Best Apple laptop for real estate?

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Best Apple laptop for real estate?

Lavaud Charlemagne
West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes

I’m in the market to buy a laptop to do real estate (i’m an agent) but i’m not sure which one to buy (I would prefer an Apple laptop but I’m open to other suggestions)? Thanks for your assistance.

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Mike CumbieBusiness Member
REALTOR® · Brockport, NY · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
8y

I buy the cheapest computer I can find. The $349 special. When it's on the hood of my car and slides off, I don't cry as much. If I'm crawling through a HUD house I don't worry about putting it on a counter and using my phone for a hotspot. My Google accounts are linked with MS Office so it doesn't matter if I swap it every other week. Sometimes I have to leave it in the trunk while I head into a restaurant or go walk the back 40. I don't think about it much. If it was a $1800 piece of equipment, I may be more careful, but what good Is a tool I don't have access to when I need it?

Just my 2 cents and good luck

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  • Jim Cummings
    Residential Real Estate Broker · College Station, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 969 votes
    8y

    @Lavaud Charlemagne. Appears you are getting a diversity of opinion on Mac Vs PC Vs Chromebook, etc. 

    If you are showing homes to clients, suggest having an I-Pad with the ability to access the MLS on the road. Great asset to have when clients ask about the home you just drove by - that not on your showing schedule.

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Sherman Ragland:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne -  Really depends on what you want (need) to do....  I’ve been a Mac guy since 1984. Used a PC twice during that period, but got sick and tired of viruses and blue screens, so pretty much Mac for 30+ years. I have a MacBookPro, IPadPro, iPad, iPhone and Mac Air.  The Air is pretty much worthless for just about everything.  The iPadPro is great for watching movies on long flights, but not much else.  More and more websites no longer use flas, so I can do 90% of what I need to do with an iPad and iPhone. Just got the 6th generation iPad, so it uses the pencil if you need it. Also, more and more you can use apps on the iPad to do what you use to need Photoshop and an MacBookPro to do, such as Canva and WordSwag.  Unless you’re editing movies in FinalcutPro, or need to access sites that use Flash, an iPhone or iPhone will probably do the trick for 90% of what you’ll do as an agent.

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Sherman Ragland:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne -  Really depends on what you want (need) to do....  I’ve been a Mac guy since 1984. Used a PC twice during that period, but got sick and tired of viruses and blue screens, so pretty much Mac for 30+ years. I have a MacBookPro, IPadPro, iPad, iPhone and Mac Air.  The Air is pretty much worthless for just about everything.  The iPadPro is great for watching movies on long flights, but not much else.  More and more websites no longer use flas, so I can do 90% of what I need to do with an iPad and iPhone. Just got the 6th generation iPad, so it uses the pencil if you need it. Also, more and more you can use apps on the iPad to do what you use to need Photoshop and an MacBookPro to do, such as Canva and WordSwag.  Unless you’re editing movies in FinalcutPro, or need to access sites that use Flash, an iPhone or iPhone will probably do the trick for 90% of what you’ll do as an agent.

     Thanks for your input. You’re the second investor on here actually that believes that an iPhone is sufficient to do the job. But my question is: can’t it be a little problematic when you’re working on a spreadsheet or contracts?

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Mike Cumbie:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne

    "@Aaron Taylor thanks for replying. But could you guys (You & Mike Cumbie) name a few PCs on the low budget side. It would be highly appreciated."

    I'm Like Aaron. I worked at CompUSA in the tech department a lifetime ago then went on to teach building upgrading classes and onto system engineering for too many years. I gave that life up years ago. If you are doing things a typical agent does (contracts, uploading images to the web, using websites that have zero bearing on client side computing), you could get away with an $80 tablet as far as performance goes.

    If you are doing real video editing or real graphic intensive work, then yes an Apple would be a better choice. If you need that kind of performance as an agent, you may want to decide if selling houses is your real passion or you should get into a field where you need to make up clock cycles on some highly graphic intensive project. We are talking about heavy 3D rendering, not uploading some images you add some clouds to the sky. I would recommend any graphic/marketing people you hire have one and a copy of Photoshop. Neither is cheap and learning to use them is not like click/drag/push button, look I have a great photo. Expect to spend 25 hours trying to make a flyer and then task it out to some graphic person for $25 and get back to researching houses :)

     Recently picked up a HP 15-BS060WM on Ebay for like $370. 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD Windows 10, touch screen. If it only lasts 2 years, I will go through 5 of them by the time I would have paid the $1800 for an Apple. I will run this silly cheap thing against any 10 year old Apple. All of my files are stored online, I can access them from anywhere. I login on a new computer and am up and running in 5 minutes, They are a disposable tool in my opinion, just like my phone. But you have to be happy in whatever you decide to use.

    Good luck in whatever route you decide to go!

     Thanks.

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Jim Cummings:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne. Appears you are getting a diversity of opinion on Mac Vs PC Vs Chromebook, etc. 

    If you are showing homes to clients, suggest having an I-Pad with the ability to access the MLS on the road. Great asset to have when clients ask about the home you just drove by - that not on your showing schedule.

     Thanks for your response. Which tablet are you using.

    0Reply
  • Storm S.
    Real Estate Agent · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2016 · 518 posts · 283 votes
    8y
    I like the hp specter x360 with Linux installed as the OS
    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Storm S.:

    I like the hp specter x360 with Linux installed as the OS

     Thanks Storm

    0Reply
  • Trent Ecklar
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 203 posts · 170 votes
    8y

    My MacBook Air works very well for running my business!

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Trent Ecklar:

    My MacBook Air works very well for running my business!

     Glad to hear that. Thanks for replying.

    0Reply
  • Sherman Ragland
    Involved In Real Estate · Upper Marlboro, MD · Member since 2014 · 246 posts · 230 votes
    8y

    @Lavaud Charlemagne - would not do spreadsheets etc on an iPhone.

    I’d probably use my MacBook for spreadsheets cause I’m old fashion that way.

    Contract review and signing can be done on an iPhone (especially with Docusign) but an iPad (with or without external keyboard) is probably even easier than on a laptop if you’re a mobile person.

    0Reply
  • Scott TitusPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Lake Ozark, MO · Member since 2017 · 102 posts · 86 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Lavaud Charlemagne:

    @Scott Titus thanks for the explanation. I really like the fact that you can easily have access to your documents via all your Apple devices. That’s super cool. But why do you need a Surface Pro? Does it somehow communicate with your Apple devices (Just curious as you can probably see I’m not too tech savvy myself

    Sorry for the delay, my work gave it to me for work. I definitely like it, but not nearly as much as I like the ease of Apple devices. Some have said they’d prefer to buy a cheap laptop and if it does who cares, I understand that mindset but after buying a laptop every year I grew sick of it. To each their own, just try to figure out how you’re going to use it. 

    Good luck!

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Sherman Ragland:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne - would not do spreadsheets etc on an iPhone.

    I’d probably use my MacBook for spreadsheets cause I’m old fashion that way.

    Contract review and signing can be done on an iPhone (especially with Docusign) but an iPad (with or without external keyboard) is probably even easier than on a laptop if you’re a mobile person.

     Thanks for the updates Sherman.

    1Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Scott Titus:
    Originally posted by @Lavaud Charlemagne:

    @Scott Titus thanks for the explanation. I really like the fact that you can easily have access to your documents via all your Apple devices. That’s super cool. But why do you need a Surface Pro? Does it somehow communicate with your Apple devices (Just curious as you can probably see I’m not too tech savvy myself

    Sorry for the delay, my work gave it to me for work. I definitely like it, but not nearly as much as I like the ease of Apple devices. Some have said they’d prefer to buy a cheap laptop and if it does who cares, I understand that mindset but after buying a laptop every year I grew sick of it. To each their own, just try to figure out how you’re going to use it. 

    Good luck!

     Thanks Scott.

    0Reply
  • Eric NeithPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Hellertown, PA · Member since 2016 · 35 posts · 14 votes
    8y

    I have a regular HP laptop that I leave at home.  I also use an Ipad pro with the magnetic keyboard.  It is linked to my data plan on my phones for $10/month.  Unlimited internet wherever I am at.  Plus Word and Excel and your Office documents can be shared through the Microsoft OneDrive effortessly... Feel free to reach out if you have more in depth questions.

    0Reply
  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    8y

    @Lavaud Charlemagne get a MacBook Air. It is light, small and battery runs forever. If you use an iPhone, the Mac will sync up nicely. 

    As others mentioned a Windows PC will also do the job and at a lower cost, but if you are more familiar and comfortable with a Mac, then spend the extra money and get a Mac. A laptop and phone are your most used tools, so get the best quality tool you can for the job. It is not the place to skimp to save a few bucks.

    0Reply
  • Randy Sanders
    Member since 2018 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    I would say depends if you do photo or video editing for your presentations then maybe get a macbook pro but if it will just be purely documents then macbook or macbook air will do

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Eric Neith:

    I have a regular HP laptop that I leave at home.  I also use an Ipad pro with the magnetic keyboard.  It is linked to my data plan on my phones for $10/month.  Unlimited internet wherever I am at.  Plus Word and Excel and your Office documents can be shared through the Microsoft OneDrive effortessly... Feel free to reach out if you have more in depth questions.

     Sounds like a good option Eric. And I appreciate the offer. I might do that as long as T-mobile can get with the program 

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

    @Lavaud Charlemagne get a MacBook Air. It is light, small and battery runs forever. If you use an iPhone, the Mac will sync up nicely. 

    As others mentioned a Windows PC will also do the job and at a lower cost, but if you are more familiar and comfortable with a Mac, then spend the extra money and get a Mac. A laptop and phone are your most used tools, so get the best quality tool you can for the job. It is not the place to skimp to save a few bucks.

     Thanks Joe. I agree as far as getting the best tools for the job.

    0Reply
  • Lavaud Charlemagne
    OP
    West Orange, NJ · Member since 2016 · 63 posts · 7 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Randy Sanders:

    I would say depends if you do photo or video editing for your presentations then maybe get a macbook pro but if it will just be purely documents then macbook or macbook air will do

     Thanks Randy. I appreciate your input.

    0Reply
  • Eric NeithPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Hellertown, PA · Member since 2016 · 35 posts · 14 votes
    8y

    @Lavaud Charlemagne  I have Verizon.  I am pretty sure you can get a data plan from any service provider.  Just compare the costs.  Just make sure you purchase the Ipad with WiFi and Data,  not just the WiFi option.

    0Reply
  • Jim Cummings
    Residential Real Estate Broker · College Station, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 969 votes
    8y

    @Lavaud Charlemagne. With reference to your question. 

    Which tablet are you using? 

    RESPONSE: First computer I bought was a Apple 2 (???) little small screen, worked on "Floppy Disks" so if that dates me - I represent that! Upgraded & Updated Apple Computers several times. When MLS first became computerized - it only worked on Windows based machines, so I grudgingly switched to a Windows machine.

    Currently uses Windows Desktop as primary computer. Also have Windows based Laptop, and Apple IPad 2 for remote MLS Access that I carried when actively showing properties.

    Maybe other folks can do spreadsheets and other detailed work on their phone or tablet - but I prefer the bigger screen - everyone will as you get older. (:>) .

    0Reply
  • Brandon Jeanmarie
    Slidell, LA · Member since 2018 · 23 posts · 11 votes
    8y

    I recently got the iPad Pro - I use it to do all of my real estate work as an agent and investor. Also very light and portable. 

    0Reply
  • Melissa Gittens
    Real Estate Broker · Windsor, CT · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 268 votes
    8y

    I use a macbook air 

    0Reply
  • Robere Istatia
    Accountant · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2015 · 33 posts · 7 votes
    8y

    Hello @Lavaud Charlemagne,

    In my opinion, I would say it depends on the type of work you do. If you are constantly on the move or in less than desirable areas I would be hesitant to put my Macbook Air on a moldy/dusty/undesirable counter top but I would have no problem putting my $300-500 laptop on the same counter bc they are easily replaceable just in case something happens. If you are mainly in an office or meeting with clients I would go with Mac bc it is more prestigious and automatically gives you credibility. (No one questions why you have a mac in a meeting, they may look at you funny if you have a less than desireable pc in a meeting where everyone else has macs) 

    I personally use a Macbook Air, Ive upgraded from a normal Macbook after Ive used/abused it in college. It finally got to a point where I said "I know I need to upgrade but this thing wont break" I did upgrade but still use my older Macbook to download music because they just dont get viruses. I know its a hard decision but to make the cost a little more even you can get a slightly used MB off of C-List or refurbished or slightly used and have full confidence that it works/looks great.

    0Reply
  • David Zheng
    Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    what phone do you have. its nice to have your phone and laptop on the same platform to share events, notifications, etc.

    Personally apple is way overpriced for what you need to do. XPS13 ultrabook is sleek, light, powerful, and has a whopping good battery life.

    0Reply
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