Macbook Pro (2016)

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Discussion

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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768 said:
It's likely to be more reliable and more likely to be repaired at no cost to you if something does go wrong. But it's a gamble and regardless that alone won't justify the cost, IMHO. The software is vastly better, especially if your son is of an age where he has any interest in learning about computers, but if your only issue is once every three years a £350-400 laptop dies a Macbook is probably not the answer.
Thanks,

Given that the current dead laptop is 3yrs old, I'm thinking £80 for a new HDD would be better put towards a new machine.

Our laptop doesn't get a hard life in terms of use, but my eldest has been using it frequently for college assignment work.

I'm also aware that him being a student is likely to get us a 10% discount so the differential works out at £100 pa using my man maths, so not a lot really.





Edited by wobert on Friday 9th December 13:14

dmsims

6,450 posts

266 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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Assuming the Macbook lasts that long ........

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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wobert said:
Given that the current dead laptop is 3yrs old, I'm thinking £80 for a new HDD would be better put towards a new machine.
It almost sounds like you're not prepared to pay £80 but you are prepared to spend £1,250?

That seems like quite a leap.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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wobert said:
Edit to add the bowl was empty.

We're looking at a basic MacBook Air.....
I wouldn't go for the basic MacBook Air, it is quite old architecture, the MacBook would be a better bet.

One benefit that hasn't been mentioned is the close integration with your other Apple products. Reliability wise, they have less moving parts to break, but still not resistant to being mistreated.

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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Rawwr said:
It almost sounds like you're not prepared to pay £80 but you are prepared to spend £1,250?

That seems like quite a leap.
No, I would be prepared to spend the £80 as "contribution" to another £350-400 laptop, or put the £400 budget to an £800 MacBook Air (after student discount)

I wouldn't be prepared to stretch to £1250 though....

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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Craikeybaby said:
I wouldn't go for the basic MacBook Air, it is quite old architecture, the MacBook would be a better bet.

One benefit that hasn't been mentioned is the close integration with your other Apple products. Reliability wise, they have less moving parts to break, but still not resistant to being mistreated.
Your second point is what I was trying to allude to with my OP.

What benefits does the MacBook bring, other than being non-Windows based (which I see as an improvement) and better integration with the other apple products we own.

FYI the most recent failure was due to an accident, the other laptops died due to parts failing not damage.

99% of the time it would live on my desk.

JiggyJaggy

1,449 posts

139 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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tog said:
JiggyJaggy said:
Technical question about the new Macbook Pro....alot was made of the USB-C on the Macbook 12 and in particular how the laptop could be charged using a high powered portable charger (much like the smaller versions some people use for their iPhones etc). Is this still the case with the Macbook Pro Retina that has just been released?

To me this would be one reason to go for it, given that you would not need the charger whilst travelling.
Yes it can be charged with a big powerbank, but only while it is sleeping.

http://www.macworld.com/article/3146234/mobile-acc...
Good man and thanks for cost me thousands on a new toy! lol

ashleyman

6,962 posts

98 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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wobert said:
ashleyman said:
Not if you're throwing cereal on it. biggrin

Seriously though, I would have said £350-£400 laptops are bargain basement products when compared to Apple. Apple don't sell a laptop that costs less than £1250 now. Spending £1250 in PC territory gets you a high end laptop rather than a base spec MacBook. At that price range you're basically buying the brand.
Edit to add the bowl was empty.

We're looking at a basic MacBook Air.....
As has been said earlier the Macbook Air is quite old technology. This guide is pretty buying guide for the MBA.
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#MacBook_Air

In terms of MacBooks lasting. Mine is a late MacBook Pro 2012 model non-retina and was used by me solidly for 2 years as my main machine. It was then replaced with a 5K iMac for home use. The MacBook Pro has been all over the world, used on photoshoots and is still perfectly acceptable. It's performance is a little slow for my needs now but it's been upgraded to have 16GB of RAM. It's got a very fast upgraded SSD in the main HDD slot. I've removed the CD drive and replaced it with a second 2TB HD. Body condition is very good and has only suffered a few minor scratches to the bottom.

In terms of integration of other devices you own, you'll find the iPhones, iPads and MacBook Pro all work very very well together. Sometimes the swap from Windows to mac can be a little tedious if you're not 100% sure. OS X is a nice place to work though but I'd be sure to check all the little tools you use are available for OS X.

In my earlier post, I was just trying to say that the MBA isn't great value for money when compared to a windows machine costing the same money.

jamoor

14,506 posts

214 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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wobert said:
Looking for some help regarding MacBooks......if I may?

Latest HP Windows has suddenly died (due to my son dropping his cereal bowl on the keyboard which has shocked the HDD into failing)

On average, our last three laptops have managed 3 years before giving up the ghost in some way.

Most were around £350-400 when purchased so hardly bargain basement.

Seriously considering a MacBook as an alternative as we are Apple based on everything else, phone, tablets etc.

What advantage does the MacBook have over a conventional laptop I've used so far, is it likely to be more reliable and worth the additional up front cost?
More expensive, I'd say reliable, my one i bought in 2011 is still working fine. Personally I'd say it's worth the money but I use it 8x7x365.

You can also look at installing ubuntu as the main problem with PCs is Windows.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

220 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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wobert said:
to an £800 MacBook Air (after student discount)
How so? I'm on the student pricing page now and the best I can see is the base Macbook Air at £854.40.

Surface Pro 4 is worth a look, extremely well made (in my opinion on a par with Apple products now) and a bit of a bargain in Currys, they throw in an XBox One S which can be immediately resold for around £200.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/lap...

ZesPak

24,421 posts

195 months

Friday 9th December 2016
quotequote all
jamoor said:
wobert said:
Looking for some help regarding MacBooks......if I may?

Latest HP Windows has suddenly died (due to my son dropping his cereal bowl on the keyboard which has shocked the HDD into failing)

On average, our last three laptops have managed 3 years before giving up the ghost in some way.

Most were around £350-400 when purchased so hardly bargain basement.

Seriously considering a MacBook as an alternative as we are Apple based on everything else, phone, tablets etc.

What advantage does the MacBook have over a conventional laptop I've used so far, is it likely to be more reliable and worth the additional up front cost?
More expensive, I'd say reliable, my one i bought in 2011 is still working fine. Personally I'd say it's worth the money but I use it 8x7x365.

You can also look at installing ubuntu as the main problem with PCs is Windows.
Sorry, but how is £350 not bargain basement??
A half decent Macbook would set you back at least 3 times that. Consequently it would have to last 9 years to provide the same worth /year.

In answer : yes, any MacBook will give a much better experience than any £400 laptop.
But then again, so would any pc at £800.

If you are looking for a good user experience, a Mac can provide.
If you're looking to justify the extra cost, prepare to be kidding yourself.

Looking at the cabinet at work, they are not more reliable. That would be quite the feat using the same components though.

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Friday 9th December 2016
quotequote all
ukaskew said:
wobert said:
to an £800 MacBook Air (after student discount)
How so? I'm on the student pricing page now and the best I can see is the base Macbook Air at £854.40.

Surface Pro 4 is worth a look, extremely well made (in my opinion on a par with Apple products now) and a bit of a bargain in Currys, they throw in an XBox One S which can be immediately resold for around £200.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/lap...
Currys are offering a MacBook Air for £900 with 10% cash back , so that comes in at £810?

wobert

5,010 posts

221 months

Friday 9th December 2016
quotequote all
Ok folks, thanks for the feedback.

Looks like some deliberation is in order, as if we go ahead my new bike purchase will get pushed back another 6 months....

tog

4,516 posts

227 months

Friday 9th December 2016
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Phunk said:
My current MacBook Pro is 6 and a half years old. I'm about to put a new battery in it, apart from that It'll be sticking about for a while longer.
I've just put an SSD and a new battery in my 2010 13" MacBook Pro, clean install of El Cap, and it is like a new machine again.

Freakuk

3,105 posts

150 months

Saturday 10th December 2016
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I'm toying with a new MBP given the 10% discount plus I will be putting through the business so another 20% VAT on top, so probably around £750 off list.

I've got a 27" iMac non retina which is my main machine, so I'm trying to justify the purchase given the discount.

Any else got one yet and what's the verdict so far?

AB

16,969 posts

194 months

Monday 12th December 2016
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I've just ordered a 13" MBP 512GB w/ Touch Bar, didn't bother upgrading anything. Currently have an early 2014 MBA i7/512/8GB machine so it's similarly specified but I talked myself into it as I was due to buy someone in the office a new laptop so instead he's going to have mine. Good justification.

Then I realised it doesn't have an SD card slot so I need 2 adapters!?

Annoying but I'm a typical Apple shiny thing fan.


Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Monday 12th December 2016
quotequote all
AB said:
I've just ordered a 13" MBP 512GB w/ Touch Bar, didn't bother upgrading anything. Currently have an early 2014 MBA i7/512/8GB machine so it's similarly specified but I talked myself into it as I was due to buy someone in the office a new laptop so instead he's going to have mine. Good justification.

Then I realised it doesn't have an SD card slot so I need 2 adapters!?

Annoying but I'm a typical Apple shiny thing fan.
It's a great machine. You won't be disappointed smile

I am waiting for my 2nd to be delivered. It's going to be January though. However, i've got until 8th Jan to return this first one, so hopefully all will be ok and i won't get any time without a machine!

Edited by Matt.. on Monday 12th December 16:46

AB

16,969 posts

194 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
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Pre-10am delivery, I'm like a kid at Christmas.

Major ball ache trying to get 350GB onto OneDrive using this one.

Murph7355

37,651 posts

255 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
quotequote all
AB said:
Pre-10am delivery, I'm like a kid at Christmas.

Major ball ache trying to get 350GB onto OneDrive using this one.
Why not wait until the machine arrives and copy between the two over your network?

AB

16,969 posts

194 months

Tuesday 13th December 2016
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Murph7355 said:
Why not wait until the machine arrives and copy between the two over your network?
I've been meaning to put it all on OneDrive anyway, so it's the perfect excuse.