I currently have a base model MacBook Air from 2010. It stutters quite a bit. I want to purchase a new Mac but don't really like how expensive the retina MBPs are because they aren't user upgradable. The bestbuy Black Friday ad shows they are selling the 2012 cMBP for $899. Is this a good deal? I will probably upgrade the ram and then maybe to an SSD next year if I purchase it. I mostly need it for browsing and papers. Thanks!
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MacBook Pro 2012 still relevant?
- Thread starter hunterheath33
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IIRC the base model 2010 MBA had 2GB RAM.
Depending on your OS, that's a bit lean, and being a MBA it isn't upgradable.
This will mean that your memory pressure will be greater on Mavericks and Yosemite than than a 2012 spec cMBP which has 4GB (as do the current MBAs).
If you want some speed, and have purchased it in the past, try Mountain Lion.
Depending on your OS, that's a bit lean, and being a MBA it isn't upgradable.
This will mean that your memory pressure will be greater on Mavericks and Yosemite than than a 2012 spec cMBP which has 4GB (as do the current MBAs).
If you want some speed, and have purchased it in the past, try Mountain Lion.
There are a lot of assumptions involved. A base 2010 mba is certainly capable to run word processing and a browser with no hiccups whatsoever. I guess the OP hasn't even looked at the activity monitor or istat.
I have. It was using a lot of swap memory too. The biggest issue with Yosemite is that my safari tabs constantly reloaded. And I had around 5 open. The main reason I was interested in a cMBP is because of the larger screen, SuperDrive, and the fact that it can be upgraded by myself
Is the memory pressure green? Mavericks and Yosemite always swap.
Safari tabs never reload by themselves. Sounds like a software issue to me.
Just from safari and browsing? That's unusual, but it means you need more ram.
Unfortunately I can't upgrade anything with my MacBook Air. It also has a paltry 64gb SSD, which really restricts what I can use it for. Do you have any recommendations on a computer (Mac or PC) that would suffice for my needs with a larger hard drive and at a reasonable price? I would love for it to last me 2-3 years and then I will buy a high end Mac when I get more money. Thanks!
Any macbook in the current lineup will work just fine.
The cmbp has a slow, but user servicable hdd and older gpu.
The cmbp is still a very good laptop especially if you need the ports and superdrive.
That's a great machine - go for it.
You should also get a mover's coupon from your local post office - it will take another 10% off.
Software
Given the likelihood of a problem with software (not necessarily Apple software), I shouldn't rush towards more memory or a replacement computer let me dig out a couple of memory-related screenshots
Given the likelihood of a problem with software (not necessarily Apple software), I shouldn't rush towards more memory or a replacement computer let me dig out a couple of memory-related screenshots
Memory pressure graphs
I found only one of the shots. Here's the text that originally went with it:
I found only one of the shots. Here's the text that originally went with it:
This one shot alone, exemplary of (a) above, is probably not unusual. The other examples were unusual enough for me to have said, don't assume that more memory is appropriate when red alone is mentioned.
Attachments
In this case install istat. It will tell you how many % of your memory are really used.
iStat Menus
Thanks – I made great use of iStat Menus in the past. Over a long period I concluded that it was too problematic for me. YMMV; my environment was/is unusual. The last version that I tested was 4.22.
iStat Menus 5 is available. Maybe less problematic, but I no longer need such utilities so I'm not in a rush to test it.
Thanks – I made great use of iStat Menus in the past. Over a long period I concluded that it was too problematic for me. YMMV; my environment was/is unusual. The last version that I tested was 4.22.
iStat Menus 5 is available. Maybe less problematic, but I no longer need such utilities so I'm not in a rush to test it.
If you are waiting for an "upgradeable" MBP - that boat has likely sailed out of the Apple ecosystem - with probably only the MacPro being anything close to "upgradeable" within the next couple of years. Windows makers do offer some refuge now for upgradeability, but they will also trend towards where Apple is already.
Like Meister said, you shouldn't see THAT much lag. I would not buy the cMBP from 2012 in 2014. The rMBP is thinner, lighter, has an SSD, faster RAM, faster graphics, and much better screen. It isn't upgradable, but neither was your MBA. Just get good specs upfront and you should be happy.
New MacBookPro9,2
After much thought I'll almost certainly avoid the newest MacBook Pro. For me the solid state-only storage and Retina display will be a waste of money.
Instead: http://web.archive.org/web/20140816155501/http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook-pro/specs/ and value for money
Incidentally, what's the 'c'?
Getting better than the HDD alone
I wondered about putting something very fast in the SDXC card slot. Then, a nice chat in irc://chat.freenode.net/#zfs with reference to various web pages, including these on Amazon:
From the chat in IRC I learnt that I'll probably not get what I want from anything in the SDXC card slot.
Instead I'm considering a mobile SSD, maybe the Maplin Phison 128GB USB 3.0 External SSD Drive for £79.99.
After much thought I'll almost certainly avoid the newest MacBook Pro. For me the solid state-only storage and Retina display will be a waste of money.
Instead: http://web.archive.org/web/20140816155501/http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook-pro/specs/ and value for money
Incidentally, what's the 'c'?
Getting better than the HDD alone
I wondered about putting something very fast in the SDXC card slot. Then, a nice chat in irc://chat.freenode.net/#zfs with reference to various web pages, including these on Amazon:
- SanDisk Extreme PLUS 32GB SDHC UHS-I/U3 Memory Card up to 80MB/s Read (SDSDXS-032G-X46) £31.30
- SanDisk Extreme PLUS 64GB SDXC UHS-I/U3 Memory Card up to 80MB/s Read (SDSDXS-064G-X46) £63.94
- SanDisk SDSDXS-128G-X46 Extreme Plus 128 GB 80 MB/s UHS-I Class 10 SDHC Memory Card £115.47
From the chat in IRC I learnt that I'll probably not get what I want from anything in the SDXC card slot.
Instead I'm considering a mobile SSD, maybe the Maplin Phison 128GB USB 3.0 External SSD Drive for £79.99.
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