Mac questions from a new Apple convert

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks, Minuous! My only choices really are a 13" Macbook or the mini, so I don't know how it will turn out. My plan is to watch the sales on Friday and see what the best deal is. The computer that would have everything I want is a 15" Macbook Pro, but I am just not at the point of spending $2k+ for a laptop!

Another route to consider is refurbished Apple products. Cosmetic appearance is as good as new and they come with 1 year warranties. The offerings change, but right now you can get a 15" Macbook Pro for less than $1400. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/15

While I've not bought a refurbished product, everyone I know who has hasn't had any problems at all.

Thanks! I will take a look at this!

 

[marcy]

Diamondseeker, I hope Apple has some great deals for you on Black Friday! I've had quite a few laptops - 15" Sony, 15" Toshiba, 13" Sony and 13" Dell - I thought I'd hate having a smaller laptop but I love it. The first Mac laptop I got was the 13" MacAir. My husband started to travel a lot for work so he mentioned getting a MacAir for travel. When a newer version MacAir came out I kind of wanted the 11" so I suggested we buy that for me and he take over my 13". At first I kind of missed the larger size but when I use his laptop now it seems huge. I know Dell and HP are quite a bit cheaper but when I was buying them I wanted to replace them in a year because they started to slow down, crash programs, etc. I also find it kind of funny my MacAir is lighter than my iPad. (I have the now obsolete "new iPad" gen 3).

Happy Shopping!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Marcy, I am almost leaning toward the 13" Mac Air so I don't have to buy all those components!. I also have the 3rd iPad which I bought just before they changed the dang charger connector! I am sure I will end up passing along my iPad to a child in the next year so I can have one charger for both my phone and iPad! I have never looked at the weight of my iPad, but it is hard to believe the MacAir weighs less than the iPad! I feel pressured to buy a new computer because my teenager needs another one, and I think the child should get my current one and I will get the new one! (She'll get a new one for herself when she graduates, though!)

My Dells have lasted pretty well and since they didn't cost a lot, I could get new ones every 2-3 years. That is what scares me a little about the Macs...I'd need to keep them longer since they cost so much more up front!

 

[Enerchi]

I wouldn't worry about the upfront cost of the mac's... they last and last and last! They are well made and good quality and you'll get a lot longer use from them than 2 - 3 years. My oldest has had his macbook for 6 (or is it 7?) years and runs perfectly. 2nd has his macbook about 5 with no issues. My macbook is about 4 years and other than upgrading to more memory, no problems at all!!! I think both the boys also had purchased theirs from the refurbished site on apple.com.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yikes, their refurbished models are only around 15% off! I think I'd rather buy new for the small amount of difference.

I think the Apple people are smart, though. Once you get into the iPhones and iPads, it only makes sense to move on into their computers. And especially since Windows 8 is out and requires a learning curve...may as well move on to the Macs (other than the steep price!).

 

[Enerchi]

Yikes, their refurbished models are only around 15% off! I think I'd rather buy new for the small amount of difference.

I think the Apple people are smart, though. Once you get into the iPhones and iPads, it only makes sense to move on into their computers. And especially since Windows 8 is out and requires a learning curve...may as well move on to the Macs (other than the steep price!).

Woo hoo!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of Mac computers!!! You'll find them so intuitive to use - minimal learning curve and you are up and running - excited to learn which one you pick! (My DH is also proud of you!! )

 

[ame]

I am all Mac and I love it.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ok. I had to drop in to tell y'all this. I am at my in-laws and my two nieces who are in their early 20's are here. We were sitting around tonight and one brought out her MacBook Pro! I said, "What perfect timing because I am thinking about buying one if any are on sale tomorrow!" Then the other niece said that she brought here, too! So I was able to compare a 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro! I am open to either size, really. I just need to compare specs with the Airs again to see which might be better for me.

 

[Enerchi]

Do you store photos on your computer? There is not a lot of storage space on the Airs. They have flash drives so super fast but little storage. For the 128 gb which would be perfect for surfing and email, it runs about $1300 for the 13". They only come in 11" & 13"

The MacBook pros will give speed and storage - nothing you'd notice a difference on if surfing and email is your thing. Pricing is similar.

DH says for his needs, he'd go MacBook Pro but if he was picking for me and I am also like you w my laptop usage, the air would be sufficient (but can't store a TON of pics)

 

[marcy]

Diamondseeker, I am glad you got a chance to compare some MacBook Pros. Our 13" MacAir is heavier than my iPad but the 11" is not. They are actually pretty close in weight but the Air always seems a bit lighter when I pick it up after using my iPad for awhile. I really liked the Pros when we were looking but I decided to go with a light weight laptop. I agree with you on the charger. I upgraded my phone to the iPhone 5 and sure wish it worked in my car and with my iPad charger. I keep thinking of buying a converter but since I rarely need to charge my phone other than at night I haven't bother yet.

Happy Shopping! I will be anxious to see what you get.

 

[Enerchi]

apple is advertising black friday specials --- VERY EXCITING! Eager to learn what you pick, DS!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Well, the MacBooks are $101 off! Not a big discount by any means! But I will take it!

Enerchi, I also read not to get the air with 128gb of flash storage. I do keep pictures on my main computer so I have to have more memory than that.

Marcy, I think the air is perfect for people who want their laptop to be portable, but I am now thinking that the pro is a better desktop replacement. The killer is the difference in price between the 13 and 15 inch models and that us where I am still undecided!

 

[Missy]

DS I have a 13 inch macbook pro and it is plenty big for me. Have you gone to the apple store to play around with the different size screens to get an idea which size would work best for you?

 

[marcy]

Diamondseeker, I checked their discounted prices when we got up. Agreed that its not a lot but every bit helps. The company I work for gets a small discount with Apple which usually covers the tax for us. I think you will love the pro. My 11" Air doesn't even have a SD card reader so I have to use all sorts of external stuff. That is kind of a pain. I can't wait to see what you get.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Missy, amazingly, we were at our in-laws and my two nieces had their 13 and 15 inch MacBooks with them! They both look great to me! I am glad to know you are happy with the 13"! Is that your main computer?

Marcy, good point about the pro and slots, dvd rom, etc. I may rarely need them but they are there if I do. Lucky you to get a discount!

 

[Missy]

Missy, amazingly, we were at our in-laws and my two nieces had their 13 and 15 inch MacBooks with them! They both look great to me! I am glad to know you are happy with the 13"! Is that your main computer?

Marcy, good point about the pro and slots, dvd rom, etc. I may rarely need them but they are there if I do. Lucky you to get a discount!

Yes, my one and only! I didn't start using computers till 2006 (I know I know-I'm really late to the technologically savvy party lol) and my first was an IBM thinkpad and 3 years later I was getting frustrated with how often I had to reboot the IBM and my dh convinced me to get an apple laptop so I did. In fact, I got one before he did. He had only ever used a PC before I got my macbook. And that is the one I am currently using now. The 13 inch macbook pro. I love it. Though mine is getting a bit wonky (I am not good with tech stuff and so destroy every technological device I use somehow-maybe it's my electrical energy field or something ) so I am going to take my dh's macbook pro since he recently got a slightly different one and he is going to take mine into the apple store to see if they can fix what I did to it.
Figures because our apple care agreement ran out last month (3rd year).

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Missy, I usually don't get those warranties since things almost always happen after they run out! That is good your hubby can let you have his! I found the laptops at Best Buy for $50 less than the Apple sale, so I may get one there instead. My only hesitation now is that some of the reviews I have read said it is about time for the MBP's to be updated so I am a little afraid that they may have a major redesign next year and I maybe should wait a year. I could keep my current computer one more year and just buy my daughter an inexpensive one instead. But I have to decide tomorrow since that is the last day of the BB sale.

 

[marcy]

Diamondseeker, I don't miss having a DVD player but I do miss having an SD slot. We bought a little USB SD card reader and it works fine. I usually only need one now and then but we are having a house built so I have been taking a lot of pictures. As luck would have it neither of my Canon point and shoots will work with the camera cable and Mac so I always have to pull out my SD card. I am used to it by now though. We bought the Apple external DVD / CD and that works well. I went and looked over the specs for the MacBook Pro and I think you'll really like it. Are you getting one with the retinal display?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Marcy, are you saying that the Canon wires won't plug into the Mac? Because I have that, too.

I can't bear the prices on the ones with retina displays. I guess my iPad has that and I am probably not that aware of how much better it is than the current Dell laptop, so I may as well not pay extra for that! In any event, those aren't on sale at Best Buy, so I am kind of eliminating those. I have been reading a lot (in between family gatherings) in order to try to figure out what specs I need. I feel like I am rushing to make a decision just to save a little money, but I really hate buying things full price!

 

[minousbijoux]

I don't know if you've bought yet, but if you do buy a Mac (hope you do), I think it would be a good idea to get Apple Care. I have just about always had to use it - whether its on chargers, or broken track pads (whatever they're called), etc.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I don't know if you've bought yet, but if you do buy a Mac (hope you do), I think it would be a good idea to get Apple Care. I have just about always had to use it - whether its on chargers, or broken track pads (whatever they're called), etc.

Do Apple computers have a lot of problems in the first three years? I honestly have never had a repair on my Dell's in the first three years (or ever, really), so I very much hate to waste $249 on top of a computer that is already at least double the price of a Dell!

 

[minousbijoux]

I know how you feel. I can only tell you that Murphy's Law is alive and well in my household so it seems that the few times I've not gotten warranties is when things break, so now I just get warranties to hedge my bets. Of the Apple products we've had (not including ipods which would break all the time), we've had to use the protection on 2 out of 5 of the computers, but consider that two are operated by teenage boys

 

[minousbijoux]

Now I have a question for you though: I thought Apple products were only covered for one year unless you bought Apple Care. Have they changed that now?

 

[Missy]

Now I have a question for you though: I thought Apple products were only covered for one year unless you bought Apple Care. Have they changed that now?

That's right. That's why we bought the apple care with each computer. I have used it twice. Apple is good but occasionally their products need fixing. I like to hedge my bets as well and since it isn't cheap (and was more expensive 3 years ago) we thought it best to suck it up and pay for the 3 year warranty.





DS I'm like you, and don't usually pay for the extra warranty but when it's something I use frequently and has a decent chance of breaking down (remember-I have this screwy electric field or something lol) I figure it's worth it. I am not at all good with technical stuff and while my dh he cannot fix everything so for me it was worth it.

My dh loves the retina display on his new apple. It's really nice.

 

[zoebartlett]

DS, you might already know this but you can get a teacher discount. I would imagine you need to show your teacher ID or some type of paperwork, but it would help bring down the cost even more.

http://store.apple.com/us-hed/findyourschool

I'd call your local Apple store to find out more about it just in case your school isn't already on the list.

ETA: And if you end up buying at Best Buy, they have an educator discount, too.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Okay, I am thinking I may have to do the Apple Care after reading more on that.

Zoe, thanks! I am not teaching fulltime now (just privately tutoring) but my daughter is, so I may be able to just have her buy the computer for me if that discount turns out to be greater. The only thing is, the BB sale ends after today, so I have to figure this out pretty soon!

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

My daughter just received a Mac Air from the new school that she will be attending next year. They hand them out before the holidays so they have time to familiarize themselves with them. We decided that she is going to complete her end of year school project using the laptop so she can get some real practice.

It's going to be a bit of a learning curve! (and slow going on the project!) tonight I had to google 'how to right click a photo' and 'how to scroll down the page'. All I can say is thank goodness for google because I don't think I would have figured either out on my own!

 

[Enerchi]

Hi DS, Just wondering if you made a purchase - which did you go for? My DH was asking about you!!

 

[ame]

*ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS* buy Applecare, whether you think you will need it or not. I had a hard drive fail on one machine, and managed to break a screen on another within the first 6 months on one and year and a half on the other and without applecare....I would have been up a creek

 

[marcy]

Marcy, are you saying that the Canon wires won't plug into the Mac? Because I have that, too.

I can't bear the prices on the ones with retina displays. I guess my iPad has that and I am probably not that aware of how much better it is than the current Dell laptop, so I may as well not pay extra for that! In any event, those aren't on sale at Best Buy, so I am kind of eliminating those. I have been reading a lot (in between family gatherings) in order to try to figure out what specs I need. I feel like I am rushing to make a decision just to save a little money, but I really hate buying things full price!

I have 2 different Canon Sure shots and the cord between the camera and USB port won't work. I checked for drivers and finally found the Macs won't read the photos directly that way to see it as an external drive. Canon cameras do come with software for viewing and importing photos that seems to work but I like to just browse through my images and open the ones I want in Photoshop Elements. I just remove my SD and look at my images that way.