Profile for brianm02 - Is this a good deal for a Macbook? UPDATED!

brianm02 aka brian metcalf is a 21.4 year old boy, has been a member since October 23, 2006, has scored 3,144 submissions, giving an average score of 1.29, helping 29 designs get printed.

Jul 26 '09 by brianm02
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Is this a good deal for a Macbook? UPDATED!

So I have a friend who is selling his Macbook. He bought it in November 2008, so it's had around 9 months of use. I don't know any specifics such as RAM or GB. He bought it for $1450 and is asking $900. Should I take the deal?

UPDATE:
I had the chance to mess with the Macbook today. It's in really nice condition. It has a 4GB RAM and 160GB HD. The Adobe Suite comes downloaded on it.

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brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:35am

no answers?

randyotter3000 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:38am

you need to post up spec maybe google the model, otherwise its like buying a car when you dont know what it looks like

jodabaum on Jul 26 '09 at 10:39am

Id say no... beause for another 100$ you can get this new model http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?intcmp=AIC-NAUS-K2-BUYNOW-MACBOOK-INDEX

jodabaum on Jul 26 '09 at 10:40am

and if your in college, you usually get 50-100$ off apple.com anyways

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:40am

Well I'm going to be able to mess around with it on Wednesday and I'll check out the specs. I've seen him use it before and it's in really good condition as well.

jodabaum on Jul 26 '09 at 10:40am

so basically for the same price you get the new model on apple.com

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:41am

I would get a new model, with the school discount. Plus they'll give you a free ipod touch if you say your using it for school.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:42am

ahhh okay... sounds better to get it online then..

should i just go for the cheaper model or step up?

ill be using photoshop and illustrator on it

fatheed on Jul 26 '09 at 10:44am

If you're spending that much money you might as well look into the Apple student discount and try to stretch to getting a new one with a new warranty

Also the student 3 year Apple care thing is a winner. I got it for 80% cheaper

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:45am

Will you be buying photoshop and illustrator?

Because that will also be quite a bit of money.

If you know someone who has it for mac than you can just install theirs, but if not than you will have to buy it.

randyotter3000 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:45am

or you can man up and build a real pc :D

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:46am

Or not.

randyotter3000 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:46am

macs are for girls

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:47am

lol

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:48am

im going to mica and they suggest a mac by sophomore year.

and im sure half of the students would be willing to give me photoshop and illustrator

my friend who is selling already has the two programs on his..

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:49am

That's good, because Adobe software is VERY expensive.

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:49am

That's good, because Adobe software is VERY expensive.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:50am

so would you suggest a macbook or a pro.

whats the difference that makes a pro 200 more

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:50am

^ wtf?

randyotter3000 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:50am

who buys adobe software?

(ps adobe I legally buy all my programs)

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:51am

A pro has a more powerful processor and more ram, also the come with a bigger screen.

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:52am

*they

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:53am

I'd have to stay with the 13 inch pro though cause the 15 gets to be too much money. Would you say spend the extra 200 for the 13 inch 2.26GHz, 160GB pro over the usual macbook.

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 10:57am

The 13 inch is pretty damn powerful, I would only suggest the Pro if you were gonna do some serious work on it day after day. But you'll be surprised with how much the macbook can handle.

xiv on Jul 26 '09 at 10:58am

i have a macbook pro 13in. its a few years old, is basically a 'free rental' from school.... its damn slow.

not sure if the speed has improved much in the past few years on the base model. if it hasnt, i would upgrade.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 10:58am

Or since I'd be saving 100 on the pro with the student discount, I could spend an extra 90 and bump up to a 4 GB RAM. Or instead get a 320 GB Hard Drive.

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 11:00am

To give you an idea, I use a 3G intel Imac (the older one, with only 4gb of memory)

I'll be working on a website and have illustrator, photoshop, flash and dreamweaver open with working files all at the same time while watching a movie in the corner of the screen, and it won't even hiccup.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:01am

What about all the programs it asks me to buy, such as iWork �09, Final Cut Express 4, Microsoft Office?

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 11:03am

maybe get office if your using it for school, I wouldn't worry about iwork and final cut, ilife comes with the mac an has just about everything you need.

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 11:04am

iwork is more for people who own their own business and work from home.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:06am

ohh okay..

so i already have my own 360 gb external hard drive, so i think i'd just upgrade 4gb memory.

cARtOoNer on Jul 26 '09 at 11:07am

dont by a mac. that way youll get more computing power for way less money. problem solved

cARtOoNer on Jul 26 '09 at 11:07am

buy*

tymn on Jul 26 '09 at 11:08am

^ wow

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:10am

but it seems that pc don't help your spelling. i need that help

fatheed on Jul 26 '09 at 11:11am

Get Office and don't worry about anything else

fatheed on Jul 26 '09 at 11:11am

4 GB ram is what I went for

fatheed on Jul 26 '09 at 11:12am

If you're going to be a career designer, get a mac. it's good practice

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:13am

and then get the protection plan as well?

randyotter3000 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:13am

If you're going to be a career designer, get a mac. it's good practice

Like theres reaaally that much difference

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:14am

i'll for sure have a career somewhere in the art field. i'm not sure if it'll be straight set on graphics or anything, but a mac seems better in the situation

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:16am

and i'd really like to get back to an ipod, so the free touch would be cool.

my zunes pretty retarded and messes up alot

elemenopy on Jul 26 '09 at 11:21am

Get a mac. The 13" MacBook pro is pretty slik but you should consider the 15.4" and upgrade to 320 gb hard drive so you can operate at 7200 instead of 5400.

brianm02 on Jul 26 '09 at 11:27am

I don't see the 15 inch option at the store. Should I upgrade to 320 GB HD rather than 4GB memory?

fatheed on Jul 26 '09 at 12:18pm

upgrade from what? I'd go for the 4Gig RAM

elemenopy on Jul 26 '09 at 12:45pm

4gb RAM standard on this machine. here

elemenopy on Jul 26 '09 at 12:47pm

Don't get the standard MacBook. You need the pro. The standard is a multimedia/WP machine. It can't quite handle the Adobe suite. Not quickly or efficiently.

elemenopy on Jul 26 '09 at 12:52pm

Also you can get the Adobe suite for around 500 as a student. From then on you just pay for upgrades.

3 days later

brianm02 on Jul 29 '09 at 10:44pm

added the specs.

alesaurusrex on Jul 29 '09 at 10:50pm

and then get the protection plan as well?

YES! my ibook needed a new logic board after only a year and a half of use. price without apple care: $1500. price with apple care: $0.

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