Is is it worth it to buy this refurb 15" macbook? or should I wait for ivy bridge?

[macurgirl]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1286368/

I just bought 15" refurbish macbook pro from apple.com for $1359.

 

[some idiot]

I just bought 15" refurbish macbook pro from apple.com for $1359.

plus tax? I think the Amazon deal is better... but too late now just trying to help

 

[macurgirl]

people are trying to reply with help including me when i said i have the same machine and its great

you keep rebutling peoples help with thats not good enough...yada yada

so did you make up that whole part of 256MB video card not being good enough

I made a final decision getting that laptop for my budget and I hope Its worth it because this year I decided to buy macbook.

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plus tax? I think the Amazon deal is better... but too late now just trying to help

Your making me call apple and cancel my order because that is a great deal plus I hate taxes.

 

[some idiot]

I'm a little nervous about the condition of the Amazon used computers, but I should know in the next few hours.

It really is quite a good deal for a powerhouse of a machine.

 

[ninjaslim]

Yes, I am university student on budget. My problem is 256mb of discreet video card is not enough for video editing or photography. I really hope i find cheap alternative macbook pro with powerful video card.

Are you for real? A video card is barely going to help with any of those tasks, which are mainly CPU and HDD-intensive. This kid's buggin'

 

[dlimes13]

HP Envy 17? New one's come out tomorrow. lol

 

[Adamantoise]

What software are you using? Just lightroom, photoshop, capture one, or something like that? I'll just go off photoshop here. Typically Adobe will suggest at least X amount of vram, but it doesn't use the gpu for much. The OpenGL drawing function that's been around since CS4 doesn't require a lot of power. Photoshop is very IO intensive. If you tell me what programs you're using and go into some detail on your problems, I may be able to help. 256MB isn't a lot of vram, but I doubt that's your real problem at least for still photography. If you want a truly powerful gpu, you're looking at mac pro territory. Right now you're a student. You are going to outgrow whatever you buy. Anyway give me a better description so I can help.



The gpu doesn't have much of an effect on most photo editing programs (out of which photoshop is king, especially given the lack of adequate cmyk support in any other). I will say this, 256MB is on the absolute low end of Adobe's recommendations for CS5.

Doesn't Photoshop use GPU acceleration for OpenGL? I thought that was the case.

 

[Titanium81]

Doesn't Photoshop use GPU acceleration for OpenGL? I thought that was the case.

That's the one thing that I don't like about the current 13" MBP. It doesn't have support for OpenGL. The Intel 3000 HD seems to lacking in that department.

 

[grahamnp]

GPU acceleration in Photoshop isn't that extensive. Correct me if I'm wrong but it only helps to draw images, effects and filters are not included. I've also not heard anybody say anything good about it so far but I have heard of problems. I run with it off, and the current i7 quads are more than good enough for my amateur/hobby level stuff.

What video/photo editing software do you intend to use? Chances are that you don't need a GPU to get them running decently.

Cheap alternative to a MacBook Pro? If you don't prioritise running OSX, then there are plenty of alternatives to the model you are considering. Look for an i7 quad and something with an Nvidia GT 520m, 6490s are not so common. You can find them for about 1/2 the price of the MBP.

The Ivy Bridge mobile lineup has just been announced and it doesn't look that impressive. TDPs are the same and the clock speeds have been bumped slightly. Integrated GPU performance will increase but it seems like you're interested in more power than the 6490 and not less so that's a moot point. Long story short, not much that is worth waiting half a year for.