Mac advice please.

[boateng]

I am a law student and need a new machine as my current 13' macbook pro its on its last legs.

The machine i was looking to buy would literally sit on my desk at home so portability isn't much of a factor since i prefer to write handwritten notes rather than typed....

I was looking at getting the 15' 2015 macbook pro because many people advised that it is cheaper than the new touchbar 15' and as a student it will save me money....

Some people have suggested however that i should opt for the iMac as i get more machine for my money. However some people are saying there is a new iMac to be released so the current iMac will not make sense to buy now....

What do you guys recommend?

 

[ardchoille50]

Don't forget about the Mac mini line. Despite the "entry level" moniker, the Mac mini is quite a capable machine if you've little need for portability, and it would save you some money. I've owned two Mac mini's since 2013 and they have been able to fill every desktop machine need that I've had. There is much to be said about the ability to buy your own monitor, keyboard and mouse.

 

[thats all folks]

new iMac could be 3 to 6 months away. how much do you want to spend? why is your current machine "on its last legs"?

 

[boateng]

new iMac could be 3 to 6 months away. how much do you want to spend? why is your current machine "on its last legs"?

I get student discount

i am from the UK...so prices have gone up after Brexit. I don't really mind how much i spend as long as it is a good investment.

 

[macmee]

Don't forget about the Mac mini line. Despite the "entry level" moniker, the Mac mini is quite a capable machine if you've little need for portability, and it would save you some money. I've owned two Mac mini's since 2013 and they have been able to fill every desktop machine need that I've had. There is much to be said about the ability to buy your own monitor, keyboard and mouse.

The mac mini hasn't been updated in years
[doublepost=1479770663][/doublepost]

I get student discount

i am from the UK...so prices have gone up after Brexit. I don't really mind how much i spend as long as it is a good investment.

I guess if you wait maybe the GBP will un break itself? Could be a win win if that happens and a new mac comes out in a few months

edit:

WAIT!!!!!!!

law student in the UK?

DO YOU GET TO WEAR THOSE WIG THINGS???????????????

 

[Krevnik]

Don't forget about the Mac mini line. Despite the "entry level" moniker, the Mac mini is quite a capable machine if you've little need for portability, and it would save you some money. I've owned two Mac mini's since 2013 and they have been able to fill every desktop machine need that I've had. There is much to be said about the ability to buy your own monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Agreed. Depending on your needs, the Mini could be pretty capable. It's mostly that the iMac (especially the 27") gives you more oomph and will last longer, but is also more money. I think a lot of it boils down to:

- Do you do work that would benefit from quad core?
- Do you do work that would benefit from the 4K/5K display?
- Would your work benefit from a discrete GPU (27" iMac)?

 

[boateng]

The mac mini hasn't been updated in years
[doublepost=1479770663][/doublepost]

I guess if you wait maybe the GBP will un break itself? Could be a win win if that happens and a new mac comes out in a few months

edit:

WAIT!!!!!!!

law student in the UK?

DO YOU GET TO WEAR THOSE WIG THINGS???????????????

I can't really wait
I am thinking of maybe getting the 15' macbook pro
[doublepost=1479770985][/doublepost]

Agreed. Depending on your needs, the Mini could be pretty capable. It's mostly that the iMac (especially the 27") gives you more oomph and will last longer, but is also more money. I think a lot of it boils down to:

- Do you do work that would benefit from quad core?
- Do you do work that would benefit from the 4K/5K display?
- Would your work benefit from a discrete GPU (27" iMac)?

or maybe the macbook pro 15;

 

[ardchoille50]

The mac mini hasn't been updated in years

That does not negate the fact that it is a very capable device. Neither does it mean that an update is not planned for the future. When was the last time your coffee pot, front door or bathroom sink were updated? Do they not continue to work as advertised? Despite what you may think, lack of updates != lack of capability.

 

[Jambalaya]

My 2009 Mini is still going strong (no longer has 2gb RAM or a 160gb hard drive !) and would whatever a law student needs to do. It's a very portable machine if you have two screens and keep the keyboard and mouse box. Mine spends time between desk and as a media streamer under the tv). Don't ignore used machines from say 2012.

Today I was upgrading a mid-2011 iMac nice machine and with some extra RAM (trivial to do) and an SSD (more tricky or pay a specialist) that wouod be a super machine too. Ditto anything newer.

A new iMac is a very nice machine but not really needed as a student, it's a luxury purchase at a premium price. Now if you want one and can afford it then go for it, personally I think they are better value than the MBPs especially the newly released ones.

 

[macmee]

That does not negate the fact that it is a very capable device. Neither does it mean that an update is not planned for the future. When was the last time your coffee pot, front door or bathroom sink were updated? Do they not continue to work as advertised? Despite what you may think, lack of updates != lack of capability.

performance of my old coffee pot is still fine because coffee software has not become more and more demanding over the past few years

 

[boateng]

My 2009 Mini is still going strong (no longer has 2gb RAM or a 160gb hard drive !) and would whatever a law student needs to do. It's a very portable machine if you have two screens and keep the keyboard and mouse box. Mine spends time between desk and as a media streamer under the tv). Don't ignore used machines from say 2012.

Today I was upgrading a mid-2011 iMac nice machine and with some extra RAM (trivial to do) and an SSD (more tricky or pay a specialist) that wouod be a super machine too. Ditto anything newer.

A new iMac is a very nice machine but not really needed as a student, it's a luxury purchase at a premium price. Now if you want one and can afford it then go for it, personally I think they are better value than the MBPs especially the newly released ones.

true need to think hard about this

imac or macbook pro

 

[roadkill401]

I don't really mind how much i spend as long as it is a good investment.

No computer is a good investment. they all lose money and stop working at some point. A laptop might hold its value a bit longer than an iMac. However, a mac mini you are paying for the monitor that you get to keep and when you upgrade/replace in a future date, you don't need to buy that part over again.

 

[boateng]

No computer is a good investment. they all lose money and stop working at some point. A laptop might hold its value a bit longer than an iMac. However, a mac mini you are paying for the monitor that you get to keep and when you upgrade/replace in a future date, you don't need to buy that part over again.

this is true
i dont really want an mac mini. dont want to buy a seperate monitor etc..either an iMac or macbook peo

 

[Jambalaya]

Typical student purchase is a laptop as they can move it around easily. My 3 kids all got an MBP for Uni and all of them had to vacate digs out of term time, even in a private rented house would you leave an iMac for weeks on end over Christmas or Easter ? I suppose if you have a car and keep the box then moving an iMac around is fine.

Other obvious statement is my elder two kids MBP's where upgraded with ram and ssd and are still going strong years later as a result. I do wonder about the price if these new machines given useful life expectancy will be lower.

Happy shopping

 

[Taz Mangus]

performance of my old coffee pot is still fine because coffee software has not become more and more demanding over the past few years

Considering you know nothing about the software needs of the OP.

 

[maflynn]

this is true
i dont really want an mac mini. dont want to buy a seperate monitor etc..either an iMac or macbook peo

If you have mobility needs, then the MBP is definitely the machine to buy, if not the iMac which gives you a larger display, more power, more storage and more ports.

As for the Mini, I agree, that at this point the other machines look to be a better option.

 

[boateng]

Considering you know nothing about the software needs of the OP.

Mainly Microsoft office tbh for writing up essays
[doublepost=1479820251][/doublepost]

If you have mobility needs, then the MBP is definitely the machine to buy, if not the iMac which gives you a larger display, more power, more storage and more ports.

As for the Mini, I agree, that at this point the other machines look to be a better option.

there is a new iMac coming out soon tho isn't it?

 

[maflynn]

Mainly Microsoft office tbh for writing up essays
[doublepost=1479820251][/doublepost]
there is a new iMac coming out soon tho isn't it?

At some point in 2017, no one really knows. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say March at the earliest, June potentially for WWDC. Can you wait that long (March -> June)?

 

[jmebbk]

At some point in 2017, no one really knows. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say March at the earliest, June potentially for WWDC. Can you wait that long (March -> June)?

The op is in a bit of a dilemma
He needs a Mac now but the iMac is due to be updated next year
He said he can only afford the 2015 15' MacBook Pro...not the new touchbar one.

 

[Fishrrman]

As I already advised you once before in a different thread, get a 2015 MacBook Pro 13", and use the extra money you save to buy a nice 27" 4k display for your room.

You'll get:
- portability, as the 13" MacBook is easy to carry around
and
- LOTS of "screen real estate" with a gorgeous 4k display...

 

[Jambalaya]

By the way get used to Pages and skip MS Office altogether. Unless younare doing complex spreadsheets or fancy mail merge there is no need (don't get me started on powerpoint )

Fishrman's proposal is a good one

 

[jmebbk]

At some point in 2017, no one really knows. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say March at the earliest, June potentially for WWDC. Can you wait that long (March -> June)?

The op is in a bit of a dilemma
He needs a Mac now but the iMac is due to be updated next year
He said he can only afford the 2015 15' MacBook Pro...not the new touchbam

As I already advised you once before in a different thread, get a 2015 MacBook Pro 13", and use the extra money you save to buy a nice 27" 4k display for your room.

You'll get:
- portability, as the 13" MacBook is easy to carry around
and
- LOTS of "screen real estate" with a gorgeous 4k display...

The OP might as well get an IMac then....
Probably work out cheaper

 

[thats all folks]

He said he can only afford the 2015 15' MacBook Pro

actually all he has offered on his budget is:

I don't really mind how much i spend as long as it is a good investment.

and then it was correctly pointed out:

No computer is a good investment. they all lose money and stop working at some point.

so if he wants a new machine now, he needs to decide whether its a macBook Pro (of any size, capability or generation) or an iMac. if he is good with waiting, the field of options may look a a lot better in 4 to 6 months.

 

[Jack Burton]

Go laptop. You are a student, and I'm sure that, as a law student, having a computer in various places for studying or researching with people you may have to work with would be handy. Not to mention when you have to go places and wait, like their airport or doctor's office.

2015 will be fine. I also think the macbook air or new 13 inch MBP would be fine.

 

[jmebbk]

Go laptop. You are a student, and I'm sure that, as a law student, having a computer in various places for studying or researching with people you may have to work with would be handy. Not to mention when you have to go places and wait, like their airport or doctor's office.

2015 will be fine. I also think the macbook air or new 13 inch MBP would be fine.

Would you get the 2015 MacBook 13' or the new non touchbar one?