Buying A Macbook Pro

Hello Everyone,
I'm currently deciding if I should purchase a Macbook Pro 13' of late 2011. I am not a graphic designer but I am a pre-med student. I use my internet daily and I use it for: Facebook, Tumblr, Online Shopping, Chatting, Gaming, Downloading Music, Movies, Uploading photos from my iPhone. That is pretty much it. What would you guys recommend me buying?

If it weren't for the gaming, a basic configuration 11" MacBook Air with an external hard drive for extra storage would do for your purposes...

As it is, which MacBook Pro you'd need would depend on which games you plan on playing (also, bear in mind that you'd need to install Windows via Boot Camp to play PC games).

If you really want a Mac notebook (& I'm not saying there's any reason why you wouldn't!), it might be worth considering getting the MBA & portable HDD and just getting a cheapish desktop PC to game on... Could work-out quite a bit cheaper. That, of course, will only be if you need a high-spec machine for your gaming though; otherwise some type of MBP + Windows in Boot Camp will be best.

What kind of games do you plan on playing?

You can make a really decent budget gaming rig for under 700 dollars. I know cause I do it all the time. >_<" I don't spend as much time playing PC games as much as I use to. That will probably change when Guild Wars 2 comes out but I digress. >_>"

The task that you describe sounds pretty much like light computer task. You probably don't need the power of a MBP nor do you need to be a graphic designer to justify getting a MBP. The MBP can do everything you described and more.

Another thing to consider is that the MBPs are well over-due for a refresh now... Something new must be just over the horizon; whether it be just another simple upgrade of the current design, or - as some are predicting - a complete redesign along the lines of a slightly thicker, larger-screened, more powerful MacBook Air...

I wouldn't say 'well over due'. They're just about due actually. It's that time of year, in about a month actually.

This last summer I built a gaming PC from scratch for a few bucks under $500. It runs WOW and Rift nicely with full effects. I just bought my MBP today. Comparing other systems, I felt it was the better route. I've got a killer school laptop now, and a great gaming PC that was low cost.

I'm gonna second Ctrl-Opt-Del.

I don't play hardcore gaming but I do play this virtual world game called vSide and Call Of Duty. That is the only main games I ever play but I'm not much of a gamer type of a guy. I mainly go websurfing, download music, movies, uploading photos and recorded videos. That's pretty much it.

Macbook Air 13" or Macbook Pro 13"?

Woojun912 said:

Macbook Air 13" or Macbook Pro 13"?

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Ah, well, now... That changes things. If you're dead-set on a 13" screen, you may as well get the entry-level Pro, as it costs less than the basic-configuration 13" Air.

It'll definitely have all the hardware capabilities necessary to run everything you'll need (both Mac apps running under OS X & PC games running under Windows via Boot Camp); and you could always upgrade the RAM yourself after purchase.

It will not give better video... It still uses the Intel card, it is the 15" that adds the ability to have the 2nd video card that does not share system memory. If Gaming is a requirement, top end 15" is where you start. If money is a requirement with gaming, get a Windows machine.

Sounds good!

I'm away for a trip with family so we won't be back in town til Friday, then I'm staying with my parents until Sunday morning, driving back to my dorm then heading to the apple store to purchase my laptop.


Would you guys like a picture once I make the purchase? LOL.

What else should I purchase for the laptop?
I've seen a lot of cases and sleeves.
What would you guys recommend?

Deckyon said:

It will not give better video... It still uses the Intel card, it is the 15" that adds the ability to have the 2nd video card that does not share system memory. If Gaming is a requirement, top end 15" is where you start. If money is a requirement with gaming, get a Windows machine.

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Well, I was assuming from "I don't play hardcore gaming" that Woojun912 would be ok with playing their games at medium graphics settings

But then, you know what they say about assumptions...

I'm okay with Medium Graphic Settings, I don't understand much about computers and plus this is my first mac laptop so..haha.

What else should I purchase for the laptop?

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If you don't already have it, go get a backup HD or you'll regret it someday!

Will do.
Please feel free people to list all the things you recommend me buying.

Woojun912 said:

I'm okay with Medium Graphic Settings, I don't understand much about computers and plus this is my first mac laptop so..haha.

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In that case, you might want to look-up the minimum specs required by the games that you do play (specifically the specs for the processor & graphics), and see how they compare to the specs of the different models of MacBook Pro; then decide on which model to get. Don't worry, it's just a matter of comparing numbers! So long as the processor & graphics on the computer are equal to or greater than the requirements of the games you'll be fine

And McYukon is very right, get some kind of external back-up drive for Time Machine (OS X's built-in back-up utility).

How do I compare the specs? This game I play is called vSide.
It's just a virtual world dancing game, nothing too graphical like C.O.D or anything.
I can play COD on my xbox anyways.

Can you possibly teach me how to look at the specs?
And the processor/graphics you were talking about.

Oh, if you're gonna play COD on your Xbox then vSide will easily run on any MacBook you bought (Air or Pro); I checked the specs online for you.

So, like I said, if you want a 13" screen then go for the basic Pro model, as it's cheaper than the basic 13" Air. If you don't mind a smaller screen, the cheapest-option basic 11" Air would do for all you want it for...

Do you personally think I should get the solid state drive or upgrade the 500 to 750? Or the baseline is just fine for me? And thank you so much, for looking up all the specs for me. I appreciate it.

Woojun912 said:

And thank you so much, for looking up all the specs for me. I appreciate it.

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That's quite alright it's what this community is here for.

Woojun912 said:

Do you personally think I should get the solid state drive or upgrade the 500 to 750? Or the baseline is just fine for me?

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Depends how fast you want apps to launch. The basic 500GB drive is fairly quick. Should launch even the heaviest apps within about 5-7 seconds. With the 750GB drive, though bigger, it's also slower, so accessing heavy apps & large files will be slower. With an SSD even the heaviest apps launch almost instantly, and files can be moved about on the drive in mere seconds; however, bear in mind that - unless you're willing to almost double the price of the computer - the basic SSD is ~1/4 the size of the basic 500GB hard disk.

So, it's up to you, dependant on how much speed you want. I - personally - wouldn't go for the 750GB hard disk, as you take too much of a performance hit for only 50% extra internal storage. I'd say either stick with the 500GB drive, or get the 128GB SSD; and, either way, buy yourself a nice portable hard drive (1TB drives are reasonably cheap these days; and even just a 320GB external drive + the 500GB internal drive will give you more extra storage than the 750GB upgrade, but without the performance hit).

In short, you have options! Hope this helps