<p>Even with the 2.00ghz its still $1467 before student discounts.</p>
<p>Hmm...I tried to match my system as best I could, so I suppose it's fair to give the stats:</p>
<p>2.0 GhZ CPU
1GB RAM (1 DIMM)
SXGA screen (That's the best I can match the Apple screen)
100GB HD at 7200 RPM
DVD burner
256 MB vid card (this isn't really fair either, since the difference between the x1400 and x1600 is noticeable, but oh well...)
Standard sound
Bigger battery
Wireless with bluetooth</p>
<p>$2026</p>
<p>Still cheaper, but not THAT MUCH cheaper.</p>
<p>I think you did something wrong there because mine only comes out to $1776.</p>
<p>Plus I just did that with HP and got $1529</p>
<p>I swear I'm not crazy! Did you set it EXACTLY as I did, including the 7400 RPM HD and 1 DIMM of RAM?</p>
<p>Oh the 7400 rpm HD. nevermind.</p>
<p>: (</p>
<p>why cant the macbook come with the ATI video card? Id love that thing. I wonder if its possible to get a better card installed somewhere.</p>
<p>Sadly, I doubt it.</p>
<p>But if you don't want to do any gaming, the MacBook is an incredible system. Especially when you consider the possibility for TRIPLE booting. Ohh man. A nerd's dream.</p>
<p>I do want to do gaming...thats my problem...and I cant spend $2000 for the Pro.</p>
<p>So its pretty much Macbook v. Dell Latitude D620 w/256mb NVIDIA 110M (a 256mb video card on a comp that weighs 4.4lbs and has a 14" screen is just sick.)</p>
<p>bobbobbob,</p>
<p>Make sure to check benchmarks on the x1400 first. Sometimes, video memory doesn't equate to performance. </p>
<p>But you know that, I'm sure.</p>
<p>I'm definitely looking to get the macbook pro, and I'm really excited about it. Anybody know how good it really is with handling heavy use of programs like photoshop and illustrator?</p>
<p>It's good, but the limitation of any x86-based system is limited RAM. </p>
<p>If you plan on doing serious professional work in Photoshop or other similar programs, desktops still have an advantage with 64-bit processors and future-proof...ness...</p>
<p>does the macbook come with word processor and stuff like that or do you have to buy it seperately?</p>
<p>Bite the bullet and do it. Even the regular MacBook without a video-card will play any current game (although not with maxed out settings.) What the video card will do is make sure you'll be able to play new games for the next 4 or 5 years instead of the 2 or 3 you'll get with the MacBook. It's a time-scale thing as opposed to a useability thing.</p>
<p>Does anyone else not like the reflective screen of the macbook? I personally find it horribly annoying.</p>
<p>do you recommend iwork or microsoft office for mac? i don't know which one to get! (price not really a problem)</p>
<p>Having worked with both, I'd say Office is good. If you are willing to wait for it to go Universal Binary, OpenOffice.org is a good free alternative.</p>
<p>For doing papers, definitely Office. The word processor in iWork seems more geared towards making flyers than papers.
Plus, iWork hogs system resources like crazy, not that it would be much of a problem for any of the new macs, but if you're an environmentally concious user like me, you like to reduce wasted energy.</p>