Need help selecting a Macbook

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geekso

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Hi everyone,

I am completely new to Macbook world, i have been a windows user for the last 20years.

I have the iPhone, iPad and i need to upgrade my PC so i want to get a Macbook. I currently use the PC mainly for business, internet, email, Office suite and a little photo editing.

I have options between the following, these are brand new from a buddy who sells old model so it has full warranty etc.

2012 Macbook Pro, i5 2.5Ghz, 500GB, 4GB @ R 8500
2013 Macbook Air, i5 1.3Ghz, 128GB SSD, 4GB @ R 9500

Do i really need the retina display, i know it would be great to have but i cant justify spending another 4/5K on it especially with what i am using the computer for?

My dilemma is spending this amount of money and i feel like its old tech due to the age of macs? Is it?
Should i just wait and save up for a newer model? I am not too fussed about the retina display, i can do without it, i think :confused: I don't want to be in a position where in the next 2/3 years this Mac i purchase is completely outdated.

I am not sure how the Apple pcs compare to normal laptops, i know laptops after two years they become useless.

So yeah any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you, Cheers
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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Definitely get the Pro over the Air, maybe spend the difference to put a large SSD into the Pro.

Retina is awesome once you've had it...and you'll never go back. But if at this point you feel unphased by it then you'll probably stay that way.

Macbooks aren't PC's. They don't become useless after two years and often that fact alone justifies the higher price premium. It's not so much the hardware as it is the OS updates that keep in tune with older hardware.

That being said technology ALWAYS moves forward and anything will be outdated in six months depending on your needs. You don't seem to have a serious high usage need and therefore it will last you longer.

If those were second hand I would have worried, but as you say they are brand new I think it's a very good price and the spec is solid.

If you could get the Retina for only 4k more then that would be a superb deal.

Just be weary that once you've gone Apple...you are unlikely ever to go back.
 
itareanlnotani

itareanlnotani

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2012 pro is more upgradeable - can add more ram, and stick an ssd in there. The 500g is going to feel slow. You really need an ssd for OSX. I'd probably lean towards that. Just make sure that its not the model with the recall on the video card (nvidia i think), Core are a pain in the ass to deal with for repairs / replacements (take them forever).

Retina (higher resolution) is nice to have, once you have a high res display, its harder to go back to something lower res.

What is the resolution on the 2012? 1440x900 or the 1920x1200 display?

Mac Laptops are usually good for a number of years. I still have a couple of dual core 2006 Mac Pro models in use they're still decent machines.

I usually get a minimum of 5 years out of my mac laptops, and the resale value is high too. May get higher now actually, as the rand is worth...less.
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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lsheed_cn said:
2012 pro is more upgradeable - can add more ram, and stick an ssd in there. The 500g is going to feel slow. You really need an ssd for OSX. I'd probably lean towards that. Just make sure that its not the model with the recall on the video card (nvidia i think), Core are a pain in the ass to deal with for repairs / replacements (take them forever).
Click to expand...

Nah that's only applicable to 2011's and 15-inches at that.

These I'm sure are 13-inchers although he doesn't say specifically.
 
DrJohnZoidberg

DrJohnZoidberg

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That Macbook Air price is too high. You should be able to pick that model up for R1000 less than that.
 
itareanlnotani

itareanlnotani

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SauRoNZA said:
Nah that's only applicable to 2011's and 15-inches at that.

These I'm sure are 13-inchers although he doesn't say specifically.
Click to expand...
True, could be the 13"...

As for 2011 model - that was sold well into recent times here, so age ! = year necessarily.

Those prices are high for the 13" MBP 2012 model, definitely not a bargain if its that one.
Heck, I just sold one of mine for 8500, and that was the i7 15".
 
G

geekso

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Wow, thanks for all the quick responses.

Yeah, they are both 13" models.

I can get the retina for about 4k more but it is the 2012 if i am not mistaken. Would you still think that is the better deal?

I was also thinking of going the pro route mainly due to the fact that you can upgrade it.
So would i be able to leave the 500GB HDD in there and add an SSD to run the OS?
 
G

geekso

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LOL not the best friend of mine but i do know him. I will chat to him about bring down the price a little but as mentioned these are brand new.
 
itareanlnotani

itareanlnotani

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Honestly, I think the pricing is far too high as you can get a 15" for similar pricing on the tree of gum.

The 13" isn't really the same beast at all, compared to the 15" models IMHO.

I'd be paying at least 2k less than that for a 13". 6500-7000 is fairer for that.

You can leave the 500G HDD in there, and replace the CD drive with an SSD if you use an adaptor (few hundred rand or so, check bidorbuy).
I would just replace the HDD though, a 2nd hand hdd > 3 years old is unreliable for data.

Stick the SSD in there, use the 500G as an external that can have data you don't care about losing on there. i.e. movies / torrents etc.
 
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geekso

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Also regarding weight, is the Macbook pro bad as everyone makes it seem?
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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geekso said:
Wow, thanks for all the quick responses.

Yeah, they are both 13" models.

I can get the retina for about 4k more but it is the 2012 if i am not mistaken. Would you still think that is the better deal?

I was also thinking of going the pro route mainly due to the fact that you can upgrade it.
So would i be able to leave the 500GB HDD in there and add an SSD to run the OS?
Click to expand...

In a few years the Retina is going to sell better.

And you'll have a glorious experience until then.

Think of it as <R100 a month for the Retina privilege.

You have to swop the drive, as this was the ones without optical drives. But a 512gb SSD is an option, but pricey.
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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lsheed_cn said:
Honestly, I think the pricing is far too high as you can get a 15" for similar pricing on the tree of gum.

The 13" isn't really the same beast at all, compared to the 15" models IMHO.

I'd be paying at least 2k less than that for a 13". 6500-7000 is fairer for that.

You can leave the 500G HDD in there, and replace the CD drive with an SSD if you use an adaptor (few hundred rand or so, check bidorbuy).
I would just replace the HDD though, a 2nd hand hdd > 3 years old is unreliable for data.

Stick the SSD in there, use the 500G as an external that can have data you don't care about losing on there. i.e. movies / torrents etc.
Click to expand...

These are brand new. Just older spec.
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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geekso said:
Also regarding weight, is the Macbook pro bad as everyone makes it seem?
Click to expand...

I can't remember exactly with those model years but the 13-inch was always close Pro vs Air.

New ones it's less than 500g between them and just not worth it.

The Air is lower spec with less ports and weirdly shaped.
 
itareanlnotani

itareanlnotani

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SauRoNZA said:
In a few years the Retina is going to sell better.

And you'll have a glorious experience until then.

Think of it as <R100 a month for the Retina privilege.

You have to swop the drive, as this was the ones without optical drives. But a 512gb SSD is an option, but pricey.
Click to expand...

Say what?

The 2012 13" has a cd rom slot *still*.

md101lla-ports.jpg
 
G

geekso

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Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

I shall go with the Retina Pro.
 
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