Would like advice on MacBook Pro purchase, please

[WesCole]

I have a $2000 budget. I was debating between a refurbished 15" core i5 (2010 model) with anti-glare screen for $1399 or the base model 2011 with anti-glare screen. I would save ~$450 going with the refurb, but would like to know if the 2011 model is worth the extra money. Also, I would be eligible for the education discount on the 2011 model.

I am also planning on adding an SSD in the opti-bay if that matters.

My uses will be basic programming, office, some video and photo editing, and I will be running Windows 7 in bootcamp and Parallels. Some light gaming will be going on, too.

Thanks for any help.

 

[adcx64]

IMO, it is worth the extra cash to get the newest model. the Thunderbolt IO could come in handy in the future. Go for the newer one, that will make you future proof.

 

[kappaknight]

Buy what you can afford and still feel good about the purchase. Both of the computers will be able to do what you're asking it to do. You may shave a few seconds or a few minutes here and there with the newer model but a 2010 w/ an SSD is just as fast for many everyday things as the newer ones.

 

[punchwalk]

Is the SSD purchase part of your $2000 budget? If so, you might be severely limited in putting together a 2011 15" + SSD combo.

It is tough to choose between these scenarios because I don't think $1399 is a great price for a refurb 2010 i5. You should get an i7 (non-SB) for that price. I guess the market is what it is, but I just don't see the right value proposition there.

 

[Michael383]

I'd go for the 2011 base model with anti-glare screen.

 

[WesCole]

Is the SSD purchase part of your $2000 budget? If so, you might be severely limited in putting together a 2011 15" + SSD combo.

It is tough to choose between these scenarios because I don't think $1399 is a great price for a refurb 2010 i5. You should get an i7 (non-SB) for that price. I guess the market is what it is, but I just don't see the right value proposition there.

Sorry, I already own an SSD that I will use. I will still have to buy the opti-bay adapter, though.

The $1399 refurb had the anti-glare high-res option, too, though, which would have brought the base price dow to around the $1250 range with the normal glossy screen.

I think I will just go with the base 2011 model w/ anti-galre screen...It will use up pretty much all of my budget, but I think I should be able to make it last a long time.

Thanks for all the advice.