Macbook vs Macbook Pro- Should I Upgrade to the Pro Version?

First of all the mac comes in a standard 13 inch screen size while the mac pro ranges from 13-15-17 inches. The Macbook is white and made from a polycarbonate, or hard plastic material. The Macbook pro's outer shell is made from aluminum with a faded silver/aluminum color.

The Macbook pro's aluminum finish makes it a bit more durable, but it will show dents and impurities more quickly. It also has slower Wifi connection because of the outer casing. These are certainly cosmetic issues, but they should be noted.

• Magsafe power adapter port- Power cord has magnetic connection that disconnects the cord if someone were to trip on it.


• Gigabit ethernet port- Allows you to increase bandwidth when needed


• Mini display port- Connect to projector or an LCD screen that uses VGA connector


• 2 USB slots


• Kensington lock slot- Tether your Macbook to a fixed location like heavy desk for security.


• Superdrive dvd burner- Faster dvd burning!

The Macbook pro has all the features of the Macbook and:

• Firewire 800 port- Twice as fast and covers more distance than firewire 400


• Built in SD card reader


• Seperate audio in/out jacks


• Backlit keyboard- Good for typing in low lit areas

If you are an average computer user the add-ons with the pro may not be necessary. However, if you want a built in SD card reader or better firewire the pro is your laptop.

Now let's get down to what everyone wants to know about a computer and that is how does it perform? Is the processor fast enough for my needs? Can I play games with out making my system sluggish or unresponsive?

The Macbook has an impressive processing speed, but the pro has a separate processor with it's own memory. What this means is that with the standard macbook you are always drawing memory from the core system, but the pro only draws memory from the processor itself.

Both are very good performing machines, but the pro is definitely better suited to multitasking, serious gaming and business applications. If you primarily use your computer for everyday usage like emails, Facebook or college work the macbook will give you no troubles. Serious gamers and people that do online business or run several applications at once should definitely get the macbook pro.

So how much do these cost in comparison to one another?
Macbook-$999

Macbook Pro 13 inch- $1,199(2.26 GHz)-$1,499(2.53 GHz)
15 inches- $1,799(2.66 GHz)-$2,199(2.8 GHz)
17 inches- $2,299(2.8 GHz)

Final Thoughts on The Macbook vs. Macbook Pro

Before making a purchase you have to determine what your goals are with a laptop. Do you check your email, visit social networking sites or other part time computer applications? Or are you a serious gamer that often has 6 or more windows open to do some sort of online business applications?

The macbook is a great computer. You will do just fine if you purchase a macbook. The Macbook pro is a nice upgrade to the original version that is considerably faster and comes with some nice luxuries. Ultimately only you can decide if it is worth it to spend the extra money for the features of the Macbook Pro. They are both really nice laptops that are priced competitively for what you get. regardless of your decision I don't think you will be disappointed.