<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">I’ve been using Macs regularly since I got a 27” iMac back in 2006.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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).</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Personally, I like to buy equipment that’s slightly behind the leading edge, preferably refurbished, or “nearly new”.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">All MBPs seem tocome now with: quad-core i7, 16GB RAM, and SSDs.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The variations are: CPU speed, SSD size, and GPU.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Look for a machine with a “bottom-end” (today) CPU (eg., 2.6GHz i7), 1TB SSD, and a “bottom-end” GPU, with AppleCare.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">You can also keep your eye on the Apple Refurbished store online.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://u2206659.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=3cK2FVJjyu2N-2Bxco034fZhkcNOiartu8q1tF5gHJ5EbRa-2BAQuAXC53h0paxl2KQ9RwS0uK1It2N1YkjSlQInhw-3D-3D_6lpMB7VLnN-2Fj9-2FEErg8-2F-2BMBpb5QxlByTgv2M3fbWD9ebvC-2BWrN3h7jImK8EVWYBeIewqeHOfkg3lN40c4PHrtKSaOMWpP34rNV2OuUg4h2-2B2rrG9VXZs8PPAb-2BH9nA8LIlcUk4iVdJD8lMEOKYoXZspNisAqzLcbIyWB7ebjsGTHD70fR7t7-2BNBChCsSfBagmiYMfyGzMSFgopGzgUrFs4XkU1WxNAzOSGgaTZ-2F9NXU-3D" class="">https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">BTW, regarding Mac hardware, the biggest two factors in price when it comes to their machines is: SSD size and CPU speed.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">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!</div><div class=""><br class=""><div class="">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: normal;"><div class="">-David Schwartz</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></span></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div class=""><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span>
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<div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Nov 29, 2017, at 8:43 PM, Mark Phillips <<a href="mailto:mark@phillipsmarketing.biz" class="">mark@phillipsmarketing.biz</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">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. <div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">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)</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Mark</div></div>
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