I'm using a 15" 2010 MacBook Pro (2.4 Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM), and it seems pretty slow and clunky - and I'm getting very tired of what seem to be endless spinning beach balls. I'm also getting a lot of "unresponsive script" pop-ups, and don't know if they are website problems or computer problems.
I know the battery needs replacing - the 2nd battery this machine has had is over 1300 cycles and the notation says "replace soon", which seems pretty obvious. I'm pretty sure the hard drive could be replaced with a new SSD drive - altho I'm also sure nobody in this house is adept enough to do it. I don't know how the speed increase from doing that would compare with the speed of the new MacBook Pro with retina screen.
I've been looking at a refurb 13" 2015 MacBook Pro with the retina screen at the Apple Store. I'm just not sure how my eyes would feel about changing screen size. I'm in that less than 1% of people who are left with residual vision problems post cataract surgery, and don't know if the benefits of the retina screen would offset the downgrade in screen size. I've never used anything smaller than 15". I don't travel, and use my laptop just around the house. I'm not a power user by any means, doing email, web surfing (lots and lots of web surfing), and some word processing, iPhoto, etc. - pretty basic stuff. I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable spending as much money as a 15" MacBook Pro with a retina screen would cost, so I think my only options are to update the 2010 model or go to a 13" MacBook Pro with a retina screen.
Something I wonder about the retina screens - I use a large font when doing email and web browsing because it's easier on my eyes. Does using a large font negate the benefits of a retina screen? Would a retina screen tend to result in less eye strain?
I'm a "newbie" here, but not a newbie to Macs, since I've never used anything other than a Mac - we've gone from towers that became too expensive to iMacs that were way cool at the time, but in my old age I much prefer to spend time being a couch potato with a laptop. I do think a 13" would be a better fit for surfing while on the couch, but my concern is with my eyes - I have very, very dry eyes due to an auto-immune disease (Sjogrens), and whatever would make things easier on my eyes is a big consideration.
Then again, so is money at this point.
I guess that's more than enough questions piled into one post - any input much appreciated!
I know the battery needs replacing - the 2nd battery this machine has had is over 1300 cycles and the notation says "replace soon", which seems pretty obvious. I'm pretty sure the hard drive could be replaced with a new SSD drive - altho I'm also sure nobody in this house is adept enough to do it. I don't know how the speed increase from doing that would compare with the speed of the new MacBook Pro with retina screen.
I've been looking at a refurb 13" 2015 MacBook Pro with the retina screen at the Apple Store. I'm just not sure how my eyes would feel about changing screen size. I'm in that less than 1% of people who are left with residual vision problems post cataract surgery, and don't know if the benefits of the retina screen would offset the downgrade in screen size. I've never used anything smaller than 15". I don't travel, and use my laptop just around the house. I'm not a power user by any means, doing email, web surfing (lots and lots of web surfing), and some word processing, iPhoto, etc. - pretty basic stuff. I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable spending as much money as a 15" MacBook Pro with a retina screen would cost, so I think my only options are to update the 2010 model or go to a 13" MacBook Pro with a retina screen.
Something I wonder about the retina screens - I use a large font when doing email and web browsing because it's easier on my eyes. Does using a large font negate the benefits of a retina screen? Would a retina screen tend to result in less eye strain?
I'm a "newbie" here, but not a newbie to Macs, since I've never used anything other than a Mac - we've gone from towers that became too expensive to iMacs that were way cool at the time, but in my old age I much prefer to spend time being a couch potato with a laptop. I do think a 13" would be a better fit for surfing while on the couch, but my concern is with my eyes - I have very, very dry eyes due to an auto-immune disease (Sjogrens), and whatever would make things easier on my eyes is a big consideration.
Then again, so is money at this point.
I guess that's more than enough questions piled into one post - any input much appreciated!