OT: Any Mac Geniuses on the List who can advise on a Mac for Christmas?

[Stephen Partington]

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 <newsletters at thetoolwiz.com
> 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 <mark at phillipsmarketing.biz>
> 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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-- 
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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