Macbook Pro or PC?

[Aniallation]

So, I'm looking for a second-hand laptop, and I'm actually looking into getting a MacBook Pro. I'm trying to get one of the late 2011 models, which will cost me about $600 for a decent condition one second hand, to be used for school and general stuff like that.

 

If I was buying brand new I'd for sure go for a PC, but a used MBP of this time seems to fit my specs-related needs well, and it's only about $100 more than a PC laptop with comparable specs. The MBP looks nicer, has a backlit keyboard, MagSafe charger, and other features, but most importantly an optical drive as I actually do find myself needing to read and burn CDs and DVDs every now and then, and my desktop doesn't have a drive for it so I keep having to pull out my ancient Toshiba laptop running XP to burn discs.

 

If I went for a PC, it would be something along the lines of the 2012 Dell XPS 13, Lenovo U310, Asus UX31E, or Acer Aspire S3. All of them are around $100 cheaper and have similar specs to the MBP, but only one of which has a backlit keyboard, and none of which have an optical drive. (If I bought an external one would cost me $40, but if I get the MBP I will want to put an SSD in it and a friend of mine is selling me his for $40, offsetting the difference)

 

In terms of Windows vs OSX, I don't really care. I'll live perfectly fine with either.

 

So for this price and age point, do you guys think it's worth the $100 to go for a MBP over a competing PC laptop?

[Arty]

Laptop Personally i think chromebooks

i use my desktop for anything important 

 

Chromebook>windows laptop>linux laptop>Mac os laptop

 

 

You can always get a usb dvd burner for your desktop or laptop or what ever

[NeatSquidYT]

yes, for the build quality

[Zeke]

Laptop Personally i think chromebooks

i use my desktop for anything important 

Why would you get a laptop that turns into a potato when there's no internet connection?

 

OT: Yes. It's the little things.

[Enderman]

id get the macbook pro

[Arty]

Why would you get a laptop that turns into a potato when there's no internet connection?

Where i live, thier is literally internet everywhere 

 

very few places don't have public wifi.

 

and my chromebook has 4g built in.

[Kobathor]

2011 Macbooks kinda suck.. My Macbook Pro 2012 gets 15 FPS on Minecraft on Low settings, I can't imagine that a 2011 MBP would be competent at anything.

[Aniallation]

Laptop Personally i think chromebooks

i use my desktop for anything important 

All I ever do on my desktop is browse the web anyways. I rarely play games or do anything that requires the GPU power I have on hand. Honestly, I might just sell my desktop and hook up whatever laptop I get to my external monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers when I'm home. I doubt I'd notice the difference compared to my desktop. If anything it'd be better as my desktop is still using a mechanical HDD.

[ThinkWithPortals]

-snip-

From 3 years experience of using a MacBook Pro as a daily driver, go for it. Build quality is superb, Mac OS is well designed IMO and it's a great experience for casual use. Go for it, you won't be disappointed.

 

Pales in comparison to a desktop, of course. But still good for browsing, work and media consumption.

[Aniallation]

2011 Macbooks kinda suck.. My Macbook Pro 2012 gets 15 FPS on Minecraft on Low settings, I can't imagine that a 2011 MBP would be competent at anything.

I only have two games on my desktop right now, Roblox and SLRR. I don't think either of those require extremely powerful machines

[Sauron]

So for this price and age point, do you guys think it's worth the $100 to go for a MBP over a competing PC laptop?

 

No.

[ThinkWithPortals]

2011 Macbooks kinda suck.. My Macbook Pro 2012 gets 15 FPS on Minecraft on Low settings, I can't imagine that a 2011 MBP would be competent at anything.

What? My 2010 MacBook Pro used to get 120+ FPS on Minecraft, highest settings. With optifine that went up to about 200.

[Kobathor]

I only have two games on my desktop right now, Roblox and SLRR. I don't think either of those require extremely powerful machines

Roblox will lag, like hardcore.

 

Don't know about SLRR, but it might work.

 

$600 is a steep price for a used laptop that's 4 years old, the guy that's selling it is an idiot. Try to get the price down.

[Kobathor]

What? My 2010 MacBook Pro used to get 120+ FPS on Minecraft, highest settings. With optifine that went up to about 200.

Do you have a magicbook or something? I mean, mine is no top model, but it's from 2012 and gets NOTHING in terms of performance. I can run all the Apple programs fine, but even some webpages lag along when I'm using Safari.. It's pathetic.

[ThinkWithPortals]

Do you have a magicbook or something? I mean, mine is no top model, but it's from 2012 and gets NOTHING in terms of performance. I can run all the Apple programs fine, but even some webpages lag along when I'm using Safari.. It's pathetic.

Mine has a dual core i5, 4GB RAM and a GT330M and absolutely flies in Minecraft and in day-to-day use. That's with 5 years worth of work files and stuff clogging up the 320GB HDD. Don't know if I got a MagicBook or you got a CrapBook.

[Aniallation]

Roblox will lag, like hardcore.

 

Don't know about SLRR, but it might work.

 

$600 is a steep price for a used laptop that's 4 years old, the guy that's selling it is an idiot. Try to get the price down.

SLRR runs fine on the ancient laptop I use for burning CDs, which is a Pentium M with a GeForce Go 6600. So I wouldn't imagine why it wouldn't be okay on a MBP.

 

Keep in mind this is $600 CAD and stuff costs noticeably more here than in the US. I got him down to $550 which is actually really low for what it is. Where I am, all the other MBPs with similar specs are $700-750.

[Kobathor]

SLRR runs fine on the ancient laptop I use for burning CDs, which is a Pentium M with a GeForce Go 6600. So I wouldn't imagine why it wouldn't be okay on a MBP.

 

Keep in mind this is $600 CAD and stuff costs noticeably more here than in the US. I got him down to $550 which is actually really low for what it is. Where I am, all the other MBPs with similar specs are $700-750.

Then just get the MBP.

[Aniallation]

Do you have a magicbook or something? I mean, mine is no top model, but it's from 2012 and gets NOTHING in terms of performance. I can run all the Apple programs fine, but even some webpages lag along when I'm using Safari.. It's pathetic.

What kind of lag in Safari?

 

I'm using an Acer Aspire Switch 10 right now, so honestly anything will be an improvement.

[Swndlr]

MACBOOK!!

[Aniallation]

From 3 years experience of using a MacBook Pro as a daily driver, go for it. Build quality is superb, Mac OS is well designed IMO and it's a great experience for casual use. Go for it, you won't be disappointed.

 

Pales in comparison to a desktop, of course. But still good for browsing, work and media consumption.

Is there any complaints you have in particular about them? I heard the chargers tend to just die out.

[handymanshandle]

Go for it I guess...

[Kobathor]

What kind of lag in Safari?

 

I'm using an Acer Aspire Switch 10 right now, so honestly anything will be an improvement.

Not on pages like forums, just things that have lots of stuff on the screen. I don't get much of a problem, but it's noticeable when switching to my desktop.

[ThinkWithPortals]

Is there any complaints you have in particular about them? I heard the chargers tend to just die out.

Not really, my charger still works fine. Umm... I guess it's slow to boot if you don't get an SSD. That's about all I can think of.

Seriously, they're great for casual use IMO. The only reason I stopped using it as my daily driver is because I got into gaming, otherwise I'm sure I'd still be using it, 5 years on.

[HippY]

2011 Macbooks kinda suck.. My Macbook Pro 2012 gets 15 FPS on Minecraft on Low settings, I can't imagine that a 2011 MBP would be competent at anything.

Probably you have a 13" they have integrated Intel graphics only

2010 15" has GT330M and 2011 has HD 6750M.

Pay attention for the 2011 model, some has GPU problems, although Apple should fix them for free, on what condition I am not sure

[comicsansms]

I'd get the Macbook and install windows on it.

But that is what I'd do, I cannot live without an ODD.