Advice on purchasing a Mac Laptop....please.

Dinarius · 06-10-2016 04:38PM #1

I am considering buying a Mac laptop. I have never owned a Mac.

The laptop would be used only for image capture (still photographs) direct to camera (via Thunderbolt/FireWire adapter) on location.

The minimum specs of the laptop are here> http://static.hasselblad.com/2016/09/Phocus-3.0.4-Mac-read-me.pdf

Ideally, I would like to buy second-hand.

It will have to have 8Gb RAM. After that..............?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

D.

Paulw · 06-10-2016 05:13PM

Apple will be releasing new laptops this month, so hold off buying right now, if you can.

When the new specs are released, you may get a deal on the older models.

crashplan · 06-10-2016 05:16PM

Or you could purchase a refurbished model so you will get an apple warranty.

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Dinarius · 06-10-2016 05:23PM

crashplan wrote: »

Or you could purchase a refurbished model so you will get an apple warranty.

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Thanks guys.

Yes, I had a look at that site.

What do you think of this> http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/product/G0RL0B/A/refurbished-116-inch-macbook-air-16ghz-dual-core-intel-core-i5

Thanks.

D.

magooly · 07-10-2016 03:16PM

Sterling just hit 90p against the Euro, pick one up in Belfast MacStore.

Dinarius · 07-10-2016 03:27PM

magooly wrote: »

Sterling just hit 90p against the Euro, pick one up in Belfast MacStore.

Now there's a thought!

Thanks.

D.

Doodah7 · 07-10-2016 03:48PM

Better again: buy a refurbed Mac off the Apple UK site and collect it in the Belfast store!!

Dinarius · 08-10-2016 10:22AM

One thing is....I get the VAT back.

Not sure how that effects a purchase in Belfast of UK.

D.

Royale with Cheese · 08-10-2016 03:29PM

I believe the only place to pay in sterling and still be able to reclaim VAT from the Irish revenue is Amazon (off Amazon themselves, not some third party seller). The problem with this is that amazon don't appear to offer many configurations. I wanted a macbook air with the upgraded i7 processor and they just don't sell them.

Losty Dublin · 09-10-2016 01:51AM

tallpaul wrote: »

Better again: buy a refurbed Mac off the Apple UK site and collect it in the Belfast store!!

Until recently the money he'd spend to get up to and from Belfast and back to collect it would almost wipe out the difference in price. Now you'd almost save buying an Apple TV in this way

Dinarius · 28-10-2016 05:20PM

Ok, so the new MacBook Pros were announced http://www.apple.com/ie/macbook-pro/ today.

I've been keeping an eye on the prices of the refurbed laptops. Nothing has changed yet. Still the same.

Here are four I would consider.

Which is the best overall value?

Which has the most grunt? (Though, bearing in mind that this is strictly for capture and not processing, grunt isn't that important.)

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/product/G0QM0B/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/product/FF839B/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/product/G0RL1B/A/refurbished-116-inch-macbook-air-16ghz-dual-core-intel-core-i5

http://www.apple.com/ie/shop/product/G0NY2B/A/refurbished-116-inch-macbook-air-17ghz-dual-core-intel-core-i7

Many thanks.

D.

Dinarius · 28-10-2016 05:53PM

Interesting pricing at Curry's too.

http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/apple-macbook-air-133/331199/396.1.2#details

D.

Dinarius · 31-10-2016 10:13AM

Hhhhmmm......

Of the 4 refurbs I posted links to above, three(!) are now "out of stock".

He who hesitates....

D.

whiterebel · 31-10-2016 10:21AM

HN were doing the same MBP as one of the ones you had above, brand new with a 2 year warranty for €50-80 more.

Dinarius · 31-10-2016 11:13AM

whiterebel wrote: »

HN were doing the same MBP as one of the ones you had above, brand new with a 2 year warranty for €50-80 more.

Whiterebel,

Thanks for the headsup.

Either of these might do.

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/apple/macbook/macbook-air-13-mmgf2b-a.html

http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/apple/macbook/macbook-pro-with-retina-display-13-mf839b-a.html

D.

Sad Professor · 31-10-2016 11:21AM

Forget the Air, I wouldn't be getting anything without a Retina display at this stage.

Dinarius · 31-10-2016 11:43AM

Thanks.

Bearing in mind the use I'll be putting it to (image capture on location), unless someone can persuade me otherwise, the Pro it is.

D.

Dinarius · 31-10-2016 01:44PM

Bought it!

I am no longer a Mac virgin! &#55357;&#56846;

Thanks to all.

D.

Ps. Now to work out how to use the bloody thin!

Sad Professor · 31-10-2016 01:46PM

Dinarius wrote: »

Bought it!

I am no longer a Mac virgin! ��

Thanks to all.

D.

Ps. Now to work out how to use the bloody thin!

When you get it start a thread with any questions you have.

Advice on purchasing a Mac Laptop....please.

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