Macbook Pro thread.

[Brookie.]

I noticed there wasn't a dedicated thread to the Macbook Pro, even though I know many members on here use and own them.

I currently own a mid-2009 13'' 2.26ghz MBP. Bought it with 4gb Ram and a 250gb hard drive. I love it.

Upgraded to Lion a few months back and that made the whole thing faster and nicer to use. Currently got an 8gb RAM upgrade kit on order from Crucial, so looking forward to getting that in and seeing the benefits.

The reason I started this thread is because I like to read through the iPhone, iPad and iMac threads to see updates/what people have ordered/doing with theirs (also because I'm currently bored.

Plus I always like to learn new things about my MBP!

I suppose the best way to start it would be to post specs, updates, experiences etc!

:star:

 

[jenic]

I had a 2010 i5 15" MBP, broke so apple changed it for a 2011 i7 15" model after a dodgy repair job last year.

When I upgraded to lion the whole thing got a lot slower, I need to do a fresh install I think but I really can't be bothered so just putting up with it for the time being.

 

[Brookie.]

You're a lucky b*stard

I didn't do a fresh install either, I just installed from the App Store. Mine seems faster though! Is there an advantage to doing a completely fresh install?

 

[Ronnie R]

You're a lucky b*stard

I didn't do a fresh install either, I just installed from the App Store. Mine seems faster though! Is there an advantage to doing a completely fresh install?

Yeah it's fresh lol.

 

[jenic]

I would have thought so, but I think lion was supposed to (and has for most) work perfectly as an upgrade.

On the older updates they tended to work sluggish unless you did a fresh install.

My iTunes library doesn't help, sooner I get that on NAS the better, just can't afford the HDD's atm

 

[robbygraham]

How do you go about doing a fresh install when it was a downloaded update with no disc? I have lion on my 2009 MBP 15" its got core 2 duo 2.66ghz, 4gb ddr3 1600mhz ram and 9600m dedicated graphics

 

[Revels]

I had one. Sold it and bought the best machine, all twenty seven inches of it.

 

[Adam.]

I've got a 2011 i7 15" with high res screen and 7200 drive upgrade and 8gb ram. Oh and a sexy big dent in the side.

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

I had one. Sold it and bought the best machine, all twenty seven inches of it.

Why not have both?

 

[Adam.]

30" Cinema Display ftw.

 

[BurnyC]

I've got a mid-2009 13.3 MBP - 2.26 GHz Dual Core, 160 gig HDD. It works fine for the most part, although I wish I had more screen space, and it does lag from time to time so am considering a RAM upgrade (rolling with the standard 2GB still). However, I'm also considering going all out and getting a new Mac while I still have Education Discount

If people are connecting up to an external monitor, what are you rocking? I hear good things about Dell Ultrasharps if you're not baller enough for a Cinema Display?

 

[jenic]

Why not have both?

+1

 

[Christopher]

I've been thinking of selling mine. Currently it sits at the side of the i7 behemoth playing DVD's whilst I work it.

That's a pretty pricey DVD player.

I'll see what the new Air is like.

 

[Brookie.]

I've been thinking of selling mine. Currently it sits at the side of the i7 behemoth playing DVD's whilst I work it.

That's a pretty pricey DVD player.

I'll see what the new Air is like.

Would the Air not end up doing the same though mate?

 

[jenic]

Would the Air not end up doing the same though mate?

Nah, got no disc drive, he could stream netflix though

 

[Will.]

I've been thinking of selling mine. Currently it sits at the side of the i7 behemoth playing DVD's whilst I work it.

That's a pretty pricey DVD player.

I'll see what the new Air is like.

That would be a very expensive and small tv screen.

 

[Feirny]

Mine's got a broken logic board, but I still own one.

 

[Liquid yellow 182]

Got mid 2009, basic spec but upgraded RAM recently from 2 to 8gb, was only £30ish so was rude not to tbh and 10min job to swap.

 

[LewisTaylor]

I have a 2011 17" 2.53ghz i5 4gb 500gb does the job

 

[BurnyC]

Got mid 2009, basic spec but upgraded RAM recently from 2 to 8gb, was only £30ish so was rude not to tbh and 10min job to swap.

What difference did you see?

 

[Brookie.]

Got mid 2009, basic spec but upgraded RAM recently from 2 to 8gb, was only £30ish so was rude not to tbh and 10min job to swap.

Looks easy from what I've seen online, so I should be OK when mine arrives. I hope. LOL.

 

[dk]

baller spec 2011 17" i7 8gb 750gb

 

[Rob]

There's nothing baller about the 17", it just shouts "I should have bought a desktop"

 

[dk]

I like to move my desktop about as i move about the country a lot, so the 17" pro is perfect, when i'm travelling light i take my Air, everywhere else its the ipad2, so i think i have it covered

why do i need a desktop, i don't own a desk.....

 

[Gavin.]

I have a 13" late 2011 model, core i5, 4gb ram and a 500gb hard drive.

 

[sbridgey]

i have a 13" late 2011 i5 model which only charges to 96%

 

[Rob]

I like to move my desktop about as i move about the country a lot, so the 17" pro is perfect, when i'm travelling light i take my Air, everywhere else its the ipad2, so i think i have it covered

why do i need a desktop, i don't own a desk.....

You didn't mention you owned an air, you're doing quite alright then.

17" laptops are normally for steers and queers, the only reason I'll ever get one is if I run one as my primary work computer (drawings etc, so I need decent screen size/res)

 

[rankins]

13 MacBook pro late 2011 model also

 

[Deeg]

13" 4GB I5.

All I do is go on CS and use iTunes, so don't really need anything else.

 

[Brookie.]

Has anyone had any experience with a Mini DP to HDMI cable from their MBP?

Looking to hook it up to the TV! Does it also carry sound?

 

[CHRIS172CUP]

Yeah it does, i run all my movies through mine. You may need to tweak VLC sound settings if you use it.

17" i7 with 8gb. Used for 3d modelling/CS5ing and other shizzle. Can't fault it but wouldn't mind trying an SSD in it, but only when they're reasonably priced.

Has anyone had any experience with a Mini DP to HDMI cable from their MBP?

Looking to hook it up to the TV! Does it also carry sound?

 

[Tom]

Has anyone had any experience with a Mini DP to HDMI cable from their MBP?

Looking to hook it up to the TV! Does it also carry sound?

Yours wont, as its before the sound revision was made.
You have to use the Mini DP and a 3.5mm cable (optical or analog)

 

[CHRIS172CUP]

Ah apologies, my bad

 

[seb]

13 inch MBP from mid 2009. So will be 3 years old soon! Mad!

2.26 ghz intel core 2 duo

2gb ram

Should really upgrade the ram on it (Tom offered but never get to see him really! ) since it seems so cheap. What would be a suitable upgrade? to 4gb or could my macbook go to 8gb?

tbh, I only use it for iTunes/internet/load photos on etc

 

[Tom]

You may as well go to 8GB now, so cheap.

 

[Deeg]

Yeah it does, i run all my movies through mine. You may need to tweak VLC sound settings if you use it.

17" i7 with 8gb. Used for 3d modelling/CS5ing and other shizzle. Can't fault it but wouldn't mind trying an SSD in it, but only when they're reasonably priced.

Annoyingly, mine doesn't work through my AV amp and doesn't seem to want to do sound.

Is there a FN F4 type option to make a TV a temporary master screen?

 

[seb]

You may as well go to 8GB now, so cheap.

Yeah seen 8gb is like £35. Nothing tbh.

 

[Rob]

What settings does one have to tweak? Like an idiot I'm currently running MDP - VGA and a 3.5mm jack to 3.5mm jack.

I'd like just one cable, but after buying the official apple adapter I'm a bit begrudged to use something else. (I searched for a while about sound but couldn't get an answer at the time, then ended up with an answer a day after I bought it) ffs.

Tom, fancy showing me/helping me upgrade my RAM?

 

[Tom]

Yeah no worries. I'll bring a screwdriver.

 

[seb]

leg