Re: [tlug] Akihabara, used/refurbished Mac laptops?

[Kevin Sullivan <kts@example.com>]

On Nov 9, 2017, at 9:00, Curt Sampson <cjs@example.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 2017-11-07 21:57 +0900 (Tue), Kevin Sullivan wrote:
>> 
>> ..another 13-inch Macbook Pro, this time preferrably a 2015-6 era
>> with Retina display, and upgradable to 16gb and maybe 500gb-1tb
>> storage. 
> 
> I think all the newer Macbooks (at least 2015 onward) have
> non-upgradable memory ( it's soldered on to the motherboard). That
> said, my experience has been that the work reasonably well at 8 GB, if
> being perhaps a bit tight if you have a lot of tabs or programs open.
> If you're running Linux on it you'll have a bit more elbow room; a
> typical Linux system running desktop apps uses about 2 GB less RAM
> than a Mac running the same apps.

Yes, good to know. I think what I am after is a Retina display and faster quad-core i7, 16gb, and phatter SSD.  Living within limits PC-wise or god forbid sorting/cleaning unused data seems so unappealing compared to “upgrading” to higher/newer capacities. Perhaps a bit more research (online as you suggest) could help me hone in specific models filling the bill.

> I don't know what the older ones have for drives, but I am pretty sure
> that the newer ones are not standard HDD form factors (2.5") but mSATA
> or M.2 cards (see <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2> for a pic).

Saw that in some specs. I can say the mid-2012 13’ MacBook pros while a bit chunky in their metal case and dual-core 2.5ghz i5 does upgrade to 16gb, despite official Mac claims of only 8gb, and uses standard 2.5hdd/sdd. I had mine upgraded to those specs last year from 4gb & 500mb hdd, and I was very pleased with the USD$400 spent. Night and day difference in the speed and usability for my style of leaving so many tabs open and programs running at all times.

> Sofmap and other major shops also sell on-line, so if you know the
> models well and are comfortable with not physically handling one
> before you buy it, that could save you a trip. Even if not, checking
> online first is a good way to research models and prices.
> 
> Curt J. Sampson      <cjs@example.com>      +81 90 7737 2974

True true. Time may yet cure my techno-itch, but I am noticing a tendency to look around for something to spend on... ;) Maybe its time to get practical and find this years snow tires @ Up Garage.