Mac Book Pro or No

[Corporate Thug]

Man, I know how you feel. I've been tempted to splurge. I'm 125k in debt from school over 6 years, but never pulled the trigger on a such a big "for me item"

 

[Kadarin]

The MacBook Pro is a very nice laptop (I have the '07 17" 1920x1200 resolution model, with 4GB of RAM). However, if it takes you three years to pay off a loan to buy one, you shouldn't get one.

 

[thecrecarc]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
1. Laptops aren't good for gaming due to onboard graphics and power consumption restraints (generally the graphics cards share system memory) to save space and limit heat
2. Most people use them for word processing and web browsing at hotspots
3. They work great for clearing a digital memory card when you're on vacation
4. I suggest buying a cheap Dell ($700 range) and using XP or Linux (try SuSE or Ubuntu)
5. Don't go into debt on something like a computer. They depreciate way too fast and can easily be stolen or broken beyond what warranties will cover.

Macbook Pro has an 8600M GT 256 or 512mb.

A 8600M isn't exactly gaming material...

And you can get a dell laptop with it for 750$

 

[ultimatebob]

There aren't many things really worth going into debt for. The only good ones that I can think of off the top of my head are getting a first house and non-cosmetic surgery. Oh, and a college education in a useful field.

Going into debt for an overpriced computer? NOT on the list.

 

[bleeb]

I thought I would give a little more information on my situation.

 

[wedi42]

buy a used one, my dad just got the last gen macbook pro 2.1 15 for $1300 on craigslist

 

[aphex]

My vote is a for a nice Refurb.... Apple Refurbs rock!

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: aphex
My vote is a for a nice Refurb.... Apple Refurbs rock!

Refurbs are great, but the cost isn't that much less than buying a brand new, plus I can grab credit card reward points, AND I get an educational discount

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Macbook + 22 inch monitor ftw.

 

[Capt Caveman]

If you have to take out a loan to buy one, then no.

My brother bought his wife a Mac Book Pro and it's sweet!

 

[gamepad]

Dental student? I say go for it.

 

[Imported]

Find a card with no interest for a year and buy it with that? No way I'd pay interest on a laptop.

 

[TwiceOver]

So you are willing to pay 400+ in interrest on an already over priced device that will be old technology in 3 years? Sure, sounds like an excellent plan.

 

[ChaoZ]

Paying interest on a computer = fail

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Imported
Find a card with no interest for a year and buy it with that? No way I'd pay interest on a laptop.

Winnar!

 

[soccerballtux]

There are machines for $750 with 3GB of ram and 250GB harddrive and dual core processor. Way better deal imo.

 

[Corbett]

Originally posted by: Deeko
A) Get a Dell, I just got a Dell XPS1530 with slightly higher specs than the $2200 Macbook pro, for $1600
B) Sign up for Dell's 12 months no interest
C) Get a better laptop for (factoring your interest into the equation) for $1000 less.

BWhAHAHA!

[deep breath]

BWhWHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA

OMG>..I CANT STOP LAUGHING!

 

[mitchel]

Originally posted by: thecrecarc

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
1. Laptops aren't good for gaming due to onboard graphics and power consumption restraints (generally the graphics cards share system memory) to save space and limit heat
2. Most people use them for word processing and web browsing at hotspots
3. They work great for clearing a digital memory card when you're on vacation
4. I suggest buying a cheap Dell ($700 range) and using XP or Linux (try SuSE or Ubuntu)
5. Don't go into debt on something like a computer. They depreciate way too fast and can easily be stolen or broken beyond what warranties will cover.

Macbook Pro has an 8600M GT 256 or 512mb.

A 8600M isn't exactly gaming material...

And you can get a dell laptop with it for 750$

True. 8600M isn't that good. I have a Dell with it for $800 at the time. Much much cheaper than a MacBook. Especially after the interest is factored in.

 

[bleeb]

The MacBookPro i'm interested in is the 15" ... my cost would be $1799. No TAX, double reward points, and education discount.

 

[Shawn]

Dude you can get a Dell XPS Laptop with better specs for about $500 cheaper. In fact, I just researched this for my friend who was also considering buying a Macbook Pro. Is OS X and an Apple logo really worth $500+ to you?

 

[theprodigalrebel]

You do know that you can get pretty kick-ass non-gamer oriented laptops for way less than $1K, right? The fact that you are looking at a Mac leads me to believe you aren't a gamer.

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
You do know that you can get pretty kick-ass non-gamer oriented laptops for way less than $1K, right? The fact that you are looking at a Mac leads me to believe you aren't a gamer.

yeah no real time for games big dawg... I already have a box at home, toshiba laptop (good enough) and I'd like to the Mac to dink around with (internet, chat, write the occasional research papers, hw, etc)

 

[theprodigalrebel]

For basic productivity and multimedia purposes, just about any recent notebook will do.

Gateway P-6832 NoteBook $799
Intel Core 2 Duo T5550(1.83GHz)
17.0" Wide XGA 1440x900
3GB Memory DDR2 667
250GB HDD 5400rpm
Dual layer DVD Burner
Intel GMA X3100

I mean, this is just something I found in about a minute searching through Newegg. Don't get what you want - get what you need. I realize the Macbook Pro probably has a superior screen (and higher resolution) but do look around for options. You can find lots of good configurations for under $1K. I haven't looked at the market recently so I don't even know if the notebook I posted is a 'good deal' but looking around, you might find something more 'practical'.

Save money for software and other important stuff.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: bleeb

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
You do know that you can get pretty kick-ass non-gamer oriented laptops for way less than $1K, right? The fact that you are looking at a Mac leads me to believe you aren't a gamer.

yeah no real time for games big dawg... I already have a box at home, toshiba laptop (good enough) and I'd like to the Mac to dink around with (internet, chat, write the occasional research papers, hw, etc)

then get a mac mini

 

[kalster]

get a thinkpad , better build quality than any mac out there, laptop anyway, with most of the new ones you can install osx on them too