Macbook

shona_2

My Macbook was refurb from Apple and it was perfect, with a bargain price and 12 months warranty.
I'd recommend one...

Blacksheep1979

If you're going to be using it to run xp and 'whatever the Mac OS is' it doesn't really seem like you've researched the idea or know why you want one. From what you're saying you'd be better off with a non mac laptop.

isofa

If you specifically want a powerful graphics card, you'll need the MacBook Pro, if not a good MacBook will be fine for your needs.

Remember you'll need Mac versions of Adobe Photoshop etc, unless you just plan to run them in virtualisation under Windows XP, or dual boot to Windows.

Personally I think it'd be a total waste of time to run Windows versions of software which is available natively for Mac OS X (virtually all design packages, Adobe software, MS office etc), under dual boot or emulation, unless you specifically need to.

odd-one-out

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

If you're going to be using it to run xp and 'whatever the Mac OS is' it doesn't really seem like you've researched the idea or know why you want one. From what you're saying you'd be better off with a non mac laptop.

I'll be going into uni for graphic design and as you probably know, a lot of graphics are done on Macs and I am looking for a Macbook which can offer me these qualities. Also, as I've never used a Mac before, buying one would allow me to familarize with the way it works so when I enter uni, graphics can be no problem for me

I fully understand how to use software like Photoshop, it's just the initial difference of the layout, display, shortcuts, that I'll need to get used to.

Bob63

Macs have very good resale values so pick one up from the refurb shop, play with it, get used to the way it works and if it turns out that you need a more powerful machine then stick it on Fleabay. You won't lose much money at all.

odd-one-out

Awesome, thanks everyone, I think I have a much better idea of which Macbook to get, what to do with it, and where to get one. Thank you everyone!

geekgirl

If you are taking it to uni with you make sure you back everything up regularly and make sure its insured. Nothing worse than losing your work that you spent hours working on and then having to do it all again! This happened to a family member but their laptop was insured so at least they could get another one.
Good luck and enjoy your new mac.

odd-one-out

geekgirl wrote: »

If you are taking it to uni with you make sure you back everything up regularly and make sure its insured. Nothing worse than losing your work that you spent hours working on and then having to do it all again! This happened to a family member but their laptop was insured so at least they could get another one.
Good luck and enjoy your new mac.

Yep, this happened to my cousin and his dissertation was all lost! Not good news.

almillar

Not one person has given suggestions for the second-hand route the OP suggested. As stated up the thread, Macs hold their value well, bad news for a used buyer, but they're still computers, updated every year, so they do go down fast. Get onto eBay and have a careful look through the MacBook Pros (for graphics work you suggest, do try to push for that, the dedicated graphics, and the higher resolution 15" screen will defo be worth it). Even the very oldest MacBook Pro will be better for your planned needs than a MacBook as the dedicated graphics will whip the Intel graphics on the MacBooks. Just be very careful with ratings etc on eBay...
HTH

isofa

If you are going to be buying software like the Adobe CS suite, you can get it at a massive discount by being a student, again companies like MacWarehouse have dedicated education teams, but you obviously need proof of your course and college/Uni.

I've been using Macs for design since the early 1990s - never come across a professional designer who doesn't use them. I use Windows for development work, Macs for design work.

The graphics card will not make a lot (if any) difference to normal design software like Illustrator / Photoshop etc, but the larger screen on a MBP will be useful. If you are going to be using 3D design software and video software then the graphics card in a MBP will make a difference.