Laptop for University (MacBook)

[nunocv]

I'm in my 2nd year at University in Portugal studying Computer Engeneer (programming), during the 1st year I had an ASUS that suited me bad, but it worked (Linux didnt work well), so this year in the second semestre i decided to sell it and buy a new PC.

I was thinking about a MacBook Air, because its the cheapest apple Laptop, I dont have money for a Pro new, just used, and I would need to buy it on the UK and ask someone to send me to Portugal  so Air is my only option if buying new. What version of the macbook air you guys recomend?

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

2 minutes ago, nunocv said:

I'm in my 2nd year at University in Portugal studying Computer Engeneer (programming), during the 1st year I had an ASUS that suited me bad, but it worked (Linux didnt work well), so this year in the second semestre i decided to sell it and buy a new PC.

I was thinking about a MacBook Air, because its the cheapest apple Laptop, I dont have money for a Pro new, just used, and I would need to buy it on the UK and ask someone to send me to Portugal  so Air is my only option if buying new. What version of the macbook air you guys recomend?

What programs will you be using to code though? If you're to be using Visual Studio, it's going to be a hassle. 

[GuyNamedBrad]

Personally I use a MacBook Pro 15' so I feel if you can save up and maybe try to keep using or Asus until you can get a MacBook Pro that would be better. The Air lacks sufficient processor power to accomplish  higher end tasks or you can also look at a few Windows based laptops that might have the same processing power if not more in the same price range. But I guess it depends on the tasks and applications you are trying to run. 

[koolkyle]

I would recommend the highest-spec model, because it is good enough for most things CPU-wise, but not good enough for games.  The SSD is great, but more RAM should be added. Also, if you need certain programs, you would be better off getting a Windows ultrabook.

Also, if you need this translated, I can try to write it in Portuguese 

[nunocv]

2 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

What programs will you be using to code though? If you're to be using Visual Studio, it's going to be a hassle. 

Oh no, I just use C, Haskell, Java, bash and that stuff!

 

1 minute ago, bradmonster said:

Personally I use a MacBook Pro 15' so I feel if you can save up and maybe try to keep using or Asus until you can get a MacBook Pro that would be better. The Air lacks sufficient processor power to accomplish  higher end tasks or you can also look at a few Windows based laptops that might have the same processing power if not more in the same price range.

Cant use the ASUS, just cant, too much work to do and I cant do it and stay organized in the Asus... I'm in a need, and I just see the Air as my option... and it is lighter. Btw not my main PC, I have a tower at home

[GuyNamedBrad]

Just now, nunocv said:

Oh no, I just use C, Haskell, Java, bash and that stuff!

 

Cant use the ASUS, just cant, too much work to do and I cant do it and stay organized in the Asus... I'm in a need, and I just see the Air as my option... and it is lighter. Btw not my main PC, I have a tower at home

Beautiful then that I know you have a tower now, then I guess if your not trying to game or render videos the Air will do just fine for day to day task and light gaming. Just send the specs of the model you were looking at and I can give an idea if you need to boost them! Cheers!

[nunocv]

1 minute ago, koolkyle said:

I would recommend the highest-spec model, because it is good enough for most things CPU-wise, but not good enough for games.  The SSD is great, but more RAM should be added. Also, if you need certain programs, you would be better off getting a Windows ultrabook.

Also, if you need this translated, I can try to write it in Portuguese 

I was thinking about the Air 13 8gb Ram 128gb SSD. I wont use it for games... For that I have my PC at home, this is just University and work based.
I need Unix based operative system... Windows is like trash for my classes. 

[don_svetlio]

I wouldn't buy a Mac personally. I'd get a work-grade laptop and use OSX if need be.

[GuyNamedBrad]

Just now, nunocv said:

I was thinking about the Air 13 8gb Ram 128gb SSD. I wont use it for games... For that I have my PC at home, this is just University and work based.
I need Unix based operative system... Windows is like trash for my classes. 

Yeah those specs sounds perfectly fine I would recommends you try to op for a larger 512 SSD and 16 Gb ram if available. 

[DocSwag]

3 minutes ago, nunocv said:

I was thinking about the Air 13 8gb Ram 128gb SSD. I wont use it for games... For that I have my PC at home, this is just University and work based.
I need Unix based operative system... Windows is like trash for my classes. 

That seems like a solid selection to me. Don't see anything wrong with it.

Apple should be releasing the 2016 macbook pro soon. However, chances are its march, and you seem like you really can't wait. If you could then you could probably wait for that launch and buy a 2015 macbook pro since the prices would drop. However, that would require waiting and you don't seem to be able to do that.

2 minutes ago, bradmonster said:

Yeah those specs sounds perfectly fine I would recommends you try to op for a larger 512 SSD and 16 Gb ram if available. 

Um.... Macbook Airs don't come with 512 gb ssd or 16gb ram... 256 gb and 8gb is max. Plus what is the need for that much? I don't see any reason he would need that much storage or ram.

EDIT: That would also rack up prices quite a bit. He would just be paying for stuff he doesn't use.

[nunocv]

4 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

I wouldn't buy a Mac personally. I'd get a work-grade laptop and use OSX if need be.

Did i mension I need UNIX based operative system? And I'm tired of bad compatibility with Linux in todays Windows laptops...

[nunocv]

2 minutes ago, bradmonster said:

Yeah those specs sounds perfectly fine I would recommends you try to op for a larger 512 SSD and 16 Gb ram if available. 

I was dabating in buying instead of 8gb ram and 128gb ssd, 4gb ram and 256gb ssd, what you think?

 

Why would I need 16gb ram?  

[don_svetlio]

Just now, nunocv said:

Did i mension I need UNIX based operative system? And I'm tired of bad compatibility in todays Windows laptops...

Well, whatever you need. Just don't expect the performance to be as good as  what you can find in a Windows laptop of the same price. With Apple you pay for the brand, not the product

[don_svetlio]

Just now, nunocv said:

I was dabating in buying instead of 8gb ram and 128gb ssd, 4gb ram and 256gb ssd, what you think?

 

Why would I need 16gb ram?  

4GB is unacceptable nowadays.

[GuyNamedBrad]

2 minutes ago, DocSwag said:

That seems like a solid selection to me. Don't see anything wrong with it.

Apple should be releasing the 2016 macbook pro soon. However, chances are its march, and you seem like you really can't wait. If you could then you could probably wait for that launch and buy a 2015 macbook pro since the prices would drop. However, that would require waiting and you don't seem to be able to do that.

Um.... Macbook Airs don't come with 512 gb ssd or 16gb ram... 256 gb and 8gb is max. Plus what is the need for that much? I don't see any reason he would need that much storage or ram.

Sorry didn't know that, I was just saying if it was possible and, personally I run a MacBook Pro with 16Gb ram and 512 SSD and I run out of space and RAM lol so personally coming from my experience in programming I was just recommending from my opinion.

[GuyNamedBrad]

2 minutes ago, nunocv said:

I was dabating in buying instead of 8gb ram and 128gb ssd, 4gb ram and 256gb ssd, what you think?

 

Why would I need 16gb ram?  

That would be a good choice I was just recommending from my experience but that should me more than sufficient.

[DocSwag]

Just now, bradmonster said:

Sorry didn't know that, I was just say if it was possible and, personally I run a MacBook Pro with 16Gb ram and 512 SSD and I run out of space and RAM lol so personally coming from my experience in programming I was just recommending from my opinion.

Ah gotcha. I don't think he will need too much storage though so that should be fine.

Ram... tough to say. 4 gb is definitely not enough nowadays, but 8 SHOULD be fine. However it isn't enough for you, so that seems worrying...

I personally have never gone past 8gb ever, but that's me, and I do different work from you and nunocv.

[nunocv]

3 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

Well, whatever you need. Just don't expect the performance to be as good as  what you can find in a Windows laptop of the same price. With Apple you pay for the brand, not the product

I see your point, Im not defending Apple, but their operative system is so much better organized and optimized for what I need, that is programming. Performance for me isnt really important, If I want performance I go to my tower, that has windows. Mac for me is equal to Pc for work, that offers good organization and better tools for Engeneering and programming. I hope you get my point

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, nunocv said:

I see your point, Im not defending Apple, but their operative system is so much better organized and optimized for what I need, that is programming. Performance for me isnt really important, If I want performance I go to my tower, that has windows. Mac for me is equal to Pc for work, that offers good organization and better tools for Engeneering and programming. I hope you get my point

I see. If only you could load that OS to a ThinkPad, you'd have your perfect machine

[nunocv]

9 minutes ago, DocSwag said:

That seems like a solid selection to me. Don't see anything wrong with it.

Apple should be releasing the 2016 macbook pro soon. However, chances are its march, and you seem like you really can't wait. If you could then you could probably wait for that launch and buy a 2015 macbook pro since the prices would drop. However, that would require waiting and you don't seem to be able to do that.

Um.... Macbook Airs don't come with 512 gb ssd or 16gb ram... 256 gb and 8gb is max. Plus what is the need for that much? I don't see any reason he would need that much storage or ram.

EDIT: That would also rack up prices quite a bit. He would just be paying for stuff he doesn't use.

Yeah waiting is not really an option, I will buy it when I sell the Asus, maybe In the beggining of March I will buy the Macbook, but the 2015 Macbook Pro here wont go down In price, well not a lot, And if they do it wouldnt still be in my price range, that it is 1100 € and it is stretching a bit.

[nunocv]

2 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

I see. If only you could load that OS to a ThinkPad, you'd have your perfect machine

OSX isnt licensed in other products besides Apple, and no support in drivers too

[nunocv]

8 minutes ago, DocSwag said:

Ah gotcha. I don't think he will need too much storage though so that should be fine.

Ram... tough to say. 4 gb is definitely not enough nowadays, but 8 SHOULD be fine. However it isn't enough for you, so that seems worrying...

I personally have never gone past 8gb ever, but that's me, and I do different work from you and nunocv.

So i should buy the 8gb and 128gb ssd one?

[don_svetlio]

Just now, nunocv said:

OSX isnt licensed in other products besides Apple, and no support in drivers too

In the words of the great Pirates, "Anything can be cracked"

[nunocv]

2 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

In the words of the great Pirates, "Anything can be cracked"

Not really into that stuff, but thanks anyway!

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, nunocv said:

Not really into that stuff, but thanks anyway!