2.0Ghz vs 2.16Ghz - is it worth it?

Owning a portable is a compromise when compared to most any new desktop. I believe you need all the performance you can afford when selecting a portable. The small boost today will translate into a longer lease on life (performance wise)in the future of your MBP.
Regards,

How long are you going to be using it? If 1 year, I would say go with 2.0, if more and money isn't a problem, go with 2.16. It's as simple as that.
Actually, what will you be using it for? If your just going to surf the web, watch movies, play music - might as well get a 1.83 with extra RAM..

It's going to be a negligible boost, when you next consider upgrading to say a 4GHz the 0.16GHz isn't going to make you hold off. In addition, everything else in the machine is the same - so the graphics card, HDD, bus speed etc, will all still hold you back.

I really wouldn't bother unless you're a mobile graphic artist who get paid by the hour, and could recover the cost within one project. Invest the money in maxing out the RAM - you'll really notice a difference with Rosetta apps especially (google this) and buying an external FireWire hard-drive for backups and large file storage.

Matt

Of course it depends on what you primarily use the computer for. I'm a developer.

I spend a lot of time doing compiles both from the terminal and from Xcode. The extra speed boost is directly applicable to what I do. I get an 8 % boost from the extra CPU. I also went with the 7200 RPM HDD because that also directly impacts my day to day usage even though it is probably less than 10%. I also went with 2 x 512 MB instead of the single 1 GB SO-DIMM because using paired RAM is another 3-5% boost and the "downgrade" offset the cost of the 7200 RPM HDD. I don't work on anything that needs a large amount of RAM so an additional 1 GB isn't going to help me much.

I wouldn't recommend that most MacBook Pro users follow my lead though. For most uses of the computer, you will probably get the biggest boost from 2 GB or RAM over even the 1.83 GHz to 2.0 GHz upgrade. You need to know your needs.

Just for reference.

1.83 GHz to 2.0 GHz is a 9.3 % speed increase
2.0 GHz to 2.16 GHz is a 8 % speed increase
1.83 GHz to 2.16 GHz is an 18 % speed increase

Firstly the highest CPU processor was 1.83ghz before the free upgrade and Apple stated that this was more than enough for anybody needs and yes even for graphic designers. Personally i do not think that there is all that much difference in processor speeds between all of these models.

If you are going after the flashiest and most expensive then the 2.16 maybe for you.

I did consider going for the 2.16 myself just to get something that was top of the range but didn't. I live in the UK and the MBP 2.0Ghz with 100 7,200rpm, software and the care plan was already very expensive over $4,000 dollars we are talking here. I saw no justification in paying £200 extra for something that wasn't going to reap any real benefits in my opinion.

I just got home from a local Apple Store. I picked up a week 12 MBP 2.16Ghz with the 7200 RPM drive. Would have upgraded the RAM to 2GB but all the local stores are out.

Hopefully, this machine will serve me well for at least 5 years or longer. So I wanted to buy as much computer today as I could so that it will make the 5 year mark.

Plus, I figure if I dual boot XP, that extra .16GHz might speed a game up, like EQ or something.

Also, I plan to eventually do music stuff with the machine, so I figure more HP is a good thing.

Hard drives and RAM always gets cheaper, so that stuff can be upgraded later. You only get one shot to upgrade the processor (until some aftermarket shop offers an upgrade solution, but I don't know if these exist for laptops).

iBook G4 1.2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1.25GB RAM

I got the 2.16, but I think extra RAM is actually the most important thing, particularly in the next few months while were are running a lot of apps through rosetta (memory hog).

hi
i have the "ultimate" model as they call it. love it. zippy, screen is awesome, tasks go quickly. i do have excessive heat if on the left side, but nothing worse than my powerbook had.
sari

Most PB users were frustrated at the slowness of the computer. We were complaining and wanting more speed. I decided I wanted the fastest I could buy, and am pleased as I could be. To each his/ or her own. It's only money anyway. All three models are sooo much better than the late PB G4.