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Second hand Mac or new laptop?

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  • 24-10-2014 3:43pm
    #1
    Whatsisname
    Registered Users Posts: 5,654 ✭✭✭


    Hello hello,

    I don't plan on this to be a mac vs windows thread so thats not what I'm getting at!

    Anyway, I'm a student graphic designer and we're encouraged to get mac's if we can for college, unfortunately I'm in no position to be able to afford a brand new one but I was looking at a few 2nd hand ones and it may be manageable.

    Now, I'm no tech expert, all I really know about are operating systems, ram and hard drive sizes, processors and that I wouldnt be very knowledgeable. So I've noticed the macbooks I've looked at are mostly 4GB RAM whereas brand new laptops I was looking at were 8GB with 1TB hard drive space.

    So I'm not sure which would be a better purchase. I'd prefer a macbook for personal reasons and I do most of my work on the college macs so I'd be used to working on them more than windows.

    Any help on what to do or even any recommendations on what specs I should really look out for would be greatful!


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    #2
    Kavrocks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭Kavrocks


    I have a Mac, I'm a long time user of both Windows and Linux too and I'm looking to purchase a new laptop running Windows and then run Linux in a VM. There are benefits to each operating system and that should factor in heavily to what you decide to purchase. I would nearly put more weight on the operating system than the specs.

    If you buy a second hand Mac it won't run as well as a brand new laptop (providing similar specs). You can revive it by installing more RAM, an SSD (if it has a HDD) and giving it a good clean (fan included). However, you won't be able to upgrade the processor (easily). If you decide to go down the Mac route make sure you purchase one that does allow you to install new RAM and possibly a new hard drive. Refurbished models will more than likely have the cleaning I mentioned already done so one less thing to worry about.

    Another thing to consider, most students get a 15% discount on Mac's from Apple.


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    #3
    Whatsisname
    Registered Users Posts: 5,654 ✭✭✭Whatsisname


    Kavrocks wrote: »
    I have a Mac, I'm a long time user of both Windows and Linux too and I'm looking to purchase a new laptop running Windows and then run Linux in a VM. There are benefits to each operating system and that should factor in heavily to what you decide to purchase. I would nearly put more weight on the operating system than the specs.

    If you buy a second hand Mac it won't run as well as a brand new laptop (providing similar specs). You can revive it by installing more RAM, an SSD (if it has a HDD) and giving it a good clean (fan included). However, you won't be able to upgrade the processor (easily). If you decide to go down the Mac route make sure you purchase one that does allow you to install new RAM and possibly a new hard drive. Refurbished models will more than likely have the cleaning I mentioned already done so one less thing to worry about.

    Another thing to consider, most students get a 15% discount on Mac's from Apple.

    I've never actually used Linux, would you recommend it? do you need anything to run it well?

    Another option I guess would be to get a windows laptop and then just bump up the RAM and get an SSD and it'd still probably work out cheaper than a Mac.

    I'll have a look at the refurbished ones on their site and see, I'll more than likely end up with a windows laptop come christmas though but thanks very much for your help!


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    #4
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    I would go with a new laptop.

    Nothing wrong with Mac's but they hold their resale value pretty well, so whatever you get for a certain fee will be nowhere near as fast as a new windows based laptop for the same price.

    Basic MacBook pro starts at 1149 - an equivalent Windows Laptop of the same processing power would be about €450-500. (obviously, the Macbook has other things going for it like build quality, software, battery life - but just to give you an idea). If fact you could get a quad core i7 laptop with an SSD, 8GB of ram and a powerful dedicated card for a couple of hundred less than the Macbook Pro and it would absolutely wallop it performance wise.

    If you really want a 2nd hand Mac that's fine and as mentioned if you add an SSD it'll really help, but you'll have to accept that you'll end up with a much slower machine in general (and have no warranty).

    Don't know how intensive your software is but that's another thing worth considering.

    Just don't think Mac's are a thing someone should be looking at with a small budget really!


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    #5
    Kavrocks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭Kavrocks


    Whatsisname wrote: »
    I've never actually used Linux, would you recommend it? do you need anything to run it well?
    I'd recommend a variant of it for specific people with a specific need. Running Linux natively or in a VM both have different requirements and depend heavily on which variant you are going to run.

    Just to add to the other poster, Mac's hold their resale value much too strongly than they should. However, I am always very wary of people comparing a run of the mill Windows laptop to a Mac as has been done. Comparing like with like there is not as high a price difference as people make it out to be.


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    #6
    Whatsisname
    Registered Users Posts: 5,654 ✭✭✭Whatsisname


    Yeah I think you've both convinced me that a new laptop is the way to go! Really appreciate the help.

    This is one of the main ones I had my eye on

    http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/hp-15g092sa-156-laptop-black/318132/104.12

    The main uses I'd have for it is running photoshop, illustrator, indesign, after effects etc
    iTunes/Spotify
    Internet browsing
    Netflix/streaming

    I'm not sure if it would suit my needs.

    There is another one the same price with half the RAM and half the HD space but with a i3 processor?

    http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/hp-pavilion-15p086sa-156-laptop-blue/318125/104.12


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    #7
    Kavrocks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭Kavrocks


    Whatsisname wrote: »
    There is another one the same price with half the RAM and half the HD space but with a i3 processor?
    AMD is Quad Core, i3 is Dual Core. Not many reasons to choose the i3 version.


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    #8
    phelixoflaherty
    Registered Users Posts: 1,436 ✭✭✭phelixoflaherty


    Personally I wouldn't deal with PC world or such like.

    If anything goes wrong you just get sucked into a very slow repair process.


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    #9
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    They're also not great value for money.

    Pcspecialist.co.uk will customise a laptop for you at a decent price, so you can build a laptop to your exact specifications.

    Or else, try Amazon, saveonlaptops.co.uk, etc.


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    #10
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    What applications do you need to run? Surely this is the biggest thing you need to consider? And what budget do you have?


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    #11
    Whatsisname
    Registered Users Posts: 5,654 ✭✭✭Whatsisname


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    What applications do you need to run? Surely this is the biggest thing you need to consider? And what budget do you have?

    It is, thats what I'm worried most about, cause I don't want my laptop struggling along if I've two or more open.

    The main uses I'd have for it is running photoshop, illustrator, indesign, after effects etc
    iTunes/Spotify
    Internet browsing
    Netflix/streaming.

    And with it being used alot for designing, I'd like a decent quality screen.

    Between 450-600 ideally.

    I looked on amazon at the HP Pavilion I already linked from PC World and it was €100 cheaper. Crazy!


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    #12
    Alanstrainor
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 23,157 Mod ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    Whatsisname wrote: »
    It is, thats what I'm worried most about, cause I don't want my laptop struggling along if I've two or more open.

    The main uses I'd have for it is running photoshop, illustrator, indesign, after effects etc
    iTunes/Spotify
    Internet browsing
    Netflix/streaming.

    And with it being used alot for designing, I'd like a decent quality screen.

    Between 450-600 ideally.

    I looked on amazon at the HP Pavilion I already linked from PC World and it was €100 cheaper. Crazy!

    None of those applications need a Mac. And to be honest, a Mac second hand at that price, will be years old and not up to it imo. I would be looking for the best Windows based laptop for your budget, and would spend that little bit more if this is something you'll hope to use for years to come.


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    #13
    Pov06
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭Pov06


    http://pcspecialist.co.uk


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    #14
    Whatsisname
    Registered Users Posts: 5,654 ✭✭✭Whatsisname


    Pov06 wrote: »
    http://pcspecialist.co.uk

    I had a look at that, liked the idea of having something kinda personalised if you get me, quite expensive though compared to what I've been looking at already. Is there any other sites that do anything similar to this?


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    #15
    Pov06
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭Pov06


    Whatsisname wrote: »
    I had a look at that, liked the idea of having something kinda personalised if you get me, quite expensive though compared to what I've been looking at already. Is there any other sites that do anything similar to this?

    That site is really the cheapest you'll get for a high-end laptop. I built a laptop there a year ago for 900 euro. There was a slightly lower spec laptop that was the closest to this in PCWorld costing 1,400 euro.


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