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Smart To Purchase A MacBook Pro 17

S

smcgil9899

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 17, 2008
47
0
With the end of the MacBook Pro 17, would it be wise to purchase on used late 2011 MacBook Pro 17 for $1600? I know that the late 2011 MBP 17 doesn't have USB 3.0, the latest processor and graphics. Is there really a big difference in the Ivy Bridge to Sandy Bridge?

I'm currently looking at this computer: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+17.3%22+Series+7+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Silver/4707146.p?id=1218512740839&skuId=4707146&st=samsung%20np&cp=2&lp=7

The Samsung is lighter and thinner than the MBP 17. It has the newer technology. Trying to decide which to purchase. I don't have a operating system preference.
 
smcgil9899 said:
With the end of the MacBook Pro 17, would it be wise to purchase on used late 2011 MacBook Pro 17 for $1600? I know that the late 2011 MBP 17 doesn't have USB 3.0, the latest processor and graphics. Is there really a big difference in the Ivy Bridge to Sandy Bridge?

I'm currently looking at this computer: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+17.3%22+Series+7+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Silver/4707146.p?id=1218512740839&skuId=4707146&st=samsung%20np&cp=2&lp=7

The Samsung is lighter and thinner than the MBP 17. It has the newer technology. Trying to decide which to purchase. I don't have a operating system preference.
Click to expand...

I would say you can't go wrong with either or, but I think the Samsung is a much better value. The only thing going against it is resale value. Nothing compares to Apple's resale value.
If you sell the $1600 17" MBP in say 2 years, I would guess you'd get at least $1000. The Samsung, lucky for $500.


Sandy Bridge vs. Ivy Bridge is not that much different. The graphics card is a bit, and USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 is huge.

The Samsung is a very high quality machine, however, it's a pain to upgrade one of the RAM modules since it's underneath the keyboard. This was the machine I was going to get if the new MBP's were a disappointment (which they were not IMO). If I was forced to go back to a PC, I would get a Samsung.
 
Last edited:
Power/$ goes to the Samsung. About everything else is going for the Apple such as build quality and resale value. Sell it in three years and you'll get the price difference now back probably two fold.

Performance wise it's not a huge difference but the Samsung does have more CPU/GPU power.
 
smcgil9899 said:
With the end of the MacBook Pro 17, would it be wise to purchase on used late 2011 MacBook Pro 17 for $1600? I know that the late 2011 MBP 17 doesn't have USB 3.0, the latest processor and graphics. Is there really a big difference in the Ivy Bridge to Sandy Bridge?

I'm currently looking at this computer: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+17.3%22+Series+7+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Silver/4707146.p?id=1218512740839&skuId=4707146&st=samsung%20np&cp=2&lp=7

The Samsung is lighter and thinner than the MBP 17. It has the newer technology. Trying to decide which to purchase. I don't have a operating system preference.
Click to expand...

If you're not interested in the resale value and OS X go with the samsung. Samsung's specs are better, not WAY much better, but better. Although I like the look on the mbp.
 
The Samsung you highlighted has a number keypad. If you key numbers a lot, that's a winner since you don't have an OS pref.
 
I just bought a 2011 17" for $400 more than that on the Apple refurb website. If you don't have an OS preference you should still get the MBP as you'd get the best of both worlds by installing Windows on it.
 
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