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Need advice on buying a Mac
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superpickle
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:33 pm    Post subject: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Maybe there are some folks here smart on this stuff, so I thought I'd ask...
My wife needs a new iOs computer. (Current 2012 MacBook Pro)
We are frugal, so probably going to get it off eBay.
She uses it for Amazon, photo storage, writing a blog, play an exercise video and Twitter.
No gaming.
No video editing.
No streaming.
Very basic stuff.
We backup and store photos to an external drive every 6-12 months.
I want it to still be functional in 4-6 years.
My best guess is to get a Mac Mini and buy peripherals (wireless keyboard and mouse, external DVD, monitor)
Is this a decent idea and which Mac Mini would suffice?
Thank you for your help!
Craig
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OB Bus
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

We also have a 2012-vintage MacBook Pro. It can no longer update the OS so we will be buying anther one soon. For one thing we cannot use TurboTax because it need a newer OS than we can do. In normal times I would say to check out the factory refurbished machines. That is what we did back in 2012 and it has worked out fine. With Covid the laptop market has gone nuts so the refurbished ones are few and far between. I have not looked at the mini, but is portability an issue for you? Or will a desk-bound computer serve your needs?

Good luck, and post what you decide.
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superpickle
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Good point.
Portability is not an issue.
I did notice the laptops were more expensive than the Mini with peripherals.
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Q-Dog
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

I'm using a 2012 Mini for desktop computing. I maxed out the RAM shortly after I bought it and replaced the spinning hard drives with solid state drives a few years ago and don't see any reason to replace it right now.

If I needed to replace it I would get the newest machine available with the most storage and RAM I could afford. The newer machines are not upgradable like the old ones, but the new processors are pretty fast and very efficient.
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superpickle
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Excellent advice.
Looks like the newish ones are all SSD now, so now it's a matter of $$$ for memory.
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Glenn Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 2:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Just bought this for the education director at my synagogue.

$700

Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-Inch Laptop (2.3GHz Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C) Space Gray, Mid 2017 - 2019

https://www.macs4u.com/apple-macbook-pro-retina-13...2017-2019/

When it came in it looked brand new... not a scratch.
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superpickle
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Good website to compare products/options/price.
Thanks!
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Q-Dog
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 4:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Here's a bunch of info plus rumor stuff to think about.
https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/mac-mini/
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LAGrunthaner
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:35 am    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Wow Glenn, great deal.
This site was recommended by a member here when I was forced to teach from home. I didn't make a purchase (needed an iPad to grade assignments) as my principal got me what I needed. But the prices seemed very fair and he said his daughter got a great deal using this site.

https://www.backmarket.com/refurbished-apple-macbook.html

Glenn wrote:
Just bought this for the education director at my synagogue.

$700

Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13.3-Inch Laptop (2.3GHz Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C) Space Gray, Mid 2017 - 2019

https://www.macs4u.com/apple-macbook-pro-retina-13...2017-2019/

When it came in it looked brand new... not a scratch.

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coad Premium Member
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:49 am    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

My first Mac was a Plus back in 87, and for about 20 years I bought the high end models and then maxed them out on ram because I did a lot of ad and photo work with some high end programs. I don't even want to think about the thousands I've spent with them over the years (not to mention the all the money spent to upgrade software to work with each new model/OS).

Now I go buy the cheapest MacBook Air on the shelf at Best Buy, and it works just fine right out of the box. With cloud storage even the basic model will hold everything I need, and the really nice thing is there's usually free or almost free software that will do everything I need it to do, so the days of spending $$$ on stuff like Photoshop or Quark are over too.

My last four have all died from keyboard or screen failure, and it doesn't make sense to repair them when the new laptops are as cheap as they are.
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LAGrunthaner
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:26 am    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

coad, I agree and also be sure you have a large hard drive unless you are primarily using the cloud for storage. coad did you find the deals for a new Mac at Best Buy was a better price?

coad wrote:
My first Mac was a Plus back in 87, and for about 20 years I bought the high end models and then maxed them out on ram because I did a lot of ad and photo work with some high end programs. I don't even want to think about the thousands I've spent with them over the years (not to mention the all the money spent to upgrade software to work with each new model/OS).

Now I go buy the cheapest MacBook Air on the shelf at Best Buy, and it works just fine right out of the box. With cloud storage even the basic model will hold everything I need, and the really nice thing is there's usually free or almost free software that will do everything I need it to do, so the days of spending $$$ on stuff like Photoshop or Quark are over too.

My last four have all died from keyboard or screen failure, and it doesn't make sense to repair them when the new laptops are as cheap as they are.

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Lind wrote:
Have you considered simply starting with a nicer bus? I don't know what your skills are, but the race is easier if you can see the finish line. If you are not a runner, don't start off doing a marathon.
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Abscate Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:43 am    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Backmarket is awesome amd still has good inventory. You can go back about two generations amd get a like new machine with a one year warranty for about 1/4 x 1/3 of new price

If you’ve got all the peripherals the Mac mini is awesome.

Im still using a 2009 Mac air and Mac mini at home

The online tax return engines should put TurboTax out of business
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:08 am    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Also, Apple sells factory refurbs on their web site. A good way to get a discount on a like new machine with a factory warranty. I have bought a couple of Apple refurbs and apart from the packaging they were no different from a new machine.
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aeromech
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2021 6:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

I have two iMacs. A 21.5 inch and a 27. Great machines. I’ve been an Apple guy since 1993. Craigslist or apple refurbished is the way to go. Of course, if you buy off CL you need to trust the seller
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 19, 2021 6:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Need advice on buying a Mac Reply with quote

Abscate wrote:
Backmarket is awesome

When researching where to buy and who to trust, I saw plenty of bad reviews of Blackmarket.

So search for reviews before you spend money.
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