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Owners of MacBook pros: what is your age range, job/career, and financial status like

I'm 25, somewhere between 2 and 3 years worth of college credits, accumulated at 1 university and 2 community colleges (not even sure which credits are still valid anymore). Now working as a Database Architect, making about 50% more than median income in the region. Definitely not rich though; just bought a house late last year, so that's sucking up all my money ;)

Owned a Macbook for a few weeks now - wanted a MBP, but grew tired of waiting for the refresh, and an $800 MB seemed like a better idea than a $1200 MBP that is on the verge of replacement.
 
otispondscum said:
Lol, what a ridiculous statement. Translation: Only rich people should buy computers.

Using credit is fine if you have half a brain and pay it off in 3 months or less.
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Yes, but if you can pay it off in 3 months or less, then you really didn't *need* to use credit. By all means, in those situations, use credit to better your rating, or earn rewards points. But if the credit was not available, you could simply save up the cash for a few months and buy it that way.

I think his statement was aimed more at those people who wouldn't be able to save up for "just a few months" and would be tempted to use credit to prolong the payment plan. As you say yourself, if you have half a brain, you'd realize that the added interest cost in going that route would be prohibitive.

That was me, in 2003. I wanted that PowerBook but it would have taken me half a year to save up properly. I was too impatient. So I thought I'd go for interest-free financing. Unfortunately I screwed it up and interest payments came slamming down. It was a stupid mistake, and it cost me dearly.
 
notjustjay said:
Yes, but if you can pay it off in 3 months or less, then you really didn't *need* to use credit. By all means, in those situations, use credit to better your rating, or earn rewards points. But if the credit was not available, you could simply save up the cash for a few months and buy it that way.

I think his statement was aimed more at those people who wouldn't be able to save up for "just a few months" and would be tempted to use credit to prolong the payment plan. As you say yourself, if you have half a brain, you'd realize that the added interest cost in going that route would be prohibitive.

That was me, in 2003. I wanted that PowerBook but it would have taken me half a year to save up properly. I was too impatient. So I thought I'd go for interest-free financing. Unfortunately I screwed it up and interest payments came slamming down. It was a stupid mistake, and it cost me dearly.
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Well said. His statements fed through your insight-filter make better sense.

And I have to corroborate, the primary reason why I use credit cards is mainly to get reward points and maintain a good credit standing and that is something I should have pointed out earlier.
However, every once in a while I do want to purchase something that that exceeds my immediate budget but that I know I'll be able to pay off in 3 months or less - and in that scenario I see no problem using a credit and am glad to have it.
I guess the disclaimer should be: using credit is fine as long as you have the finances and self-control to support it.
 
I have a refurb MBP 5,1.

I am currently unemployed due to a layoff in September.

I have a Masters degree (MBA) from Alvernia University (2007), and a Bechelors in Computer science from Albright College - 2000.
I am back at Alb for another degree in accounting. I've had it with the tech sector.
 
I'm 27. I have no formal education beyond high school, though I have major industry certifications as a result of self study.

I work as a Network Engineer for GE, and develop software in my free time. As of now, I make $100,000 a year through my day job. The only debt I have is a mortgage, car, and motorcycle loan.

Unfortunately, I use PCs at work.

My Macbook Pro travels with me almost everywhere, even though it may not get used. Aside from the Macbook Pro, I have an iMac 21.5", Mac Mini 2.0, and an XServe G5. I bought my girlfriend a Unibody Macbook for Christmas 2008, and it has served her well. She's currently in school for Graphic Design.
 
Don't cry Techijustin, as I too am unemployed. But there are more jobs on the horizon every week. I bought my 5.1 with money saved. I kinda hate to say it, but I didn't finish high school. I have no college under my belt. I got my Good Enough Degree 10 years out of high school. I've been a tool maker/machinist for the last 30+ years. My mbp was an impulse, spur of the moment kind of purchase. I was sick of XP and wanted a new challenge. So far it's been a real hoot.
 
i am phd student
and I am employed at various places
also have my own business

for my work machines all are paid for out of research budgets, so dropping $25K for a personal supercomputer is nothing. these are only on loan to me for work use and I cant take them out of the labs.

but for personal machine I saved my pennies and took out partial loan to get mbp since I NEED that GPU.

because I dont have a car and my mortgage is paid off, i have more free cash at end of month and i am able to pay off the mbp loan fairly quickly.
it was a 1% computer loan from my bank.
 
17yrs old
$0 a year.
no job.
About to go to College.


Basically my dad bought me my Macbook Pro so that i can use it for college.
 
Steve Jobs. said:
17yrs old
$0 a year.
no job.
About to go to College.


Basically my dad bought me my Macbook Pro so that i can use it for college.
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Sorry, Steve Jobs, shouldn't it be:

55yrs old
s**t load of cash every year
keep working as a hobby
quit college ?
 
Well not loaded by any means.

38 yrs old, Degree in ME and not even close to working in my field. I run / about to own a small auto repair business. I am a recent convert back to the Mac way of life due to a strong desire for reliable well engineered products. My wife is a service writer at an Acura dealer and our combined income is less than 70k...hope to change that soon. Being that we don't make a lot of cash we always try to buy the best quality product at the most reasonable price..IE why going back to macs made sense for us. I sincerely do not regret the decision.
 
Heinekev said:
I'm 27. I have no formal education beyond high school, though I have major industry certifications as a result of self study.

I work as a Network Engineer for GE, and develop software in my free time. As of now, I make $100,000 a year through my day job. The only debt I have is a mortgage, car, and motorcycle loan.

Unfortunately, I use PCs at work.

My Macbook Pro travels with me almost everywhere, even though it may not get used. Aside from the Macbook Pro, I have an iMac 21.5", Mac Mini 2.0, and an XServe G5. I bought my girlfriend a Unibody Macbook for Christmas 2008, and it has served her well. She's currently in school for Graphic Design.
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Can I send my resumé to your company? I have an MBA...
 
Hayduke60 said:
Don't cry Techijustin, as I too am unemployed. But there are more jobs on the horizon every week. I bought my 5.1 with money saved. I kinda hate to say it, but I didn't finish high school. I have no college under my belt. I got my Good Enough Degree 10 years out of high school. I've been a tool maker/machinist for the last 30+ years. My mbp was an impulse, spur of the moment kind of purchase. I was sick of XP and wanted a new challenge. So far it's been a real hoot.
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My problem is I'm stuck in this ******** for the next year. I started an accounting degree and I'm too far in to transfer.
 
Some college. Currently unemployed, but hoping to make a phone call later today or tomorrow...

I have a MBP basically for Final Cut, which was a gift for college. and if I can scrape up another $100, I'll have a fancy looking Dell too, which won't burn my lap :)
 
My financial status is awesome. In fact, I'm so financially awesome, when the battery on my MBP dies, I don't charge it - I just buy another MBP.
 
dmr727 said:
My financial status is awesome. In fact, I'm so financially awesome, when the battery on my MBP dies, I don't charge it - I just buy another MBP.
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Peasant. When my battery dies, I send one of my entourage to buy a new one.
 
rdowns said:
Peasant. When my battery dies, I send one of my entourage to buy a new one.
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You don't want to square off with me. I'm the senior (read it again: senior) valet parking attendant at Hooters. When a client rolls in with a V8 Camaro, manual transmission, who gets the call? I do. That level of responsibility comes with perks.
 
jessica. said:
I'm a stripper I do well. Men buy my Macs.
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I'll buy your Mac. Mmmmmmm - I will buy, your, Mac. You'll dig me too, my awesome financial status affords me a mullet unlike anything seen in Socal for thirty years.
 
I noticed my desk doesn't match my laptop, so I glued a few MBP's together.
Looks awesome!

Edit: Oh, and I use P.A.'s as furniture.
 
dmr727 said:
You don't want to square off with me. I'm the senior (read it again: senior) valet parking attendant at Hooters. When a client rolls in with a V8 Camaro, manual transmission, who gets the call? I do. That level of responsibility comes with perks.
Click to expand...

Probably takes you 18 minutes to park a car with standard transmission.
 
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