What Should I Choose?

Xein

Xein

Xein

Associate
Joined
15 Oct 2010
Posts
1,461
Hello,

My 18th is in July (Quite a bit away yet but thinking about things now)

I've started learning Italian to broaden where I can go later on and I've got family in Italy, which my dad says I can stay with (as long as they say yes) but they don't speak any English (or so I'm told).
It would cost about £140 for flights there and back for one person and then about another £200 or so for spending (Changed into Euros)

And the total of that would be around £400

But as I've wanted an Apple MBP for a long time my mum said if I don't go to Italy I could maybe get one (I have £300 atm) so if I did get one it would be the base model but I would be able to get through the education discount so it would be slightly cheaper.

And the total of that would be around £950

So those are my two choices for my 18th and I'm not 100% sure on which to choose, the MBP would last a lot longer than my trip to Italy (I would stay for a week or so) but then again my trip to Italy would be something to remember and I've never been before so would be very nice to go.

Just need some opinions on which I should choose or maybe other options you might suggest?
 
I would put a holiday over any piece of hardware every time.

You can not put a price on the experience I just had in Madrid. You never know what might happen.
 
First of all, do you actually need a MBP or do you want one because you think they are 'cool'? If that was the case i would first of all say "Stop being silly" followed by go to Italy andmaybe travel around a bit instead of just staying in one place.

i-bert said:
I would put a holiday over any piece of hardware every time.

You can not put a price on the experience I just had in Madrid. You never know what might happen.
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Quoted for truth.
 
Flare said:
First of all, do you actually need a MBP or do you want one because you think they are 'cool'? If that was the case i would first of all say "Stop being silly" followed by go to Italy andmaybe travel around a bit instead of just staying in one place.
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No, I would use it for design work, photoshop etc (I know you can already do that on a PC but I prefer the Mac OS)

The only thing I'm worried about if I go to Italy is the flying as I've not been on a plane since I was 6 or 7
 
I’d take the trip to Italy. It will be an experience you won’t forget, your Italian will improve, and you have opportunity to meet members of your family which you may not have for a long time to come. What more could you want and you’ll have a lasting memory. That’s something you won’t get for a laptop or netbook.
 
simulatorman said:
I’d take the trip to Italy. It will be an experience you won’t forget, your Italian will improve, and you have opportunity to meet members of your family which you may not have for a long time to come. What more could you want and you’ll have a lasting memory. That’s something you won’t get for a laptop or netbook.
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Very true, I just hope my Italian skills are pretty good by then but I doubt it lol

It would be nice to have both but can't afford that, just have to keep wishing for the lottery win I suppose aha :D
 
Italy.

I need a new PC like you wouldn't believe (let's just say 'AGP') and I've had to choose between that and a holiday in the States.

I'm going to the States.
 
simulatorman said:
I’d take the trip to Italy. It will be an experience you won’t forget, your Italian will improve, and you have opportunity to meet members of your family which you may not have for a long time to come. What more could you want and you’ll have a lasting memory. That’s something you won’t get for a laptop or netbook.
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You won't hear wiser words than those quoted, follow them.

Where in Italy btw?:)
 
nydryl said:
It's a no brainer - go to Italy.
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Objection!

Frozo, you should go for the MacBook Pro. Sure, it might be a nice experience to visit Italy, but if you're staying with family it's not going to be paradise. You'll be holed up in some cramped spare room (if they have a spare room), with no one to talk to, amongst people who you won't be able to understand or communicate with, who will be too busy living their lives to dedicate any substantial time to yourself (driving you places, showing you the sights, etc. You'll be stuck at home for a lot of the time, and I doubt home will be a glamorous villa on the beach!). Yes, sunshine; lovely, but from the sounds of things you'll be wishing you were back home after a few days.

While the trip to Italy might last a week or two, the MacBook Pro will last you years, and in that time will add immense value to your life. Three years down the line when you want to upgrade, you'll be able to sell it on and easily recoup 30-40% of what you paid for it.

You won't wake up every morning and think about your trip to Italy (you know, the one you hated?), but you will wake up every morning, glance at your MacBook Pro and be glad you listened to me :)

P.S. Your budgeting for the MacBook Pro is a little off. The base model (13", 2.3Ghz i5, 320GB 5400rpm HDD, Intel HD 3000 graphics) is £859.20 with higher education discount.
 
That's a good call ^

I couldn't comment about their accommodation as I haven't seen them in years and haven't spoken to them in years but hopefully speaking to my Nan today and she will be able to speak to them and it will go from there.

I would love to have a MBP and it would be amazing to wake up everyday with it there and to take on holiday with (not Italy)

I'm just really torn as there is some good arguments for both
 
MBP.

Italy isn't that far away and isn't exactly a once in a life time opportunity.Wait a while until your Italian has improved and you can afford to travel a little more.
 
OriginalJonty said:
Italy. The MBP will be available for a very long time. How often will you get a chance to go to Italy?
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True, This summer will be the only chance until next year or in my second year at Uni (I start this year) I can study abroad and I will be choosing Italy
 
Al Vallario said:
Objection!

Frozo, you should go for the MacBook Pro. Sure, it might be a nice experience to visit Italy, but if you're staying with family it's not going to be paradise. You'll be holed up in some cramped spare room (if they have a spare room), with no one to talk to, amongst people who you won't be able to understand or communicate with, who will be too busy living their lives to dedicate any substantial time to yourself (driving you places, showing you the sights, etc. You'll be stuck at home for a lot of the time, and I doubt home will be a glamorous villa on the beach!). Yes, sunshine; lovely, but from the sounds of things you'll be wishing you were back home after a few days.

While the trip to Italy might last a week or two, the MacBook Pro will last you years, and in that time will add immense value to your life. Three years down the line when you want to upgrade, you'll be able to sell it on and easily recoup 30-40% of what you paid for it.

You won't wake up every morning and think about your trip to Italy (you know, the one you hated?), but you will wake up every morning, glance at your MacBook Pro and be glad you listened to me :)

P.S. Your budgeting for the MacBook Pro is a little off. The base model (13", 2.3Ghz i5, 320GB 5400rpm HDD, Intel HD 3000 graphics) is £859.20 with higher education discount.
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Who knows how Italy will be for him? It might be awful but that's unlikely. There is a chance it is amazing and something he remembers fondly forever. Getting to go and stay in a foreign country with family and immersing yourself in the language is a great opportunity.

Memories, experiences, holiday, adventure or a piece of hardware? It's a shame that there is even debate.
 
nydryl said:
Who knows how Italy will be for him? It might be awful but that's unlikely. There is a chance it is amazing and something he remembers fondly forever.
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There's a chance anything can be amazing and something a person remembers fondly forever. I could walk down the street right now, bump into the love of my life, and I would look back on it fondly forever.

We're talking about a balance of probabilities. It is my opinion that due to a number of factors (primarily a) the fact Frozo will be travelling alone; b) he'll be staying with family he isn't familiar with; and c) he will have difficulty communicating with his family there, let alone locals) the balance is weighed against it being the romanticised, culturally-enriching experience he'll remember forever.

nydryl said:
Getting to go and stay in a foreign country with family and immersing yourself in the language is a great opportunity.
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If he doesn't take up the opportunity now, it's not going to go away. As long as he has family in Italy he will have the opportunity to stay with them.

nydryl said:
Memories, experiences, holiday, adventure or a piece of hardware? It's a shame that there is even debate.
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Perhaps a bit controversial for a computer hardware forum!

I've been to Italy quite a few times (including the Napoli area, Pompeii, etc.), it's nothing extraordinary. I'd say without any hesitation that I've derived more enjoyment, and more value over the years from my own MacBook Pro than from those experiences :)
 
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