How long will the Pro last me?

[harmlessgoat22]

I have one hesitation at spending $2000 on the low end Macbook Pro.

How long will it last me? I don't mind spending the money if it'll last me a while.

I'm in 7th grade and I'm going to graduate in a little over 5 years from now. I would probably buy it over this summer if I buy it.

I want the Pro to last me all the way until I graduate. I'm graduating in a little over 5 years as I mentioned above. I'm not going to use the computer for gaming, and probably not Pro Apps or using BootCamp for getting Windows on it. Do you think that as long as I take good care of it, it will last me throughout that amount of time?

Do you think it's good enough to last me that long? All I really need is iLife, and maybe iWork, and all the essentials that come with the Mac. I'm probably not going to be gaming on it, I'm going to watch movies on it though, and put pictures on it and stuff.

By the way, I've never owned a Mac before

[wizard]

If you take good care of it, it will probably last a while. For instance, my x86 machine was a PIII 500MHz, which probably puts it at 7 years old, it finally kicked the bucket the other day (I could probably fix it, but I don't care to). Though, probably after a few more OS X releases, there is a chance that you probably won't be able to upgrade to the new OS. But really, there isn't always a need to upgrade the OS. Most people do it to get all of the bells and whistles of the new OS.

Being that you are not even in high school, I would advise that you not get the MacBook Pro. Firstly, it's too expensive IMO for you right now. It looks like you won't be using it for the tedious jobs that it is designed for. Go with the regular MacBook and save yourself some money. Also, the casing is more durable than the aluminum alloy (you say that you will take good care of it, but if you are taking it to school, stuff happens). Any computer hardly lasts for more than 5 years as a main computer for someone that will use one regularly. Is it really a necessity to spend that much on a computer right now? You could spend $700 for a really good Windows-based computer right now and get Vista (or even less if you look around).

[Ertai88]

Me agrees with wizard.

From what I read, you don't really need a MacBook Pro. You'll probably just want a MacBook, which serves all the purposes you want it to do (movies, pictures, work) and could run a game or two if you wanted it to. (You're in Grade 7, live a little )

Not too sure about the durability, but my PC lasted my 7 years, so I'd imagine the Apple would last longer.

[Celticsun]

Agreed as well.

For $1624 you can go to town on a Macbook, 2GB of Ram and 120GB HDD 2.0Ghz Superdrive.

I presume they do an educational discount in the US the same as the UK?

In that case its a no brainer.

If your not Pro apping and Gaming then save yourself the good side of $500.

Remember if (and I say it loosely) if there is a problem with the Macbook and it needs a repair a few years down the line.. then that extra $500 you saved covers it.

Edit:- $1491 with student discount (your in 7th Grade? dont know if your eligable for the discount....... You got a brother/sister in college or University? )

[squirt33]

I wouldn't do it, I'm in sixth using a laptop full time for school, mac a too delicate, expecially the pro's casing.

I think the mac os x and linux are more secure than windows(duh!) I use linux..........

Also, I think you'll do SOME gaming..... Don't forget that we're kids, not buisiness workers.

I have a professional hp laptop, and I highly reccommend them..less money too!

[Celticsun]

I must disagree with macs being too delicate....

I had a G3 500mhz iBook from new and its still going strong, and that has had alot of thrash.

My second G3 800mhz I bought for my better half, and resprayed pink, is second hand and thats still like brand new (apart from being pink of course) [see here for the pics lol]

My newer G4 1.33 I take everywhere as I use it in the field for my photography and thats as hardy as it comes throw it about all over the place.

The new MacBooks have even less parts to fall off and break, No clasp, better charging facility and built in keyboard so no keys falling off.

My IBM thinkpad had bits falling off it within 6 months of having it.

By all means if your gonna spend that much money on something, check out all options first, but I would have thought you have pretty much looked around anyways and already decided on a mac... or you wouldn't have asked the question!?

[Levi- The perfectionist]

I have one hesitation at spending $2000 on the low end Macbook Pro.

How long will it last me? I don't mind spending the money if it'll last me a while.

Do you think that as long as I take good care of it, it will last me throughout that amount of time?

All I really need is iLife, and maybe iWork, and all the essentials that come with the Mac. I'm probably not going to be gaming on it, I'm going to watch movies on it though, and put pictures on it and stuff.

By the way, I've never owned a Mac before

It will last you. no worries.

I own one, and I can tell you they are built tough. The aluminium shell is great.

If your a little worried, you may want to get a warranty while you are there (but I see little need).

the only thing thats going to change in seven years is the speed of computers, and extra functionality will come as a result of this but....

if it fulfils all your needs now, why should it ever need to do more?

I reccomend however, that you go for a configuration that has a single stick of ram in it, that way in two-three yrs you can add another stick of ram to make it faster

I do agree with the others- if your not doing gaming then get the normal macbook and save $$$, but if you might, then get the pro it has an ATI graphics card which is superb. I believe it also speeds up animations, movies and the like (eg- expose).

[Sci-Fi]

I presume they do an educational discount in the US the same as the UK?

Yep, they do. But you have to be in College in order to get the discount. I asked them about it and they wouldn't give me discount, because i am still in high school. The lady was nice enough to give me $50 off.

[Celticsun]

Actually if you can take advantage (cough cough) of the educational discount that Pro comes down to $1799 save your self a few $$$.

Thinking twice about it and the savings available to be had (cough cough) I think if your going for a long term outlook then the Pro would be a better bet like Levi says.

If you have never owned a Mac before your needs might change to what your expected within that time, and as the Pro has a little more under the hood (incl. Graphics) it would probably be a better investment.

I must admit the Macbooks weakness is the graphics... at base level, you probably wouldn't notice a great deal of difference if any... but if you get into heavier Photo editing and maybe some movie editing and gaming then that X1600 graphics chips gonna go a damn sight further than the 64mb Intel 'potato Graphics chip' that the MacBook runs.

Oh and I know this is not as relevant, but I have said it before and I will no doubt say it again.... damn those MacBook Pros are sexy... you'll just stroke it for the first week you have it.

[harmlessgoat22]

Just so everyone knows, the question wasn't whether I should get the Pro versus the regular, the question was whether it would last me. As stated below, I have already thought the matter through very thoroughly

Actually if you can take advantage (cough cough) of the educational discount that Pro comes down to $1799 save your self a few $$$.

Thinking twice about it and the savings available to be had (cough cough) I think if your going for a long term outlook then the Pro would be a better bet like Levi says.

If you have never owned a Mac before your needs might change to what your expected within that time, and as the Pro has a little more under the hood (incl. Graphics) it would probably be a better investment.

I must admit the Macbooks weakness is the graphics... at base level, you probably wouldn't notice a great deal of difference if any... but if you get into heavier Photo editing and maybe some movie editing and gaming then that X1600 graphics chips gonna go a damn sight further than the 64mb Intel 'potato Graphics chip' that the MacBook runs.

Oh and I know this is not as relevant, but I have said it before and I will no doubt say it again.... damn those MacBook Pros are sexy... you'll just stroke it for the first week you have it.

They are sexy. That's the main reason to get it

[tehnick]

Seeing as you are only in the 7th grade, although it's tempting, spending $2000 on a computer might not be the greatest course of action.

Even if you have the money to blow, I'd advise atleast trying out or going with a more affordable Mac before throwing 2 grand in the way of Apple -- since this would be your first Mac after all...

[Celticsun]

On the other hand now might be the perfect time to spend that sort of money on something like that.

Do you drive? I wouldn't have thought you have your own house or Mortgage and I would be surprised if your parents charged you rent.

Hell thats a few more years at home with no major outlay plenty of time to get a part time job to pay for it all.

7th Grade = Disposable income

Worst case scenario you run it for 6months, find you hate it... no problem sell it, its not like Apples depreciate, expecially laptops and especially the Pro series.

[daevild]

Seems like the longevity of the MBP case is good, but there is something I would like to know, will the features in it be still usable in 5-7 years? I mean, will it seems too old school if I be still using it after 5 years? Because I plan buying one this summer for my 2 years of college and maybe for at least my first 3 years in university, so I would like to have the opinion of everybody. Maybe a MBP will be too much for a young student such like me and should rather get a MacBook, which is cheaper and buy another one in 3-4 years?

And there is something else I wanna know, is the educational discount greater if we are in university or it is the same thing everywhere? I tried to see how much I would get if I bought a MBP and it seems that i can get a 200$CAN off, is that already a lot or is it more to come?

It gonna be my first Mac so me too I wanna make the right purchase and not live with a nightmare.

[Levi- The perfectionist]

Seems like the longevity of the MBP case is good, but there is something I would like to know, will the features in it be still usable in 5-7 years? I mean, will it seems too old school if I be still using it after 5 years?

Maybe a MBP will be too much for a young student such like me and should rather get a MacBook, which is cheaper and buy another one in 3-4 years?

It gonna be my first Mac so me too I wanna make the right purchase and not live with a nightmare.

Any mac you buy is going to age, just like any computer. Its features will always work/be usable, but newer features will come out that you might like.

its how the computer industry makes its money- by continuing to innovate.

but as I said, if it fulfils your NEEDS now, then it will continue to do so.... but you will WANT (not need) the new features of future models.

If its Not crucial to buy it now, then wait till your later years of school... your plan to buy a MB instead of a MBP is not bad if your prepared to do that in terms of $$$... but needless to say the MBP has more longevity and is ... well just plain better (except maybe the size, seeing as ur a younger student a smaller model may be 'cooler' ).

Macs are not nightmares, and its reassuring to know you can fall back onto windows (no catches, its windows running on essentially windows/intel hardware).

Buy a mac it will make you happy.

I've had my MBP for two yrs now. No real signs of aging. Still does what I want it to, still makes me smile. still fast. still does everything I want it to do. still runs all software and advanced features...

that said, I wish I had one of the new MBP's which feature a faster DVD burn speeds and a faster 64bit CPU over my 32bit one (but I dont need these things).

[Celticsun]

Another thing to consider is that the MacBook Pro will like all the Apple Laptops if looked after always have a decent resale price in 5 years.

Some of the old Powerbooks fetch quite a premium for their age and spec on e-bay

I saw an old G3 Clamshell iBook on ebay the other day. 320mb of RAM 400Mhz nothing special just in good condition, and as I watched it the bidding went crazy for it, think it fetched £385 in the end!?!?! Thats a good $700US!!!!

I have bought and sold a few iBooks of various ages and conditions and made quite a tidy profit on them.

So its not like in 5 years it will pass its sell by date and vanish in a puff of smoke.