I am a big fan of buying used - I buy low use for awhile and sell for more (most of the time).
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Cheapest MacBook Pro: good enough?
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I am a big fan of buying used - I buy low use for awhile and sell for more (most of the time).
I'm surprised you didn't suggest it if this is a frequent event for you. How come you've never done it with a MacBook Air?
You're a very brave girl. I think most people would be hesitant to take apart their brand new $1000 machine to modify it themselves.
Never been that interested in MBA (limited user customization). Also have not found a deal that would allow me to make money off them.
I just think that if you wanted customiazability, you'd went with windows/pc. I think that's just the environment apple has built for their devices.
Apple sells use-ability over customizability.
Yup, just buy 2x8GB modules and you are set. Ivy Bridge can do up to 32 GB, but we don't have 2x16GB yet, or if we do it isn't very cost effective....
16GB can be had for <$80 if you shop around.
If you're going to do a lot VM work, I would recommend a quad-core processor. That will put you into 15" MBP turf, fyi. BTW, when I say "a lot of VM work," I mean if you have a VM with 2 or more virtual CPU in it, or more than one VM with a single virtual CPU in each.
I just exchanged my 13" mid-2012 cMBP with 2.9GHz CPU, because it was dual-core. I found the CPU to be a bit strained (more than I hoped for in something brand new that I'm planning to be using for the next 3-4 years).
I'm not sure how VirtualBox or Parallels schedule their CPU instructions, but for VMware Fusion, a single virtual CPU (vCPU) will get 1 core of the physical CPU (pCPU). So, as soon as you have more than one VM with a single vCPU in each, or a VM with 2 vCPU in it, the 13" MBP CPU is really going to feel it.
I get a way better VM experience now with the quad-core 2.3 GHz i7 CPU in the base cMBP 15", than I did with the dual-core 2.9 GHz i7 CPU in the top-of-the-line 13" cMBP.
I just exchanged my 13" mid-2012 cMBP with 2.9GHz CPU, because it was dual-core. I found the CPU to be a bit strained (more than I hoped for in something brand new that I'm planning to be using for the next 3-4 years).
I'm not sure how VirtualBox or Parallels schedule their CPU instructions, but for VMware Fusion, a single virtual CPU (vCPU) will get 1 core of the physical CPU (pCPU). So, as soon as you have more than one VM with a single vCPU in each, or a VM with 2 vCPU in it, the 13" MBP CPU is really going to feel it.
I get a way better VM experience now with the quad-core 2.3 GHz i7 CPU in the base cMBP 15", than I did with the dual-core 2.9 GHz i7 CPU in the top-of-the-line 13" cMBP.
I did the same. bought the base model 13 and added 16gb and an ssd. it is great! the only way I could see even think about an air is if you need maximum portability and even then I would make sure you get as much ram as possible with it since you can't add any later. to do that, you will end up with more money in it. I also wanted the DVD drive internal so it was a really easy choice for me. I ended up having around $1170 for my 13 mbp with 16gb and a 256gb ssd added. if you wait for a sale you can get it for less than 1g. I paid $962 shipped from amazon for mine. in my opinion it is the best value for your money to go that route...
didn't mean to hurt or something.. you can always upgrade to ssd.
there is a huge difference in work. even if you bought one without ssd in 2012 you can always upgrade by yourself and it will cost less than apple.
you did the right move just like everyone replied after me said.
I agree, especially when working with a brand-spanking-new machine. I've done surgery on a lot of macs (though never professionally), but when doing the "drive doubler" operation on my MBP, I took it to a local certified apple mechanic and paid my 20 and in return, my warranty is still in tact.
Ouch, here we're solidly in the realm of personal opinion.
Just to balance yinz's sweeping statement, I'll quote a local authority on workplace ergonomics and an expert in research on repetitive stress disorder: "every owner of an MBA, should get himself/herself some method of raising the front edge of the machine enough so that the main slope of the machine angles down toward the hinge, to avoid unnecessary stress to nerve paths in the hand."
Personally, I very much like the ergonomics of "flat" machines, but my wife is okay with her MBA. Go figure.
RGDS,
Buy a used one from eBay. I did that, and actually received it today! It works perfectly and looks like new! Plus it still has 6 months warranty left on it. I got mine for $925 + $5 s&h. 2012 Macbook Pro, and I upgraded it with my own 256 crucial m4 SSD (you can get this for $180 on amazon) and 8 GB ram (you can get this for $60 on amazon), and wow....this thing flies!
I just sold my 2010 macbook pro c2duo for this, and I'm telling you that it's def worth it. the intel 4000 graphics card is amazing too!
Get the basic one, then when you feel you can afford it, get an SSD + 8GB ram, and this will easily last you 4 years. Plus, if you get a new laptop in 3-4 years, you can just swap the ssd to your new one! (That's what I did, swapped my ssd from my old macbook pro to this one).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261144805271?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
That's the guy I bought it from...I asked for $925, even though it's listed at $1000, and he accepted. Good luck!
I just sold my 2010 macbook pro c2duo for this, and I'm telling you that it's def worth it. the intel 4000 graphics card is amazing too!
Get the basic one, then when you feel you can afford it, get an SSD + 8GB ram, and this will easily last you 4 years. Plus, if you get a new laptop in 3-4 years, you can just swap the ssd to your new one! (That's what I did, swapped my ssd from my old macbook pro to this one).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261144805271?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
That's the guy I bought it from...I asked for $925, even though it's listed at $1000, and he accepted. Good luck!
Interesting, I never heard that one before. Usually I rest my wrists on the elongated and down sloping wedge while typing. I find it very comfortable, more so than traditional keyboards that are elevated. I suppose it is opinion then. Why would they make accessories to elevate your wrists then?
I have low-end cMBP`12. I put in intel 240 SSD as system drive, and m4 512 SSD as file storage. Also, put in 16GB RAM - and this stuff is flying!
I do a lot of VM`s work (I really mean a lot - running 10 VM`s with enterprise grade software, vSphere, Cisco emulations etc) - and it works.
You wont regret it.
I do a lot of VM`s work (I really mean a lot - running 10 VM`s with enterprise grade software, vSphere, Cisco emulations etc) - and it works.
You wont regret it.