MacBook Pro dilemma

--- Z ---

--- Z ---

--- Z ---

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
907
Location
Andover, Hampshire
Hi all, Im after some advice, this is my story:

In 2008 the school I work for bought me a MacBook Pro for the photography course i was starting up. Specs were as follows, and it was the best i could get at the time. This was for editing photos and general design work using photoshop (they also got CS4 suit as well).

Intel 2.66 Core 2Duo
4GB DDR3
360GB HDD
GeForce 9400M 256MB

Now, the course has gone from strength to strength and equipment has gotten better in the camera department, as I have gone from a 10MP camera to a Canon 5D MKIII 22.5MP files, (WAY bigger).
And with larger files and more design work going on, the computers is really slowing down now.

I have asked if a new one can be bought to replace this, and used the arguement of how much it is used and it has laster 5 years (was in Jan 2008) and that no windows machine in the school has lasted that long, but it isnt going to happen.

Now. I have some cash saved and as I use the macbook for my iPhone 5, my wifes iPhone and my iPad, I really dont want to be without it. I dont think i could survive without it now, I love it.

Also, my own photography is taking off and I really want this machine to store and edit them as well as the work stuff.

I have 2 choices, and I would appreciate peoples advice on the right choice to take. Or, if there is a third option.

1) Use the £1000 that I have and buy a second hand 15" MacBook Pro, with the best spec I can.

2) save for a longer time (like a year) and get the 15" retina display, 16GB ram and 512GB SSD.

Your thoughts please.............
 
Sounds like you're looking to spend your own money on a work machine? I'd be questioning their hardware refresh cycle, if you need it for your role, they should be supporting you. 4 years doesn't sound unrealistic to ask for an upgrade.

I have a personal 15" rMBP with 8GB and 256GB SSD - its a really nice machine, if it helps? :p
 
I agree with you, but an upgrade is simply NOT going to happen. They spend about £400 on a windows laptop, and they will not splash out £2000 on a MBP :( despite most of the people in charge having one at home (their own) and knowing how good they are.
 
I agree. If the machine is hindering your performance and ability, I would argue your equipment is not up to scratch. This is a more serious matter than some might think. You should approach it like that.
 
--- Z --- said:
I agree with you, but an upgrade is simply NOT going to happen. They spend about £400 on a windows laptop, and they will not splash out £2000 on a MBP :( despite most of the people in charge having one at home (their own) and knowing how good they are.
Click to expand...

So you would buy our own equipment and leave it on school property to do your job?
 
No, it comes home with me each night to do work on.

I appreciate that they SHOULD get me a machine fit for the task, but it isn't going to happen. But suggestions on the two options I have would be helpful
 
Personally, I'd buy now. The Retina screen is lovely, but a huge premium on an already expensive product. Buy the best refurb you can, then load it with your own RAM. I put 16gb in mine recently and it cost me less than £50 - it's not that much more expensive now. Even an SSD upgrade can be self-installed with a significant saving to yourself.

just to add - remember, you'll still get a decent resale value when you sell that MBP. Keep saving in the meantime and put that towards a retina MBP in a year's time. best of both worlds!
 
--- Z --- said:
No, it comes home with me each night to do work on.

I appreciate that they SHOULD get me a machine fit for the task, but it isn't going to happen. But suggestions on the two options I have would be helpful
Click to expand...

You are allowed to use personal equipment on the school lan? Are they not all provided with school "builds" so to speak with custom images to suit?
 
Yes we can use personal equipment on the school grounds.

Other laptops are set up with an "image" that is standard. But we access an internal system for all files and admin that you can do in a window on the Mac. Citrix is what we use, so it makes no difference.
 
Buy a new laptop for yourself to do what you want with it, keep using the old thing at work and bring up your repeated requests for a replacement when it finally breaks / your output decreases massively.

Nobody should ever consider using their personal kit for work, it's not like they'd be prepared to turn around and replace it if it got damaged / stolen.
 
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