New to Macs, would like a laptop

petemyster

petemyster

petemyster

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I'm interested in starting to learn how to make apps for the iphone and I need a new laptop anyway so I thought I'd get a mac laptop. Its mainly going to be used when I'm away from my desktop and only really used for making apps (on Xcode) and playing some old games probably.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a simple mac laptop which is good to develop on?
 
If the budget allows, the 13", £999 MBP is absolutely worth the extra money.

That said, putting 4gb in the MacBook goes a long way towards evening it out, but still - I'd get the MBP if it were my money.
 
petemyster said:
You mean an update in what the basic hardware will be? Do you think I should just wait it out then?
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Yep, before the last update the 13" MBP was pretty much the same spec as the MacBook, but ever since all MBP models now have i5 or i7 Sandybridge CPUs and a slightly faster integrated GPU (plus a generally better spec, such as bigger HDD, faster RAM etc.). Definitely worth the extra IMO.
 
PardonTheWait said:
I'd get the MBP if it were my money.
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This. If you're going to spend the best part of a grand on a laptop then you might as well go all-in on a MacBook Pro. Twice the RAM, much better processor, more disk space, backlit keyboard, aluminium body etc. etc.

Unless you absolutely need to save the £130 or so the MBP is much better value for money in my opinion.
 
I find my 13" Macbook (white unibody version) with 4GB RAM and a 7200rpm drive plenty quick enough for basic web dev and graphics work. Only thing I constantly wish for is a higher resolution screen, would be beneficial to me for almost every situation. On that note alone I would opt for a 13" macbook air, also as you are going to be using away from home the smaller/lighter profile might be good for you?
 
AbsenceJam said:
Thunderbolt (formally lightpeak) will be included. It doesn't make any sense not to as it's something they want to push and it's combined with the mini DisplayPort output.
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Bugger, I thought Thunderbolt, meant lightpeak and wrote lightpipe lol.

True, I just thought it would be another feature to help reinforce the MBP's 'Pro' status if the main hardware specs were to be similar like the 2010 models.
 
petemyster said:
I'm interested in starting to learn how to make apps for the iphone and I need a new laptop anyway so I thought I'd get a mac laptop. Its mainly going to be used when I'm away from my desktop and only really used for making apps (on Xcode) and playing some old games probably.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for a simple mac laptop which is good to develop on?
Click to expand...

For Xcode, you ideally need > 13". I use a 2010 MacBook Pro Core i5 15" and that is beautiful to develop on and also games well. Runs Left4Dead 2 a treat.

Also has big hard drive so can use bootcamp to develop on Visual Studio on the Win side and Xcode on the mac side.

I think no development IDE would be pleasant on a 13", the extra couple of inches make a big difference.
 
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I would agree in general (after coding a website on my little netbook) but there is always the option of using the display port to a monitor if you require more screen estate
 
durbs said:
I think no development IDE would be pleasant on a 13", the extra couple of inches make a big difference.
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+1

I developed on a 13 inch for about 3 months. Then I got a 24 inch external monitor.

Albeit, using Textmate/Coda/Text edit it was fine and more than enough using 13 inch.
 
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