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Would appreciate some advice

A

ange.

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 28, 2014
2
0
Hi,

I'm relatively tech unsavvy, but have signed up for a digital arts & new media course. It's a 2 year program, and will be covering a lot of subjects. My prof told me I need a macbook pro.

I've been searching, and came across this used one.. What are your thoughts on this? I'd like to it last me a good long time.. I'm pretty frugal by nature, and have a small child - can't afford to buy another one a short way down the road. Thank you!

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-laptops/kelowna/immaculate-condition-15-macbook-pro/577776207
 
Thanks for the link & reply.

I'm also attracted to the other as it has double the RAM, the apple care, and no tax.The one in the link costs $1790 with the taxes. My main concern - is it alright to buy a machine that's a few years old, and expect it to last another 4 or more? Is it wise to buy such a good one.. or should i just buy the base 13" screen and less RAM as I'm a student?
 
ange. said:
Thanks for the link & reply.

I'm also attracted to the other as it has double the RAM, the apple care, and no tax.The one in the link costs $1790 with the taxes. My main concern - is it alright to buy a machine that's a few years old, and expect it to last another 4 or more? Is it wise to buy such a good one.. or should i just buy the base 13" screen and less RAM as I'm a student?
Click to expand...

I bought my MBP used 2 years ago. I expect it to last me 3 to 4 more years. I did do a few upgrades - more memory and a SSD.

If you're careful with it you can expect it to last. With a small child your main concern should be liquid spills. Never put it anywhere the kid can dump liquids on it. Otherwise it will happen.
 
As a rule of thumb, buy the machine with the idea it should last for the time of your program +1 year. Even if money's not a problem, it is always stressful to switch computers during your curriculum, so keep a good backup at all times.

If the machine you're buying is already struggling to keep pace with your normal workload, you'll run into trouble pretty soon. And why +1year? Finding a job immediately on graduation is rather rare, so you will be likely to keep this machine for a while before your financial situation improves.
 
ange. said:
Thanks for the link & reply.

I'm also attracted to the other as it has double the RAM, the apple care, and no tax.The one in the link costs $1790 with the taxes. My main concern - is it alright to buy a machine that's a few years old, and expect it to last another 4 or more? Is it wise to buy such a good one.. or should i just buy the base 13" screen and less RAM as I'm a student?
Click to expand...

If you're a student it's worth considering buying a new Mac through the higher-education store. In the UK at least, if you're a student you save 15% on a new Mac and get free 3-year hardware warranty. May well be a similar deal in the US.
 
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