01-24-2019, 06:55 PM
My vote goes to the unibody aluminum MacBook Pros. If I had to pick one, the 2012, since it has USB 3.0.
- Solid design
Strong case, few problems with things like hinges, display cable, or getting squished easily in a case, backpack, etc.
- Very upgradable
Relatively easy to swap the hard drive, relatively easy to add memory (although earlier models typically limited to 8 GB), can replace the CD/DVD drive with a second hard drive.
- Ports
Ethernet, Mini-displayport, FireWire 800, USB, SD card slot
2011 models add Thunderbolt, and 2012 adds USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0
- MagSafe power connector
Still the standard.
- Decent keyboard
While not quite as good as what some earlier Mac laptops had (my 12" Aluminum G4 PowerBook, for example), by comparison with many other Macs, the keyboard is quite good.
- Longevity
I'm using a 2010 MBP to type this, on El Capitan 10.11.6. I think this one can go up to High Sierra. The 2012 can go to Mavericks. I do not feel any need to upgrade the Mac to be able to do anything I want.
The first unibody MBPs, introduced in 2008 (15" & 17"; 13" in 2009), came with Mac OS 10.5, and can run 10.11. The 2012 models came with Mac OS 10.7 and can run Mavericks 10.14.
About the only thing missing was an upgrade from 802.11n WiFi to 802.11ac, and the Retina display.
So, if usability is the criteria, Unibody MacBook Pros.
But I acknowledge that the G3 iMac was revolutionary, so might better deserve a "Greatest Mac" title. The Mac Plus was also pretty neat, but was an evolution. (I still sort of wish I'd upgraded my 512K Mac to a Plus when the upgrade was available.)
Good luck.
- Winston
- Solid design
Strong case, few problems with things like hinges, display cable, or getting squished easily in a case, backpack, etc.
- Very upgradable
Relatively easy to swap the hard drive, relatively easy to add memory (although earlier models typically limited to 8 GB), can replace the CD/DVD drive with a second hard drive.
- Ports
Ethernet, Mini-displayport, FireWire 800, USB, SD card slot
2011 models add Thunderbolt, and 2012 adds USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0
- MagSafe power connector
Still the standard.
- Decent keyboard
While not quite as good as what some earlier Mac laptops had (my 12" Aluminum G4 PowerBook, for example), by comparison with many other Macs, the keyboard is quite good.
- Longevity
I'm using a 2010 MBP to type this, on El Capitan 10.11.6. I think this one can go up to High Sierra. The 2012 can go to Mavericks. I do not feel any need to upgrade the Mac to be able to do anything I want.
The first unibody MBPs, introduced in 2008 (15" & 17"; 13" in 2009), came with Mac OS 10.5, and can run 10.11. The 2012 models came with Mac OS 10.7 and can run Mavericks 10.14.
About the only thing missing was an upgrade from 802.11n WiFi to 802.11ac, and the Retina display.
So, if usability is the criteria, Unibody MacBook Pros.
But I acknowledge that the G3 iMac was revolutionary, so might better deserve a "Greatest Mac" title. The Mac Plus was also pretty neat, but was an evolution. (I still sort of wish I'd upgraded my 512K Mac to a Plus when the upgrade was available.)
Good luck.
- Winston