<p>Hello, well I will be going off to college this fall. I willl be dorming and using the laptop as my main computer. I will be using my laptop for internet, music, video chat, instant messaging, some pic and video editing. Since my major is biology I wont be doing programing or designing or anything like that. Ive been researching alot and Im torn before the lower end 13 and 15 inch macbook pro. I will be using this laptop at least for my 4 years of college. Would the extra $600 be worth it for the i5 and the bigger screen size. Ive been reading that the core 2 duo is outdated and if im going to use my laptop for 4 years its better to get the i5. Also is the 13 inch screen too small for a main computer?
Please help me with this.
Thanks Alot.</p>
<p>If you have the money then get the base model 15’’ macbook pro. The core i5 is much better and is futureproof for your investment.</p>
<p>If you’re on a budget (~$1000) get the macbook pro 13’’ base model. The core 2 duo is very capable for your tasks.</p>
<p>Right now is a good time since you get $100 off and a free ipod touch 8gb.</p>
<p>If you can’t afford $1000 then get a PC which have great discounts and coupons.</p>
<p>The 15" MBP has the Core i5 and a 256MB graphics card. The 13" MBP has a Core 2 Duo and 256 MB of integrated graphics. The 15" is thus a little bit faster and much better at running computer games. The difference isn’t very noticeable now, but it will be in a few years. The Core 2 Duo will be obsolete within two years, and the next 13" MBP will definitely have a Core i3. Right now it’s a fine processor, but it’s just not that futureproof. Unless you’re a gamer, though, I’m not sure whether it’s worth $600 for a Core i5 and a dedicated graphics card. If you really want to keep this laptop for four years, get the 15". But you might be better off getting the 13" and saving $600 so that you can sell the 13" in two years and use that money plus the $600 you’re saving to buy a new laptop. After all, the 2012 13" MBP will probably have better specs than the current 15" MBP!</p>
<p>The core two duos will still be useable in two years. Heck, dell and hp still sell laptops with pentium processors. Don’t get caught up in the “Keeping up with the Joneses” hysteria when it comes to processors.</p>