Wander into any Apple Store and look really carefully. Beyond the shiny new iPad Pros and razor-thin gold MacBooks, you'll find something really surprising. There's a MacBook Pro model that Apple still sells that hasn't been changed in four years. It's not the newest or the thinnest or the hottest of Apple's bunch, but there are some great reasons why this model didn't hit the chopping block long ago. Even though it lacks the spiffy Retina displays and Force Touch trackpads of the latest and greatest, this MacBook is the last Apple laptop built around standard, upgradeable components. Dubbed the MacBook Pro 13-inch (mid-2012), this model's official designation is MD101LL/A, for the entry-level Core i5 version. Its retail price through Apple is $1,099.It's a Mac you can actually upgrade. Unlike the new-school MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros that use proprietary flash solutions and feature RAM affixed to the logic board, the MD101LL/A model has two standard RAM slots and uses SATA drives for storage.

This is great for DIY-capable users and even institutions that need to be able to keep their computers running well into the future. Credit: Eugene Phoen The mid-2012 MacBook Pro looks good for its age. What's more is that the MD101LL/A is the last laptop from Apple to feature a full-sized gigabit ethernet port, and the very last computer it sells with an optical drive. If you still need to jack into a network on a routine basis, or prefer to pop in a DVD rather than streaming, these are big wins. Buying both these accessories with any other new MacBook costs $110 extra. There's a reason why Apple makes it really hard to actually buy this model on its website: It's unimpressive when compared to its stablemates. The tech spec sheet and the product's store page are both buried underneath newer models that Apple would probably rather you buy. Here are the MD101LL/A's specs: • Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core processor • 4 GB RAM • 500 GB 5400 rpm hard drive

• 13.3-inch 1280 x 800 LCD • Intel HD Graphics 4000 • 8x SuperDrive (CD/DVD burning and reading) It's no barnburner when it comes to performance, but especially if you configure it (or upgrade it) with a standard SATA solid state drive, this model should feel about as snappy as one of the fancier, more expensive Retina MacBook Pros. With the removal of 10 screws, both the hard drive and RAM are easily accessible and upgradeable with commonly available, non-proprietary parts. This MacBook is built to be upgraded, which means it could last longer than the repair-unfriendly Airs and Retina Pros that Apple sells. Credit: iFixIt Take out ten tiny screws, and your MacBook is easily upgradeable. Try that with your MacBook Air! This one MacBook Pro model is still a top-selling model in the laptop marketplace on Amazon, ranking in the top 10 for a while now. Last we checked, this MacBook was #5, making it the best-selling Apple laptop available. On Amazon's top laptop listings, the ancient MD101LL/A holds the top spot for a Mac at #5.

On Amazon, this 13-inch sells for as little as $900 (refurbished, it's only $829 from Apple). the best suction vacuum cleanerThat's the same price as an entry-level 11-inch MacBook Air, but the Pro gives you more than 4x the storage with its 500 GB hard drive, as well as a bigger screen. what is the best way to clean boat upholsteryIf you have a big iTunes library that you've cultivated over years, this lets you get enough room to keep your hard work with you. furnace and duct cleaning business for saleOverlooking other differences, the only way to get this much room on the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is to fork over $1,800. Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need.

If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives. Be in the know! news and reviews straight to your inbox. Thanks for signing up!This offer has already expired. While you may have missed out here, we have so many more great deals to share with you! To make sure you don't miss any more offers like this one, join our mailing list and follow us on Twitter. for up to the minute updates on new deals and reviews. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Google Plus, or subscribe to our Feed. As part of the Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon is offering the Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner for $87 shipped. That’s $113 off the original list price and the lowest we’ve seen it go at Amazon. It typically sells for $110 and higher at most other retailers such as Target and Walmart. This Hoover has an 18 Volt Lithium-Ion battery so you get “powerful performance without the hassle of a cord.”

It also can easily lift and remove surface debris and deep down embedded dirt. It’s the best seller in its category at Amazon and it received 4.2/5 stars by over 7,000 shoppers. First ever Stick Vacuum with Hoover’s Patented WindTunnel Technology and the convenience of cordless Powered by LiNX 18 V Interchangeable Lithium-Ion Battery for sustained cleaning power One Touch Brush roll activation and Cyclonic Filtration Edge cleaning bristles allow for closer access to walls and corners Low Profile Base allows for easy access under furniture and Wide Mouth Opening lets the vacuum pick up larger items. Just the other day, we were trying to sketch out the kind of laptop that most people could buy and be happy with. Well, it appears Acer beat us to the punch, delivering exactly what we were looking for—and for way less money than we expected. because it's one of the best laptop values we've ever seen. It's got a workhorse 6th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM (upgradeable to 32GB), a 256GB SSD, a 15-inch 1080p screen, and even a dedicated Nvidia 940MX graphics processor for playing games and photo/video editing.

It gets better from there, too: the RAM is upgradeable to 32GB, meaning for just over $100 you can turn this thing into a heavy-hitting machine that can handle multi-tasking with ease. It's also got two USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C connector for fast data transfer, an optical drive if you need one of those, and fast 802.11ac wireless. It's a little hefty at just over five pounds and the battery isn't user-replaceable, but that is a murderer's row of specifications that contends with far more expensive laptops, like Dell's Inspiron 15 Gaming Series that we just reviewed. It's not a 2-in-1 and it doesn't have a touchscreen, but if you just need a good old fashioned laptop with killer hardware, this is—without question—the best deal around. We’ve scoured the web to find you the best deals on good products. may receive a small share of the revenue from your purchase, editorial opinions are independent from any business sales. Thanks for signing up! Be the first to know about