07.07.2010

I want a MacBook. Which one should I buy?

First, the MacBook line is quality through and through, so no worries about buying 'the duff one'. However, there are differences between the machines in the range that you need to be aware of, so that you can choose one that is going to meet your requirements.

Desktops no longer outperform laptops...

One thing to get straight from the outset is that these days you are not necessarily going to be sacrificing on power or functionality by choosing a laptop over a desktop system. Historically, a desktop Mac would have been more versatile, more powerful, more user-friendly (bigger screen, bigger keyboard, mouse) and cheaper.

These days, both the processors and RAM used in the MacBook are identical to those used in the Mac Mini and iMac. In fact, the MacBook Air is the only machine in the range that won't outperform the Mac Mini; the entry-level MacBook Pro and iMac have the same processor spec. Your only real consideration now is price. In the example just given (MacBook Pro vs iMac) the MacBook will currently set you back £500 more; but then that's the cost of having that same power and functionality anywhere you go.

...and laptops can double as desktops too!

It's also worth pointing out that the fact that MacBooks are portable doesn't mean that they can't be used as desktop machines. Even the MacBook Air (latest model at time of writing) can drive an external display with a screen resolution up to 2560 x 1600.

When it comes to the keyboard and mouse, provision to connect these via USB (or wirelessly via Bluetooth) is standard across the MacBook range. All models have at least one USB external port (up to three on the MacBook Pro), and with FireWire on the MacBook Pro too, add-ons can be accommodated and data transfer and storage are easy.

Now let's look at the main differences as they relate to common user needs to see which model is right for you.

Case, Battery

New models all benefit from the sturdy aluminium seamless case. All MacBook Airs are completely sealed and batteries are not user-replaceable. Some MacBook and MacBook Pros have panels in the bottom for user access to the hard disk, RAM and battery, but others don't. Apple have significantly improved battery life on many models (nearly 8 and a half hours clocked in some tests for MacBook Pros) and new MacBook Pros have two graphics chips that they switch between to prolong battery life when not doing demanding tasks.

FireWire and Camcorders

FireWire ports are not available across the MacBook range (and it looks like FireWire could be on the way to being phased out of Macintosh laptops), so if you own a FireWire-only camcorder and want to do home video editing you either need a MacBook Pro - or you need to upgrade your camcorder.

Display

Standard display size is 13 inches. The MacBook Pro has 15 and 17 inch screen options, both available with a non-glossy display. If you're doing plenty of top level work like design, photo/video editing then one of these is probably the one for you.

Windows

Now that Apple use Intel processors you no longer need to worry about running Windows on a Mac. Even the MacBook Air, with 2Gb of RAM, will run Windows fast enough for those who don't need to run other processor-hungry software on their machine.

However, if you want to use OSX alongside Windows then the extra overhead required to run two operating systems and the virtualisation software you'll need to make this happen mean that you'll need plenty more RAM and a more powerful processor, so the MacBook Air is not recommended. And if your choice of Windows as an operating system is driven by your desire to play complex games then you'll also need to select a more powerful graphics processor too.

Bear in mind also that Apple's Multi-Touch features (first introduced on the iPhone and now available on trackpads on the newer MacBooks) are at time of writing only available when using OSX. It is hoped that Windows drivers are on the way.

Power vs Portability

So far, we've looked at reasons why you might need one of the bigger, more powerful models. But if you're constantly on the go and don't need to run much more than standard 'office' software then you'll probably find the size and weight (nearly 7 pounds) of a Macbook Pro excessive. This is the niche that Apple filled with the MacBook Air. It may be the slowest in the range, but it will easily handle web browsing, office work and media playback (which is all that many people want a computer for) and it weighs just 3 pounds.

Cost

Entry-level systems haven't changed much in price over the years, but because the specs have improved dramatically you get considerably more for your money. A good example is the 2.4GHz MacBook, which is faster than most Power Macs.

In general, a MacBook will be more than sufficient for most people's needs - even those involved in design and other media who might consider themselves to be 'power users'.

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