here's a potentially silly question. .

digital sucks · May 21st, 2006, 09:51 AM

what is the REAL difference between new duo intel macbooks & macbook pro?
even where the specs are the same -there's a dramatic price difference.

again, a potentially silly question, for some [if not most of you].

thanks.

-j

audiodan · May 21st, 2006, 10:07 AM

The screen size for one. The look, and I am sure there is more, but I am still half asleep.

Macaholic · May 21st, 2006, 10:15 AM

Graphics card.

Drive Speed.

Dual-layer DVDRW on 17" MBP.

Backlit keyboard.

Those are ther broad strokes of it.

madgunde · May 21st, 2006, 02:17 PM

The MacBooks also have a dual layer DVD burner. It's only the 15" MacBook Pro that has a single layer drive. This is because of the thickness of the drive apparently. Dual layer drives are thicker than single layer. In the 15" MBP, the trackpad overlaps the optical drive, so there wasn't enough room for a dual layer drive.

Also, the standard drive speed is the same in all models, it's the drive storage capacity that's different.

The major difference between the low end and high end are:
- screen size
- processor speed
- graphics processor
- entry level hard disk size
- expansion (ExpressCard slot)
- material (plastic vs. aluminum)
- thickness of the unit
- keyboard (new style non-backlit vs. old style backlit)

That being said, the MacBook is probably a better value when you compare the specs to the price point.

Macaholic · May 21st, 2006, 03:38 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by madgunde
	The MacBooks also have a dual layer DVD burner.

I don't think that's right. Read the subtleties in Apple's MacBook specs:

	Quote:
	Slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer read support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 4x speed, writes DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 10x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed

No mwntion of double-layer WRITE SUPPORT.

Now, the MacBook Pro has a subtle distinction that refers to the 17" ONLY having dual-layer support:

	Quote:
	15-inch MacBook Pro: 4x Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) Maximum Write: 4x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW Maximum Read: 8x DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW; 4x DVD+R (double layered) and DVD-R (double layered); 24x CD So, it appears that it, like the MacBook, only READ dual layer (like most drives do). Now, let's check out the 17": 8x Slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) Maximum write: 8x DVD-R and DVD+R; 4x DVD-RW and DVD+RW; 2.4 DVD+R (double layer), 24x CD-R; 16x CD-RW Maximum read: 8x DVD-ROM (single layer); 6x DVD-ROM (double layer), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R and DVD+RW; 4x DVD+R (double layer); 24x CD-R

Bottom line: Only the 17" MBP has a dual-layer burner. No option for dual layer burn is available for the MB on Apple's site.

madgunde · May 21st, 2006, 03:43 PM

I could be mistaken then. I think I saw the "DL" listed and assumed that meant write. All DVD burners can read DL media, since the DVD movie spec had dual layer from the beginning. It's not usually listed for reading since it's assumed I think.

Macaholic · May 21st, 2006, 03:47 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by madgunde
	I could be mistaken then. I think I saw the "DL" listed and assumed that meant write. All DVD burners can read DL media, since the DVD movie spec had dual layer from the beginning. It's not usually listed for reading since it's assumed I think.

I think Apple's trying to muddy the waters with all those details.

Script Kiddie · May 21st, 2006, 04:09 PM

There's always the Detailed comparison chart:

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Im...son_chart.html

Macaholic · May 21st, 2006, 06:33 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Script Kiddie
	There's always the Detailed comparison chart: http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Im...son_chart.html

God I searched ALL OVER for that URL. Coulnd't find it