Mavericks. The limited total
of RAM available may not be a problem, with both units
shipping with an SSD and not a rotational HDD. And if
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So, we'll start with my thoughts, and you guys can help fit my needs.
I'm really...really disapointed by the new retina macbook pro. Cant 100% confirm it yet, I know, but if the RAM is indeed soldered on and the SSD's are semi proprietary, I will not buy one period. Sorry to Apple, but it's just to cheap to purchase 3rd party RAM and replace HD's when newer applications require it. Not to mention, if a RAM stick goes bad, am I replacing the entire board!?!
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Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
Rodney Lai wrote:
I installed window 7 into the partition disk through bootcamp and I deleted it from disk utility
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I have this macbook pro
Model Family: MacBook Pro
Display: 15"
Processor Type: 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo
Model Number: A1260
Color: Aluminum
Factory: China
Production Year: 2008
Production Week: 22 (May)
Production Number: 774
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Hi,
I want to buy a Macbook Pro, I just don't know which of the configurations is the best. I want to go for either the 13" 2.53 Ghz, or the 15" 2.53 Ghz. The only difference I see is the screen size, so is that alone worth it? I was also looking at the 2.66 15" with both GPUs...
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is it even a factor if you don't play any games?
Currently, the major two areas that stand to benefit from the "enhanced graphics" on the 2.66Ghz 15" model are 3D design and 3D games. Other computing tasks currently do not use the GPU as much as these two, and so do not stand to benefit as much.
However, with the release of Snow Leopard, the GPU will become more similar to a CPU, which will enable it to process general tasks. This will speed up the computer in general, depending on how fast a GPU the computer contains. What we don't know now is how much of a speed-up we can expect. When Snow Leopard is released in September we will know more for sure.
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Need help deciding between MacBook Pros...

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