kenfromclarkesville
Level 1 (8 points)
Classic Mac OS

Q: Which MacBook to Buy...if any?

We have 2 iPhones and 2 iPads and one iMac that we use constantly.

I keep an old PC Laptop around that is about to die because I have 11 years of QuickBooks.

 

We will be traveling aboard frequently in the future and I need a reliable laptop that can:

 

1.  Handle QuickBooks if that is possible...need to transfer 11 years of QB data to it....and

2.  Has the ability to plug in thumb drives for show and tell

3.  Has the equivalent of MicroSoft Office...I use Word, PPT, and Excel a lot.

4.  Will handle PhotoShop for Apple if that exists....

 

Is there a recommended MacBook for me?  We would not be doing games and don't need anything large, so I do not need a huge screen.  Which would be best in your opinion?  I know little about MacBook vs Pro vs Air...etc....I don't want to overbuy nor do I want something that is marginal.

Thank you!

MacBook, iOS 10.0.2

Posted on Oct 12, 2016 8:55 AM

by KiltedTim,Solvedanswer
KiltedTim KiltedTim
Level 9 (56,501 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Quickbooks is going to be the biggest PITA here. Quickbooks for the Mac stinks. Of course, you could always install Windows using BootCamp or virtualization (VirtualBox is free) and just continue running QuickBooks for Windows.

PhotoShop is available for macOS as is MS Office.

Personally, I'd lean toward the MacBook with an adapter so you can plug in your USB drives when necessary. The MBA used to have an edge over the MacBook when it came to performance, but that's not really true any more and the weight difference as well as the retina display is a real bonus compared to the MBA.

Posted on Oct 12, 2016 12:59 PM

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kenfromclarkesville

Q: Which MacBook to Buy...if any?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Oct 12, 2016 1:13 PM in response to kenfromclarkesville
    Level 9 (50,379 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2016 1:13 PM in response to kenfromclarkesville

    I like the 13 inch MacBook Air models, though I wish they had a Retina display. It meets all your requirements.

     

    The MacBook Pro is just a lot heavier and more expensive for not much performance increase, though it does have the Retina display.

     

    The MacBook would work, has a beautiful Retina display, but it lacks the ports you want. You can purchase an adapter though.

     

    That leaves the MacBook Air, which seems "just right" in my opinion.

  • by KiltedTim,Solvedanswer

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Oct 12, 2016 12:59 PM in response to kenfromclarkesville
    Level 9 (56,501 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2016 12:59 PM in response to kenfromclarkesville

    Quickbooks is going to be the biggest PITA here. Quickbooks for the Mac stinks. Of course, you could always install Windows using BootCamp or virtualization (VirtualBox is free) and just continue running QuickBooks for Windows.

    PhotoShop is available for macOS as is MS Office.

    Personally, I'd lean toward the MacBook with an adapter so you can plug in your USB drives when necessary. The MBA used to have an edge over the MacBook when it came to performance, but that's not really true any more and the weight difference as well as the retina display is a real bonus compared to the MBA.

  • by kenfromclarkesville,

    kenfromclarkesville kenfromclarkesville Oct 12, 2016 1:13 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 12, 2016 1:13 PM in response to John Galt

    John...very good comments and informative...thanks.

  • by kenfromclarkesville,

    kenfromclarkesville kenfromclarkesville Oct 12, 2016 1:15 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Oct 12, 2016 1:15 PM in response to KiltedTim

    KiltedTim...thanks...I never thought of that and did not know that QB was such a pain.  I could just leave it on my old PC until the PC dies I guess.

    Appreciate your comments...I'll compare the MBA vs MacBook prices.