Cheapest Mac Book Pro To Fit Me?

[ThrowinCards]

Hello everyone i just started college in computer science and im in need of a mac book pro, i dont want the most expensive but i want it to last 4 years and do what i need it to for school only. Anyone got any suggestions on one?

 

[ZENprime]

Why a mac book pro ? What's can it do that is a normal laptop not capable of ?

 

[DeclanDornstauder]

If you're looking for a cheap macbook, you're most likely going to have to buy it used on something like craigslist, or any other similar sites. Personally, I would go for PC, as I find that they're cheaper, last longer, and usually have better hardware depending on how much you spend.

By cheap, how much do really intend on paying? That would help a lot.

 

[ThrowinCards]

The thing is, im in college for computer science and want a unix system, ill pay the money for it new i just wanna know what kind will fit me best i dont need all the bells and whistles

 

[sna]

Hello everyone i just started college in computer science and im in need of a mac book pro, i dont want the most expensive but i want it to last 4 years and do what i need it to for school only. Anyone got any suggestions on one?

Get the MAC PRO RETINA Display 13.3 with 8G of RAM and 256G SSD

and make sure it is the latest one. dont get older models.

and dont get the normal non retina one at all.

if you need 16G of RAM get it from the start ... it is not upgradable.

 

[barto]

The thing is, im in college for computer science and want a unix system, ill pay the money for it new i just wanna know what kind will fit me best i dont need all the bells and whistles

That's easily fixed with Linux. No cost there running a VM.

 

[sna]

The thing is, im in college for computer science and want a unix system, ill pay the money for it new i just wanna know what kind will fit me best i dont need all the bells and whistles

That's easily fixed with Linux. No cost there running a VM.

Linux is NOT UNIX.

 

[sna]

The thing is, im in college for computer science and want a unix system, ill pay the money for it new i just wanna know what kind will fit me best i dont need all the bells and whistles

get a mac , All the Students I knew at collage had macs . it is perfect for students and unix and so one.

dont listen ,much to gamers in tomshardware , most of them cant even write a code. they just read reviews and copy other people opinions.

all My family are using MACs at Uni as well. and never regretted it.

 

[barto]

Linux is NOT UNIX.

Correct. There are many Unix-like operating systems that will do exactly what the OP needs. GNU/Linux and then there are even BSDs like FreeBSD, OpenBSD etc. My recommendation will not only save the OP money, but give flexibility.

 

[jsmithepa]

There are no cheap Macs, the difference in price is storage/ram size, and retina/non-retina. The retina bit you to have go into a store and see it yourself as is subjective. The other stuff, the school is not gonna make you do anything heavy duty. 8G ram and 256SSD is more than enough IMO. An I5 is fine, skip I7. Save$ for needed additional peripherals, a good sleeve, backpack etc. and if you are asking u probably want additional Applecare too.

 

[sna]

Linux is NOT UNIX.

Correct. There are many Unix-like operating systems that will do exactly what the OP needs. GNU/Linux and then there are even BSDs like FreeBSD, OpenBSD etc. My recommendation will not only save the OP money, but give flexibility.

your suggestion will bring him hanging linux and wasted time each time Linux crashes ...

Students dont have time fixing errors and bugs in their System by the way .

nothing like a well supported system vs open system garbage.

look at tomshardware , how many people are asking to fix problems and bugs in MAC ?

and how many are shouting HELP my notebook this and my notebook that ?

The MACS even restore your whole system from the internet , Recovery type in case your system is crashed and you dont even bother with installing or recoving anything. not even find the iso or DVD for the system.

The programs just run and dont need commands to install manually like in unix ...


I dont recommend people who want to use Linux to work on anything other than MACs. and when you are a student and have exams wasting time on stupid Linux RPM , or BSOD of windows is horrible.

 

[sna]

There are no cheap Macs, the difference in price is storage/ram size, and retina/non-retina. The retina bit you to have go into a store and see it yourself as is subjective. The other stuff, the school is not gonna make you do anything heavy duty. 8G ram and 256SSD is more than enough IMO. An I5 is fine, skip I7. Save$ for needed additional peripherals, a good sleeve, backpack etc. and if you are asking u probably want additional Applecare too.

The Retina is for IPS display ... and viewing angles and colors . not about the resolution alone.

other MAC notebooks have TN panels which is bad in notebook.

as for 8G or 16G of RAM , this is tricky , I remember back at UNI one project needed 16G of RAM .. so it depends on what projects he will work on later in UNI.

people with 8G notebooks had to work on Desktops ..

 

[barto]

your suggestion will bring him hanging linux and wasted time each time Linux crashes ...

Students dont have time fixing errors and bugs in their System by the way .

nothing like a well supported system vs open system garbage.

look at tomshardware , how many people are asking to fix problems and bugs in MAC ?

and how many are shouting HELP my notebook this and my notebook that ?

The MACS even restore your whole system from the internet , Recovery type in case your system is crashed and you dont even bother with installing or recoving anything. not even find the iso or DVD for the system.

The programs just run and dont need commands to install manually like in unix ...


I dont recommend people who want to use Linux to work on anything other than MACs. and when you are a student and have exams wasting time on stupid Linux RPM , or BSOD of windows is horrible.

Don't get me wrong, OSX is a very stable OS. My point is to keep the options open. It's an opinion just like your statements. I haven't had too many problems with Linux OS. It's the user and when your in school, things will break regardless of the OS that you will have to learn to fix. That's what school is about. The vast majority of the people who have "breaking" issues are pretty much self inflicted. Besides, if I'm having issues with an program, I don't come to Toms, I'm on Stack exchange.

 

[ThrowinCards]

But for school which ever has the least reported faults user based or os based will work for me, im A+ certified so i can fix it all but i dont want to have to waste school time for that.

 

[jsmithepa]

Am surprised CS calls for a Mac, I remember it most if not all of the tools were Windows based, but oh well, maybe things have changed. U can run Windows on the Mac but it's another thing you have to deal with. I tell you what, there is definitely less malware on OSX. I remember with Windows I had to image restore every couple of months. But if you are A+ what you are worried about?