Apple: Hardware News and Discussion Thread
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: PA
Originally Posted by CocheseUGA
OK, so tell me about MacBooks. I'm thinking about joining the dark side, but only if I can run Win 10 well in Boot Camp or Parallels. Well, that's my assumption. My work VPN works best via Internet Explorer, and for that I need Windows. I think to use it otherwise, I have to use Java, and I think I'd rather kill myself.
I don't have a big need for horsepower. I'm not planning on playing too many games. I need a good keyboard for writing, good battery life, and fairly lightweight/portable. I have a HP Probook 15.6 that is supposedly a perfect candidate for a Hackintosh build, but I was thinking of handing it down (solving another problem that recently came up). What I love about the ProBook is the keyboard, minus the fact that it isn't backlit (requirement). I'm not sure how I'll deal without a keypad, but the Surface Pro 4 doesn't have one either. The SP4 would be my choice on the Windows side right now. The pen isn't important to me.
So, sell me on going to the dark side. I'm currently looking at the different models.
I don't have a big need for horsepower. I'm not planning on playing too many games. I need a good keyboard for writing, good battery life, and fairly lightweight/portable. I have a HP Probook 15.6 that is supposedly a perfect candidate for a Hackintosh build, but I was thinking of handing it down (solving another problem that recently came up). What I love about the ProBook is the keyboard, minus the fact that it isn't backlit (requirement). I'm not sure how I'll deal without a keypad, but the Surface Pro 4 doesn't have one either. The SP4 would be my choice on the Windows side right now. The pen isn't important to me.
So, sell me on going to the dark side. I'm currently looking at the different models.
Don't do a Hackintosh.
13 inch MacBook Pro is probably what you want
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Kennesaw, GA
Yeah, I was thinking either the MBP or MBA in 13" form. I would assume WWDC will announce the 2016 versions with Skylake? Might be worth holding off a few months. Although, I could get the 2015 entry MBP for $225 off this weekend...
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: PA
Originally Posted by CocheseUGA
Yeah, I was thinking either the MBP or MBA in 13" form. I would assume WWDC will announce the 2016 versions with Skylake? Might be worth holding off a few months. Although, I could get the 2015 entry MBP for $225 off this weekend...
Team Owner
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From: Jersey
Going from a 15.6" to a 13" you may end up thinking it's too small. Go play with one at a store. I have a 13" MBP and will never buy this size again. Annoying that 15" start at $2k.
Ideally they would make a 14" like everyone else does.
Ideally they would make a 14" like everyone else does.
Last edited by doopstr; Apr 24, 2016 at 05:05 PM.
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From: Kennesaw, GA
Did my first hands-on just now. Tried the Air first, thought it was pretty good. Then I turned the Pro screens on. Holy crap. Retina is amazing. I agree, too bad the 15" is such a jump, but you do get a better processor and more RAM, at least going by the displays. Might have to see what the true jump is.
I think I could live with 13". It would be more portable. Unfortunately I can't know if the 13" would be livable until I tried to dial in with it.
I think I could live with 13". It would be more portable. Unfortunately I can't know if the 13" would be livable until I tried to dial in with it.
Team Owner
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From: Miami, FL
When my gf's daughter was shopping MacBooks the guy showed us how on Retina vs the non-Retina the programs open sooooo much faster. He proceeded by opening all the programs at the bottom tray. It was light years difference.
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From: Kennesaw, GA
Best Buy put some more on sale for $300 off. But they don't carry the 16GB/256GB model. I only had 4GB on the ProBook, and thanks to some memory failures, I'm running 8GB on my desktop without issue.
New 8GB/256GB for $1200, or refurb 16GB/256GB for $1440? Only 14 days to return from Apple, but 30 to return from Best Buy.
New 8GB/256GB for $1200, or refurb 16GB/256GB for $1440? Only 14 days to return from Apple, but 30 to return from Best Buy.
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: PA
If its on the Macbook, it has to do with the speed of the processor and the SSD
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 70,003
Likes: 1,260
From: PA
Best Buy put some more on sale for $300 off. But they don't carry the 16GB/256GB model. I only had 4GB on the ProBook, and thanks to some memory failures, I'm running 8GB on my desktop without issue.
New 8GB/256GB for $1200, or refurb 16GB/256GB for $1440? Only 14 days to return from Apple, but 30 to return from Best Buy.
New 8GB/256GB for $1200, or refurb 16GB/256GB for $1440? Only 14 days to return from Apple, but 30 to return from Best Buy.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Kennesaw, GA
Will it be for the next three versions of OSX (or whatever MacOS dumb name they're thinking of switching to)? It's quite the investment, and I want it to still have value in 2020.
Saving money is pretty important, though. This is my graduation present to myself.
Saving money is pretty important, though. This is my graduation present to myself.
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: PA
Who knows for sure, but for the next few years 8 is good. OSX does a better job with processor and RAM then Windows and like Windows, the trend is to slim down the OS's requirements.
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From: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
I'll say this, for basic tasks 4GB was plenty of RAM for my 2012 Mac Mini with 2.3ghz Core i7.
Only reason I upgraded to 16GB was because of programs like Lightroom and photoshop.
Plus the price difference for 3rd party memory between 8GB and 16GB was minimal.
Only reason I upgraded to 16GB was because of programs like Lightroom and photoshop.
Plus the price difference for 3rd party memory between 8GB and 16GB was minimal.
16GB is what everyone should have in a computer. IMO. Fact is ram is cheap.
Beyond that is likely a complete waste.
When I see people touting 64GB of ram it usually just makes me laugh.
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From: Not Las Vegas (SF Bay Area)
You're a top 1% user....occasionally...barely....using over 16GB of ram. Yep, #worthit 
On my mini here at work...with PS, Illustrator, and InDesign open I barely hit that mark. Granted I'm more web and less gigantic raw images.
On my mini here at work...with PS, Illustrator, and InDesign open I barely hit that mark. Granted I'm more web and less gigantic raw images.
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Needs more Lemon Pledge
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From: Phoenix, AZ
