57 replies to this topic

[2bias]

Hi guys,
I've said on here before that I'm going to buy a MacBook pro and need a bit of advice what to go for.  I know a bit about computers but not a lot and I don't wanna spend extra on something I don't need.  Basically I'm after the 15inch model but not sure which one to go for.
I don't play high spec games etc, the highest spec I play is football manager.  So I'm not sure whether to get the more expensive one with better graphics?!?
I also don't get the difference in 2.0ghz and 2.2ghz.  Not sure whether to upgrade to 8mb ram either or if it won't make a difference overall.

I would really appreciate some advice from anyone who knows a lot about this stuff or who has a mac.

Cheers guys (I'm a computer mong)

[Monroe Transfer]

If you don't want to spend extra on something you don't need then avoid getting a MacBook. Ger a Windows 7 laptop with the same specs and save a significant amount of money.

You certainly won't need a decent graphics card if you're only playing the likes of FM and I doubt you'll need 8GB of RAM unless you're doing some really resource heavy video editing or something along those lines.

iOS is quality, don't get me wrong but I can't emphasize enough how a Windows 7 laptop would be so much better value for your money (unless you need to use iOS only applications like Final Cut Pro).

[Ant]

like he said, a laptop at half the price with the same specs unless you really want an mac.

I'd love an air myself like, but it would be purely based on the fact it's shiney looking

[2bias]

Sorry I forgot to say I am refusing to go back to windows as I have gone through two £700 pound laptops in three years and I'm sick of them breaking or fucking up.
For me it's the diff between 1500 and 1800 quid and although it's only £300 it's still £300. I was looking at the 13inch version but there dual core not quad core..........not sure the difference :-D

[Ant]

naw if you're better off with the bigger screen anyways unless you're wanting it to be ultra portable and such

[Phil]

MACs are aimed at graphic designers, so thats why they do an 8GB model.  You wont need anywhere near that spec.  You wont notice the difference between 2.0ghz and 2.2ghz - hardly anything.

I would highly suggest not much paying the Apple price tag.  Just get any dual core, 4GB laptop for £300 and install OSX.

Edited by Phil, 09 October 2011 - 10:47 AM.

[CleeToonFan]

I'd disagree with the above, i've had tonnes of laptops, they always fuck up somehow or another after like 6 months, and from people who have had macs, macs are so consistent, as are most of their other products, plus every new update to the software means your macbook is fresh and great to use. You pay more but get a longer life.

[2bias]

CleeToonFan, on 08 October 2011 - 07:15 PM, said:

I'd disagree with the above, i've had tonnes of laptops, they always fuck up somehow or another after like 6 months, and from people who have had macs, macs are so consistent, as are most of their other products, plus every new update to the software means your macbook is fresh and great to use. You pay more but get a longer life.

This is why I wanna try MacBook pro.  I just wanna know what the best model is for surfing the web play football manager and watching films etc with the occasional downloading and streaming.

[Ant]

CleeToonFan, on 08 October 2011 - 07:15 PM, said:

I'd disagree with the above, i've had tonnes of laptops, they always fuck up somehow or another after like 6 months, and from people who have had macs, macs are so consistent, as are most of their other products, plus every new update to the software means your macbook is fresh and great to use. You pay more but get a longer life.

No offense but that sums up why macs have less software hassle "jesus don't let the end user have any responsibility" same with the iPhone etc, and the fact is they're not as compatible as a windows box either which makes a multitude of difference.

End users moronically clicking "ok, yes yes cancel argh move stupid box!" break pc's/laptops, obviously if you buy some barely recogniseable brand for £300 the likelyhood of the build quality being shite is high, but pay 400-500 for a recognised dell or something it'll be fine.

[Ant]

2bias btw i suggest you try and get a decent run using OSX, i ran it for a while on my netbook and i loathed the thing, irritated me no end.

[2bias]

Ant, on 08 October 2011 - 07:22 PM, said:

2bias btw i suggest you try and get a decent run using OSX, i ran it for a while on my netbook and i loathed the thing, irritated me no end.

I got nothing to run it off.  I have been using an iPad since august since my last laptop expired.  Unless the iPad is running on osx.... Lol
Seriously though I need know whether to spend the extra.

[Phil]

unless you do high end graphics or gaming, its not worth the extra.

[asteroidblitz]

Unless you do any serious work, like with Photoshop, then get a Macbook Air. Don't let the relatively modest specs put you off. The solid state (flash memory) hard disk more than makes up for it. I've got a 27'' i5 iMac and a Macbook Air, and for routine tasks they are just as quick as each other.

I'm surprised the Air is less popular than the iPad tbh. More or less the same dimensions and weight, but the air can do proper work.

[Ant]

Yup i'd go the Air myself

2bias, head into the apple store and spend a decent amount of time properly pissing about with things, rather than just using the web browser i mean,

[2bias]

Ant, on 08 October 2011 - 08:29 PM, said:

Yup i'd go the Air myself

2bias, head into the apple store and spend a decent amount of time properly pissing about with things, rather than just using the web browser i mean,

I get put off with the apple stores though cause it's people bullshitting you when they don't really know what there talking about.  I just wanna know if I can play football manager and run hd movies etc without a problem, and of course cruise toontastic.

[Craig]

Never been massively enamoured with Apple stores but what I will say is they know their products so there'll be no bullshit.

Certainly not the same experience as in PC World where some spotty teenager reckons (falsely) they know the inside of a computer like the back of their hand and they automatically treat anyone over the age of 25 as a technological luddite.

[Kevin]

Lad don't waste a lot of money on an Apple computer just for the sake of it. I've been using vista on my laptop for 20months now near enough and its still doing grand, i'll be changing to windows7 soon enough but thats not because vista's shit.

[2bias]

We got an apple store in Cambridge so I'll pop along there.  If the air does what I need (as in browse the web, watch films and play FM) I'll go for that.

[Gemmill]

The air has no disk drive. If you've got a disk copy of FM you're gonna need to buy an external drive. I'd just get a normal MacBook,assuming they still make them.

[Monroe Transfer]

2bias, on 08 October 2011 - 06:39 PM, said:

Sorry I forgot to say I am refusing to go back to windows as I have gone through two £700 pound laptops in three years and I'm sick of them breaking or fucking up.
For me it's the diff between 1500 and 1800 quid and although it's only £300 it's still £300. I was looking at the 13inch version but there dual core not quad core..........not sure the difference :-D

Was it Windows' fault though? Macs aren't fail-safe either. From the sounds of it though if you're sure about a Mac then go for one of the lower specced ones, just make sure it has at least 2GB of RAM and a decent hard drive.

Hmm... maybe you could get one second hand or a refurb model?

CleeToonFan, on 08 October 2011 - 07:15 PM, said:

I'd disagree with the above, i've had tonnes of laptops, they always fuck up somehow or another after like 6 months, and from people who have had macs, macs are so consistent, as are most of their other products, plus every new update to the software means your macbook is fresh and great to use. You pay more but get a longer life.

You're either:

- not looking after your laptops
- extremely unlucky
- or getting a laptop from a less reputable manufacturer.


The build quality of Macs is fantastic, don't get me wrong. But for the extra price you'd expect that. There are so many different companies out there. Some are better than others when it comes to laptops, Do a bit of research into build quality/failure rates etc and you'll come across a laptop/laptop manufacturer you can trust.