Help me with spec for Macbook Pro order

MiM

Firstly, I'm notoriously indecisive and very un-technical.

After months of putting it off I've finally decided to make the switch from PCs to Mac.

I'm a journalist and have just gone self-employed as a Public Relations consultant but also writing books, especially people's life stories for them - not for publication but for them and their families to keep.

I've got a little bit of money to invest in the business and have decided a Macbook Pro is what I want/need.

However, I'm then confronted by all the options in the Apple store.

I don't want to spent unnecessarily but I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar (or whatever the expression) either.

Sorry I'm not giving you much to go on but could anyone suggest a sensible spec for me?

Any help much appreciated.

redcard

Work out what your budget is and what screen size you would prefer and buy the best one you can afford.

libra10

Like yourself, it also took me ages to decide to buy a Macbook. My birth sign is very apt!

I won £500 John Lewis vouchers, and decided to put towards a Macbook Pro, 13" screen. And I love it!

It cost around £1250 - has OSX system, 8 GB memory, Processor 2.9 GHz.

Previously I had used Sony Vaio PCs and loved them, but Safari is much quicker than Windows 7 Internet Express, and fewer viruses.

You can also use other browsing software than Safari.

Macs take a little getting used to, most commands are different to those used on a PC, and this forum, along with Apple Support helped me to get started.

The Apple shop are very helpful and will advise which computer best meets your needs.

Good luck!

Have fun choosing!

MiM

Thanks all.

B_G_B

libra10 wrote: »

Macs take a little getting used to, most commands are different to those used on a PC, and this forum, along with Apple Support helped me to get started.

I have also found youtube very useful.

Mr_Toad

MiM wrote: »

Firstly, I'm notoriously indecisive and very un-technical.

After months of putting it off I've finally decided to make the switch from PCs to Mac.

I'm a journalist and have just gone self-employed as a Public Relations consultant but also writing books, especially people's life stories for them - not for publication but for them and their families to keep.

I've got a little bit of money to invest in the business and have decided a Macbook Pro is what I want/need.

However, I'm then confronted by all the options in the Apple store.

I don't want to spent unnecessarily but I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar (or whatever the expression) either.

Sorry I'm not giving you much to go on but could anyone suggest a sensible spec for me?

Any help much appreciated.

I have a question or two as well as a suggestion.

You're a journalist and writer so a computer is going to be your most significant tool. In choosing a MacBook, or any other laptop you're restricting yourself to a small screen and a small keyboard, why?

As someone who spent most of his career, programmer, typing I can tell you that I put more time into choosing a keyboard than I do a car!

I certainly wouldn't want to do all my work on a laptop, not enough room on the screen and the keyboards aren't brilliant. By all means get a MacBook but I'd also be looking at a bigger monitor and an external keyboard too. When you fator the cost into the equation you might be better off with full sized computer.

I have a 27 inch iMac and a proper mechanical keyboard, I also have a MacBook Pro for meetings but I wouldn't dream of doing significant amounts of work on it, that all happens on the iMac.

Whatever you choose in the end I'd first try some really good keyboards and find one that suits you. They all look the same but believe me they aren't. You can get differently weighted keys and the key spacing is subtley different.

securityguy

Do you need a Pro for some particular reason? The 13" Air (make sure you get 8GB of RAM) is lovely, cheap, light and thin.

zarf2007

MiM wrote: »

Firstly, I'm notoriously indecisive and very un-technical.

After months of putting it off I've finally decided to make the switch from PCs to Mac.

I'm a journalist and have just gone self-employed as a Public Relations consultant but also writing books, especially people's life stories for them - not for publication but for them and their families to keep.

I've got a little bit of money to invest in the business and have decided a Macbook Pro is what I want/need.

However, I'm then confronted by all the options in the Apple store.

I don't want to spent unnecessarily but I don't want to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar (or whatever the expression) either.

Sorry I'm not giving you much to go on but could anyone suggest a sensible spec for me?

Any help much appreciated.

Check out the apple refurb store:


http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/13

These are brand new laptops usually returned after buyers change their minds etc,(even untouched apple cannot legally sell them as new) they are fully tested and have the full year warranty with the option to extend to 3 years during that time if you buy AppleCare.

For performance the single most important thing should be a SSD/flash drive. While smaller in capacity than hard drives they make a massive difference in every day use. You can also by a cheap usb3 external drive for long term storage if you need the space.

The pro or air would suit you but the pro is more expandable. If you can stretch to it get 8GB of memory.

Failing that, if you buy from John Lewis you get additional warranty for free.

It also comes with apples version of word, excel and PowerPoint or you can download libreoffice for free along with your favourite browser and highly recommend VLC as a media player.

InsideInsurance

Or better still if you know anyone whos at university (work or studying) then get them to buy it for you with a decent discount and a warranty for peanuts.

Lets be realistic, with what you are doing the absolutely most basic machine you can find will be more than adequate. The question therefore is really what toys/ brag factors you want.

You could argue that you are "future proofing" your investment but Apple can be underhanded and intentionally block older models from accessing new features even if they are on paper able to do it. For example my i7 processor iMac cannot mirror its screen via AppleTV despite the less powerful 2 year younger i5 being fully able to do it

Dont get me wrong, I am a Apple fan, we have 3 Macs, 3 iPhones, 2 iPods, 2 iPads, AppleTV, TimeCapsule and will buy a Mac Pro before the Mrs leaves university. Our iMac is our oldest thing and is now 5 years old and no way near needing being replaced were it not for losing the student discount next year but I am sure if I had gone for the basic model rather than the i7 I'd think the same

Nada666

I agree with Mr Toad except no need for an iMac as you are likely to want a laptop, too.

As a journalist all you need is a 13.3 retina pro, base model. Max the RAM, if you like.

You also want to spend £200 on a monitor (1920x1200) and a keyboard of choice - keyboard depends on what you like typing with now.

No need for an Air if it is to be your only machine and no need for a £2,000 15" Pro if you are not playing games.

MiM

Thanks all, really appreciated. Think I'll go with the consensus and get a 13.3 retina Pro, possibly with 16gb ram.

Will spend the extra on monitor and keyboard as suggested.

Don't suppose anyone has any monitor recommendations?