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Which 13" pro should I get?

What 13" Pro should I get?

  • 2.3GHz i5 (cheaper)

    Votes: 29 72.5%

  • 2.7GHz i7 (powerful)

    Votes: 11 27.5%
  • Total voters
    40
  • Poll closed .
J

John hayman

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 16, 2011
28
0
Hello there!
I will be buying a pro soon to replace an old MacBook, but which model should I get?
My choices are the base model and a crucial ram upgrade to 8gb, or the top 13" model which would make me poor for a few months.
This computer has to get me 6 years through University, I will be running photoshop and auto cad and maybe if worst comes to worst windows 7 in a few years.
So should I get the much cheaper or the more powerful Pro?
 
budget for the $1500 one, then get a refurb base i5, upgrade the ram for $50, and get a SSD(depending on size, $200-400). you'll end up with a machine that's much, much better in actual use than the i7, for around the same cost or even a little less.
 
DWBurke811 said:
budget for the $1500 one, then get a refurb base i5, upgrade the ram for $50, and get a SSD(depending on size, $200-400). you'll end up with a machine that's much, much better in actual use than the i7, for around the same cost or even a little less.
Click to expand...

I kind of only have until Friday to make up my mind, I can't get into the city for a while and I need to get the mac app store gift card before the offer ends,
 
Because Apple charges $300 for a $150 upgrade that wasn't even worth $150 in the first place.
 
then get the base i5, order ram through newegg, then when you can get a SSD.

i honestly love my 7,1 which is at the refurb store now for $900, if mine wasn't still working like the day i got it it would be tempting to pull the trigger on one.
 
It seems the more expensive model is always a ripoff. I remember in 2010, for the MacBook Pro 13, $300 bought you a slightly faster processor and a little bit more storage space, which was even less of an improvement than '11. I guess the consensus is that if throw away 300 dollars more on the upgraded model, why not swing for the base-15. There you get a Quad Core processor, larger screen and discrete graphics.
 
Agree go for the I5 Refurb if you can then upgrade ram and drive yourself, you'll have a way cheaper and better computer.

You can also check on craigslist, you should easily be able to find one under Apple Care or still get Apple Care yourself and upgrade as mentioned above (might even find one with upgraded ram and ssd etc as well. Some excellent deals for MBP's on CL still under warranty. That's how I got mine, plus upgraded ram and drive for far cheaper then Apple wanted new and similar upgrades.
 
AppleGoat said:
I guess the consensus is that if throw away 300 dollars more on the upgraded model, why not swing for the base-15. There you get a Quad Core processor, larger screen and discrete graphics.
Click to expand...
not everyone buys a 13" because they're cheaper, some people want the smaller form factor.
 
I love my 13" too, and I "only" have a C2D; I could have got whatever, 15" 17" MacPro whatever, but didn't want something big and bulky. She's always been an animal, but with the Vertex 3 it's a beast, hopefully when my 8GB of RAM shows up she'll turn into a monster :)
 
LOVE my 13" i5, it's the most powerful computer I've ever owned! The difference in speed between the i5 and i7 is really negligible, not worth the price difference. Enjoy your new MBP!
 
John hayman said:
Hello there!
I will be buying a pro soon to replace an old MacBook, but which model should I get?
My choices are the base model and a crucial ram upgrade to 8gb, or the top 13" model which would make me poor for a few months.
This computer has to get me 6 years through University, I will be running photoshop and auto cad and maybe if worst comes to worst windows 7 in a few years.
So should I get the much cheaper or the more powerful Pro?
Click to expand...

It is easy to upgrade the hard drive in the base model. I just put in a WD Scorpio 750 gb 7200 rpm drive at about $120. You can buy 8 gb of memory for about 60 bucks.

So the cost for you to upgrade yourself is about 200 bucks with tax and you end up with a much better hard drive than the ( apple upgrade to 500 gb but only at 5400 rpm ).

The base machine itself is pretty dang nice and works well for most everyone. I needed the hard drive upgrade because I put in a big bootcamp partition for windows 7 pro.
 
I voted for the i5 only because I couldn't vote for my first choice for you, the base 15". Going to a quad core will pay off if you really expect the machine to last you 6 years in school. You can always upgrade the ram and switch in an ssd later. But the two extra cores and the higher resolution screen aren't upgradable.
 
Base model. When the 2.3 i5 MBP is too slow in 6 years, so will the 2.7 i7 MBP.
 
DustinT said:
But the two extra cores and the higher resolution screen aren't upgradable.
Click to expand...

I want the cores, but I don't need the screen..... rather, I don't want a 15" because of the screen :D

In October, when finished my holiday-job and when I've time again for setting up everything (first mac), I'll get an i7 MBP13, upgrade it with SSD (dont know which one), get 8GB 1600 RAM and maybe Optibay + stock hdd..... Thats my machine of choice...
 
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