MacBook Pro: are they really worth it?

nick_scheu
Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:55:58 +0000

Asus tried a few years ago. The result? 50% thicker than the MacBook Pro. Eight pounds. One hour of battery life while gaming, “more than double that” (2 hours 10 minutes, probably) while doing productivity work. A huge fan/hearsink unit protruding from the rear.

[Asus C90S Laptop: The first user upgradable desktop replacement - Page 4 - Inside the C90S](Inside the C90S - Asus C90S Laptop: The first user upgradable desktop replacement - Page 4)

All this so you can use a desktop CPU and have the option to upgrade the video card (but not standard desktop video cards).

On a MacBook Pro today, removing one panel exposes the RAM and hard drive, both of which are officially user upgradable. I’d rather have a system that sips power and is relatively thin and light, but doesn’t have a user upgradable CPU or hard drive.

Honestly, I can’t conceptualize a way to build a completely upgradable laptop with standard components that is reasonably sized. Can you think of a way?

If someone really cares about upgradability, he’s going to be building a custom desktop, with an Antec case and an Asus or Gigabyte motherboard. Most people want to buy a machine that does what they want it to.

Sure, there’s a market for custom tuning cars, but most people–rich or poor–just want to buy a stock Mercedes or Toyota.