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Thinking about buying a macbook pro for my girlfriend for xmas...

R

rigid

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 28, 2008
119
1
Okay so I have a few questions, right now she is using a pretty old normal 13 inch macbook from most likely 3-4 years ago.

I used to own an imac and I really liked it, however I sold it when I built my current PC I'm on right now, I have no aversion towards either setup I like both.

I really do not want to spend more than $1200, and I was wondering whether a brand new baseline macbook pro would be a better choice then maybe say checking the refurbished page for the next two weeks. I want to buy it before october 18th because I have a deal with my credit card where any purchase made at the apple store has no interest for a year.

Also, I can't really think of any mac software she uses other than the os x version of office she has, she used to be an art major but she is now a history major, would I be better off just buying a PC laptop? Thanks for your advice everyone.

Also whats the best situation regarding applecare? I remember reading you can buy it off ebay for cheaper but this was like two years ago.
 
rigid said:
I really do not want to spend more than $1200, and I was wondering whether a brand new baseline macbook pro would be a better choice then maybe say checking the refurbished page for the next two weeks. I want to buy it before october 18th because I have a deal with my credit card where any purchase made at the apple store has no interest for a year.
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The current model 13" MacBook Pro is just over $1k in the refurb store.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD101LL/A/refurbished-macbook-pro-25ghz-dual-core-intel-i5

If you live near a Frys(maybe you can order online as well, I've never tried) they have this same model, albeit new, for $999 on sale occasionally.

Does she NEED an optical drive? A MacBook Air would be a good option as well.

Either way you go, you'd get a computer that is much faster than her old MacBook.
 
T5BRICK said:
If you live near a Frys(maybe you can order online as well, I've never tried) they have this same model, albeit new, for $999 on sale occasionally.

Does she NEED an optical drive? A MacBook Air would be a good option as well.

Either way you go, you'd get a computer that is much faster than her old MacBook.
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I dont want to get her a macbook air because she does do stuff like play minecraft on it and such, so I feel she needs some decent power to run some of the things she does.

Yeah its within my price range...but im assuming i still need to drop the $250 on the applecare correct?
 
rigid said:
I dont want to get her a macbook air because she does do stuff like play minecraft on it and such, so I feel she needs some decent power to run some of the things she does.

Yeah its within my price range...but im assuming i still need to drop the $250 on the applecare correct?
Click to expand...

Hold out for a month and see if the 13" Macbook Pro Retina is released. I'm loving my 15" Retina but if she prefers a 13" I'd wait to find out the prices of those first.
 
iRobby said:
Hold out for a month and see if the 13" Macbook Pro Retina is released. I'm loving my 15" Retina but if she prefers a 13" I'd wait to find out the prices of those first.
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I dont know what that is lol.

edit: okay, better screen. sure i can wait a couple weeks but thats the most.
 
rigid said:
I dont know what that is lol.

edit: okay, better screen. sure i can wait a couple weeks but thats the most.
Click to expand...

MacBook Pro with Retina Display is a better screen thinner lighter and is being marketed as " The Next Generation of the Macbook Pro" SSD comes standard.
 
rigid said:
I dont know what that is lol.

edit: okay, better screen. sure i can wait a couple weeks but thats the most.
Click to expand...

I really doubt you'll be able to get one for under $1200.

As for Applecare, you can buy it any time during the 1 year warranty the computer comes with.
 
T5BRICK said:
I really doubt you'll be able to get one for under $1200.

As for Applecare, you can buy it any time during the 1 year warranty the computer comes with.
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Yeah good point. So you think i should just grab the one right now thats $1000 and not browse the refurbished page for a couple weeks, because its not going to get any better than what I'm seeing now?
 
rigid said:
Yeah good point. So you think i should just grab the one right now thats $1000 and not browse the refurbished page for a couple weeks, because its not going to get any better than what I'm seeing now?
Click to expand...

The prices most likely won't change.

Here is a link to the http://www.frys.com/product/7091541]same laptop from Frys. It doesn't look like they offer free shipping though, so Apple may be cheaper. If you have to pay sales tax, and Frys doesn't have a location in your state, that may make a difference too.

Both new and refurb units are going to have the same warranty through Apple.
 
@ Rigid

You probably know your girlfriend well enough to know what you can and cannot do. But, in some circles, giving a refurb is akin to re-gifting. Just saying. :)
 
Last edited:
IGregory said:
You probably know your girlfriend well enough to know what you can and cannot do. But, in some circles, buying a refurb is akin to re-gifting. Just saying. :)
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don't listen to this guy, he's a prick. anyway, you shouldn't buy your girlfriend a $1200 xmas present on credit. what are you thinking? bad idea man
 
yth said:
don't listen to this guy, he's a prick. anyway, you shouldn't buy your girlfriend a $1200 xmas present on credit. what are you thinking? bad idea man
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Not sure how else I'm supposed to buy it, my debit card has a $500 limit per day =\.

Also pretty stunned at the re-gifting comment.
 
wait, that must be a $500 withdrawal limit? if it's a spending limit, how would you buy, for example, airplane tickets?
 
yth said:
don't listen to this guy, he's a prick. anyway, you shouldn't buy your girlfriend a $1200 xmas present on credit. what are you thinking? bad idea man
Click to expand...

if you are gonna buy this machine for her you better make sure she satisfies you til no end and for the $1,000.00 maybe even expand her limits. It's a hefty price tag for a girl so make sure you get all the benefits.
 
honestly this is a stupid idea...i know because i made the same mistake. my girl has a 13 mbp and uses it only for school and web browsing.....which she could easily do on a 3 or 4 hundred dollar machine!!!!!! Especially if shes your girlfriend, dont do it!!!! Just dont do it!!!! AND ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GONNA PUT IT ON A CREDIT CARD!!!!!!
 
nokian93 said:
honestly this is a stupid idea...i know because i made the same mistake. my girl has a 13 mbp and uses it only for school and web browsing.....which she could easily do on a 3 or 4 hundred dollar machine!!!!!! Especially if shes your girlfriend, dont do it!!!! Just dont do it!!!! AND ESPECIALLY IF YOUR GONNA PUT IT ON A CREDIT CARD!!!!!!
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Why is everyone so averse to me putting it on a credit card?!
 
Last edited:
rigid said:
Not sure how else I'm supposed to buy it, my debit card has a $500 limit per day =\.

Also pretty stunned at the re-gifting comment.
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Are you near an apple store?

Withdraw the cash from your account and buy one in person.
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with using a credit card to buy this laptop. Personally I use my CC on everything and then I pay the full balance every month. Miles+credit history...
 
sharkman said:
I don't think there is anything wrong with using a credit card to buy this laptop. Personally I use my CC on everything and then I pay the full balance every month. Miles+credit history...
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Same here. Nothing wrong with using a credit card as long as you have the funds to pay it off when the bill comes. If the OP plays to pay interest then don't do it.
 
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