Hey guys,

Basically I've been looking into getting a new laptop for a while now and my tutor recommended the 13-inch Macbook Pro. However I've never used macs outside of college so I was wondering if anyone could offer any insight on how Macbook's hold up for both work/college and personal use. And whether or not it's plausible to go for an older Macbook pro or even the Macbook air. Below is a list of what it would be used for...

Web Development
iOS Delelopment (Xcode)
Basic Game Development (2D)
Programming
Document Writing

General Personal Use (Browsing the web, checking email)
Basic Audio and Video editing
and possibly some really light gaming (for example Door kickers)

Any advice would be appreciated.


 

I have a 15" MacBook Pro, it is a very awesome machine to say the least.  I've never tried the 13, but I think it would maybe be too small.

 

You'd be installing a copy of Windows on your Mac for gaming purposes so I wouldn't bother with an Apple product at all.

Macs are well built but they're highly proprietary. The 13" MacBook Pro's from a few years ago had 50 screws to get them apart, and the new ones use glue along with the screws. If I may be so bold as to say so; you're doing too much with one computer.

If you're involved in a multimedia degree program involving video or audio editing, I'd use a Mac due to some software that's exclusively for Mac OS. Most students going for those degree programs use Macs. If you're developing web pages or programming, I'd use a PC since you'll likely be programming software for Windows since MacOS to this day has a very low market share.

I would be inclined to agree with unr3al here. Except I'd amend what he said slightly by saying there really is no point to getting a mac beyond status. What can be done on a mac can be done on a pc, so there really is no reason to get one for what you need it for. You can buy a decent looking windows laptop with dedicated graphics for the same price as a mac, even much cheaper than a mac in some cases, that will serve you much better.

You'll get more USB ports too LOL :D

5 minutes ago, unr3al said:

You'd be installing a copy of Windows on your Mac for gaming purposes so I wouldn't bother with an Apple product at all.

Macs are well built but they're highly proprietary. The 13" MacBook Pro's from a few years ago had 50 screws to get them apart, and the new ones use glue along with the screws. If I may be so bold as to say so; you're doing too much with one computer.

If you're involved in a multimedia degree program involving video or audio editing, I'd use a Mac due to some software that's exclusively for Mac OS. Most students going for those degree programs use Macs. If you're developing web pages or programming, I'd use a PC since you'll likely be programming software for Windows since MacOS to this day has a very low market share.

 

6 minutes ago, LukeD said:

I would be inclined to agree with unr3al here. Except I'd amend what he said slightly by saying there really is no point to getting a mac beyond status. What can be done on a mac can be done on a pc, so there really is no reason to get one for what you need it for. You can buy a decent looking windows laptop with dedicated graphics for the same price as a mac, even much cheaper than a mac in some cases, that will serve you much better.

You'll get more USB ports too LOL :D

In terms of gaming it would only be to pass the time when i'm not at home as I have a desktop. Also I do agree with you on being able to do the same thing on a PC that you can do on a mac, however outside of computer fundamentals and Networking my course practically revolves around iOS Development which to my knowledge can only be done using XCode. So if I was to get a windows laptop, do you know of any IDE that could be used for iOS development?

6 minutes ago, QuantumHD said:

In terms of gaming it would only be to pass the time when i'm not at home as I have a desktop. Also I do agree with you on being able to do the same thing on a PC that you can do on a mac, however outside of computer fundamentals and Networking my course practically revolves around iOS Development which to my knowledge can only be done using XCode. So if I was to get a windows laptop, do you know of any IDE that could be used for iOS development?

The time I spent doing any kind of coding and web development was in the days before smart phones were a thing, so I have no idea, sorry. You may have to buy a Mac then and run Windows on it using BootCamp or Parallels or something.

4 minutes ago, unr3al said:

The time I spent doing any kind of coding and web development was in the days before smart phones were a thing, so I have no idea, sorry. You may have to buy a Mac then and run Windows on it using BootCamp or Parallels or something.

If i do find an IDE for windows, then I will definitely consider buying a windows laptop, because as you and LukeD said, I can sure get a lot more for my money with a windows laptop. Plus having more USB ports is always a plus :D

And if I do get a Macbook I will probably dual boot it.

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it.

I have Windows 10 installed on mine and use it almost all of the time.  With Bootcamp you can install Windows and run it as native OS, so the performance is just as it would be if you bought a Windows laptop.  OSX is a nice operating system if you're familiar with how it works and where everything is - it takes a bit of getting used to.  For a lot of creative applications, it actually works really well - for gaming and the lots of applications that only work on Windows out there, not so much.

You can definitely get a lot more for your money if you buy anything other than a MacBook - they are highly overpriced (and it's no secret that part of the price is for the Apple logo on it).  Still, some of the things that the newer MacBook Pros have to offer are really hard to find on any other laptop out there.  The 15" runs at a whopping 2880x1800 resolution and the 13" is still an amazing 2560x1600.  You simply won't find another laptop with that kind of quality in the display.  The Retina display is truly stunning - you have to make up your own mind as to whether or not it is worth it for the price.

Also, all of the current generation models come with SSDs as standard now and with latest gen Intel CPUs and at least 8GB of RAM - these are great specs.  Again, you have to decide if it is worth the money for you.  You will likely be able to find other laptops that meet the specs of the MacBook (excluding the screen - nothing comes close) and are substantially cheaper.

The thing I love about my MacBook though is it is a phenomenally powerful machine (I do have the priciest model though), looks great and is actually really portable.  There's a lot of laptops out there that do two of those three, but very rarely do you get the whole package.  There's more powerful laptops, but they usually look like big bricks and are like carrying a mini PC with you.

I can guarantee that if you do get one though, you'll fall in love with it straight away.

 

1 hour ago, Sam said:

I have Windows 10 installed on mine and use it almost all of the time.  With Bootcamp you can install Windows and run it as native OS, so the performance is just as it would be if you bought a Windows laptop.  OSX is a nice operating system if you're familiar with how it works and where everything is - it takes a bit of getting used to.  For a lot of creative applications, it actually works really well - for gaming and the lots of applications that only work on Windows out there, not so much.

You can definitely get a lot more for your money if you buy anything other than a MacBook - they are highly overpriced (and it's no secret that part of the price is for the Apple logo on it).  Still, some of the things that the newer MacBook Pros have to offer are really hard to find on any other laptop out there.  The 15" runs at a whopping 2880x1800 resolution and the 13" is still an amazing 2560x1600.  You simply won't find another laptop with that kind of quality in the display.  The Retina display is truly stunning - you have to make up your own mind as to whether or not it is worth it for the price.

Also, all of the current generation models come with SSDs as standard now and with latest gen Intel CPUs and at least 8GB of RAM - these are great specs.  Again, you have to decide if it is worth the money for you.  You will likely be able to find other laptops that meet the specs of the MacBook (excluding the screen - nothing comes close) and are substantially cheaper.

The thing I love about my MacBook though is it is a phenomenally powerful machine (I do have the priciest model though), looks great and is actually really portable.  There's a lot of laptops out there that do two of those three, but very rarely do you get the whole package.  There's more powerful laptops, but they usually look like big bricks and are like carrying a mini PC with you.

I can guarantee that if you do get one though, you'll fall in love with it straight away.

 

On paper the Macbook Pro is everything I could want from a laptop, with the trackpad, i5 processor, SSD ect. And after briefly using my tutors' 15" Macbook Pro to finish something for a competition I just REALLY wanted one. However before I committed to buying one I wanted to see whether or not people thought they were worth it or if I should just get a laptop. But you have said the same thing my tutor said,  "I can guarantee that if you do get one, you'll fall in love with it straight away." and as for windows I have my main PC.

So i'm going to go to the Apple store tomorrow (Or should I say today :D) to take a look at them. But I think I will buy one. It's about time I treat myself to something shiny. 

Edited January 2, 201610 yr by QuantumHD
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37 minutes ago, QuantumHD said:

On paper the Macbook Pro is everything I could want from a laptop, with the trackpad, i5 processor, SSD ect. And after briefly using my tutors' 15" Macbook Pro to finish something for a competition I just REALLY wanted one. However before I committed to buying one I wanted to see whether or not people thought they were worth it or if I should just get a laptop. But you have said the same thing my tutor said,  "I can guarantee that if you do get one, you'll fall in love with it straight away." and as for windows I have my main PC.

So i'm going to go to the Apple store tomorrow (Or should I say today :D) to take a look at them. But I think I will buy one. It's about time I treat myself to something shiny. 

FYI The Core i5's are dual cores, or at least they always have been up until the last couple of years. I haven't sold or repaired computers for a while. Your only shot at getting a quad core is buying the most expensive or 2nd most expensive Pro's. They have quad core i7's at a couple of different clock speeds.

28 minutes ago, unr3al said:

FYI The Core i5's are dual cores, or at least they always have been up until the last couple of years. I haven't sold or repaired computers for a while. Your only shot at getting a quad core is buying the most expensive or 2nd most expensive Pro's. They have quad core i7's at a couple of different clock speeds.

Yes, but to be honest I don't think I really need a quad-core i7. As I said it's main use will be development and I don't think my flappy bird clones will be that resource hungry :D. Other than for faster video rendering I think an i7 would be overkill. I have an i5 in my main computer and it runs great.

But your desktop processor would be quad core, explaining why it's so fast.

I have a i5-4690k and its quad core and runs perfectly fine and havent found anything it has had a problem with for the past year I have had it installed. I think the i5's are very good cpus for the money.

6 hours ago, QuantumHD said:

Yes, but to be honest I don't think I really need a quad-core i7. As I said it's main use will be development and I don't think my flappy bird clones will be that resource hungry :D. Other than for faster video rendering I think an i7 would be overkill. I have an i5 in my main computer and it runs great.

Desktop i5's are quad core, that's why it runs "great". I sold and repaired PCs and Macs for years. I can tell you from experience; buying an i5 Macbook is like buying a $600 PC and shoving an SSD in it before gluing it shut. The laptop i5 chip is a dual core i3 with slightly higher clock speed (sometimes) and hyperthreading. Dual cores were introduced back around 2005/2006. It's 2016, get a quad core if you want to keep this thing long term, especially since we're not talking about a desktop you can upgrade.

3 hours ago, ztgraphix said:

I have a i5-4690k and its quad core and runs perfectly fine and havent found anything it has had a problem with for the past year I have had it installed. I think the i5's are very good cpus for the money.

Laptop i5's are dual cores.

9 hours ago, unr3al said:

Desktop i5's are quad core, that's why it runs "great". I sold and repaired PCs and Macs for years. I can tell you from experience; buying an i5 Macbook is like buying a $600 PC and shoving an SSD in it before gluing it shut. The laptop i5 chip is a dual core i3 with slightly higher clock speed (sometimes) and hyperthreading. Dual cores were introduced back around 2005/2006. It's 2016, get a quad core if you want to keep this thing long term, especially since we're not talking about a desktop you can upgrade.

Laptop i5's are dual cores.

Well I learned something new today! I did not know they differ from a desktop i5! Great piece of info!