Help please!

[EmilyMarie]

hello everyone,

I am in the market for a new computer, and I have decided I am getting my first Mac. I am a college student and need something that can handle a lot of tabs, office, email, photo editing, and other basic functions. I am torn between the 13in retina pro, and an upgraded 13in air. At times I probably have 35-40 tabs open, 5 or 6 word documents, and a video streaming or music playing. I am also not sure if 4,8, or 16gb of ram would be best. Being that this is my first Mac I am not sure what one will handle what I want it to do. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

(Sorry if this has been asked somewhere else, if it was I couldn't find it)

 

[Samuelsan2001]

hello everyone,

I am in the market for a new computer, and I have decided I am getting my first Mac. I am a college student and need something that can handle a lot of tabs, office, email, photo editing, and other basic functions. I am torn between the 13in retina pro, and an upgraded 13in air. At times I probably have 35-40 tabs open, 5 or 6 word documents, and a video streaming or music playing. I am also not sure if 4,8, or 16gb of ram would be best. Being that this is my first Mac I am not sure what one will handle what I want it to do. Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

(Sorry if this has been asked somewhere else, if it was I couldn't find it)

Does your current computer handle that?? If so then I'd imagine a newer computer will do so fine as well.

The air or pro or even the retina MacBook will handle that fine with 8gb, it's not that intensive although photo editing covers a wide range of possible needs.

To be honest buy any of the and buy depending on the screen you want the retina makes a massive difference especially with text for school work or reading papers etc.

 

[Tomorrow]

I assume that "tabs" means browser tabs. If that and the other tasks you've listed are all the stress you're going to put on a machine I think you'll be fine with any Mac in the lineup. Best advice I can give you is get at least 8 Gb of RAM in whatever you get.

 

[LCPepper]

I would go for the Retina from my experience.

I am a student and have the 13" rMBP, and I love it. I take the opportunity to also say that 8GB is the sweet spot, I decided to splash out on 16GB and have regretted since, as I never get anywhere near maxing 8GB out!

Also, the rMBP have more chunky CPUs, mobile not ultrabook processors like the MBAs? I think...? Perhaps someone might want to correct me on that one!

rMBP all the way!

 

[EmilyMarie]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like the MacBook Pro with the retina screen is a good option for me

 

[ProjectManager101]

I have a 2008 Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema Display and I just got another 30" display arriving this week. All that for less than $1000.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I have a 2008 Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema Display and I just got another 30" display arriving this week. All that for less than $1000.

Probably not best for the OP's usage, though. I'd love to see you carting that around a campus.

"What a bargain over the Retina MacBook Pro!" you'd wheeze, red-faced and perspiring, as you desperately search for a power outlet.

 

[LorenK]

Probably not best for the OP's usage, though. I'd love to see you carting that around a campus.

"What a bargain over the Retina MacBook Pro!" you'd wheeze, red-faced and perspiring, as you desperately search for a power outlet.

On the other hand, he could also toss in an iPad and just tote that around. I can't imagine that he needs all those tabs when he is in class (unless he's aiming for a short college career). I have a couple thousand books on my iPad, so his coursebooks would fit easily, and he gets the processing power when he needs in an old Mac Pro. Not to say that new and simple is probably the best course, but I am fond of my 3,1 and love the portability of my iPad.

 

[ProjectManager101]

On the other hand, he could also toss in an iPad and just tote that around. I can't imagine that he needs all those tabs when he is in class (unless he's aiming for a short college career). I have a couple thousand books on my iPad, so his coursebooks would fit easily, and he gets the processing power when he needs in an old Mac Pro. Not to say that new and simple is probably the best course, but I am fond of my 3,1 and love the portability of my iPad.

I hate iPads, useless. I had two, I gave away one. The one I have I am trying to get a used to it. I rather have my 15" MBP on my lap in bed.