I want to get a mac laptop so i can learn the OS, now which laptops and what price range do they run that are good I want a laptop that it'll be usable still in a couple years later. Looks like I will be selling my sony psp and a palm t/x on ebay to get a laptop. If anyone wants to trade let me know. These gadgets are in new condition, with all paperwork and boxes and such.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
queston about buying a laptop mac for the first time...
- Thread starter tgg
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What's your price range? If you want a normal everyday use laptop for college work and websurfing and stuff that doesnt require high emphasis on 3D modeling or other 3D related tasks you should get a MacBook. Otherwise if you want to push it hard and do 3D rendering stuff you'd need a MacBook Pro which is $500 more expensive.
In both case just go to www.apple.com and browse their store. If you're a student then you can also get student discounts and rebates.
In both case just go to www.apple.com and browse their store. If you're a student then you can also get student discounts and rebates.
If you are just starting out and do not have any major high end application needs, the most affordable solution would be to purchase a 1.33GHz 12" iBook refurb directly through Apple for $799.00US.
That will hold you quite well through the next 2 years while all these processor
wars continue.
Your next most affordable solution would be a Core Duo MacBook refurb starting as low as $949.00 but with the 2.0 GHz model being the better machine for $1099.00
Any of these solution will help you become familiar with MacOSX and all the machines mentioned will be Leopard compatible.
We're going to see tremendous changes in processors between now and 2008,
so getting your feet wet at a reasonable price is a good plan.
That will hold you quite well through the next 2 years while all these processor
wars continue.
Your next most affordable solution would be a Core Duo MacBook refurb starting as low as $949.00 but with the 2.0 GHz model being the better machine for $1099.00
Any of these solution will help you become familiar with MacOSX and all the machines mentioned will be Leopard compatible.
We're going to see tremendous changes in processors between now and 2008,
so getting your feet wet at a reasonable price is a good plan.
I don't agree with FFTT, don't buy a refub iBook. If you purchase anything, make sure it's an Intel based Mac. Why would you want to purchase a system that has a processor no longer sold in new Macs? I do however agree with FFTT, to save money purchase a refub Mac.
Good luck with your decision.
Good luck with your decision.
It really depends on your needs. If you really want something that will be useful in a couple years, that pretty much precludes the G3/G4-based laptops. Go with an Intel-based MacBook or MacBook Pro. And if you can afford it, max out the RAM and hard drive. Having at least 1GB is essential on the notebooks for performance (I have 2GB and am wishing I could put 4GB in 
) and I just replaced the stock 80GB drive with a Hitachi 160GB unit. In two years, 160GB should still be acceptable if you want to sell your laptop on eBay to trade into a new computer.
You may also want to wait (if possible) for a little while and see what comes from the laptop refresh, expected anytime now.
) and I just replaced the stock 80GB drive with a Hitachi 160GB unit. In two years, 160GB should still be acceptable if you want to sell your laptop on eBay to trade into a new computer.You may also want to wait (if possible) for a little while and see what comes from the laptop refresh, expected anytime now.
amac4me said:
I tend to agree with this, perhaps not for *every* buyer, but for what you describe.
Here are my observations...
1) A used / refurb or new MacBook or MacBook Pro would suit your needs -- any model of either of them. However, you will not easily find this for less than $900.
2) You are certainly not getting $900 for a used PSP and a Palm T/X....
So I think, you have two major options...
- Can you come up with enough money to bridge the gap between the money you get from those two devices and the cost of a used MacBook (I'm guessing you need about $500-600 more than you'll get, but I'm not exactly sure, since I've never been in the market for either of those devices)
- If you really want to learn OS X, consider the option of buying a *much* cheaper Mac to learn on. Either a somewhat older PPC mac notebook that you can pick up for $400 or so and will *not* expect to be usable in 2 years, but that you can sell at relatively little loss, or a Mini or something like that if you have a display and can forego portability....
I know the new Intel based MacBooks are a better solution in the long run and YES
they run up to 5 X faster than a G4, but the iBooks are still excellent entry level machines with a proven track record.
By the time you add RAM to a MacBook you're into over $1,200.00
A 12" iBook with 1 GB RAM gets you into MacOSX for basic use for $300.00 less. For wireless surf, chat, email and office use, it's FINE!
If you are only trying to bridge the gap and learn MacOSX over the next 2 years while all these processors leap frog by amazing thresholds, it could be wiser to buy very conservative.
they run up to 5 X faster than a G4, but the iBooks are still excellent entry level machines with a proven track record.
By the time you add RAM to a MacBook you're into over $1,200.00
A 12" iBook with 1 GB RAM gets you into MacOSX for basic use for $300.00 less. For wireless surf, chat, email and office use, it's FINE!
If you are only trying to bridge the gap and learn MacOSX over the next 2 years while all these processors leap frog by amazing thresholds, it could be wiser to buy very conservative.
I'm in a similar position as the thread starter. I'm starting a year long course in Media - graphic design, video editing etc. But I've never done it before so I don't know if I'll be going on to do a degree afterwards for another 3 or 4 years.
I think a laptop would be handy for this year but I have no idea what future use the laptop will be put to (maybe I'll hate media, and go into Journalism, etc etc). I thought of getting maybe an iBook or PowerBook G4 with an external hard drive, but I dunno, I'm interested to see anymore suggestions that arise.
I think a laptop would be handy for this year but I have no idea what future use the laptop will be put to (maybe I'll hate media, and go into Journalism, etc etc). I thought of getting maybe an iBook or PowerBook G4 with an external hard drive, but I dunno, I'm interested to see anymore suggestions that arise.
Yea I'm interested in those 300 to 400 dollar range ibooks like a least 1ghertz cpu I just want a mac to learn the OS becuase i have my own onsite computer tech bussiness here locally and I get callls sometimes from people asking if I know Macs. So exactly what type of laptop i need in the 300 to 500 dollar range?
tgg said:
Have you been shopping? I don't think that's a realistic expectation at the moment. Maybe in 16 months.... From what I've seen, an iBook G4 / 1.0ish is going for something more on the order of $550-650....