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Currently use a chromebook acer c720, looking at macbook

L

Legionnaire

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Original poster
Oct 10, 2011
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Alright, I have a laptop I bought 4 years ago, Lenovo Y500, but I have never used it more than a dozen times. Thing is huge, hot and I just hate dealing with the laptop in general. I only use it when I need a program that my chromebook cant use. (which is like once a year).

I use my chromebook 99.999% of the time, long battery life and I browse the web all day everyday. The chromebook still worsk great but I am looking an reason to get rid of the large lenovo and maybe replace this chromebook and use this as a travel laptop which ive done for years.

My current chromebook is 11.6inches, the macbook is 12 inches and 13 inches right? I know they cost like a grand, I am very interested getting it for everyday type use. Question, if I did actually download a game can a macbook run it? not talking high intesnive game just a medicore video game. I am not sure if the 2017 macbooks have a decent graphics card or not for medium task. My lenovo has a Gt650m GPU which is old, wouldnt surprise me if the macbook does better at games that it does.


oh. Is there any rumors at all about wireless charging pad? I would totally wait for one if so. I keep it literally 1 foot away from me on my bed so just lifting and setting it there would be ideal. I also would prefer a fanless, are both 12/13 models fanless? if you had to pick which one would you grab


Pros cons 12 vs 13 inch versions?. Is it edge to edge? or is there a large bezel around it. How would you compare Macbook surfing vs chromebook surfing? My chromebook seems pretty seamless and very fast and efficient. Last question, best time to buy these things? What price or deal should I be looking for? I dont know their sale scheme.
 
To answer your question about graphics performance, the 2017 MacBook has an Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, which according to multiple sites I visited, still performs worse than NVIDIA's GT 650M. However in recent generations, the performance of integrated graphics is enough to play moderately demanding 3D games, and that's not to mention that they're much more power efficient to use than discrete GPUs.

As for wireless charging pads, I haven't found any rumours on those making their way to Mac notebooks. However I bet there are probably accessories that act very similar to wireless charging pads, as in the computer would be plugged into a charge port attached to pad, similar to the iPod dock. So not completely wireless, however it keeps you from having to plug in a cable every time you want to charge it.

As far as I know, the MacBook only comes in 12-inch screen sizes, no 13-inch. Unless you're referring to the older white 13-inch from 2010 and earlier.
 
oh I see. Does it have the magnetic charging cable? How big is the actual screen bezel, does the 12 inch count for the edge bezel? can you say how much screen is actually not usable

I wonder if next years macbook gets a gpu power boost. Reason I ask is I am pretty content at moment with my chromebook, just seeing if today or next year is a good reason to splurge. with phones coming with charging pad assumed macbooks would receive it too. hopeful wishes anyway
 
The 13-inch model you are discussing is probably the MacBook Pro - Apple only makes a 12-inch retina MacBook, but they do make a 13-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro has either one or two fans, depending on the configuration, and only run when needed. For gaming usage, it has a dramatically faster CPU, a stupedendously faster GPU, and better cooling capability. It has a higher base price, and is not quite as light. Only the MacBook Air has the magnetic charging cable - the current generation MacBook and MacBook Pro use a more durable solution called USB-C, which is universal, and enables the [safe] use of low-cost 3rd party chargers.

The current generation (2017) retina MacBook's GPU is inferior to your 650M by a pretty significant margin. Additionally, the fanless design isn't super well-matched to any games that generate constant heat because the combination of very high CPU usage + very high GPU usage simultaneously and over an extended period will cause the machine the throttle. Compared to the 2016 and 2015 model MacBooks, the 2017 got a significant power boost, a significant graphics boost, a huge SSD boost, a massive battery life boost, and what I consider to be a much nicer keyboard. Now is a good time to buy - what the future holds is anyone's guess.

If the MacBook gains inductive charging, it will probably be on future models only (and not added on to current ones.) I wouldn't count on this feature though - even if it does eventually come about, the slow speed of inductive charging can present a limitation, as can the heat generated.

I went from a 13-inch MacBook Pro to a 12-inch MacBook - but I have another Mac I use as my primary workstation, and I do not game. If this will be your primary computer, and you plan to use it for games, the 13-inch MacBook Pro may be a better fit for your needs.
 
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Hi,
Not sure if you are still looking but i kno best buy was getting rid of 2016 macbook 12 inch for 700-800.00 i recetly picked one up and i love it.
I really needed portablity and you can really take this anywhere

I am able to run photahop with no problems
I graphic design on this as well
Now i do own 15 inch mbp which is my main machine but lately i pick this up quicker because its so light

I would go with 12 inch if you can ger a good deal check ebay as well spend no more than 900.00 i ll say for a 12 inch otherwise spend that grand for a 13 mbp
 
When do macbooks get updated yearly? I am going to buy a 12 inch at next release update. I will hold off til then so I do have the most current. Will it get a better processor?
 
Well, you'll have a fairly long wait, then, as the 2017 MacBook was just released this past June. The processor and the SSD were both updated and are faster than the two previous generations, and with the 2017 also comes the option to have 16 GB RAM (would need to be a CTO, not available in the stores). It's a pretty perky little machine and does everything that I ask of it without complaint!
 
I have 16k credit card debt, i'd like to eliminate all of it (8months) from now before I buy the macbook. 8 months reasonable for an updated version?
 
Of course there is no guarantee when Apple might choose to release a new updated model.....it could be earlier than June (one year it was in March) or it could be much later, or maybe not even for another year. It does sound like a good idea to get that credit card debt paid off before you purchase a new machine!
 
I went to best buy.. They didnt have a macbook 12 on display, but they had a macbook pro 13 with touchbar. (I love the idea of the touchbar) I was rewinding music, videos, etc could make quick tabs for sites and everything.

The dimensions are the exact same as my acer 11.6 inch macbook but maybe its .4 of an inch wider and like 1/3 of an inch longer if that. Same weight. I am going to buy a macbook 13 pro w touchbar when a good deal comes along. Any reason to NOT get the touchbar? will they fail or cause an issue. I am hoping for 10 years out of the macbook pro.


Best time to buy one?
 
I made the move from Chromebook to MacBook - very straightforward. There isn't much I do on the MacBook that I didn't do on the Chromebook but it's smaller, made of metal, has a better screen and individually lit keys which is worth it to me. I got the 2016 model for a good price and, checking with the Coconut battery app, my machine was built in April 2017 so I hope to get a few years out of it.
 
Is it possible to get a 256gb macbook pro 13 with touchbar 8 for less than 1500? I'd like to honestly have 16gb and 512gb. I am probably waiting til spring, I dont know how much prices drop from best buy etc at new release.

I ditched the idea of 12 though, I do like the idea of the portability, but the pro being the exact same physical size as the chromebook=perfect. I love this size. its due to the bezel being way smaller and such like others posted. sorry i didnt believe you guys. I want this laptop to last 5-10years
 
Legionnaire said:
Is it possible to get a 256gb macbook pro 13 with touchbar 8 for less than 1500? I'd like to honestly have 16gb and 512gb. I am probably waiting til spring, I dont know how much prices drop from best buy etc at new release.

I ditched the idea of 12 though, I do like the idea of the portability, but the pro being the exact same physical size as the chromebook=perfect. I love this size. its due to the bezel being way smaller and such like others posted. sorry i didnt believe you guys. I want this laptop to last 5-10years
Click to expand...
5 years sure. 10 years is hard for any laptop.

Haven't seen a Black Friday deal that cheap. $1650 it's now. But refurbished
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...-Intel-Core-i5-with-Retina-Display-Space-Gray
 
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