Want to buy a MacBook

[ponder]

Use OSX, run a VM with Windows to do what you need to do. The world has gone mad.

 

[SYNERGY]

Use OSX, run a VM with Windows to do what you need to do. The world has gone mad.

World was always mad

 

[HugeNickName]

Ok, time to bump this

Firstly, thank you for all the suggestions. Really appreciated. I'm still going to be staying anonymous for now though.

I see that Incredible Connection is running a special on the Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13". Is this MacBook worth purchasing? The plan is to take out the Normal hard drive and replacing it with a 256GB Crucial SSD, and Upgrading the RAM to 8GB for now. I noticed that the easiest way forward with regards to C# development is by Running VM's. This won't be an issue either if I up the ram, and get a 256GB SSD.

 

[PostmanPot]

I'm still going to be staying anonymous for now though.

:wtf:

PM me who you are please.

I see that Incredible Connection is running a special on the Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13". Is this MacBook worth purchasing? The plan is to take out the Normal hard drive and replacing it with a 256GB Crucial SSD, and Upgrading the RAM to 8GB for now. I noticed that the easiest way forward with regards to C# development is by Running VM's. This won't be an issue either if I up the ram, and get a 256GB SSD.

Can be done but once you've added the 256GB SSD (R2,000) and 2x 4GB RAM (R1,000) you're nearing 256GB Retina territory...

 

[Jase]

:wtf:

PM me who you are please.



Can be done but once you've added the 256GB SSD (R2,000) and 2x 4GB RAM (R1,000) you're nearing 256GB Retina territory...

And I can vouch for the 256GB SSD in the new MBP... fast

 

[skimread]

Does having a Mac have such a stigma that you have to create a new nic if you want to post questions about it?

I am using a Mac without apologizing about it

 

[skimread]

I see that Incredible Connection is running a special on the Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 13".

Seriously computer shops should not be allowed to sell 3 year old machines. I noticed this trend becoming popular with computer stores in SA and it is f'ed up as most consumers don't realize this and just buy the name.

The MacBook Pro generations are Mid 2012, Late 2012, Early 2013, Late 2013, Mid 2014, Early 2015, Mid 2015.
If you buy a Mid 2012 you are buying a laptop that was new 6 generations ago.:wtf:

 

[bvonfintel]

I am using a special order MacBook Air 11" ( i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD ) and I would go for it again given the chance (and having the finances). At work its plugged into a 27" monitor so not too worried about the resolution. Personally I don't like the glossy screen on the Pros, although haven't used them too much so ymmv. After almost 3 years, I don't need to upgrade and its running as smooth as ever.

 

[AfricanTech]

First off, Yes this is a duplicate account, and yes it will be disposed after this post ?

:wtf:

Ok, now that that is out of the way, you'll be pretty happy with a MacBook Pro.

If you can, buy the newest one you can afford.

Do watch out for the little 'gotchas' endemic to Apple products (not sure about the MBP, but the Air doesn't come with a place to attach a lock; also the new Mac's are a bit sparse in the ports department, etc)

Once you're happy with those items, you'll be very happy.

OSX is great.

 

[PostmanPot]

Seriously computer shops should not be allowed to sell 3 year old machines. I noticed this trend becoming popular with computer stores in SA and it is f'ed up as most consumers don't realize this and just buy the name.

A few reasons. There's really not that much in it in terms of the average user experience between the latter few generations of Core CPUs. Unless benchmarking, older i5s seem just as fast. The Mid 2012 uses an Ivy Bridge i5-3210 2.5GHz which is no slouch, and was even sold in Windows laptops last year. It also has HD 4000 graphics, and coupled to a 720p screen, can do a decent job at light gaming.

It also has a traditional, higher capacity, upgradeable hard drive. As well as memory. It has USB 3.0.

I'm sure people on a budget, students etc. would love 512GB 13" rMBPs, but they'd be double the price. The 2012 MBP is better than any Windows laptop in the same price range, and better build quality than any Windows laptop, period.

It's the most affordable way to run OS X on a laptop, with the greatest upgrade potential.

 

[vinodh]

I am using a special order MacBook Air 11" ( i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD ) and I would go for it again given the chance (and having the finances). At work its plugged into a 27" monitor so not too worried about the resolution. Personally I don't like the glossy screen on the Pros, although haven't used them too much so ymmv. After almost 3 years, I don't need to upgrade and its running as smooth as ever.

Your post reminded me of this. Drool worthy...

 

[skimread]

A few reasons. There's really not that much in it in terms of the average user experience between the latter few generations of Core CPUs. Unless benchmarking, older i5s seem just as fast. The Mid 2012 uses an Ivy Bridge i5-3210 2.5GHz which is no slouch, and was even sold in Windows laptops last year. It also has HD 4000 graphics, and coupled to a 720p screen, can do a decent job at light gaming.

It also has a traditional, higher capacity, upgradeable hard drive. As well as memory. It has USB 3.0.

I'm sure people on a budget, students etc. would love 512GB 13" rMBPs, but they'd be double the price. The 2012 MBP is better than any Windows laptop in the same price range, and better build quality than any Windows laptop, period.

It's the most affordable way to run OS X on a laptop, with the greatest upgrade potential.

We have found the OP

 

[HugeNickName]

:wtf:

PM me who you are please.



Can be done but once you've added the 256GB SSD (R2,000) and 2x 4GB RAM (R1,000) you're nearing 256GB Retina territory...

The SSD will cost R1600. The MBP already comes with 4GB Ram, so just purchasing another 4GB DIMM will be fine. This put me at about R2100 in upgrades. R16100 in total for the MBP and Upgrades, whereas the rMBP only starts at R19 000 for a 128GB SSD version, of which the SSD and RAM can't be upgraded. This is my only gripe with the newer MacBooks. As a Laptop (Not MBP) user, I find the ability to upgrade my machine paramount, so this is a Must for me. Will the i5 be good enough to compile a bit of code from time to time? I don't really want to games on a MacBook. Most of the Games I play isn't supported by OSX anyway. I'm a full time student, that is why I'm thinking Mid 2012.

 

[HugeNickName]

:wtf:

Ok, now that that is out of the way, you'll be pretty happy with a MacBook Pro.

I couldn't resist.

 

[bwana]

The SSD will cost R1600. The MBP already comes with 4GB Ram, so just purchasing another 4GB DIMM will be fine. This put me at about R2100 in upgrades. R16100 in total for the MBP and Upgrades, whereas the rMBP only starts at R19 000 for a 128GB SSD version, of which the SSD and RAM can't be upgraded. This is my only gripe with the newer MacBooks. As a Laptop (Not MBP) user, I find the ability to upgrade my machine paramount, so this is a Must for me. Will the i5 be good enough to compile a bit of code from time to time? I don't really want to games on a MacBook. Most of the Games I play isn't supported by OSX anyway. I'm a full time student, that is why I'm thinking Mid 2012.

Typically they will come with 2x2gb so rather buy 1x8gb and swap out one of the 2gb sticks.

If you want to you can remove the CD/DVD and buy a drive caddy - then you can have both an SSD and a HDD which gives you even more options such as a fusion drive.

 

[weelzSA]

Typically they will come with 2x2gb so rather buy 1x8gb and swap out one of the 2gb sticks.

If you want to you can remove the CD/DVD and buy a drive caddy - then you can have both an SSD and a HDD which gives you even more options such as a fusion drive.

This is correct. 2x2GB are installed so I purchased a 8GB and added it and later will purchase another 8GB if I feel the need to.

 

[AfricanTech]

I couldn't resist.

Btw, that 2012 model (if your cost of RAM upgrade is correct) will do you fine

 

[AfricanTech]

Typically they will come with 2x2gb so rather buy 1x8gb and swap out one of the 2gb sticks.

If you want to you can remove the CD/DVD and buy a drive caddy - then you can have both an SSD and a HDD which gives you even more options such as a fusion drive.

I couldn't resist.

This is correct. 2x2GB are installed so I purchased a 8GB and added it and later will purchase another 8GB if I feel the need to.

and it goes without saying, test the RAM in the machine before buying it

 

[PostmanPot]

Buy Kingston RAM. It gets opened by suppliers before you buy it so you can open and test and return if need be.

 

[SauRoNZA]

This is correct. 2x2GB are installed so I purchased a 8GB and added it and later will purchase another 8GB if I feel the need to.

Are you the OP and slipped up?

Or were you simply adding your previous experience to the mix?