Choosing a Mac for University
Discussion
My girlfriend is starting a masters course soon, and the most used piece of software is Logic Pro. To make things easier she's decided she wants a Mac, and has outsourced the decision to me, who has subsequently outsourced here.
I'm pretty good with computers, phones etc, as long as they are windows and android. We have both only ever used Windows and the last apple product I used was an ipod nano. I have absolutely no idea when it comes to Apple stuff.
Could someone recommend what may be best? I don't know if buying old/refurb products is worthwhile, or just get new? From looking it seems like the Pro would be needed and not the air, but I'm not too sure. She doesn't really want to spend £1500 or so on a laptop so any savings would be appreciated.
Thanks, any help would be much appreciated
I'm pretty good with computers, phones etc, as long as they are windows and android. We have both only ever used Windows and the last apple product I used was an ipod nano. I have absolutely no idea when it comes to Apple stuff.
Could someone recommend what may be best? I don't know if buying old/refurb products is worthwhile, or just get new? From looking it seems like the Pro would be needed and not the air, but I'm not too sure. She doesn't really want to spend £1500 or so on a laptop so any savings would be appreciated.
Thanks, any help would be much appreciated
No student discount at the moment - instead a free pair of beats headphones.
Bought my daughter a pro a couple weeks ago, as you suggested very expensive.
Saying that I have late 2016 'pro', myself that has probably been used on average 50 hours a week for a solid 2 years. (Work during the day and studies in the eve/weekend) - still going strong.
Bought my daughter a pro a couple weeks ago, as you suggested very expensive.
Saying that I have late 2016 'pro', myself that has probably been used on average 50 hours a week for a solid 2 years. (Work during the day and studies in the eve/weekend) - still going strong.
Wilmslowboy said:
No student discount at the moment - instead a free pair of beats headphones.
Bought my daughter a pro a couple weeks ago, as you suggested very expensive.
That is incorrect. As a registered student (or teacher) you receive the (approx. 10%) year round on all qualifying products. The annual 'back to school' promotion which runs for a month around this time of year sees the Beats headphones thrown in.Bought my daughter a pro a couple weeks ago, as you suggested very expensive.
You should be able to log in to the Apple Education store using your Unidays account, which is free with any UK university e-mail address.
Just FYI, we have 3 in the family here with 2014 MBPr (MacBook Pro retina) units....still happily in use: the quality of those units was remarkable.
They went through a phase of dodgy (bad, low travel....had pals who hated them!) keyboards for a few years, but we are told the recent ones are better.
Max out the CPU/memory - there is no room for expansion in the Apple world (one reason I like our old ones....got a 256GB SD card taking mine to 768GB!)
& yes, get the student discount (I think it was about 10%....& occasionally they offer free beats headphones!). Back then, students got a free warranty extension too, worth having.
They went through a phase of dodgy (bad, low travel....had pals who hated them!) keyboards for a few years, but we are told the recent ones are better.
Max out the CPU/memory - there is no room for expansion in the Apple world (one reason I like our old ones....got a 256GB SD card taking mine to 768GB!)
& yes, get the student discount (I think it was about 10%....& occasionally they offer free beats headphones!). Back then, students got a free warranty extension too, worth having.
Thanks for the info about student discount. Does anyone have suggestions on what spec is needed to be able to run the logic Pro software and basic word processing etc. The cheapest new from the Apple site seems to be around £1300, and then adding £200 for the software, this is much more than she would like to spend even with discount but it seems a be necessary evil. Is it worth looking at second hand or refurbished units or just go new?
FlabbyMidgets said:
Thanks for the info about student discount. Does anyone have suggestions on what spec is needed to be able to run the logic Pro software and basic word processing etc. The cheapest new from the Apple site seems to be around £1300, and then adding £200 for the software, this is much more than she would like to spend even with discount but it seems a be necessary evil. Is it worth looking at second hand or refurbished units or just go new?
https://www.apple.com/uk/logic-pro/specs/FlabbyMidgets said:
Thanks for the info about student discount. Does anyone have suggestions on what spec is needed to be able to run the logic Pro software and basic word processing etc. The cheapest new from the Apple site seems to be around £1300, and then adding £200 for the software, this is much more than she would like to spend even with discount but it seems a be necessary evil. Is it worth looking at second hand or refurbished units or just go new?
The current base-spec MBP will be sufficient for those tasks. If doing very intensive editing work then you may need a higher spec. Though I suspect this may not be the case.Progressive said:
The current base-spec MBP will be sufficient for those tasks. If doing very intensive editing work then you may need a higher spec. Though I suspect this may not be the case.
Thank you, this is what I was wondering. Its a Masters course in song writing and production, I don't know what sort of intensity it will be software wise.thebraketester said:
There is running logic pro... and there is running logic pro....
Most macs will run it with a small number of tracks and plugins. Bit if she needs it to run 40 tracks with lots of plugins then you'll need a fairly well spec'd Macbook pro at mimumim.
Thanks, the base spec seems good compared to the minimum requirements, but I don't know what sort of power will be needed. I've priced up the base-spec, it comes to approx £1350 including the software bundle (with logic Pro) and a free pair of beats headphones thrown in too, doesn't seem too bad. The next one up would be approx £500 more it seems Most macs will run it with a small number of tracks and plugins. Bit if she needs it to run 40 tracks with lots of plugins then you'll need a fairly well spec'd Macbook pro at mimumim.
thebraketester said:
Your g/f should know what she's expects from the software and buy accordingly.
Does she need portability? If not then mac minis are a good option.
She hasn't started the course yet, has been to the induction and basically been told we only use logic Pro here, you should buy a mac. She hasn't had chance to use the software yet, or a mac. Does she need portability? If not then mac minis are a good option.
She will be commuting by train every day so would need to be portable.
Base spec may have a tiny SSD and limited memory, and the very fast internal 128gb SSD will be taken up by the system and the install (63gb for the full Logic Pro X install), plus you'll need plenty of space for plug-ins & tracks.
If you don't already have a very fast external SSD for extra storage, you may want to go to the 256gb model, and 16gb memory - which takes you to £1879 (with Logic Pro X and before any discounts).
A refurb will probably save you another 10-20% on the retail price though - and there are faster ones with the 256gb SSD on there...e.g.
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FV962B/A/ref... (with a £270 saving on the £1799 2.4ghz model with faster graphics)
If you don't already have a very fast external SSD for extra storage, you may want to go to the 256gb model, and 16gb memory - which takes you to £1879 (with Logic Pro X and before any discounts).
A refurb will probably save you another 10-20% on the retail price though - and there are faster ones with the 256gb SSD on there...e.g.
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/FV962B/A/ref... (with a £270 saving on the £1799 2.4ghz model with faster graphics)
Progressive said:
That is incorrect. As a registered student (or teacher) you receive the (approx. 10%) year round on all qualifying products. The annual 'back to school' promotion which runs for a month around this time of year sees the Beats headphones thrown in.
You should be able to log in to the Apple Education store using your Unidays account, which is free with any UK university e-mail address.
hmm, yep - your right.....wife and daughter failed to mention that £151 cash discount You should be able to log in to the Apple Education store using your Unidays account, which is free with any UK university e-mail address.
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