Is a Macbook really worth it?

July 28, 2012 @ 05:52 AM
Your Fan

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They carry a hefty price tag, but from what I see and hear they are very good. The weight and battery life is perfect for a college freshman like myself and I dabble in cinematography, but is it really worth it? And no I won't build a fucking desktop PC. Macbook 13" with retina display!
July 28, 2012 @ 06:04 AM
Gentry

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Join Date: Sep 2010

Yes.
July 28, 2012 @ 06:30 AM
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13" with a retina display is probably going to start at about $1,800 if not more, so no

Lil JoJo : i really want rizal! 13:10

July 28, 2012 @ 06:37 AM
99%Shit

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lolno.

ASUS. Smaller, faster, lighter, cheaper, better looking.

narsha.narsha.narsha

July 28, 2012 @ 06:41 AM
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^^^ plus you can't upgrade the RAM without having to buy a new motherboard

Lil JoJo : i really want rizal! 13:10

July 28, 2012 @ 06:48 AM
*80hd*

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macbooks are dope cool but my entire college campus utilizes macs so its different in my case i guess.
July 28, 2012 @ 06:49 AM
mello

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Not going to lie, I've always wanted a Mac just so I could put tons of stickers on it ..
July 28, 2012 @ 09:35 AM
shinjin

Post: 414

Join Date: May 2011

I can tell you right now that if you can afford it without much problem it would be worth it.
POWER ISN'T EVERYTHING. If you want to maximize on that, buy a Desktop + a Tablet.

Macs are very reliable, I am a Computer Science major and my 2010 macbook pro has served me well,
running as solidly as ever even after 2 years of heavy abuse.
Hell, I don't even turn it off, it runs 24/7 for weeks at a time sometimes, and still retains
great performance and great battery life.
It is also probably the best looking laptop on the market, and even if you disagree you must admit all current
"good-looking" ultrabooks/laptops/etc have been heavily inspired by it's design

If you are a gamer, there are virtual emulation options or bootcamp so you can run any OS you want.
Though, once you get used to OSX its pretty hard to go anywhere else. While the Macbook is by no means the "best" gaming rig, it certainly packs enough power to get the job done. If you're one of those kids that just wants to play video games don't waste your money.

Apple is falling off right now in my opinion. After Jobs kicked the bucket (much respect to him, he went to my old high school) they lack innovation and are heavily relying on (patent) lawsuits to prevent other companies from outdistancing them. In my opinion, they won't be putting out stellar products like they are now in a decade. They are falling behind, iOS is being shit on by Android, and with Windows 8 lurking around the corner ML just doesn't seem that groundbreaking. Now is the time to buy if you ever will.
July 31, 2012 @ 07:07 PM
LoLife

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Location: Toronto

it is definitely worth it. I've had mine for 2 years now and not a problem since. I used to have a lenovo business grade thinkpad and that was alright but the problem was the amount of viruses I got. Before you get to the stupid jokes about porn n everything..they mainly came from song torrent downloads. Because macs aren't as popular as PCs, there are way less threats against them. I used to get a virus once a year from just going on random links while researching or whatever

When he be playin Scrabble that nigga gotta figure out how to make a word outta seven Ls

July 31, 2012 @ 08:04 PM
Enzoo

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^ Huh you know how to torrent, but don't have a decent virus protection(AVG). The price doesn't justify the hardware, that's my problem Macs...

Don't badmind me.

July 31, 2012 @ 08:46 PM
JohnvHarrison

Post: 1733

Join Date: Nov 2011

^ Huh you know how to torrent, but don't have a decent virus protection(AVG). The price doesn't justify the hardware, that's my problem Macs...


this. and correct me if im wrong, but i believe Apple did some shit with macbooks where now you cant open them up yourself and fix a problem or add RAM. there were once screws that were taken out so you can open the machine, now its pretty much Industrial Glued together, forcing you to send it back to them and let them charge you when something fucks up. trust, macs aren't worth it. don't let anyone say they're "the best for editing music, video etc..) any machine can do these things with the right upgrades that would run you less than the cost of a macbook.

http://www.theyhatechange.com Beauty Squad Click on the rise #B$C Get down or lay down

July 31, 2012 @ 08:57 PM
obscurities

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Macs are extremely reliable.
July 31, 2012 @ 09:01 PM
Enzoo

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Location: Osaka

Macs break like any other laptops, I've seen Djs overheat during shows...

Don't badmind me.

July 31, 2012 @ 09:46 PM
99%Shit

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Location: Ontario

ASUS ZenBook. Dual-boot Ubuntu 12.04(regular usage, movies, browsing, d/l) and W7(Adobe, games). No viruses. Clean look. 1/2 the price. 0 faggotry. W7 should come stock, and Ubuntu is free.

narsha.narsha.narsha

July 31, 2012 @ 09:53 PM
kr00kd

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Location: ATL

I've been a die hard pc/Linux user for many years. I have a Lenovo u300s right now which is a top of the line ultra book.

That being said when the 13 inch retina display comes out I'm getting that.

http://hypebeast.com/forums/apparel/166901/

July 31, 2012 @ 10:12 PM
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^ Huh you know how to torrent, but don't have a decent virus protection(AVG). The price doesn't justify the hardware, that's my problem Macs...


this. and correct me if im wrong, but i believe Apple did some shit with macbooks where now you cant open them up yourself and fix a problem or add RAM. there were once screws that were taken out so you can open the machine, now its pretty much Industrial Glued together, forcing you to send it back to them and let them charge you when something fucks up. trust, macs aren't worth it. don't let anyone say they're "the best for editing music, video etc..) any machine can do these things with the right upgrades that would run you less than the cost of a macbook.

^^^ plus you can't upgrade the RAM without having to buy a new motherboard

Lil JoJo : i really want rizal! 13:10

July 31, 2012 @ 10:42 PM
JohnvHarrison

Post: 1733

Join Date: Nov 2011

I've been a die hard pc/Linux user for many years. I have a Lenovo u300s right now which is a top of the line ultra book.

That being said when the 13 inch retina display comes out I'm getting that.


terrible decision. the macbooks before the retina display have at least 500GB hard drive, and the 15.5 inch retina display has only up to 512GB flash storage. and it cost $600 more. so the 13 inch is gonna be the same as/worse than the new 15.

http://www.theyhatechange.com Beauty Squad Click on the rise #B$C Get down or lay down

August 1, 2012 @ 12:28 AM
Veni Vidi Vici

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It's not all about storage bruh. SSD's FAR outperform HDD's in terms of speed and reliability, so that's why you see the price bump. If you haven't USED the retina mbp15 then you don't understand. If i have 2.5G to spend on a laptop, I'd go for it immediately. Until then, my 2008 Macbook 13.3 is doing just fine!
August 1, 2012 @ 12:38 AM
JohnvHarrison

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It's not all about storage bruh. SSD's FAR outperform HDD's in terms of speed and reliability, so that's why you see the price bump. If you haven't USED the retina mbp15 then you don't understand. If i have 2.5G to spend on a laptop, I'd go for it immediately. Until then, my 2008 Macbook 13.3 is doing just fine!


it actually is all about storage when you're thinking about what most people say they buy Macbooks for (Music editing, Video editing) the only other thing you need to worry about it RAM, which the retina display 15 has 8GB, un-expandable. you're trading off for less storage, and paying $600 dollars more for nothing but the better screen, which means virtually nothing because the retina display and non-retina display use the exact same graphics card. the point here is that you shouldn't spend 2500 dollars on a laptop when it's not worth that much. You can literally buy and upgrade a laptop past the performance of a macbook pro for LESS than $2500.

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August 1, 2012 @ 03:44 AM
99%Shit

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What do you need more than 512GB of internal storage for? Sorry, if you can read SDXC, you've got plenty of storage now, and more so in the near future. Personally I'd opt for 256GB onboard and just use at ~3TB ac powered spinning disc for media, a card reader capable of SDXC, and a USB powered ~500GB external for varying levels of portability. Yeah, you're paying more for less storage, but you're paying for less moving parts, less mechanical failure. Easy partitioning, quick r/w speeds. If an editor is using a Mac for proper editing, they've probably opted for output to a larger IPS panel(ie. Cinema Display), and if they have room to plug in a 24"+ monitor, they can plug in an external to copy over workable files. There's also home media servers, and the ever ridiculous "cloud" to access other media from(outside of backups, cloud is stupid unless you're in Kansas City). I think MBP is over-priced in general, but SSD is the way to go.

narsha.narsha.narsha

August 1, 2012 @ 04:17 AM

Inactive

razz razz
August 1, 2012 @ 11:45 AM
99%Shit

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Just note Macs are better in the end.


Go on...

narsha.narsha.narsha

August 1, 2012 @ 01:55 PM
kr00kd

Post: 1697

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Location: ATL

It's not all about storage bruh. SSD's FAR outperform HDD's in terms of speed and reliability, so that's why you see the price bump. If you haven't USED the retina mbp15 then you don't understand. If i have 2.5G to spend on a laptop, I'd go for it immediately. Until then, my 2008 Macbook 13.3 is doing just fine!


it actually is all about storage when you're thinking about what most people say they buy Macbooks for (Music editing, Video editing) the only other thing you need to worry about it RAM, which the retina display 15 has 8GB, un-expandable. you're trading off for less storage, and paying $600 dollars more for nothing but the better screen, which means virtually nothing because the retina display and non-retina display use the exact same graphics card. the point here is that you shouldn't spend 2500 dollars on a laptop when it's not worth that much. You can literally buy and upgrade a laptop past the performance of a macbook pro for LESS than $2500.


Your missing the point. SSDs are much better then HDDs. That's where a big spike comes from. And a 512g SSD is huge.

And of course you can buy the parts to upgrade another computer to the same specs hardware wise for much cheaper. But like someone above said its not all about specs.

http://hypebeast.com/forums/apparel/166901/

August 1, 2012 @ 05:00 PM
Enzoo

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Location: Osaka

It's all about specs^

Don't badmind me.

August 1, 2012 @ 05:22 PM
jonathanwho

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It's not all about storage bruh. SSD's FAR outperform HDD's in terms of speed and reliability, so that's why you see the price bump. If you haven't USED the retina mbp15 then you don't understand. If i have 2.5G to spend on a laptop, I'd go for it immediately. Until then, my 2008 Macbook 13.3 is doing just fine!


it actually is all about storage when you're thinking about what most people say they buy Macbooks for (Music editing, Video editing) the only other thing you need to worry about it RAM, which the retina display 15 has 8GB, un-expandable. you're trading off for less storage, and paying $600 dollars more for nothing but the better screen, which means virtually nothing because the retina display and non-retina display use the exact same graphics card. the point here is that you shouldn't spend 2500 dollars on a laptop when it's not worth that much. You can literally buy and upgrade a laptop past the performance of a macbook pro for LESS than $2500.


if you spec the non retina mbp w/ the retina mbp the difference is way less then $600

you're not just buying the hardware you're buying the software too and the way the two interact with each other so that its less error prone
August 1, 2012 @ 05:34 PM
99%Shit

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Location: Ontario

Buying software? :/ If it comes bundled, I don't think you own the software, you just get a license.

narsha.narsha.narsha

August 1, 2012 @ 05:41 PM
JohnvHarrison

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It's all about specs^

http://www.theyhatechange.com Beauty Squad Click on the rise #B$C Get down or lay down

August 1, 2012 @ 05:51 PM
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Just note Macs are better in the end.


Go on...


I would also like to hear more

Also I think storage depends on what the person's preference.

I personally don't want to carry around a 1-2TB external with me, but SSDs are the way to go, which is why I'm putting one in my MBP

Lil JoJo : i really want rizal! 13:10

August 1, 2012 @ 07:04 PM
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You can also get a 768 GB SSD now in the Retina MBP, but its an extra $1,000

Lil JoJo : i really want rizal! 13:10

August 1, 2012 @ 09:08 PM
shinjin

Post: 414

Join Date: May 2011

It's NOT all about specs.

The construction of a Macbook is SOLID. It may not compare in terms of price to cheaper counterparts with similar specs, but the lifetime of your Mac will make up for it. RAM, Storage, processing power, etc aren't all there are in a laptop, there are about a bajillion things that can possibly go wrong and Apple is remarkably good at avoiding these issues, which are pitfalls for several windows-based laptops. If something does happen to go wrong Apple's customer service is incomparably better when compared with couldn't-care-less companies like HP.

Furthermore, from a software point of view the Mac is Unix native which means programmers get huge benefits without having to use annoying programs like PuTTY, and on top of that OSX pretty much blows Windows 7 out of the water.
You can run Windows 7/ubuntu/etc with no problems on the Mac as well, AND YOU CANNOT ON PC.
Yes, I said it, running OSX natively on PC is nowhere near as efficient as on an apple product, and nowhere near as easy, it requires very specific hardware (e.g. having a compatible motherboard), time, and considerable technical skill, to the point that most users don't bother. And last I checked, they stopped at Snow Leopard for Hackintoshes.

And yes, you don't really have to worry about viruses for Mac. NOT because it is immune by any means,
but because there is a much wider pool of Windows users so it is more worthwhile for those who want to infect computers
to create viruses for Windows instead. Programs like little snitch are literally all you need to protect your mac. Yes, even while browsing porn websites. Hell, you probably don't even need it. In any case it takes up way less CPU than standard antivirus programs for Windows.

I know that there are a few that advocate Linux distributions as well, but OSX pretty much does everything a standard user would want but better, and has way less compatibility issues. In the end, the lack of support for Linux is not ideal for a college student.

The bottom line:
Tons of average PC users bash on Apple for being overpriced, which it is.
But then their own laptops crash and burn in 1-2 years.

It may not be worth the PRICE, but the macbook pro is sure as hell the one of the best laptops on the market right now, especially for a college student.
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