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Aluminum MacBook vs. White Polycabonate MacBook

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with_stupid
Posts: 316 - Karma: 10

Recently it was my 16th birthday so my dad is going to buy me a MacBook to replace my dying Acer. Anyways, I've done a bit of research but haven't gone to the store yet. I know I'll learn alot by talking to an Apple store person but I also would like to have an unbiased opinion first (cause the new aluminum one is more expensive)...and since NS seems to use MacBooks alot i thought i'd ask my questions here. First of all, here are the specs on each.

White Polycarbonate MacBook

2.13GHz
  • Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2GB DDR2 Memory
  • 160GB hard drive1
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • Standard keyboard
  • White polycarbonate shell
  • $1,149 CAD

Aluminum MacBook

2.0GHz
  • Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2GB DDR3 Memory
  • 160GB hard drive1
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • Standard keyboard
  • Aluminum unibody
  • $1,399 CAD

I'm pretty sure they both come with the iPod touch rebate if someone could confirm that, thanks. So my questions are what is the difference between DDR2 and DDR3 memory? Will it make a difference? Also, how much difference will the .13 GHz make in processing power? Is there any software upgrades in the aluminum macbook? Also how is the new trackpad on the aluminum one? Which will be more durable? Is there any like really standout reasons I should buy either?

Thanks NS.

May 31 2009 12:16PM
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.KYLE.
Posts: 1891 - Karma: 59
haha.....
May 31 2009 12:17PM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 1,078
 im getting the aluminum one but with the 2.4gig processor. i think the aluminum looks way nicer too. and also i believe that the i pod deal is for college students only. but im sure you could lie about it
May 31 2009 12:24PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
fyi the edges of the white one crack easily haha i got some nice tape on mine
guess i need a new one after 3.5 years
May 31 2009 12:27PM
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SaucerSlider
Posts: 59 - Karma: 10
Go with the white polycorbanate
May 31 2009 12:27PM
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SaucerSlider
Posts: 59 - Karma: 10
the difference between ddr2 and ddr3 isnt that great yet
May 31 2009 12:29PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
put in the extra cash and get the aluminum 2.4, then buy 4gb of ram and upgrade it for like 100 bucks less than apple offers it for. you end up with a banger setup and it's worth it in the long run
May 31 2009 12:54PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
i have aluminum, i love it
May 31 2009 12:54PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
get the bigger hard drive too. trust me youll appreciate it
May 31 2009 12:56PM
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VT_FLO
Posts: 3806 - Karma: 147
you could just get a pc for 1000$ cheaper and upload mac's new os onto it.
May 31 2009 1:07PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
that doesn't always work properly
May 31 2009 1:10PM
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eheath
Posts: 61087 - Karma: 118,023
DDR3 is much better, get the 2.4 aluminum.
May 31 2009 1:11PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
yeah i got 250 gb and i'm regretting it now, i should've gone for 350, when you shoot on RAW+L your hard drive gets eaten up
i'll just get a huge external but it's still a pain in the ass
May 31 2009 2:03PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
agreed. 2.0 just isnt that fast anymore..
May 31 2009 2:18PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59

I'm pretty sure they both come with the iPod touch rebate if someone could confirm that, thanks. I believe that you can only get a free iPod touch if you buy it through the Apple Store for Education online (for college).

So my questions are what is the difference between DDR2 and DDR3 memory? Will it make a difference? DDR3 RAM is faster.

Also, how much difference will the .13 GHz make in processing power? It's not nearly enough of a difference that you'd be able to tell any difference between the two.

Is there any software upgrades in the aluminum macbook? Nope, just the standard OS 10.5 (Leopard) and iLife.

Also how is the new trackpad on the aluminum one? They say it's glass, but it really doesn't feel like glass at all. It's easier to use than my HP laptop. The fact that the whole thing is a button doesn't really make that much difference, especially if you're used to just tapping the trackpad on your PC. The multitouch gestures are pretty cool, although you'll probably never use more than the "slide with two fingers to scroll" thing.

Which will be more durable? The aluminum tends to be slightly more durable, but really it's more of a personal choice. All of Apple's products tend to be higher quality and more durable than the competition.

Is there any like really standout reasons I should buy either? Not really, in my opinion. Although if you get the high-end aluminum one you get more processing power, a bigger hard drive and an illuminated keyboard. Because they now both have the same graphics card and hard drive space, the main difference is the .13 GHz of processor power, the DDR3 RAM, and the construction.

May 31 2009 2:21PM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
get the aluminum...the white polycarb cracks like a mofo...mine is a year old and is starting to fall apart, even though ive taken real good care of it
May 31 2009 2:32PM
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garettnorthey
Posts: 3049 - Karma: 173
Def go with the aluminum one. I have the aluminum, I couldn't find myself ever going back to the old track pad. The new one is super convenient and makes operating your computer super fast and easy.DDR3 is faster but hardly noticeable. Although the white one may have a higher number (2.13). The aluminum 2.0 will run faster because in the new aluminum macbooks they have a separate video card that doesn't run off the processor? or something along those lines, so in reality a 2.0 aluminum mac book runs the same a 2.4 GHz white macbook. the aluminim looks so ballin but Mine has scratches in it and they sort of stand out when my computer gets dirty.
May 31 2009 2:35PM
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skijunkiedtm
Posts: 9229 - Karma: 61
go aluminum, its shiny.
May 31 2009 2:36PM
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chapz
Posts: 10182 - Karma: 66
go aluminum. i bet the majority of white shell owners have had pieces come off on the right/left middle corners next to the trackpad....
May 31 2009 2:41PM
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eheath
Posts: 61087 - Karma: 118,023
Well, you should be running all of your pictures on an external anyway just incase your harddrive crashes. Mine crashed on my Pro and luckly i store all of my shots on externals. A "pain in the ass" is definitely worth it. I have a 120gb harddrive, shit doesn't matter.
May 31 2009 2:54PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
can you upgrade your internal drive, like i have the 250 right now can i get a bigger one from mac? externals arent bad, but kind of a pain to travel with etc.
May 31 2009 3:10PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
you can definitely upgrade, maybe even up to 1tb, not sure though, but yeah it's super easy to upgrade them you just have to deal with transferring all your shit

i think i'm gonna get a 500 gb external for photos though, i don't need an upgrade in my macbook atm
May 31 2009 3:15PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
my aluminum 2.4 ghz with 4gb of ram is awesome, hook it up to an external monitor and it's sick, i like it way more than my old mbp, it's nice to have the small comp for taking to class and travelling with and then having the option to get a 24" screen out of it for photo editing

it has all the power i need out of a computer and it's way cheaper and smaller than the pro
May 31 2009 3:37PM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
May 31 2009 3:48PM
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h_bar
Posts: 1611 - Karma: 506
Im getting my white macbook i some days, i dont think theres much difference between them than the shell
May 31 2009 5:01PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
yeah but the white shell sucks dude I know mine is three years old and my keyboard area is fucked at the corners
May 31 2009 5:03PM
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fourhundred
Posts: 2760 - Karma: 21
why
May 31 2009 5:06PM
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proZach
Posts: 7163 - Karma: 917
yeah i'm definitely lookin for a why there too. i was thinking about getting a new laptop because this one is just plain miserable (i've had it for 3 years, the battery life is awful, viruses i can't fix, falling apart physically, etc...). i like how you'd get a free ipod touch being a college student. and i know macs are pretty solid computers, but i wanna know why i shouldn't get one ya know?

and would it be better just to get the student developers discount for $99? i heard that you get like $500 off macbook pros if i got that membership. anyone know about that shit?
May 31 2009 5:13PM
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with_stupid
Posts: 316 - Karma: 10
thanks alot. you swayed my opinion. +K
May 31 2009 6:14PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,356
Aluminium.
May 31 2009 6:18PM
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amo
Posts: 6709 - Karma: 1,248
it's all about the refurbs.
May 31 2009 6:26PM
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nick_GAPER
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 7,670
go white, if you wanna edit
May 31 2009 8:38PM
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amo
Posts: 6709 - Karma: 1,248
once you go black, you never go back :D
May 31 2009 8:44PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,356
Why????
May 31 2009 9:04PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
that makes no sense
May 31 2009 9:04PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
May 31 2009 9:10PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
well now that they have updated all of them def buy a Al macbook pro.
Jun 13 2009 8:16PM
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Mavrck
Posts: 2765 - Karma: 27
check out the new shit if you havent already ordered. the new mbp's look to be cheaper and better. plus the white casing on the macbook getts way dirty over time.

still confused about which computers your talking about. the ones before the release or after. it almost looks like you have the new mb and the old mbp?
Jun 14 2009 12:45AM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
oh hai firewire.
Jun 14 2009 12:49AM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
lol wat


2.4 ghz regular macbook that I got right before they cut off the FW. 2 gigs of ram, etc etc. Use it gigging and what not and its never failed *knock on wood

regular macbooks are ftw as the top plate can be replaced in an hour at the apple store incase your keyboard flips a tit or something
Jun 14 2009 12:49AM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
i really have never needed firewire, its really not that big of a deal to wait 10 minutes at most for a file to transfer
Jun 14 2009 1:26AM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
the 13.3" macbook is now called the macbook pro
Jun 14 2009 1:46AM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
just because it has fw, sd, and a non removable battery
Jun 14 2009 1:46AM
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drumbumocdp
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 1,078
just got my new pro yesterday. they are so sick. better ram and better processor than the white mac book(only mac book). very good deal 
Jun 14 2009 1:59AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i thought that, then i got the macbook with firewire and use it to back stuff up and whatnot. sooo much better.
Jun 14 2009 2:16AM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
haha yup i got some duct tape on mine right now. the edge cracked in almost the exact same place on bothsides of the trackpad.

[URL=http://img140.imageshack.us/i/img00111.jpg/]Click for larger image[/URL]

Jun 14 2009 3:49AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
they replace that shit for free at the apple store
Jun 14 2009 3:54AM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
eh,  i dont really care that much, the tape gives it character, and i dont even think there an apple store in town. closest would prolly be seattle 5 hours away.
Jun 14 2009 4:14AM
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