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Comment by tptacek | Hacker News Reader

Consider the Macbook, instead of the Pro; the extra thousand dollars doesn't really buy you that much. One of the best things about the current Apple portable line is that you can always buy the cheapest (at around $1100) and still get an excellent machine.

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I'd like to extend that principle to computer hardware in general.

Unless money really isn't a priority, or you're doing something which absolutely relies on top-end performance, buying high-end hardware is unnecessary and the cost will outweigh the surprisingly slight real-world advantage.

Buying mid-range is the sweet spot in terms of build quality, performance and price and even if it means upgrading 6 months earlier the savings are considerable.

If you're a professional developer, I think a slight improvement in productivity can be surprisingly valuable. When it comes to monitors, for example, I'm quite willing to pay the extra for a 30" monitor or for dual 24", as opposed to just buying mid-range (say, a single 22"). Of course, not all high-end equipment is worth the premium, but IMHO if you're spending a significant amount of time on the computer and using it to make your living, it's a false economy to not buy the best equipment.

Eh, I'm currently running with a $25 craigslisted sony trinitron 21" and an IBM thinkpad that I think I paid $200. Plus some old dell keyboard. Don't forget about the used market. The key is that I'm really only using it as a terminal into servers out there somewhere.

I consider myself a professional developer.

There's something to be said for the extra screen space afforded by the Macbook Pro over the Macbook. Whether it's worth it depends on how you use your computer.

That's true, but that's what monitors are for. The times when you can't easily have a large external monitor are precisely the times when you don't want a big, unweildy laptop. I find the Macbook screen is a nice balance.

When I spend an extended amount of time hacking on my Macbook, I find myself missing the extra resolution. The width is fine, but the height is just lacking. Whether or not that's important is probably a personal preference, but I know I wish I had gone with the pro, just to get a handful of extra lines vertically.

What's the max display resolution a MacBook can handle when plugged into an external monitor?

It's 1920 x 1200, just enough for a 23" Cinema HD.

I've had a MacBook (now got a MacBook Air) and I'd go with the "Pro" version any day. I loved my 15" MacBook Pro and just couldn't get on anywhere near as much with the MacBook - sorry to those of you who love them. Thats my experience anyway

shared graphics on the macbook might be a problem depending on your needs.

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