Worth getting a Macbook now?

Cheetah Designs · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:50

I am in limbo here.

Currently typing on an i3 350, 8GB, 80GB Intel SSD, 310M Nvidia laptop and wondering whether to get a Macbook or not.

Can't really afford a Macbook Pro and I was going to get the Macbook second hand anyways. The Macbook would be a downgrade in CPU but I would upgrade the RAM to 8GB and put a SSD in there...so would the mac experience be an upgrade overall?

Next, i hear a "refresh" is coming soon, so should I wait, considering I'm buying second hand I don't think the prices will go down that much will they?

I've seen a 2011 Macbook advertised for £550 which is in good condition....do you think its worth it given that I could get student discount?

EdwardTeach · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:52

What applications will you be running that will need you to use 8gb RAM on a macbook?

Brian8bit · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:55

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Macbook is a don't buy right now. Possible refresh coming up. May see Core i* in it.

You'd need to ask someone with experience about the student discount though, I'm clueless in regards to that. However, I think it's only available for hardware purchased from Apple either in store or through their online store and not for refurbished hardware. But wait until someone can verify that or not.

Cheetah Designs · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:02

EdwardTeach said:
What applications will you be running that will need you to use 8gb RAM on a macbook?

Virtual Machines (Plural)

Brian8bit said:
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Macbook is a don't buy right now. Possible refresh coming up. May see Core i* in it.

You'd need to ask someone with experience about the student discount though, I'm clueless in regards to that. However, I think it's only available for hardware purchased from Apple either in store or through their online store and not for refurbished hardware. But wait until someone can verify that or not.

I will be buying second hand as I can't afford a new one so will have to get the last generation one anyways.

When I mentioned the student discount it was referring to whether it was worth paying £550 for a used one when I can get a new one for £745 from apple student discount.

Brian8bit · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:12

Cheetah Designs said:
When I mentioned the student discount it was referring to whether it was worth paying £550 for a used one when I can get a new one for £745 from apple student discount.

If it looks to be in good shape, then personally I would go for the second hand option. All my own Apple hardware is second hand, though through the Apple refurb store.

Cheetah Designs · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:40

Is £550 a good price?

Brian8bit · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:49

Cheetah Designs said:
Is £550 a good price?

Well there is no 2011 (Polycarbonate) Macbook (as it hasn't been refreshed yet) so what they're selling is probably a mid 2010 (if it has the 320M graphics, it's 2009 if it has the 9400M graphics). Just because they bought it in 2011 doesn't make it a 2011.

As for the price, it entirely depends on the condition. But I would want one in pristine condition for that price with original boxes, discs, paperwork and manuals. Allowing for a few aesthetic scratches or marks. Severely worn palm rests and faded keycap legends and things would start me on the path down to a 450 - 520 offer.

iraiguana · 12 Jul 2011 at 17:30

If you are going to a slower cpu but equal ram and hdd then I suspect yes it will overall be a little slower. If you laptop is too slow, consider a less intensive anti virus which usually is the biggest bug bear with windows 7. I am assuming your running win 7 which is not that much more bloated than OSX feels.

If you are doing this for performance increase it just doesn't make sense. Why do you need OSX?

Disco Boy · 12 Jul 2011 at 19:17

You'd be mad to change unless you require OSX.

Dmack · 12 Jul 2011 at 20:05

mac and mac pro refresh is this thursday.....

Disco Boy · 12 Jul 2011 at 20:09

You mean macbook and mac pro presumably?

Cheetah Designs · 13 Jul 2011 at 00:47

Disco Boy said:
You'd be mad to change unless you require OSX.

Thats what I wanted to hear...thanks....

I LOVE OSX (used to have a macbook but spilled curry on it :s), but if you say I'd be made to change...I was looking for someone to convince me otherwise.

MagicBoy · 13 Jul 2011 at 00:52

Wait until the range gets refreshed when Lion is launched. We're probably looking at MacBook Air and Mac Pros, but they might sneak out something else.

Emlyn_Dewar · 13 Jul 2011 at 12:58

What model is your laptop? Could be the opportunity of a CPU upgrade in it?

I agree with the "you'd be mad to change unless you require OSX" line. That's a very nice spec you have currently. Once the shiny new purchase feel had worn off of the Macbook, you'd probably be regretting the purchase.

Alpherah · 13 Jul 2011 at 15:05

As said up a bit - rumours of a white macbook refresh pretty soon.

Alpherah · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:47

And sorry to post again, but there murmors that its released tomorrow at some point, with price drops (due to the weak $)

MagicBoy · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:55

I love all the hyped up fanbois just making specs up on Macrumors.

Lion and the revised machines willl turn up when it does, hence no pre-announced dates. Apple being Apple they'll have stock instore within a couple of days.

Faustus · 14 Jul 2011 at 00:15

Dmack said:
mac and mac pro refresh is this thursday.....

It's actually now mooted to be MacBook and Mac Mini upgrades.

Dmack · 14 Jul 2011 at 08:07

Faustus said:
It's actually now mooted to be MacBook and Mac Mini upgrades.

Yes I saw this too, MacBook pro refresh Is prob early august

kristmace · 14 Jul 2011 at 11:58

Dmack said:
Yes I saw this too, MacBook pro refresh Is prob early august

Macbook Pro only came out in feb. I'd be surprised if theres a new Macbook pro before the endof the year. MacPro however is a year old, so i can see that getting refreshed this summer.