I have been given an allowance to purchase a laptop and Im thinking of getting a MBP 13" or 15". does anyone know of good deals going around under $2,000? I dont necessarily want the cheapest option but the biggest saving (most $ cut off original price).
I know my hardware so dont worry about explaining which specification is better than the other. :)
I have been buying Macs since 1985 but I would not buy a performance oriented Mac right now, they are seriously out of date and should be upgraded significantly, if not massively, when the next Apple event happens, usually early September. I would hate to lay out the big dollars for Apple kit and then see it superseded so soon.
The only thing not due for replacement would be the RMB, and it only has an m series chip.
Can you wait and see what happens?
On the other hand there should be some big clearance specials coming out in the next month or so.
^ This. If you need a new laptop, OP, buy the absolutely cheapest second-hand one you can get by with and save your pennies for when the new ones are announced. Most of the Mac lineup have 2-4 yr old chips. I love Apple computers but the current state of their lineup (excluding the non-pro retina MacBook) are really shaming them at the moment.
MacBooks are very expensive and very competitively priced at the same time.
Its best to get them when the Aussie dollar is strong, the Macs drop in price a bit, and Apple holds one of their 15% off sales.
JB/Good Guys will usually match the deals, and throw in something extra too.
A lot of people recommend Apple Care for MacBooks, but I don't know if that is worth it or not.
Best of luck
If you must get a macbook, then try gumtree or Apple's factory refurbished store or one of those shops that sells refurbished apple products.
For windows laptops, I recommend buying a Lenovo T460(s/p) or T560. They're on sale and you can get an excellent deal if you have a business or have an affinity discount account.
The cheapest macbook pro 13" is around $1800. lol