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MacBook Pro non-touch for college? enough?

N

Nicholas Kenneth

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 16, 2018
16
5
Hello, just joined:)

So I am planning to buy MacBook Pro non touch bar for college (I literally do not have the money to go to touch bar model, windows alternative is not possible; 'not recommended'), with the dual-core i5, 128 gb of ram, and 8 gb of memory, and my parents allow me to add $200 to the price, so I can upgrade only one of those. I think I can do with the i5, but I am quite worried about the ram and ssd.

So, with my limited budget, should I upgrade ram or ssd? or even the processor? I'll use this for the next 5 years (I will suffer).

I download powerpoints, use pages and keynote, 4-7 tabs while safari browsing, and watch youtube and netflix. Nothing else.

thanks in advance.
 
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Nicholas Kenneth said:
Hello, just joined:)

So I am planning to buy MacBook Pro non touch bar for college (I literally do not have the money to go to touch bar model, windows alternative is not possible; 'not recommended'), with the dual-core i5, 128 gb of ram, and 8 gb of memory, and my parents allow me to add $200 to the price, so I can upgrade only one of those. I think I can do with the i5, but I am quite worried about the ram and ssd.

So, with my limited budget, should I upgrade ram or ssd? or even the processor? I'll use this for the next 5 years (I will suffer).

I download powerpoints, use pages and keynote, 4-7 tabs while safari browsing, and watch youtube and netflix. Nothing else.

thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Definitely upgrade the SSD to 256GB, for what you do the i5 is plenty, and the 8GB Ram will serve you well and remain fast. But you’ll want storage over the next 5 years so definitely upgrade the SSD.
 
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If it were me, I'd upgrade the SSD. MacOS will be fine with 8GB given your usage. My iMac has 8GB and its more then enough.
 
Tough call. Of the two I would upgrade the SSD. I think you'll hit the wall on that faster than you'll hit the wall with 8GB.

Conversely, you can use external storage and upgrade the RAM, but that's not particular clean, and then you still need to pay for external storage, deal with adaptors if it's USB3 etc.

For what you use though, I can't see how Windows can be "not recommended". Is the educational institute getting kickbacks from Apple?
 
Howard2k said:
I can't see how Windows can be "not recommended". Is the educational institute getting kickbacks from Apple?
Click to expand...
Colleges limit what the students should use all the time, I'm not totally surprised
 
maflynn said:
Colleges limit what the students should use all the time, I'm not totally surprised
Click to expand...

Comparing macOS to Windows, I obviously prefer macOS. But I've never ever used macOS in the workplace. Seems spectacularly short sighted to me. "To help prepare you for life out in the workplace and general computer use, we're going to train you to use an OS that has around 4% marketshare, as opposed to the one that has more than 80%."


Sure, if there are specific macOS applications, that makes sense. But for general purpose computing, that's absurd if it really is at it appears.
 
maflynn said:
I work at a hospital that the faculty and scientists all use Macs, not to mention the communication team ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Click to expand...


I'm not saying that nobody does. I'm just saying that for non-specialized training, it's absurd. But hey, maybe there are legitimate reasons that haven't been disclosed. Maybe the OP is looking to get into a field where macOS is the leader.
 
If your going to keep the laptop for over 5 years, you need to upgrade the ssd AND ram.
 
FFR said:
If your going to keep the laptop for over 5 years, you need to upgrade the ssd AND ram.
Click to expand...
Not true IMO. MacOS is great with RAM. I used my 2012 rMBP with 8gb in college for over 4 years and never had an issue. SSD, yes. He/she needs 256gb.
 
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wow. thanks for the fast response! due to this I am actually thinking of getting the 256. I thought 16gb of ram would be better until I realized that I will only have TWO ports that are USB-c. but then refurbished models look good, and THEN I realized I could upgrade both. In the end, although an ssd upgrade is better, both the ssd and ram is at risk, so I am thinking of a 16/256 refurbed. Is this good? from the fast replies, I am getting one tomorrow, I think.
 
bkends35 said:
Not true IMO. MacOS is great with RAM. I used my 2012 rMBP with 8gb in college for over 4 years and never had an issue.
Click to expand...

Maybe for the last 4 years, but for the next 5 years he will need to upgrade the ram AND ssd.
 
For what you use though, I can't see how Windows can be "not recommended". Is the educational institute getting kickbacks from Apple?[/QUOTE]

All the appliances are mac based, I don't know why. I could have just gotten a xps, or a thinkpad.
[doublepost=1534427403][/doublepost]
FFR said:
Maybe for the last 4 years, but for the next 5 years he will need to upgrade the ram AND ssd.
Click to expand...
that is my plan, but with refurb. is it okay?
 
If it's a choice between the two, definitely the SSD, even for a basic usage 128GB don't offer much headroom these days. Or, if budget is the main concern, look at a refurbished model, save some money and take both ;). Since the non-TB is a model from last year you should be able to find plenty of them. And yes, the machine will be more than enough for your usage, so go for it.
 
bkends35 said:
Not true IMO. MacOS is great with RAM. I used my 2012 rMBP with 8gb in college for over 4 years and never had an issue. SSD, yes. He/she needs 256gb.
Click to expand...
I'm a boy. wait, am I still a minor? "In the United States as of 1995, minor is generally legally defined as a person under the age of 18."
 
Nicholas Kenneth said:
wow. thanks for the fast response! due to this I am actually thinking of getting the 256. I thought 16gb of ram would be better until I realized that I will only have TWO ports that are USB-c. but then refurbished models look good, and THEN I realized I could upgrade both. In the end, although an ssd upgrade is better, both the ssd and ram is at risk, so I am thinking of a 16/256 refurbed. Is this good? from the fast replies, I am getting one tomorrow, I think.
Click to expand...


It is good if you can swing both for your price. I don't see a 16/256 at this time on the 13" but do on the 15". They constantly sell out and resupply so you have to keep your eyes peeled and pull the trigger when the one shows up you want.
 
bkends35 said:
I'd go for this. 8gb will be plenty.

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...-Intel-Core-i5-with-Retina-display-Space-Gray
Click to expand...
bkends35 said:
Not true IMO. MacOS is great with RAM. I used my 2012 rMBP with 8gb in college for over 4 years and never had an issue. SSD, yes. He/she needs 256gb.
Click to expand...

The model the OP is looking at is already a year old, but older based on the hardware inside.

If the new 13 used ddr4 then I would say 8 would be fine. But I would venture to say that in 2 years, 8 ddr3 may be not be adequate.
 
Nicholas Kenneth said:
For what you use though, I can't see how Windows can be "not recommended". Is the educational institute getting kickbacks from Apple?

All the appliances are mac based, I don't know why. I could have just gotten a xps, or a thinkpad.
[doublepost=1534427403][/doublepost]
that is my plan, but with refurb. is it okay?
Click to expand...



Refurb is fine try to get Apple care for it if you can, i think you can purchase it anytime in the first 3 months.

Good luck
 
bruinsrme said:
The model the OP is looking at is already a year old, but older based on the hardware inside.

If the new 13 used ddr4 then I would say 8 would be fine. But I would venture to say that in 2 years, 8 ddr3 may be not be adequate.
Click to expand...
several reasons: 1. lack of refurb models
2. battery life
3. related to no 1. tight budget
4. is the touch bar reliable?
[doublepost=1534428392][/doublepost]sorry for the amount of posts, but will an ssd make up for it? I think in a couple years I will only need 12 gb.
 
godammit forgot a mistake! after 4 years it will be recycled to my little bro at grade 7 (what an age difference, eh?)
 
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