What to buy: Apple products only

Somehow my old account on here was erased due to inactivity. Anyway, I am going to attend graduate school in Fall 2011 and the school requires that I have a laptop. I'm a Windows user but am giving Macs a chance because I love my iPhone.

Similar to the What to Buy thread, I'll list some things I'm looking for. To the Moderators, please feel free to move this thread if you feel it belongs somewhere else.

Ideally:

* < $2000
* lightweight but sturdy
* at least 14" widescreen monitor
* Average sized hard drive
* HDMI or VGA ports
* CD Burner... DVD would be nice but not needed
* powerful processor since I like to play around with Photoshop and video editing stuff for fun
* I watch a lot of videos/movies/tv shows on my laptop so it must be able to handle a lot of streaming or multi-tasking processes
* minimal gameplay (games like: Diner Dash series, Plants vs. Zombies, etc.)
* I'm going into pharmacy school so who knows what other programs I'll have to download through them

Can you guys answer some general questions that I have about Macs for me too?

- I am a poor college student so most of my software is either "acquired" or given to me. How easy will it be for me to get access to Mac compatible stuff to install onto the laptop?

- If my Mac gets a virus or something is wrong with it, will it be expensive to get fixed? Will I be able to fix it myself like I regularly do with my Windows laptop?

- Will it be easy to customize the Mac? I like tinkering around and learning new things as I explore.

- Any advice as to when to buy so that I won't end up buying something and within a week, something better and newer comes out...

I will be living in Seattle, WA for the summer and plan on driving down to Oregon to buy a laptop (taking advantage of Oregon's no tax law). I'll need the laptop by the beginning of August 2011.

Thanks!

 

In my humble opinion, I think that the stock base 15" MBP ( MC721LL/A) is probably most suitable for you after going through your post, although do take note that it does not cover every single one of your ideal requirements.

Good luck.

 

Just those two criteria eliminate all choices expect the Macbook Pro 15'', the basic model. But it will have everything you need. For HDMI and VGA you might need to get an adapter as the Macbooks come with mini display ports.

I am not going to comment on you 'acquiring' software but will say that there are many good deals for Mac software. There are often well priced bundles that have a bunch of useful software all at a very reasonable price. Also look in you university store if they have student editions.

You can fix and customize a Mac just like Windows. The skill level you need is about the same. That being said the skills needed are different. Instead of messing with a registry like in windows customizing and fixing a mac often requires you to use unix like shell commands. But there are many programs (some freeware) that allow you to do the same thing with a GUI.

I can promise you that no new Macbook Pro will come out in the next weeks (today being 9th of May 2011). The next upgrade is expected early next year. There are sometimes very minor upgrades but it is nothing more than additional hard disk options or CPU options being added. Even that I dont expect soon.

One thing you could look for is the Apple Back to School sale. The deal is not out and I don't know what it will be or when. Should be soon.

 

The 13", 15", and 17" Macbook Pro models come with their respective processors and HDs and everything right? It's not like the other notebook manufacturers where you can upgrade or downgrade certain specs on the laptop right?

 

You can upgrade the RAM and HDDs and a few other options when you order online.

One upgrade you can look at if you are doing photoshop is the higher resolution screen available for the 15''.

 

wow, i never thought i would see a 'help me pick a mac' thread.

but ya:
- no macbooks come with vga/hdmi and they never will. you'll need to invest in adapters.
- any computer with > atom CPU can run flash just fine (don't listen to mr jobs).
-for your medical stuff, you may or may not need windows. this will be an extra license, how you get that is your own business [and microsoft's]. lookup bootcamp, parallels, vmware in the meanwhile.

but for the future, there are only 3 macbooks worth considering. the only differences are screen size and minor processor differences. it's honestly quicker for you to go to the website than it is to write a post.

 

Just know that, much like other manufacturers, it is less expensive for you to upgrade components yourself (mainly the RAM and hard drive) as an aftermarket process. I put 8GB of RAM in my 13" MacBook Pro for $85 and that included tax and the $5 for the Phillips #00 screwdriver. Apple wanted $200 for the same thing. Similarly, I purchased a 750GB 7200 RPM hard drive and installed it myself for $100 while Apple wants $100 for a 750GB 5400 RPM hard drive upgrade. Installing new RAM and a new hard drive will not void your warranty.

As for the other questions:
1. The ease of buying OS X versions of software all depends on what you are looking for. Some companies only release software that works on Windows and there isn't much you can do about that other than running Bootcamp or a Parallels/VM setup.

2. It is easy to fix. If all else fails, you can simply re-install OS X as you would have done with Windows.

3. Not really. As I said, the only thing you can really do without voiding the warranty is upgrade the RAM and hard drive yourself, that is it. You can also go the optibay route and that shouldn't void your warranty. I don't think Apple computers were made for people who tinker. Instead, they were made for people who want hardware and software that works fluidly.

4. Apple's store offers an education discount if you have an *.edu e-mail address. Microcenter is also a good place to check them out as they often sell MacBook Pros for about $150-$200 less than Apple (it is as if they already applied the education discount) As previously pointed out, new models aren't going to be released anytime soon as they are expected early next year. If anything, we might see minor spec bumps here in August/September but a complete re-design won't be for many, many, many months.

 

Hey, which pharmacy school you going to? I'm in philadelphia, going into my 4th year of pharmacy school. Either a mac or windows is fine. From what I've experienced in pharmacy school, you don't need any specific programs to have on your computer. As long as you have an internet browser, the most my school has done is make us do things online, which means it's OS independent.

 

I like this forum and I'd much rather ask for opinions from users instead of Apple.

Lord Rayden, I'm headed to Maine. I asked if they preferred Mac or PC and they said it didn't matter. Some other schools I interviewed for required only Windows based laptops.

Got it. So check out Macbook Pro 15" and get the base models. Upgrade RAM and HDD if need be!

I'll be keeping an eye out for the Back to School Sale.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know nothing about Macs and you were very helpful!

 

If you suck at using computers, Apple is a really great buy. If your computer is under warranty, there isn't a better, more zero-hassle type of ownership in all of computing. As long as your programs/applications aren't Windows dependent, I'd say buy whatever you like.

For me, personally, Apple is a gigantic waste of money aside from their notebooks. And even those are only worth it due to the trackpad. And even the trackpad is only worth it because of a tool created by someone that isn't Steve Jobs.

But my needs are not the same as 95% of the people. Most people want easy, hassle free computing. Apple does this better than anyone else. It costs a little more, but that part of it is really worth it. Getting computer problems fixed at the Genius Bar (at any Apple Store) is a Lexus type of experience.

 

Most condescending and ignorant post.

 

i honestly dont know what the to do when os x freezes because it doesn't prompt me an error message...it just stops moving. i don't want to around with command line because i'm not especially comfortable with unix.

its ironic really.

 

Completely apropos vis-a-vis your fanboy avatar. Have you no sense of self-perception? And how's that Safari workin' out for ya?

 

It is ignorant to assume that people who "suck at computers" should rely on Apple and Mac OS X. Apple has marketed their products as being easier to use than the competition starting back in ~1998 with the release of the iMac (and Jobs' return to the company) but that doesn't mean that only artards should use Macs.

Safari has also been working out just, it has been on par with FireFox and Chrome for me. Then again, I would expect just as much from someone who purchased a MacBook Pro to run Windows. The whole fanboy goggles work both ways.

 

Uhhh... both are useful and good in their own ways. That's why there's a market for both.

I will buy a Mac hopefully by the end of this month or the next. Browse the PC to Mac userguide on here and bother you guys with more questions!

 

+1, that comment together with that avatar is just priceless.

 

Pot, meet kettle.

 

He only made the one way statement that if you suck at using computers, an Apple computer is a good buy.

I don't think he meant that Apple computers are only useful for people who suck at computers, which is a very different statement. That would be ignorant. If you want to get really technical, he didn't even exclude the possibility that a windows PC might also be a good buy in the same situation (but I don't think he intended it that far).

I think I agree with him. I personally would recommend Apple computers to people who I think have limited computer skill. I think that an average person who isn't messing with the OS is less likely to end up with a broken OS and face reinstalling with Apple. That is reason enough for me. In the middle, you have people who want to play PC games, you direct them away from Apple. Occasionally, you may run into someone that legitimately wants to use a mobile posix machine with working hardware, or develop for iDevices. These types of people may very well have computer talent.

 

Also look into apple care if you are looking for a hassle free period throughout your schooling process. (while I rarely buy extended warranties I like AppleCare for students)

 

Wat a stupid question? Everybody knows that every product of Apple is
xcellent & easy to handle also.No should ask this type of ques.So,suggests
u that whatever is ur need buy it first then the rest thing(products).Before purchase check that it should be original.

 

in fact it was a compliment to apple i guess.