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Any recommendations for where to buy cheap Apple Laptop for iOS development

H

helpanoobout

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2013
18
0
Hello,
Looking for the cheapest bare minimum laptop for iOS development. What specs would you say are needed? I'm just learning how to program so I just want to test it out first. Was looking for a 13" screen. Also, someone was telling me you can't replace the battery on some macs as they are soldered in place? That would be my only concern with buying used is that it would have horrible battery life and I would not be able to change it out easily. Budget would be sub $600. Is the latest Mac OS required?
 
H

helpanoobout

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2013
18
0
justperry said:
If you do this at home a Mac Mini would be an option and a cheap monitor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I actually just bought a mac mini at home. I work on the road a lot though so I wanted a very cheap mac laptop for this. Any suggestions on places to buy used or refurb? Little wary of eBay/craigslist. Apple store refurb price is still pretty rediculous.

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I'm thinking about getting the 2008 model MB466LL/A Macbook. Is 2gb enough memory or should I be upgrading to 4gb?
 
justperry

justperry

macrumors G5
Aug 10, 2007
12,557
9,750
I'm a rolling stone.
helpanoobout said:
Yeah, I actually just bought a mac mini at home. I work on the road a lot though so I wanted a very cheap mac laptop for this. Any suggestions on places to buy used or refurb? Little wary of eBay/craigslist. Apple store refurb price is still pretty rediculous.

----------

I'm thinking about getting the 2008 model MB466LL/A Macbook. Is 2gb enough memory or should I be upgrading to 4gb?
Click to expand...

Think the only option is just that, Ebay and Craigslist.

For a few dollars more I would go to at least 4 GB.
 
H

helpanoobout

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2013
18
0
Yeah, think I will go for ebay. Thanks. How easy is it to change the battery on an older model say 2008? Read somewhere that some mac laptops had batteries glued or soldered or something like that...
 
notjustjay

notjustjay

macrumors 603
Sep 19, 2003
6,056
167
Canada, eh?
If you can scrape together a little more, I'd consider a refurb MacBook Air from the Apple store. I've seen them in the $800-900 range. They'll last longer, have a warranty, and you won't need to worry about upgrading batteries or anything right off the bat.
 
H

helpanoobout

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 14, 2013
18
0
notjustjay said:
If you can scrape together a little more, I'd consider a refurb MacBook Air from the Apple store. I've seen them in the $800-900 range. They'll last longer, have a warranty, and you won't need to worry about upgrading batteries or anything right off the bat.
Click to expand...

Yeah, really not looking to spend more than $600. When do the 2013 models come out? Maybe I'll wait till then, prices for the 2009, 2010 models may fall some after that?
 
notjustjay

notjustjay

macrumors 603
Sep 19, 2003
6,056
167
Canada, eh?
helpanoobout said:
Yeah, really not looking to spend more than $600. When do the 2013 models come out? Maybe I'll wait till then, prices for the 2009, 2010 models may fall some after that?
Click to expand...

I think last year (and possibly the year before that, too) the updated MacBook Airs showed up in mid-July.
 
R

rusty2192

macrumors 6502a
Oct 15, 2008
997
81
Kentucky
helpanoobout said:
Yeah, think I will go for ebay. Thanks. How easy is it to change the battery on an older model say 2008? Read somewhere that some mac laptops had batteries glued or soldered or something like that...
Click to expand...

2008 models are super simple to replace the battery. It wasn't until much later that they started making the batteries non-user-replaceable.
 
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