IT student on a budget - should I buy a Macbook Pro?

If you are on a budget and you're going to use Windows for most of your work, Schooling, then why not buy a good Windows PC. Lenovo makes some very nice notebooks as does HP, Dell, Smasung and Toshiba. Certainly you can get a very good Windows PC for that $1500 and install the Office suite you already have on it.

You have to realize Mac notebooks use the same hardware as Windows PCs. Same CPUs, RAM, drives and video cards. The differences are in the OS they run and the case they come in. Some of the newer Win PCs come in just as nice a case as a Mac. And you can probably save some money.

Google Lenovo and take a look at what they offer. Then do the same for HP and Samsung.

Another place to check out is Notebook Review.

My next notebook won't be a Mac. But that is a few years away so you never know.

Also if you can wait all notebooks will soon come with the newest Intel Haswell CPU. Whatever you deside to get I would wait until that CPU is used in the model you buy.

I wouldn't pay much attention to a user who doesn't like Macs and wants to switch to a PC. You won't get an objective remark from them. This user is obviously biased.

Go read web reviews, magazine reviews, etc., then make up your own mind.

For someone on a budget, the Retina is not a good choice. Besides the high price, the fact that it is un-upgradeable means you have to anticipate you storage and RAM requirements and spend yet more to cover them from the start.

I suggest a 15" regular MBP with the smallest RAM and HDD configuration. You can upgrade each on you schedule later and for substantially less than what Apple charges. Do get the Widescreen/Antiglare option, since it makes the portable much more usable outdoors.

Kappy wrote:

I wouldn't pay much attention to a user who doesn't like Macs and wants to switch to a PC. You won't get an objective remark from them. This user is obviously biased.

I suspect he's Shootist's disowned offspring.

LowLuster wrote:

You have to realize Mac notebooks use the same hardware as Windows PCs. Same CPUs, RAM, drives and video cards. The differences are in the OS they run and the case they come in. Some of the newer Win PCs come in just as nice a case as a Mac. And you can probably save some money.

We have been through this before where you have made this groundless allegation.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5116685?answerId=22294854022#22294854022&ac_cid=tw123456#22294854

If there were any truth to your statement, then all Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, HP et al. would be 100% identical since they ALL run Windows. Do you honestly think that the respective engineering staffs of those firms would support your assertion? You certainly are entitled to your opinions, but you are NOT ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN FACTS.

Ciao.

I presently own 2 Mac compuyter and have owned several other over the last 10 years. I presently do not own or use any Windows computers.

So I have no idea what you are talking about. Simple fact is there isn't a lot of difference between Apple and the many other notebook makers or in the products they offer.

Kappy wrote:

I wouldn't pay much attention to a user who doesn't like Macs and wants to switch to a PC. You won't get an objective remark from them. This user is obviously biased.

Go read web reviews, magazine reviews, etc., then make up your own mind.

Yes we have and you can not provide any proof that the hardware Apple uses is any different than hardware used by all the other makers. Actually the company or companies producing the Apple devices are the same ones that produce the devices for other makers.

So please stop. Thanks.

OGELTHORPE wrote:

LowLuster wrote:

You have to realize Mac notebooks use the same hardware as Windows PCs. Same CPUs, RAM, drives and video cards. The differences are in the OS they run and the case they come in. Some of the newer Win PCs come in just as nice a case as a Mac. And you can probably save some money.

We have been through this before where you have made this groundless allegation.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5116685?answerId=22294854022#22294854022&ac_cid=tw123456#22294854

If there were any truth to your statement, then all Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, HP et al. would be 100% identical since they ALL run Windows. Do you honestly think that the respective engineering staffs of those firms would support your assertion? You certainly are entitled to your opinions, but you are NOT ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN FACTS.

Ciao.

LowLuster wrote:

Yes we have and you can not provide any proof that the hardware Apple uses is any different than hardware used by all the other makers.

So is it your position that what you say is true until proven otherwise? Please reread our prior discussion where you failed to refute my arguments and failed to provide any scientific research that you may have performed to support your allegations.

Actually the company or companies producing the Apple devices are the same ones that produce the devices for other makers.

Some of the companies may indeed be the same but it does not follow that they will produce identical products for all of their customers. Apple has time and again been known to have their components manufactured to their specifications and requirements. Again your broad generalization has no foundation.

To have statements such as yours to go unchallenged would in my judgement be a disservice to others on these forums who may not be very technically advanced and may mistakenly believe what you say is factual.

To quote you "So please stop. Thanks."

Ciao.

To L.L. all I can fathom to say is - "often wrong, but never in doubt"

To the original poster, all I will comment is that I have nothing personally to sell to you but offer you the subjective point to which, as a former computer repairman, and owner of several Macs, both Air, Pro, three Mac Minis etc,.....I can state that subjective bias aside the use of a nice macbook Pro in 15" with 256gig + SSD and 16gig RAM would be a very nice choice given the parameters of what you have stated in your needs list.

If you would allow a personal statement, of the countless people that have made a 1st time Mac purchase that I know, all have been happy and greatly relieved both as pertains the product itself but additionally the removal of unnecessary stress upon either using or switching to same.

As a person who generally is "unimpressed by everything and generally likes nothing" (myself) I wholeheartedly endorse the macbook laptop (and desktop) line over that of other laptops of which I have owned countless ones (and repaired / used far more still). 😊

I say DITTO to what Courcoul said above as per a nice 15" macbook Pro, to which as money allows you can upgrade RAM and HD/SSD at a later date.

Appologies to the OP for the minor drama that occured in this thread following your original post 😍

silverstar94 wrote:

thank you for your suggestion! 😀 can i ask though, if i buy a basic mac pro, is it possible to upgrade the HD to an SSD in the future?

Yes. You can install up to 16 GB RAM and the largest HDDs available which now are 1 TB.

also in terms of heaviness, would the basic 15" pro be alright to carry around uni and take to class?

I lug a 17" MBP around with no complaint. You have to decide that on your own.

and anti-glare sounds great! but i don't see the option online, so would i have to buy the mac in store in order to ask for it?

Since you are in the UK, things may be different there. I would highly recommend the high resolution anti glare display. Do ask if that is an option.

Ciao.