Cheapest usable MacBook?

If you buy second hand, the sky's the limit. I wouldn't buy anything from before 2012 though.

I'm using an early 2011 MacBook with SSD and i7 (probably upgraded at some point). It's working quite well despite being busted here and there (the previous owner didn't take good care of it). With Mini-DP and a modern display it feels snappy and modern.

>>58665120
anything from 2010 forward, just make sure you get at least 4GB of RAM and be prepared to install an SSD. a white 2010 macbook runs about $200-$250 these days

File: macbook2010.png (97KB, 700x447px) Image search: [Google]

97KB, 700x447px

>>58665214
i took this picture ages ago (it runs Sierra great) but just for reference

core2duo is still good

>>58665214
>>58665229
also since i was setting this up for my mother i left the 5400rpm in, if your usage is really light it may be fine for you as well

>>58665160
I'm definitely buying secondhand. I'm frugal as fuck, because the one thing my family drilled into my head growing up was "you don't live comfortably by spending all of your money", so I always buy into a new hobby or interest at the lowest point that I can while still getting an adequate feel for it, then resell my stuff and move on if I hate it and move up if I don't. Apple products seem to hold their value pretty well which is promising.

>>58665120
I think the cheapest new retina 13" runs about $1400, but as others have said refurb is much much better if you are looking for cheap. I think apple still sells the non-retina MBPs with the HDD for $1200 but those are shit.

>>58665272
I would go for a 2013 13" retina MBP. Macs haven't really evolved after them and their prices shouldn't be too bad right now.

>>58665214
Thanks!

Do they require a special type of drive, or will a standard 2.5" laptop drive suffice? I have a really nice hybrid drive as a second drive in my laptop just for my Linux install, but if I get a Mac there won't really be many things I do on Linux that I can't do just as well on a Mac so I'll probably just slap in my hybrid drive in it. 7200 rpm 750GB HDD and 250GB SSD all in one drive

Thanks a lot, kind anons. I must've found the time when the children are in school in the USA and asleep elsewhere, because you guys have been a tremendous help and I've never seen such a pleasant, civil response like this.

Again, thank you all!

I still have my black Macbook from 2008. I wish I could make it run today's shit, even for browsing.

>>58665378
You could also make a hackintosh if you want to tinker with the OS and shit.

>>58665120
Anything from 2012.
Gen three i5/i7.

Don't buy a 2010 or 2011, you will regret it, the 2012 line costs the same.

>>58665583
No!

Hackintosh is not worth it, specially for portable use, it's literary shitting on everything that makes a MBP and macOS great.

>>58665149

related, I have the 2010 and am very satisfied still

>>58665636
>core 2 duo
nope