Reason #51: my tax rebate plus stimulus check should add up to about the cost of a MacBook.
Question is, do I want to get a MacBook Pro instead? The bottom-tier MBP is exactly what I want in a laptop, but it’s a little too big to be portable.
The Macbook Pro is a professional machine... the MacBook is consumer. They will both run the same software. If your needs lean toward Pro work, get the MBP. I have a MBP. My daughter has an older iBook in the MacBook format. It also runs the same software (but it's not Intel). I prefer my MBP. Check the refurbs at the Apple store online... you can often pickup a MBP for $300 less than a non-refurb and both come with the same factory warranty.