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[HELP] MacBook Pro right for me?

B

Brainless24

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 6, 2013
30
0
I am looking for a new laptop and need help choosing. Here is what I look for in a laptop.
No retina
A lot of memory (music, pictures)
Computer Graphics(Trying to be a professional)
Web browsing
Little video editing
Little beat making (garage band type of thing, doesn't mean much, just for fun)
Little gaming (not important that much)
Fast speed
Using for school projects (not that important)
Also travel like MacBook Air, thin and such isn't important at all
Also price limit is $1500.

If you need more information to tell me what I should get just ask!
 
Brainless24 said:
I am looking for a new laptop and need help choosing. Here is what I look for in a laptop.
No retina
A lot of memory (music, pictures)
Computer Graphics(Trying to be a professional)
Web browsing
Little video editing
Little beat making (garage band type of thing, doesn't mean much, just for fun)
Little gaming (not important that much)
Fast speed
Using for school projects (not that important)
Also travel like MacBook Air, thin and such isn't important at all
Also price limit is $1500.

If you need more information to tell me what I should get just ask!
Click to expand...

I know you said no retina, but you might as well, because you can get the computer you want for $1399 :) http://store.apple.com/us-hed/buy-mac/macbook-pro

6ZMI7Xn.png
 
Brainless24 said:
I know I saw that, but that version only comes with 256 GB compared to the non-retina's 500 GB.

Any more suggestions will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Right, but it also means you will get a very fast SSD instead of a slow 5400 rpm HDD.
 
Brainless24 said:
I feel dumb but can you remind me what SSD means and what a rpm HDD means? Lol. :eek:
Click to expand...

Don't feel dumb. Sure, SSD means solid state drive, meaning that it has no moving parts and is based on flash memory. An 'rpm' HDD means a hard disk drive that physically spins at 5400 revolutions per minute (there are also 7200 rpm ones on the Apple BTO page), and has a floating head that reads data from the disk and is much slower than SSDs. Since SSD's use no moving parts, they aren't prone to the kind of damage an HDD would have (although modern HDD's have G force sensors, it isn't as good as having a drive that uses no moving parts).

:)
 
Brainless24 said:
I am looking for a new laptop and need help choosing. Here is what I look for in a laptop.
No retina
A lot of memory (music, pictures)
Computer Graphics(Trying to be a professional)
Web browsing
Little video editing
Little beat making (garage band type of thing, doesn't mean much, just for fun)
Little gaming (not important that much)
Fast speed
Using for school projects (not that important)
Also travel like MacBook Air, thin and such isn't important at all
Also price limit is $1500.

If you need more information to tell me what I should get just ask!
Click to expand...

Alright so here are the specs for the non retina display.

2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM — 2x2GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

With this you can go to crucial.com and check for ram upgrades. You can either put 8gb or 16gb, I can't remember if the 13" can go that high.

And for the tasks you want to do, that should be fine, plus you get 1TB of hard drive space.
The total of this is $1,449.00 or $1,698.00 with Apple Care. OR, you could go with the smaller processor, which wouldn't be as nice, but if the previous cost with Apple care is too high, it would cost $1,548.00

Edit: Also, what type of games are you planning on playing?
 
Darthmnkyrpm said:
Alright so here are the specs for the non retina display.

2.9GHz Dual-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz
4GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM — 2x2GB
1TB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm

With this you can go to crucial.com and check for ram upgrades. You can either put 8gb or 16gb, I can't remember if the 13" can go that high.

And for the tasks you want to do, that should be fine, plus you get 1TB of hard drive space.
The total of this is $1,449.00 or $1,698.00 with Apple Care. OR, you could go with the smaller processor, which wouldn't be as nice, but if the previous cost with Apple care is too high, it would cost $1,548.00

Edit: Also, what type of games are you planning on playing?
Click to expand...
Minecraft or TF2, it isn't important though. I am more focused on Memory , fast and graphics.
 
Given that you are not interested in latest technology and your demands are quite moderate (aside from storage), I think you should just get a used 2010 or later MacBook Pro (non-retina). Preferably a 15" model. A refurbished 2012 non-retina costs $1450 - its also the fastest non-retina machine you can possibly get. A 2010 or so MBP is cheaper - but its also slower than a current-gen MacBook Air for everyday tasks.
 
leman said:
Given that you are not interested in latest technology and your demands are quite moderate (aside from storage), I think you should just get a used 2010 or later MacBook Pro (non-retina). Preferably a 15" model. A refurbished 2012 non-retina costs $1450 - its also the fastest non-retina machine you can possibly get. A 2010 or so MBP is cheaper - but its also slower than a current-gen MacBook Air for everyday tasks.
Click to expand...
I would but I don't feel safe pruchasing a used one. I am definitly getting a NEW one.

And for SSD vs HHD I don't really want to have to purchase extra memory for my laptop. :D

If I get a MAC most likely going to get a MacBook Pro non-retina 13 inch 2.5 gzh. Any non-mad suggestions or reasons why Mac's are better? I don't know much about Macs yet.
 
troop231 said:
Right, but it also means you will get a very fast SSD instead of a slow 5400 rpm HDD.
Click to expand...

Okay, thinking about this, but how much memory would I lose if I get that retina one you posted? Because if it isn't that much of a difference I am considering this! :p
 
Brainless24 said:
I would but I don't feel safe pruchasing a used one. I am definitly getting a NEW one.
Click to expand...

You are contradicting yourself. You say that you want a new one but you don't want latest tech? I don't get it. BTW, Apple refurb laptops may be used but they are sold directly by Apple and have full warranty, just as new ones. A refurb 15" from last year is only slightly more expensive than the current new 13" non-retina, yet it has over two times as much processing power'

Brainless24 said:
And for SSD vs HHD I don't really want to have to purchase extra memory for my laptop. :D
Click to expand...

Well, you have to decide between storage and speed. The current SSDs in the retina models are 5 times as fast as a conventional big hard drive.

Brainless24 said:
If I get a MAC most likely going to get a MacBook Pro non-retina 13 inch 2.5 gzh.
Click to expand...

I'd rather get a macbook air. Its faster, lighter and has higher screen resolution. But what a shame - it has an SSD :rolleyes:

Brainless24 said:
Any non-mad suggestions or reasons why Mac's are better? I don't know much about Macs yet.
Click to expand...

Well, the model you are looking at is basically an overpriced laptop from last year, only still being sold for people on a tight budget. Sure, the build quality is better than a $750 windows laptop with essentially the same hardware, but I don't see why you would spend over $1000 if just few hundred more will get you a much better machine. Well, its your money.
 
leman said:
You are contradicting yourself. You say that you want a new one but you don't want latest tech? I don't get it. BTW, Apple refurb laptops may be used but they are sold directly by Apple and have full warranty, just as new ones. A refurb 15" from last year is only slightly more expensive than the current new 13" non-retina, yet it has over two times as much processing power'



Well, you have to decide between storage and speed. The current SSDs in the retina models are 5 times as fast as a conventional big hard drive.



I'd rather get a macbook air. Its faster, lighter and has higher screen resolution. But what a shame - it has an SSD :rolleyes:



Well, the model you are looking at is basically an overpriced laptop from last year, only still being sold for people on a tight budget. Sure, the build quality is better than a $750 windows laptop with essentially the same hardware, but I don't see why you would spend over $1000 if just few hundred more will get you a much better machine. Well, its your money.
Click to expand...

I am torn between the non retina 13 inch and the retina 13 inch for like 1400, but see I don't want to have to purchase extra memory. And HHD and SSD, sure SSD is faster but HHD isn't slow and still very fast compared to what I am used to useing!
 
Just letting you know I watched a lot of reviews and am choosing the MacBook Pro 13 inch 2.5 ghz, thanks for the help for who replied! :D :apple:
 
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