i5 or Core 2 Duo?
I am getting my mom a used MacBook Pro, and I need some advice regarding processors. How much better is an i5 over a Core 2 Duo? Let's say a 2.4 GHz i5 and a 2.53 GHz C2D.
So here's the story:
I purchased a MBP a couple weeks ago, but it arrived not as described, so I sent it back. Now I'm being offered the chance to purchase it again, but with some of the problems fixed and some upgrades (4gb RAM to 8gb, 120 SSD drive to 640gb - doubt it's SS but not sure). However, it has a 2.53 Ghz Core 2 Duo processor, which I was told is pretty outdated by an Apple "genius" and a local Mac shop. My mom uses her computer for the internet, watching DVDs, using QuickBooks, Wordpress, and some very mild graphics work (using older versions of Illustrator, though she is considering doing Adobe's new Creative Cloud services); she also has a habit of leaving lots of programs and windows open. Looking on eBay, most 15" MacBook Pros with an i5 generally go for $200 to $300 more than the offer on the C2D, and that's usually with less RAM and hard drive space. It should also be noted that the C2D has some dents on the top and corner.
So, I'm stuck; I'm not sure if this new offer is any good and also just how much priority I should be giving the processor. Any advice?