Question for you Apple crazies

My home is paid for, and I'm moving to a place where housing is about
half what it is here, so if I buy something about the same size, I
might have enough left over to buy an Apple product... So some
questions:

Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

I see that there a lot of listings with years mentioned. How far back
can I go to be able to dual boot into Windows? How far back to get a
great retina display? And how far back to get great performance,
something that is more than adequate for LR & PS, video and audio
editing? How far back where I can still easily add a second high
quality display?

On 6/13/18 10:08 PM, Bill W wrote:
Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

Sometimes shopping around can save $100-200.
You can also buy Apple-factory refurbished units (almost
indistinguishable from new, same 1-year warranty as new).

I wouldn't buy a 2016-2017 MacBook Pro due to problems with
the keyboards. VERY expensive repair if needed out-of-warranty.

I prefer the 2015 design -- better all around with a
keyboard that doesn't break and a full complement of legacy
ports.

On Wed, 13 Jun 2018 22:25:58 -0400, "J.Albert"
wrote:

On 6/13/18 10:08 PM, Bill W wrote:
Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

Sometimes shopping around can save $100-200.
You can also buy Apple-factory refurbished units (almost
indistinguishable from new, same 1-year warranty as new).

I wouldn't buy a 2016-2017 MacBook Pro due to problems with
the keyboards. VERY expensive repair if needed out-of-warranty.

I prefer the 2015 design -- better all around with a
keyboard that doesn't break and a full complement of legacy
ports.

Thanks. I'll have to do some research on those keyboards.

In article , Bill W
wrote:


Thanks. I'll have to do some research on those keyboards.

go to an apple store and see how they feel.

the new butterfly keyboard has less travel than the older keyboard,
which some people prefer and others definitely do not.

the second generation keyboard ('17 models) has slightly more travel
than the first gen.

the problem is the new keyboard was designed to minimize dirt ingress,
which it does do. however, that doesn't mean impossible, and if dirt
does get in, it's also harder for it to get out, thus the higher
incidence of failure.

other keyboards are not immune to dirt ingress either, including the
older macbook keyboards as well as keyboards on pc laptops and
desktops.

flip whatever keyboard you're currently using upside-down and shake it
a bit.

On Fri, 15 Jun 2018 00:43:23 -0400, nospam
wrote:

In article , Bill W
wrote:


Thanks. I'll have to do some research on those keyboards.

go to an apple store and see how they feel.

the new butterfly keyboard has less travel than the older keyboard,
which some people prefer and others definitely do not.

the second generation keyboard ('17 models) has slightly more travel
than the first gen.

the problem is the new keyboard was designed to minimize dirt ingress,
which it does do. however, that doesn't mean impossible, and if dirt
does get in, it's also harder for it to get out, thus the higher
incidence of failure.

other keyboards are not immune to dirt ingress either, including the
older macbook keyboards as well as keyboards on pc laptops and
desktops.

flip whatever keyboard you're currently using upside-down and shake it
a bit.

All good to know, and more to keep in mind when I go look.

On Jun 13, 2018, Bill W wrote
(in ):

My home is paid for, and I'm moving to a place where housing is about
half what it is here, so if I buy something about the same size, I
might have enough left over to buy an Apple product... So some
questions:

Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

I see that there a lot of listings with years mentioned. How far back
can I go to be able to dual boot into Windows? How far back to get a
great retina display? And how far back to get great performance,
something that is more than adequate for LR & PS, video and audio
editing? How far back where I can still easily add a second high
quality display?

You could go back as far as 2010 to be able to dual boot into Windows, and
still run the latest macOS. However, that is pushing the envelope with regard
to future macOS upgrades.

I suggest you explore OWC as they have later models which they can custom
configure. They have a solid return policy, and offer great service. You are
only limited by your budget.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

Since you are considering a MacBook Pro the configuration and CPU are going
to determine price. For example here is a mid 2014 15� with 16GB memory, a
quad core i7, and 1 TB SSD for $1999. You do know Macs hold their value?

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/PD2HS62XXXXXC/

Otherwise go straight to Apple and buy new:

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/15-inch

....and this might be a good starting point for new, with some custom
configuration if you need it.

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/s...y-mac/macbook-
pro?product=MJLQ2LL/A&step=config#

--

Regards,
Savageduck

In article .com,
Savageduck wrote:

You could go back as far as 2010 to be able to dual boot into Windows, and
still run the latest macOS. However, that is pushing the envelope with regard
to future macOS upgrades.

actually, that envelope has been sealed. ~2012 is the cutoff for mojave
for most models.

On Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:48:17 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On Jun 13, 2018, Bill W wrote
(in ):

My home is paid for, and I'm moving to a place where housing is about
half what it is here, so if I buy something about the same size, I
might have enough left over to buy an Apple product... So some
questions:

Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

I see that there a lot of listings with years mentioned. How far back
can I go to be able to dual boot into Windows? How far back to get a
great retina display? And how far back to get great performance,
something that is more than adequate for LR & PS, video and audio
editing? How far back where I can still easily add a second high
quality display?

You could go back as far as 2010 to be able to dual boot into Windows, and
still run the latest macOS. However, that is pushing the envelope with regard
to future macOS upgrades.

I suggest you explore OWC as they have later models which they can custom
configure. They have a solid return policy, and offer great service. You are
only limited by your budget.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

Since you are considering a MacBook Pro the configuration and CPU are going
to determine price. For example here is a mid 2014 15” with 16GB memory, a
quad core i7, and 1 TB SSD for $1999. You do know Macs hold their value?

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/PD2HS62XXXXXC/

Otherwise go straight to Apple and buy new:

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/15-inch

...and this might be a good starting point for new, with some custom
configuration if you need it.

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/s...y-mac/macbook-
pro?product=MJLQ2LL/A&step=config#

I think I misled a bit - although I would consider a used unit, new is
my preference right now.

I think I'm going to put this off for a bit, since the new ones are
coming out soon. I had a specific reason for grabbing one right away,
but it's not that important. my current laptop is still usable. In
fact, after I get settled in my new town, I might consider getting a
desktop instead.

There were a lot of replies to this thread, so I did get plenty of
useful info. I had no idea that Apple products were reduced at times.
One funny this is that an Apple desktop is the first computer I ever
touched many years ago, and I have never touched one since. It has
nothing to do with my first experience with them, it's just that once
you start on a platform, in my case Windows, you are likely to just
stick with it. And I did. Getting an Apple is like my reward for
suffering through Windows all these years.

On 6/15/2018 12:11 AM, Bill W wrote:
On Wed, 13 Jun 2018 20:48:17 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:

On Jun 13, 2018, Bill W wrote
(in ):

My home is paid for, and I'm moving to a place where housing is about
half what it is here, so if I buy something about the same size, I
might have enough left over to buy an Apple product... So some
questions:

Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

I see that there a lot of listings with years mentioned. How far back
can I go to be able to dual boot into Windows? How far back to get a
great retina display? And how far back to get great performance,
something that is more than adequate for LR & PS, video and audio
editing? How far back where I can still easily add a second high
quality display?

You could go back as far as 2010 to be able to dual boot into Windows, and
still run the latest macOS. However, that is pushing the envelope with regard
to future macOS upgrades.

I suggest you explore OWC as they have later models which they can custom
configure. They have a solid return policy, and offer great service. You are
only limited by your budget.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

Since you are considering a MacBook Pro the configuration and CPU are going
to determine price. For example here is a mid 2014 15� with 16GB memory, a
quad core i7, and 1 TB SSD for $1999. You do know Macs hold their value?

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/PD2HS62XXXXXC/

Otherwise go straight to Apple and buy new:

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/15-inch

...and this might be a good starting point for new, with some custom
configuration if you need it.

https://www.apple.com/us_smb_78313/s...y-mac/macbook-
pro?product=MJLQ2LL/A&step=config#

I think I misled a bit - although I would consider a used unit, new is
my preference right now.

I think I'm going to put this off for a bit, since the new ones are
coming out soon. I had a specific reason for grabbing one right away,
but it's not that important. my current laptop is still usable. In
fact, after I get settled in my new town, I might consider getting a
desktop instead.

There were a lot of replies to this thread, so I did get plenty of
useful info. I had no idea that Apple products were reduced at times.
One funny this is that an Apple desktop is the first computer I ever
touched many years ago, and I have never touched one since. It has
nothing to do with my first experience with them, it's just that once
you start on a platform, in my case Windows, you are likely to just
stick with it. And I did. Getting an Apple is like my reward for
suffering through Windows all these years.


i have used Photoshop on both Apple and PC desktops with similar specs,
and did not notice any substantial usability or performance difference.



--
PeterN

On 6/13/2018 10:08 PM, Bill W wrote:
My home is paid for, and I'm moving to a place where housing is about
half what it is here, so if I buy something about the same size, I
might have enough left over to buy an Apple product... So some
questions:

Most important, is there any point in shopping around for the best
price on a Macbook Pro, or is the pricing pretty much fixed?

I see that there a lot of listings with years mentioned. How far back
can I go to be able to dual boot into Windows? How far back to get a
great retina display? And how far back to get great performance,
something that is more than adequate for LR & PS, video and audio
editing? How far back where I can still easily add a second high
quality display?


That is a fine machine. Whether you are getting one depends upon what
you plan to use it for. One of my reasons for not getting one, is that I
do not like a glossy screen. I find that I do not get the tonality in
the darker areas with a glossy screen, that I get with a matte screen.
If you plan to use it just for family type, or event pictures, it will
be fine. Based on my experience with the iPhone, and iPad, Apple service
has been satisfactory. The techies seem to know what they are doing. I
can't say about dual boot on the portable, but I'm sure that you will
get an honest and knowledgeable answer from Apple. As for price, some of
the big box stores sell either reconditioned, or out of the box
machines. I don't know about Apple. However, based upon my on experience
I would only purchase an Apple product directly from Apple. But that's
the conservative purchaser in me.

--
PeterN