13-Inch MacBook Pro Versus 13-Inch MacBook

If you are a student, casual computer user, or just need a computer for photo management, internet and email, the extra $200 on a MacBook Pro ($1,199) is not going to do anything for you . If you are just getting into higher, end-user media: digitizing for Final Cut Pro, faster video transfer, higher end digital video software, then yes, the MacBook Pro is a good 'starter' computer.

In this article the two computers will be compared. There will also be suggestions on how to get you the most out of your money after the purchase of either computer.

First, here are the differences:

Let's start with Apple's quick overview of the computers and how they are marketed to a specific user.

The Macbook ($999): "Our most affordable full-featured notebook."

The MacBook Pro ($1,199): "The high-performance notebook for everyone."

Both are made for everyone but one is affordable and the other is for high-performance.

For an extra $200, for the MacBook Pro, the differences can add up and are worth more than the extra $200, but then again, that extra money could be used for software or hardware. Imagine, with the extra money saved, you can buy new iPhone 3Gs.

Main Features:
MacBook comes with a white polycarbonate enclosure, 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, and a scrolling trackpad.

MacBook Pro is a precision aluminum unibody, 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, with a multi-touch trackpad.

The main difference here is the LED-backlit display and multi-touch trackpad on the Pro. LED-backlit serves as a brighter display and uses less battery power. Both are 1280 by 800 pixel display so you do not gain or lose resolution going with either.

Both have 2GB memory (standard), 160GB 5400-rpm hard drive, and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor. They both come with a MagSafe power port and two USB 2.0 ports. And both models come standard with iSight camera built in.

The MacBook has one Firewire 400 port but the MacBook Pro comes with one Firewire 800 port. The Firewire 400 port is a high-speed, peripheral interface that supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbit/sec. Due to it's speed it has become widely used on DV camcorders, external hard disk drives, external DVD burners and more. It is much faster than a USB 2.0 port for transferring data. Firewire 800 will transfer data at a rate of 800 Mbit/sec; twice as fast as Apple's original Firewire 400 port. For multi-media users, this is a big difference in data transfer, but will it make a noticeable difference for the casual user? Probably not.

The Firewire data transfer is the biggest single difference between the two models. If you expect to be doing a lot of high-speed data transfers, then things will feel so much easier with the faster data transfer rate with the Firewire 800 port.

The MacBook comes with a Mini-DV port and the MacBook comes with a Mini DisplayPort. The MacBook Pro also comes with and SD slot for convenient data transfer from SD memory cards to the computer. Although a USB port connected directly to a cigital camera can accomplish the same thing.

Both computers have a full-sized keyboard but the MacBook Pro has a a full-sized back lit keyboard. This is convenient when typing in the dark, but the display itself can illuminate the keyboard enough on the MacBook so this is just the extra luxury you get with a MacBook Pro.

Those are the main differences and comparisons between the two computers. The added features on the MacBook Pro are well worth the extra $200, but they are not absolutely needed for the casual user who needs an affordable computer.

Either computer will make any owner happy. But here are some recommended upgrades and add-ons that can make your purchase and your computing life (and budget) a whole lot better.

A Free Office Suite
Most users need an Office Suite, but after spending $1000 on a computer, why not get the leading open-source office software for free instead of purchasing Microsoft Office? Download OpenOffice.org. It is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose. (Software review: Open Office Suite)

Run Windows XP Programs
If you are like some people who are moving over to a Mac, you might not be able to leave Windows XP completely. Some of your favorite programs, and the nuances of them like: short cut keys, macros, the function keys, etc. might be too much of a change on a Mac. But you don't have to worry. Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to run Windows XP on your Mac without rebooting! Parallels Desktop for Mac makes it possible to run Windows XP side-by-side with Mac OS X. It is an award-winning virtualization technology that lets you run Mac OS X and your favorite Windows applications at the same time. You can even drag-and-drop files between desktops. $79 (Parallels for Mac 4.0)

Cheap Speakers great sound
For $39 you can get great sound from the "Altec Lansing Orbit M Speaker for iPhone or iPod". Don't limit it to just your iPod or iPhone, turn your MacBook into a new experience buy attaching this convenient, extremely portable, external speaker!

Other Free Software
Mozilla FireFox: a great browser; Avast: virus protection (especially if you run Parallels & Windows XP); Skype: make free calls over the internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like. All for free! (for more free downloads go here: "The best free software for personal use")

Get a new iPhone
If you decided on the MacBook you saved $200. An iPhone 3G ($99) or an iPhone 3Gs ($199) will be a perfect compliment to your new computer. This could be the biggest selling point for anyone trying to decided between a MacBook and a MacBook Pro.

These recommendations will bring added value to your computer experience. It is always nice to get great performing software for free especially after spending a lot on a computer. Some PC users may feel more comfortable using their Windows based software on windows before they transfer fully to a Mac so Parallels solves that issue, and external speakers with great sound is an excellent alternative to the built in speaker on the laptop.

Either way you go, a MacBook or MacBook Pro, you will be happy. Add the recommendations above and make your money go a long way!

Enjoy your new Mac!