Thinking about a Macbook Pro

[MommaBear]

I have a 1.5 year old Windows 8 HP computer that is already freezing and all conbobulated. AVG does not find any virus, but I swear something weird is going on. DVD player won't play, and I paid Staples to install a new one which quit. I think something is wrong with the motherboard. Big Sigh.

Anyway, I am so sick of Windows 8 and Hewlett Packard. I thought I would try to find a Dell windows 7, or buy a Mac. I have been researching, and I am afraid the Macbook Pro is the one I want. Of course, because it is so expensive, lol. But I thought I may need opinions from Mac users on which Mac might be best for me. Seems that Mac's don't have DVD players on them, though. Why is that?

I really want a laptop rather than a desktop or tablet type. I want durable, stable and fast. I'm online a lot, shopping, researching and on Facebook and various forums. I use Adobe elements for my photography. And, of course, I want it to last awhile. I just can't pay $2500. So I am wondering if I am aiming too high, do I look for a refurbished one, or will I be sorry if I don't hock my first child to get what I think I want.

Which raises my next question; where is the best place to look?

Any opinion or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ZBoater]

The new MacBook Pros with Retina Displays are nice, but don't overlook the MacBook Air. It's a very nice laptop. I've been using one for 4 years. I find the screen to be very good. And it is very powerful. I even run Windows 7 in a virtual machine alongside Mac OS X, and it runs Windows better than any other laptop I've ever owned.

A top of the line MBA will run you shy of $1800, and you can get a slightly lower spec but still very powerful laptop for $1200-1500. The biggest difference will be the Retina Display. Not sure if it's worth the price difference, but I took the leap and bought a MBP. Still waiting on it though, so can't comment much more.

Yes, you'll need to buy a separate SuperDrive for any new MacBook. In its quest to give us ever slimmer laptops, Apple decided to kill the internal DVD drive. It's actually caused me to use DVDs a lot less, although I still bought the drive for the few times I do need it.

 

[MommaBear]

I thought about the Air, but my friend has one and said it doesn't have as much memory.

 

[ZombiePete]

I thought about the Air, but my friend has one and said it doesn't have as much memory.

Relative to what? The base model MBA comes with 4GB of RAM which is plenty for day-to-day tasks; if we're talking storage the base MBA has the same size SSD (128GB) as the base MBP.

I've had a MBA for the past three years and the 4GB of RAM never caused me any irritation.

 

[ZBoater]

I thought about the Air, but my friend has one and said it doesn't have as much memory.

You can get it with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of disk space. That one with the top of the line i7 processor is $1749 I think.

The MacBook Pro can be configured with twice the RAM and disk space, but will run you around $2700.

The MBA with 8GB of RAM can run just about anything you throw at it.

 

[matreya]

Seems that Mac's don't have DVD players on them, though. Why is that?

Apple removed the DVD drive to make the MacBooks slimmer. You can get external DVD or even bluray drives rather cheaply off places like Amazon.

I really want a laptop rather than a desktop or tablet type. I want durable, stable and fast. I'm online a lot, shopping, researching and on Facebook and various forums. I use Adobe elements for my photography. And, of course, I want it to last awhile. I just can't pay $2500. So I am wondering if I am aiming too high, do I look for a refurbished one, or will I be sorry if I don't hock my first child to get what I think I want.

Which raises my next question; where is the best place to look?

I saved over AUD $400 buying a refurbished 15" MacBook Pro from apple's online store. There are currently no 15" MacBook Pros in the refurbished section of the US store, but that changes on a daily basis.

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Relative to what? The base model MBA comes with 4GB of RAM which is plenty for day-to-day tasks; if we're talking storage the base MBA has the same size SSD (128GB) as the base MBP.

I've had a MBA for the past three years and the 4GB of RAM never caused me any irritation.

4GB would cramp my style... and for future-proofing I would be aiming to get a MBP with 16GB of RAM, and at least 256GB of SSD.

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You can get it with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of disk space. That one with the top of the line i7 processor is $1749 I think.

The MacBook Pro can be configured with twice the RAM and disk space, but will run you around $2700.

The MBA with 8GB of RAM can run just about anything you throw at it.

If 13 inch screen is OK for the OP, then this is quite a good option:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/F...-28GHz-Dual-core-Intel-i5-with-Retina-Display

 

[MommaBear]

I need memory for my photography, otherwise I wouldn't care.

I'm not sure a 13" would be big enough. I really like the 15" size. I really don't take my computer with me anywhere unless I'm traveling in the car. If I fly somewhere, I just use my Iphone. And around town, never. So a 17" wouldn't even be too big for me. But, perhaps I could get used to a 13" if it was what I needed.

Do most Mac users use an external DVD burner, or do you just use thumb drives? It is just so cheap and easy to take a set of photo's and burn them to a disc and hand it to someone.

 

[ZombiePete]

4GB would cramp my style....

 

[MommaBear]

What do you think about the last one on this Amazon page?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished

This link wasn't the same as the page I was on. Go to the $1699. computer from Office Supplies I think on page two.

 

[matreya]

What do you think about the last one on this Amazon page?

This link wasn't the same as the page I was on. Go to the $1699. computer from Office Supplies I think on page two.

For a start, it's an old MacBook Pro, it doesn't mention what model it is, but it has a 1TB HDD and an unusual amount for RAM of 10GB. Claims that Apple Genius did it is a patent lie, because Apple Store Genius' do not upgrade hard drives.

In short, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

You can buy a NEW MacBook Pro 15" for $100 more than that piece of garbage

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MGXA2LL-15-4-Inch-Display/dp/B00G2KNGT4/

 

[dexterbell]

Craigslist. I just picked up a pretty much brand new (3 cycle counts) mid 2014 rMPB 15 base model for $1540. Thats $400 cheaper than what you would pay at Best Buy after tax at the $1799 sales price and over $600 off the retail price plus tax. Deals are out there.

 

[MommaBear]

Any thoughts on this, although it's getting up there in price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Refurbished...967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234d5a0e97

 

[ZBoater]

I need memory for my photography, otherwise I wouldn't care.

I'm not sure a 13" would be big enough. I really like the 15" size. I really don't take my computer with me anywhere unless I'm traveling in the car. If I fly somewhere, I just use my Iphone. And around town, never. So a 17" wouldn't even be too big for me. But, perhaps I could get used to a 13" if it was what I needed.

Do most Mac users use an external DVD burner, or do you just use thumb drives? It is just so cheap and easy to take a set of photo's and burn them to a disc and hand it to someone.

You might be better off with an iMac/iPad combo. You can get very large storage on an iMac and a very large screen. And you can take the pics with you on your iPad. Something to think about.

Burning DVDs is getting to be old school. The Cloud is all the rage now, so sharing an online folder with someone is getting to be more common. Also thumb drives are popular and cheap. DVDs are losing in popularity, but are still being used. I've been using mostly Cloud to share pics for the last year. Works fairly well. I even pay extra for some extra iCloud storage. It's fairly cheap.

 

[yjchua95]

I need memory for my photography, otherwise I wouldn't care.

I'm not sure a 13" would be big enough. I really like the 15" size. I really don't take my computer with me anywhere unless I'm traveling in the car. If I fly somewhere, I just use my Iphone. And around town, never. So a 17" wouldn't even be too big for me. But, perhaps I could get used to a 13" if it was what I needed.

Do most Mac users use an external DVD burner, or do you just use thumb drives? It is just so cheap and easy to take a set of photo's and burn them to a disc and hand it to someone.

I'm a part-time 'grapher as well and the last time I handed over images in a DVD to a client, it was 5 years ago.

These days, I just upload it to the cloud and provide my client with a link to it, along with the password to unlock it.

I never keep my images internally. I always keep them externally in several 1TB external drives.

 

[MommaBear]

Craigslist. I just picked up a pretty much brand new (3 cycle counts) mid 2014 rMPB 15 base model for $1540. Thats $400 cheaper than what you would pay at Best Buy after tax at the $1799 sales price and over $600 off the retail price plus tax. Deals are out there.

I found this Macbook pro on Craigslist, but to be honest I'm a little bit worried. Why is he selling a brand new never opened computer?

Brand new Macbook pro 15" retina i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd latest model se - $1700

Brand new macbook pro retina 15" with i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd. It retails about $2,200 after tax
It's sealed in box never opened.

 

[matreya]

Any thoughts on this, although it's getting up there in price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Refurbished...967?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234d5a0e97

Way overpriced for a 3 year old MacBook Pro, even if he's only had it himself for 10 months... it's an old model.

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I found this Macbook pro on Craigslist, but to be honest I'm a little bit worried. Why is he selling a brand new never opened computer?

Brand new Macbook pro 15" retina i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd latest model se - $1700

Brand new macbook pro retina 15" with i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd. It retails about $2,200 after tax
It's sealed in box never opened.

It's only $100 less than the one I linked off Amazon...

Seriously, Craigslist can be as dubious as eBay...

 

[Joelburman]

I think the 2012 non retina MBP is a great choice for mac newbies. It still packs good power for users that aren't doing tons of video/photoediting etc. The ram/hdd (preferably ssd) and battery is still exchangeable without any hassle. It also has both Thunderbolt/USB3 and magsafe connector (inside joke due to the last keynote).

In sweden you can get the standard configuration used for around 550 bucks. With an SSD and additional ram its a really good machine. I really hate the fact that I'll have to get rMBP the next time I change. To be honest a cMPB with Broadwell would have been very interesting for me even though I don't use the superdrive that much anymore.

 

[dexterbell]

I found this Macbook pro on Craigslist, but to be honest I'm a little bit worried. Why is he selling a brand new never opened computer?

Brand new Macbook pro 15" retina i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd latest model se - $1700

Brand new macbook pro retina 15" with i7 16gb ram 256gb ssd. It retails about $2,200 after tax
It's sealed in box never opened.

Probably has had it past the return date and has to sell it now, happens all the time. Ask if they still happen to have the receipt though.

 

[sqa4life]

I thought about the Air, but my friend has one and said it doesn't have as much memory.

I'd spend a little extra and get the 2015 pro. Worth every penny. I initially bought the MBA 13" and enjoyed it for a week, then fell in love with the updated MBP 13 so I exchanged.
Loaded windows 8.1 and will never go back to laptop PC. Windows runs even faster than OSX in this machine.

 

[MommaBear]

Probably has had it past the return date and has to sell it now, happens all the time. Ask if they still happen to have the receipt though.

Is this a fair price for it?

He just texted me that he does not have the receipt.

 

[matreya]

Is this a fair price for it?

He just texted me that he does not have the receipt.

I'd be worried... if the MacBook Pro was stolen from some shipment, Apple
might know about it, and report you to the police the first time you bring the thing into be serviced...

 

[David58117]

Is this a fair price for it?

He just texted me that he does not have the receipt.

Likely a box with rocks in it is my guess, or a cheaper model in the box. I would be much more suspicious that it's sealed..

I would stay away from craigslist, as it's too easy to be scammed. Also it's probably more likely Applecare will be expired.

There are some really good deals on the 15" 2014 right now. Look for open boxes at Best Buy, either go to usps and get a movers change of address packet (which include a 10% off coupon for Best Buy), or goto the website and get it through there. Also, if you have a .edu email, sign up for $50 off coupon at best.

I paid $1,440 total for my 2014 15" after doing all of those (it was an open box item for around $1,650).

 

[dexterbell]

Likely a box with rocks in it is my guess, or a cheaper model in the box. I would be much more suspicious that it's sealed..

I would stay away from craigslist, as it's too easy to be scammed. Also it's probably more likely Applecare will be expired.

There are some really good deals on the 15" 2014 right now. Look for open boxes at Best Buy, either go to usps and get a movers change of address packet (which include a 10% off coupon for Best Buy), or goto the website and get it through there. Also, if you have a .edu email, sign up for $50 off coupon at best.

I paid $1,440 total for my 2014 15" after doing all of those (it was an open box item for around $1,650).

Ive bought and sold dozens of phones, laptops and iPads on Craigslist. There are scammers but there are also plenty of great deals, my recent rMBP 15 purchase being just the recent for me. You just have to know what questions to ask and what to look for.

 

[minimo3]

I've used more than 10 different Thinkpads since the 300-series in the early 90's running a variety of Windows and Linux. I bought my first Mac last week, and I'm impressed. The craftsmanship of the hardware is impressive, like a fine wristwatch, and OS X is so polished. I initially bought a Macbook Air 13" base model at Best Buy because it was on sale at $750. Its a nice machine, but if you are used to the high resolution displays on your iPhone/iPad the new Helvetica Neue font in Yosemite just looks so jagged on a non-retina display. I returned it and got a Macbook Pro retina and I have this say this is a no compromise machine, almost as light as the Air, feels snappier with Xcode and web browsing and that display, wow I could just stare at it all day. Best Buy has the Macbook Pro retina (2014 model) for $1149 but if you bring in a movers coupon you can get 10% off which makes it a great deal!

 

[Android300zx]

Honestly, I'd get the 13'' Macbook Pro with the following specs for "Future Proofing"


If you are a student you can get education pricing. If your kid is a student or have a friend that's a student buy it that way. As far as I know they don't verify if you're a student. I bought a laptop last week (I am a student) and all they asked was to choose my school and that's it.

Get yourself a 1TB external hard drive, external DVD drive, and a wireless mouse and you're set. You'll be slightly over $1500 with taxes. The laptop will easily last you 5 years or more with the kind of use you may use it for.