Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Graduation present --Laptop advice.

FanIn80 · 01-13-2009, 09:35 AM

Ordered by cost (ascending):

Probably good enough: http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw
Absolutely good enough: http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw

If she's taking some kind of engineering, graphics design, video, multimedia, architecture, etc etc (ie: something that needs a lot of resources):
http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw

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My personal recommendation would be http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw
With these two upgrades: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...21563(ME).aspx (7200rpm HD) and 2x http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...16414(ME).aspx (4GB RAM)

That would give her:

Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
L2 cache 3MB shared
System bus 800MHz
Memory 4GB (two 2GB) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300)
Hard drive 320GB Serial ATA II; 7200 rpm
Slot-loading optical drive 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Graphics Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
Video Built-in iSight camera; mini-DVI output port with support for DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video (requires adapters, sold separately)
Display 13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy TFT widescreen display, 1280 by 800 resolution
FireWire One FireWire 400 port (up to 400 Mbps)
USB Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
Audio Built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, combined optical digital audio output/audio line out
Networking Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet
Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification)
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module

Final cost: $1229.00 (plus taxes)

I think she'll like not only the look and the ease of use... but also the compactness and lightness of it.

Height 1.08 inches (2.75 cm)
Width 12.78 inches (32.5 cm)
Depth 8.92 inches (22.7 cm)
Weight 5.0 pounds (2.27 kg)

It's a bit more money than the average $500 laptop at Futureshop, but you'd be giving her something that would just turn on and work. She'll be spending more time doing her school work (hopefully

) and less time fixing her laptop and/or sending it in for repairs. Also, you won't have to buy her another laptop ever again, since this one will last at least 3-5 years.

Edit: Also, you will have a full 1 year to add on the extended AppleCare warranty. Whatever complaints you might have or advice you've read pretty much goes out the window when it comes to Apple's warranties. AppleCare really is a good investment. Especially on a refurb. It's pricey, but they give you 1 year complimentary AppleCare and you can add on the extended 2 year option on the 365th day after buying the laptop, if you wanted to wait that long.

01-13-2009, 09:35 AM	#2
FanIn80 GOAT! Join Date: Jun 2006 Exp:	Ordered by cost (ascending): Probably good enough: http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw Absolutely good enough: http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw If she's taking some kind of engineering, graphics design, video, multimedia, architecture, etc etc (ie: something that needs a lot of resources): http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My personal recommendation would be http://store.apple.com/ca/product/FB...mco=MjE0NDk5Mw With these two upgrades: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...21563(ME).aspx (7200rpm HD) and 2x http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...16414(ME).aspx (4GB RAM) That would give her: Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L2 cache 3MB shared System bus 800MHz Memory 4GB (two 2GB) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) Hard drive 320GB Serial ATA II; 7200 rpm Slot-loading optical drive 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) Graphics Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory Video Built-in iSight camera; mini-DVI output port with support for DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video (requires adapters, sold separately) Display 13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy TFT widescreen display, 1280 by 800 resolution FireWire One FireWire 400 port (up to 400 Mbps) USB Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps) Audio Built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, combined optical digital audio output/audio line out Networking Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification) Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module Final cost: $1229.00 (plus taxes) I think she'll like not only the look and the ease of use... but also the compactness and lightness of it. Height 1.08 inches (2.75 cm) Width 12.78 inches (32.5 cm) Depth 8.92 inches (22.7 cm) Weight 5.0 pounds (2.27 kg) It's a bit more money than the average $500 laptop at Futureshop, but you'd be giving her something that would just turn on and work. She'll be spending more time doing her school work (hopefully ) and less time fixing her laptop and/or sending it in for repairs. Also, you won't have to buy her another laptop ever again, since this one will last at least 3-5 years. Edit: Also, you will have a full 1 year to add on the extended AppleCare warranty. Whatever complaints you might have or advice you've read pretty much goes out the window when it comes to Apple's warranties. AppleCare really is a good investment. Especially on a refurb. It's pricey, but they give you 1 year complimentary AppleCare and you can add on the extended 2 year option on the 365th day after buying the laptop, if you wanted to wait that long. Last edited by FanIn80; 01-13-2009 at 09:58 AM.