13" or 15"

IF you can be kind to it, you should also consider the MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air uses a Solid State drive (no moving parts). It is even lighter that the MacBooks, since it has no DVD drive either. But if you beat your computers up, the MacBook Air will not last.

The Mac has the best User Interface for Casual Users of any computer. Programs operate consistently. If you can operate one Mac Program, you know a lot about operating all Mac Programs.

Often you will find that the stuff you need to do something is already built in. Ethernet? It's in there. Wireless? Its in there eight different ways with all the options.

But if you load your Mac up with aftermarket add-on software doodads by the dozen, it will still choke and die like any computer.

What would you need the DVD drive for?

Mac OS X software itself is now download-only, and you can always slide over an external DVD drive.

The 15 MacBook is a bit more capable, but the things you described would not tax either model.

The 13" model is cheaper and more portable. Fits in a backback and is not a sheavy. I recommend a neoprene sleeve if you do not have a padded pocket in your backpack.

In the MacBook Airs, there is also an 11" model for sharp young eyes like yours. Us old fogies need a bigger screen to make the letters larger to see the type.

There is no point in carrying a DVD drive every day to install one Application once. You can get an external DVD drive or "Share" the drive of another Mac that has one on a local Network.

And Microsoft is copying everything Apple does, so it is offering Word by download as well.

The 13" is glossy only, and the standard resolution is what you get -- there are no Hi-Res options. The 13" also has less weight in glass to cart around every day.

The Apple Store is a great place that exists just so you can go and look at these things and see if you can live with different options. They want you to touch them and use them, that is why everything is out on the tables for you instead of "put away".

I would go for the mid-priced 15" model with the standard resolution screen and with a CD/DVD player/writer. I use the DVD/CD player all the time - making copies of CDs that I purchase so that I won't damage the originals, making backups, etc. Don't buy RAM upgrades from Apple - they charge $200 for 8GB of RAM and you can get 16GB for as little as $100-150. This would be particularly helpful if you plan on gaming, I would think. You can also replace the stock hard drive for a larger, faster one (even a Solid State Drive, if you want to spend some real money).

When are you planning on making your purchase?

Best of luck,

Clinton

The 2.2GHz - that's what I got. I've souped it up a bit with some maxed-out Ram and a Solid State Drive, though. My last MacBook Pro lasted 6 years (and is still in use by the person who bought it from me on eBay!) and I'm hoping to get that long out of this one!

I'm not going to get into speculation here but be advised that there may be some new models coming out by Christmas so you may have even some more models to choose from!

Clinton

Linc,

You can install it yourself - if you download the MacBook Pro (late 2011) manual, you'll see that you just have to remove ten screws to install new RAM. 8GB will run you less than, or right at, $50. 16GB anywhere from $100-150, depending who you buy it from. I would buy a tool kit from OWC for about $18: it has all that you'll need for the tiny screws and has magnetic heads so that you don't accidentally drop those tiny screws!

Lord, I wish that I'd had a Mac when I was in high school... I had a TRS-80 (Tandy Radio Shack) as my first computer in college... the Apple II was just too expensive for me then!

Clinton