Need help buying my first MacBook pro

Personally I'd avoid an older one. If something goes wrong, they're still quite expensive to fix. Also $700 for a 2007 model is quite high. If it's a 15" people might pay that, but I wouldn't recommend it. If it's the original battery, it has probably seen quite a few cycles at this point. I've seen and experienced more problems with laptops than desktops given the amount of power cycles many of them experience. There are plenty of people who have owned these for many years without problems, but I feel that potential repair cost makes it impractical to buy one that old. I should also note that some of the old ones have really terrible displays. It varies by model. As an example older macbooks (not macbook pros, and pre unibody) had dismal displays.

$700 isn't a very large budget for a mac. They start relatively high, and I have personally seen and owned chargers that died (around $100 to replace), batteries that no longer held a charge due to age (over $100), and display problems. It's just not practical to buy an old computer unless you're really saving on it.

A refurb 13" macbook pro or a good deal from a third party reseller can be a superior option. Apple's newer displays are good for laptop displays. Just don't expect a perfect display on a laptop (because it doesn't exist, not even the expensive ips upgrades offered by a couple brands). If you're buying used, I'd research the model you decide to purchase, but I'd look for a good price on a recent model, and do your research on here. Others have purchased computers that they later discovered had water damage and other issues, so just be careful.

Iheartford said:

Thanks! So it's safe to say I should buy a newer version. So which one is best for my needs?

Click to expand...

If i were in your position I would look at Apple refurbs. These are top notch Apple machines and are covered by the full Apple warranty.

I think a 15" would be fine for your needs...Availability varies but:

http://store.apple.com/us/search?find=refurbbished

Do you specifically need a laptop? If not, a Mac Mini would be a great idea.

I actually would recommend the refurbished 13" computer. In college you want portability and the 15" are quite large, and more expensive.

This computer will suit your needs perfectly and should last you throughout college. http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD313LL/A