Re: OT: Any Mac Geniuses on the List who can advise on a Mac…

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Author: Mark Phillips
Date:  
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: OT: Any Mac Geniuses on the List who can advise on a Mac for Christmas?
Thanks for all the great input - especially the refurbished Mac stores!

A more technical question - am I correct is assuming she needs 16 GB of RAM
and a quad core i7 processor to edit 60 minutes of video footage? Or, is
this over kill?

Thanks!

Mark

On Thu, Nov 30, 2017 at 7:27 AM, Stephen Partington <>
wrote:

> The 15-inch MBP's have Radeon 555 or 560 graphics with either 2 or 4GB.
> and the iMac Pro comes with Radeon Vega Pro based graphics and all the
> horsepower (and then some) the Mac Pro came with. My guess they will use
> that as the basis for either replacing the Mac Pro or setting its place.
>
> On Thu, Nov 30, 2017 at 7:12 AM, Aaron Jones <> wrote:
>
>> The new mac pro isn’t really pro any more. If she needs a gpu, they are
>> phasing them out right now. So video editing and rendering is all processor
>> based now.
>>
>> Citation : my work just bought me a macbook pro three days ago and it has
>> no gpu and no pro had a gpu as an available option.
>>
>> On Nov 30, 2017, at 7:08 AM, Stephen Partington <>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Getting a machine with a Spinning Disk is an easy upgrade to SSD for less
>> than the apple price difference.
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 29, 2017 at 11:49 PM, David Schwartz <
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> I’ve been using Macs regularly since I got a 27” iMac back in 2006.
>>>
>>> I’ve had a few Mac Minis, and both them and the old white iMacs could be
>>> opened up (with a little effort) and upgraded.
>>>
>>> Newer stuff is much harder to crack open, although I’m told MBPs can be
>>> upgraded without much trouble by removing their bottom (with the right
>>> screwdriver).
>>>
>>> Personally, I like to buy equipment that’s slightly behind the leading
>>> edge, preferably refurbished, or “nearly new”.
>>>
>>> All MBPs seem tocome now with: quad-core i7, 16GB RAM, and SSDs.
>>>
>>> The variations are: CPU speed, SSD size, and GPU.
>>>
>>> Here’s a tip: you’re going to find the best deals on Apple stuff between
>>> Christmas and around the 5th or so of January on eBay.
>>>
>>> College kids who’ve gotten something the previous semester on a student
>>> discount suddenly have to leave school, or they need to sell their machine
>>> to help pay for school, or something.
>>>
>>> Look for a machine with a “bottom-end” (today) CPU (eg., 2.6GHz i7), 1TB
>>> SSD, and a “bottom-end” GPU, with AppleCare.
>>>
>>> The MSRP on MBPs like this online or at the Apple Store will be around
>>> $3400. If you’re patient, it’s extremly likely you’ll be able to find one
>>> on eBay during this time for $2k give or take a couple hundred, because
>>> these folks just want to pay off the balance they owe after a semester of
>>> use.
>>>
>>> You can also keep your eye on the Apple Refurbished store online.
>>>
>>> https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
>>> <https://u2206659.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=3cK2FVJjyu2N-2Bxco034fZhkcNOiartu8q1tF5gHJ5EbRa-2BAQuAXC53h0paxl2KQ9RwS0uK1It2N1YkjSlQInhw-3D-3D_6lpMB7VLnN-2Fj9-2FEErg8-2F-2BMBpb5QxlByTgv2M3fbWD9ebvC-2BWrN3h7jImK8EVWYBeIewqeHOfkg3lN40c4PHrtKSaOMWpP34rNV2OuUg4h2-2B2rrG9VXZs8PPAb-2BH9nA8LIlcUk4iVdJD8lMEOKYoXZspNisAqzLcbIyWB7ebjsGTHD70fR7t7-2BNBChCsSfBagmiYMfyGzMSFgopGzgUrFs4XkU1WxNAzOSGgaTZ-2F9NXU-3D>
>>>
>>> In this case, get a machine that was released 12-18 months ago. You get
>>> a full warranty, you can buy AppleCare, and it’s 15-25% off the original
>>> price.
>>>
>>> Just because someone doesn’t think they need a laptop for its
>>> portability is no reason to avoid them. I keep my 15” MBP sitting on my
>>> desk closed most of the time. I have it connected to a 55” 4k monitor, and
>>> I use an Apple keyboard, Apple trackpad, and a Logitech USB mouse with it.
>>>
>>> Even if money were no object, I’d be hardpressed to think of a better
>>> setup. Maybe a Mac Pro. But I like being able to unplug my MBP and take it
>>> with me any time I might want it.
>>>
>>> BTW, regarding Mac hardware, the biggest two factors in price when it
>>> comes to their machines is: SSD size and CPU speed.
>>>
>>> On the refurb store, 13” MBPs start at $829 with a spinning HD, and
>>> those with SSDs start at $1100. The top-of-the-line 15” is $3569. So
>>> there’s a model for almost any budget!
>>>
>>> -David Schwartz
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Nov 29, 2017, at 8:43 PM, Mark Phillips <>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> It is time to upgrade my daughter's 2009 Macbook Pro. She does not need
>>> the portability of a laptop as she uses her iPad for that. He home use is
>>> not that demanding, except that she loves to edit her diving and vacation
>>> movies. She could use a Mac mini, as she has a 23" monitor, apple keyboard,
>>> and apple mouse. However, I am not sure there is enough RAM and horsepower
>>> in a Mac mini, so I have been looking at iMacs as well.
>>>
>>> My assumptions are she needs at least 16 GB of RAM and a quad core i7
>>> for serious video editing (around an hour of 1080p 60 Hz. video when
>>> rendered). Which puts us up around $1400+. Are my assumptions correct, or
>>> off base? What should we be looking at?
>>>
>>> She was a Linux user when she was younger, but then they grow up, go to
>>> college, get a job, get married, and think they know everything....;) (she
>>> ditched Linux in college)
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Mark
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>>> <https://u2206659.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=5DvWGaZUY8Sh5aRLWfQTKYiRLVzunonVk948p8WIzMe-2FXlJ9Cta8w8U9xoku9LrUSHNMJbSd3ZEwH-2BqnW2UHlA-3D-3D_6lpMB7VLnN-2Fj9-2FEErg8-2F-2BMBpb5QxlByTgv2M3fbWD9ebvC-2BWrN3h7jImK8EVWYBeIewqeHOfkg3lN40c4PHrtPoE4FBnLWnmHp7o9Z-2B7MN50I983RYWa75rkZ8gLpA-2BbRD-2BiQuPXp9d4i2swJ5tFIO3qBKUGYw2-2BeHbx2mELzaQrjZqiXp3YktNgwGJV0VkObueAO9tGhXdmkZ08qh6fC9n-2FoNWRRJg5xR77ujBPnlA-3D>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
>> rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
>>
>> Stephen
>>
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>>
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>
>
>
> --
> A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
> rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
>
> Stephen
>
>
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