MacBook or MacBook Pro for college?

I need some help deciding which one to buy for my daughter. I know nothing about Mac's and need some advice.

I would start by comparing the different models.. In the lower section you will see:
The navigation bar in the upper right will let you compare different characteristics of the different models. Although any of them may be fine, the choice should be made on what your daughter will need the computer to do and which does it best at a reasonable price.

Similar Messages

  • Macbook Air or Pro for College?

    With the announcment of the new Macbook Air with all day battery life, faster graphics, and better flashstorage I don't know if I should go with the 13 MBA or the 13 MBP with Retina. I will be a engineering major but I took a private tour at Colorado State and everyone said that you don't need a personal computer for all your work its all done on the school network. If my laptop would only be personal would it be smart to just get the Macbook Air? I just wish it had a Retina Display.
    Thanks
    Alpine

    SammiiDannii wrote:
    When I purchased my MBP 13, I considered the air. However, I found out that the Air's do not have a cdrom. Meaning I cannot put my own music on it, if it's off a cd. I can't install any games I may decide I want. I couldn't install any software, either.
    Both of these products do basically the same things, however remember that if you do get the air, you won't have a cd rom/dvd drive.
    The 13" Mbp Retina does not have an optical drive either, so there is no difference.

  • I'm getting a MacBook pro for college and just wanted to make sure I was correct on how to transfer everything to it such as iTunes. All I have to do is turn on home sharing and then log into iTunes on my new Mac right?

    I'm getting a MacBook pro for college and just wondered how to transfer/share everything from my desktop pc to my Mac?

    home sharing will work but won't transfer playcounts, ratings, and original "date added".
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  • If i buy a mackbook pro for college, can i get a free ipod with it?

    can i get a free ipod touch if i purchase a mackbook pro for college this summer?

    In the past the Apple Store has offered that promotion.  Last year when I purchased my Macbook Pro I was not offered a free iPod.  The Apple Store did run and summer promotion that year for college student; if you purchased a computer through the college portal in the Apple Store you recieved a $100 Appstore gift card, which came quite handy with some apps that cost money.  But personally I would of been happy with an iPod instead.

  • IMac   iPad MacBook Pro for college?

    As title says do you think an iMac in combination with a iPad I already be a good combination for college? I will be an IT major. Or do you think that a MacBook Pro trumps the combination?

    I'd like to add to what bold_seagull and Michael Duquette1 said. I purchased a refurbished iMac 21.5 and was delivered just a few days ago. I can't find a single scratch on it and it works perfectly. Would definitely recommend you consider a refurbished Mac from the online Apple store and alongside purchasing AppleCare, you'll not be paying much more than for a new Mac without the extended AppleCare.
    If you're allowed to take your laptop into the class (believe it or not, the department head of the IT dept. last year banned the use of laptops in the class room, until recently where we're allowed to use laptops in the class room now), then I'd recommend you opt for a MacBook Pro. They're pretty powerful and can do most demanding tasks. If you're looking for portability, get a 13" MacBook Pro. I've never owned nor do I know how heavy the 15" MacBook Pros are, but if you're looking for more screen space while having portability nonetheless, then opt for a 15" MacBook Pro (though the 15" MacBook Pros are obviously a bit expensive; but there probably are 15" models available to buy on the Refurbished Macs section of the Apple website often).
    Otherwise, if you don't need to take your laptop into college much, perhaps consider an iMac instead? The iMac is obviously more powerful and the screens are big.
    Hope this helps.

  • Macbook Air or Pro for gaming.

    Hi i was wondering if any of you could answer a couple of questions for me, i am looking to buy a new macbook air or pro (not sure which) but i was wondering if i could play a PC game via bootcamp? would it work okay? Also would a wireless PS4/3 or Xbox 1/360 controller work wirelessly?
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    Thanks, Jake.

    Take some time to read through:Boot Camp: Frequently asked questions about installing Windows 8 and also visit the BootCamp support site at http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

  • Should I buy a Macbook Pro for college? If so which one?

    Going to college in a couple of weeks. I was planning on buying a Macbook Pro but I don't really know if I need it or if it's worth the price. I was looking at the 13 inch i5 and i7 versions. If I would buy the i5 one, I would like to upgrade the hard drive to 500G for an extra 50 bucks but was wondering if it was worth just going for the i7 processor version which already includes a 500G hard drive. It would be an extra 250 dollars. Also, if I buy either one of these, will it last me 4-6 years of college? I know that technology goes by fast and would rather spend an extra couple hundred dollars if its going to last me longer. I am majoring in Petroleum Engineering and will not be using much video editing or gaming.
    I've been reading many reviews and statements about Macs from all over the internet but I have a few more questions about Macbook Pros. I have always been a PC guy.
    Do Macs really stay fast longer? Like doesn't slow down as much.
    How limited is the compatibility now days?
    Worth the big price tag?
    How big of a difference is the i5 and i7 processors?
    Can you put a laptop lock on it? It will probably be a big target for thieves and I hear there are many in college.
    Should I get Apple Care?
    Is there more programs I would need to buy? I am getting a 100 dollar gift card thing to the apple app store but wondering if I need Microsoft Office or something that isn't from the Apple store
    The reason I ask these questions is because I would rather have an answer from a community of people with multiple answers and opinions than a biased website or reviewer. Well there will be some biased since this is an apple forum but please answer truthfully and as unbiased as possible please! Thanks!

    Mac 101
    http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
    http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
    http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro

  • Macbook Air vs. Macbook Pro for college

    Hello,
    I am currently in college and need to upgrade my laptop. I have never owned a macbook before but some of my friends have them and they love them. I am a music major and I just added a photography minor. I need a laptop that can handle editing large amounts of photos. I will also need to have Word and Powerpoint on my laptop. I will be taking my laptop to class to take notes, so portability and battery life is also something I need to take into consideration. I have been looking into buying one of the refurbished macbooks simply because they are cheaper. Also, is there a major difference between LED and Retina display? Any suggestions as to which model I should get would be appreciated!

    The MacBook/Pro has more processor options and additional
    upgrades as part of a configure to order when buying online.
    There also is a higher RAM capacity in the /Pro, which can
    help several top-heavy applications (or a newer OS upgrade)
    run better than without. All things considered, there is little
    an owner can do after purchase to upgrade these.
    The Retina is likely a bit sharper and is of higher resolution
    but some users don't say that means a lot to them; however
    the way the display is assembled may be better w/ Retina.
    And consider the optional AppleCare extended plan.
    The basic MacBook/Pro with optical drive & non-Retina panel
    may be OK, and maybe less a theft magnet than higher end.
    In the refurbished store, the saving could almost equal the
    cost of the AppleCare extended plan. However items sold
    in that discount area don't offer any upgrade to hardware.
    Mostly the specifications of the Applications, and OS X version
    that likely would see an upgrade before long, along with the
    prospect of multiple-tasking several things at once, would lead
    one to consider the /Pro & any options in processor/RAM/HDD.
    Some older models allow you access to swap a hard drive, or
    add RAM: the newer ones appear intended to not allow much.
    Check the iFixit and other online guides if looking into an older
    Mac model to see if they say anything about user upgrades.
    Also, with a new model an unauthorized upgrade may void an
    AppleCare plan coverage of an issue resulting from tampering
    if something is broken where one is not supposed to go...
    The MB/Pro with or without Retina, looks best for processing
    and large file manipulation, layers of image editing, etc.
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • Niece getting 15" Macbook Pro for college

    To help her and my brother out thought I'd ask here about some good bags for a college student with a regular size MacBook Pro.  Something that protects the laptop well, and has a bit of room to put in some of those college textbooks.  Any suggestions?

    Hi s,
    Just a starter thought: if she's like most kids going into college these days, she'll want a backpack style.

  • Used Macbook Pros for college

    Hi we will be buying our first Mac product for our son who is going for an Music Performance major at college.  The College is an  big Mac place and there is lots of Macs in the Performing Arts center, computer labs in the dorms.   We are in sticker shock looking at new prices, so we are exploring used and refurbish MBP's, but we don't know just how old we should be looking for.  We think we should not be looking for anything older than Mid 2012 since this needs to last him for 4 years.  Can we go older or try to buy the newest in our budget?
    LJD

    I also recommend the Apple refurb site. MacBook Pros are in high demand for the "cool" factor and there are a lot of ripoff deals out there.
    As notebook computers tend to get a lot of abuse, buying one used is a real risk. Like buying a used off-road vehicle, you don't know which mud-bog it's been stuck in!
    We have many direct-from-Apple refurbs in our family of Macs and all have given excellent service.
    I have this one, bought last June:
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD101LL/A/refurbished-133-inch-macBook-pro-25g hz-dual-core-intel-i5
    I love it. It is a real workhorse, the price is right, and you get an optical drive that si not present in the Retina models. My son bought the same model, and a friend bought two, all refurb 2012 models. That version does not show up much in these forums as a "problem child."

  • My mother and I share an iTunes account and library on our pc at home. I recently got a MacBook Pro for college and I want to put my music on my new laptop. What is the best way I should go about that?

    any help you guys can give would be great! I have a limited amount of time to do this.

    Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder on your PC to /Music/ on your Mac.
    Then delete what you don't want.
    You will need to authorize yrou computer for the iTunes account yoru mother has.
    You should create & use your own iTunes account for any more purchases.
    You don't need to export anything and definitely don't need to (and shouldn't) convert anything.

  • Macbook Air or Pro for Psychology Student

    Hey everyone,
    Like a lot of people, I'm having trouble deciding which Macbook to buy although I at least know that I'm finally going to buy one! I'm a college student, and here is a list of what I will/want to do with my Macbook:
    -Write papers
    -Make presentations
    -Watch Youtube
    -Social network (facebook, twitter, tumblr)
    -E-mail
    -iTunes/Pandora (listen to music, watch movies)
    -Be able to multitask (ex: have lecture slides open while taking notes elsewhere)
    -MAYBE light games? I have no intentions to ever religiously video edit or game though it may happen ocassionally.
    I've talked to A LOT of people, including the awesome people working in the Apple store and I've gotten mixed suggestions. For what I will need the Macbook for, I've been told by a couple of friends that the Air should be fine. I think I will get the i7 processor with 8gb of RAM. Some (including people at Apple) have told me that I should even be fine with the i5 and 4gb of RAM. My thought was that if I was told I wouldn't even need to upgrade the processor or memory that a Pro wouldn't make sense for me.
    The portability and battery life on the Air is really convienent for me as the laptop will be travelling to and from school/work/home. I put this thread in the Macbook Air section because that's the computer I'm leaning toward, but maybe someone can provide an argument that would show me that the Pro really is better for my needs?
    Also - you can buy AppleCare any time as long as it's before the end of the 1 year Warranty - correct?
    Thanks!

    Yeah, that would be the only detriment I see as well, though I intend to buy the 256GB model and can simply get an external drive if I find it necessary. Thanks for your input!
    Another question - (for anyone) - If I order online and select the student discount, how does that work? Do I pay the student rate and then show my student ID & license at the store when I pick it up?

  • Macbook Air and iPad for College/ General Use?

    Hi all, I've recently gotten a tax rebate to the tune of £1500 pounds and since I'm returning to college in September I'd like to purchase a MacBook Air in order to have a way to take down notes in a far more efficient form. I currently own a 2010 iMac so I can used that for storage and entertainment meaning the MacBook doesn't need to be anything special in terms of performance.
    I currently have two options that I'm interested in, buy an 11 inch MacBook Air (Don't need the 13 if I'm honest) and I'll have enough money to buy an iPad (for use as a Filofax/ E-Reader/ something to prat about on).
    OR I could sink the money into a MacBook Pro (putting extra to it of course) and get more performance.
    Or maybe there's a third option that I've missed? Any help would be appreciated and thank you in advance.

    Seriously, look at the specs and price...
    http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shopmac/family/macbookair?afid=p219%7CGOUS&cid=OAS-US-KWG-CPUMacBookAir-US
    Then compare... for example...
    http://www.shopping.hp.com/notebooks
    Or try dell.
    http://www.dell.com/us/p/popular-laptop-deals?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ST=cheap%20l aptop&dgc=ST&cid=35911&lid=894403&acd=52183,8,0,100035970,763349761,1296893920,, 11758726,5701123461&redirect=1
    Then ask yourself that question again.
    You should be able to get a 6-9 cell quad core with 4-8gigs ram and a 64 bit OS for 1/3 the price of the core duo 2gig air. 9 cell battery is where your cost goes up, it's the difference between 9 hours (6 cell) and 13 hours (9 cell) of battery life.
    But a quad core 4 gig 6 cell 64bit OS laptop will run you about $499 -$699. And it will bury the $1600 air 500 feet in the ground without breaking a sweat, all while watching p0rn, playing call of duty and streaming netflix as it digs the hole.
    I guess the real question is, do you want to buy a computer to make a fashion statement, or do you want to buy a computer to use as a computer?

  • MacBook Air or Pro for 2012 Student (heavy multitasker)?

    Hey Apple Community,
    Brief Background: I have been using the MacBook (December 2010), and it has been a boon - but it is time to move on. I waste anywhere between 1-3 hours just waiting for it to load, or else having to reboot it and open things again. Whatever I do, within an hour of use it just lags to the point where I end up doing my work on my iPhone or relocating to the school library where I can use a PC.
    As such, I want to buy a new MacBook. I will be writing two books, doing academic research, and soon starting my JD.
    I need a computer mainly for the following tasks:
    - Word processing et al (pages, word, powerpoint)
    - Internet (heavy multitabbing ... I mean very heavy)
    - Internet streaming films, shows, etc.
    - Music (Itunes)
    Perhaps most defining, I do all of these at the same time, utilizing Apple's 'Spaces' feature to the max - so the chosen mac would have to be very Multitask-Friendly (VERY!). I want something that will be able to effortlessly hold up all of these tasks at the same time. Harddrive space is less important (I am willing to put all of my music, movies and photos on an external harddrive if necessary). I'd like a computer that can do all of this very quickly, and would also be very portable (but I think the Pro is lightweight enough).
    I am leaning towards the MacBook Air.
    I would be grateful for any help at all.

    I think the MBair would meet your needs.  Here's a comparison with the MBpro.
    http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57458148-37/13-inch-macbook-air-vs-13-inch-mac book-pro-which-should-you-buy/?tag=postrtcol;posts

  • MacBook Air or Pro for iMovie editing?

    I am getting a Macbook. I want the air, but i'm concerned that there won't be enough GHz for the imovie projects that I create. Is the air good enough? Or should i get the pro?
    Thanks in advance.

    You should also ask this in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air forums. This is the forum for the 13” white and black plastic MacBooks that were discontinued in 2010. You should also post this question there to increase your chances of getting an answer.
    https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro
    https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_air

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