15" Macbook Pro Buyer help, Thanks

Ok so in previously threads I've stated that I recently got a macbook and really enjoyed using it and making the purchase. I paid about $900 for mine and I'm really happy with it even if it is used. So my aunt whom I talk to twice a week was shocked that I picked up a macbook but really liked the idea and said that had I not picked up the macbook for myself she would have asked me to pick it up for her or her son. So here we are nearly 3 weeks later and she has decided to buy a macbook for her son for Christmas and I think to congratulate him on his new job. (I know what you're thinking he should just buy the macbook himself with his new job instead of her) But my aunt is a really nice old lady and feels that he could use the macbook at his new job with the new work he'll be doing. He does minor design on photoshop (Minor he designs logos on shirts nothing graphical like he doesn't work for Pixar or anything) So getting back to the topic at hand. Is it ok for me to suggest for her to buy last years model macbooks from my local microcenter for 1399 for the i5 2.53ghz and 1499 for the i7 2.66 ghz (Mine without the Anti Glare)? Both of these come with the older gt 330m GPU over the new ATI's and yes I realize that neither of these are quad core like the new ones offer and dont have thunderbolt or the newer ATI cards.

Having used my macbook for the past several months I have not found or seen the need for quad core for what I do and I can't see my cousin needing much more power then this and this is why I'm opting to refer them to buying one of these older models (New) at a discounted price. And I've always been a power user I mean check out my alienware and my desktops, I just haven't found the need in a macbook quite yet.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated, if you feel I should steer them to just buying a 2011 new for the full price just tell me why. Thanks again.

 

unless you really need to save money then go ahead, but for future proofing and making sure the next iOS release will be supported I'd always go for the latest release.

aside from it's better to have the equipment you have right there instead of finding out you needed to buy a more powerful one because the older one you bought can't handle the tasks you needed it to do.

 

Last years model should be adequate. I'd suggest probably getting 8GB of RAM in it, but other than that, it should suffice.

 

Suggest a refurb

$1359 + Free Shipping

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC721LL/A
Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.0GHz quad-core Intel i7
Originally released February 2011
15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1440-by-900 resolution
4GB (2 x 2GB) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB Serial ATA @ 5400 rpm
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6490M

 

I second this advice. Skip the older model from Microcenter and get a Feb 2011 refurb directly from Apple. I just got a 15" MBP with high-res/anti-glare display for $1489+tax. This model sells out quickly, so you have to act fast whenever it comes back in stock (usually every few days). You can get alerts from sites such as Refurbished MacBook, Pro, Mac @ Apple Store Used Mac Book Deals and RefurbMe - Discounts on Mac and iPod ! Notifications for Apple Refurb Store products .

The 2011 models are preferred to the 2010 because they are Sandy Bridge quad-core and have Thunderbolt. They should also come with Lion pre-installed (if not, you'll get a free upgrade from Apple).

8GB RAM is really cheap these days ($30-$40), so it's a no brainer upgrade. Be sure to check the refurb before you buy the RAM, though, because you'll sometimes find RAM upgrades already in the refurbs (Apple just shows the base RAM configs in their listings). The refurb I received already had 8GB RAM installed even though the listing only showed 4GB!

 

Purchased, Thanks, done.

 

Awesome - glad to have helped out

 

You didn't waste any time
Smart move.

 

Yeah I'm actually tempted to buy this one now Refurbished MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 - Apple Store (U.S.)


But I think I have enough laptops