Discussion
There is no doubt that they are very expensive and probably not as groundbreaking as they once were. However I've got a base model MacBook Pro and is just a nice thing to use, well built too.
If your daughter has an iPhone as well they work seamlessly together, for example being able to take calls from the phone directly on the Macbook or texts (although who uses them now
) but notes also come across from each device which is very handy.
The multitouch trackpad is still so much better than most windows machines can achieve imho. The only thing I dislike it it only has usb-c ports which may mean dongles depending on what she will use the laptop for, I guess a lot of laptops are going the same way.
I've recently changed jobs and have had to go back to using albeit high end windows laptop, I hate it
If your daughter has an iPhone as well they work seamlessly together, for example being able to take calls from the phone directly on the Macbook or texts (although who uses them now
) but notes also come across from each device which is very handy.The multitouch trackpad is still so much better than most windows machines can achieve imho. The only thing I dislike it it only has usb-c ports which may mean dongles depending on what she will use the laptop for, I guess a lot of laptops are going the same way.
I've recently changed jobs and have had to go back to using albeit high end windows laptop, I hate it
I've got a late-2013 13" Macbook Pro at home and a 2019 Dell XPS 13 provided by my employer - both 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD, the MBP has an i5 CPU and the XPS an i7.
The Dell regularly gets excellent reviews in the media, and it's a great machine (far superior to the HP Probook I also have at work), however whilst the Dell is superior in almost every way, I always default to the Macbook whenever I can.
The Dell regularly gets excellent reviews in the media, and it's a great machine (far superior to the HP Probook I also have at work), however whilst the Dell is superior in almost every way, I always default to the Macbook whenever I can.
Got to say the handoff and continuity features when working with Mac, iPhone and iPad are really useful.
Taking and Putting pictures into a document is a breeze, copying and pasting between the various devices too, the keychain working between all devices is so convenient when you have multiple login names and passwords for various sites.
Have no idea if Windows does that kind of thing now mind!
Taking and Putting pictures into a document is a breeze, copying and pasting between the various devices too, the keychain working between all devices is so convenient when you have multiple login names and passwords for various sites.
Have no idea if Windows does that kind of thing now mind!
I'm the first to admit they are overpriced, but, they are not Windows, and for me that is sufficient reason.
I hate Windows with a passion, really really hate it - to the point of a few years back when I needed a new machine, I simply didn't bother and just made do with a tablet.
Interesting, given I work in IT, my colleagues are a mix of backgrounds in Unix and others Windows. The vast majority of my Windows colleague, prefer Macs- tells you something.
I have a fairly old MacBook air, and this year bit the bullet and bought an iMac, crying as I handed over my pennies, but - from box to fully running in a matter of minutes, no crappy updates every week, less risk of viruses etc, no need for A/V, ahh yes, no blue screens. My work Windows laptop blue screened within a week of getting it and continues to do so every now and then, my Macs have never crashed in some 6 years ... have had to force close the odd program, that's the worst it's been. Ahh, no - I had a self induced issue once, totally my fault and decided to reinstall as the faster option.
Reinstall - ahh yes, no need for a recovery partition or DVD media, then searching for the license key, and then half a day of installing patches - just command + R when booting, pop in your router credentials and it reinstalls itself over the net.
Expensive, overpriced, but it just works ... and for me that's worth every penny.
I hate Windows with a passion, really really hate it - to the point of a few years back when I needed a new machine, I simply didn't bother and just made do with a tablet.
Interesting, given I work in IT, my colleagues are a mix of backgrounds in Unix and others Windows. The vast majority of my Windows colleague, prefer Macs- tells you something.
I have a fairly old MacBook air, and this year bit the bullet and bought an iMac, crying as I handed over my pennies, but - from box to fully running in a matter of minutes, no crappy updates every week, less risk of viruses etc, no need for A/V, ahh yes, no blue screens. My work Windows laptop blue screened within a week of getting it and continues to do so every now and then, my Macs have never crashed in some 6 years ... have had to force close the odd program, that's the worst it's been. Ahh, no - I had a self induced issue once, totally my fault and decided to reinstall as the faster option.
Reinstall - ahh yes, no need for a recovery partition or DVD media, then searching for the license key, and then half a day of installing patches - just command + R when booting, pop in your router credentials and it reinstalls itself over the net.
Expensive, overpriced, but it just works ... and for me that's worth every penny.
surveyor said:
I'm currently under attack by a teenager who thinks she needs a Macbook.
Despite being into Apple, I have always been of the opinion that they are overpriced and you can get a far better value for money 'ordinary' laptop.
Thoughts from those with experience?
I had this a few years ago. You will not win. Just give in now and get them what they want.Despite being into Apple, I have always been of the opinion that they are overpriced and you can get a far better value for money 'ordinary' laptop.
Thoughts from those with experience?
In fairness daughters 15" MBP is a very well built and extremely (so far) reliable machine.
In the big scheme of things it may be a few hundred more than an equivalent Windows machine but the build quality and screen is worth it alone.
And of course, overriding factor, they are available in colours to match your phone
When you come to sell a Macbook for a newer one 8 years down the line, you'll still get a decent amount back on eBay.
With a Windows computer, it'll just end up in the skip long before 8 years.
I've got a 2012 MBP retina still going strong and have used it daily. I've also got a brand new Dell laptop for work which is much higher spec than my MBP but doesn't feel any better or quicker. I always reach for my MBP wherever possible despite being 7 years older...
As someone has mentioned, buy a secondhand Macbook off Ebay.
With a Windows computer, it'll just end up in the skip long before 8 years.
I've got a 2012 MBP retina still going strong and have used it daily. I've also got a brand new Dell laptop for work which is much higher spec than my MBP but doesn't feel any better or quicker. I always reach for my MBP wherever possible despite being 7 years older...
As someone has mentioned, buy a secondhand Macbook off Ebay.
When I took the plunge with mac's at work I justified it by buying the extended warranty etc so I knew that the laptop would last at least 5 years. I could never guarantee that with the Dell with the laptops we used to have, at one point we had three of them and none would work off battery which is poor. In fact my own laptop is now at least 6 years old and still works well. The battery is starting to deteriorate but I will probably just swap it out and do the "hard drive" at the same time. Should get me another few years for not a lot of money really.
If you can wangle some kind of student discount too then it might make sense?
If you can wangle some kind of student discount too then it might make sense?
plasticpig said:
I am not convinced by the Mac's are better build quality argument. A Lenovo X1 Carbon is just as well built as a Macbook for example.
Lenovo certainly a strong choice for Windows laptops - but X1 Carbon starts at around £1,500 which is firmly in the Macbook Air range and at the beginning of the Pro range. Not convinced that Windows 10 competes with OSX to be honest. Always had Mac laptops, as think it's a great OS for home use and also like the build quality. That doesn't seem to extend to the power supplies though, which are effectively consumable products and cost £80 to replace.
We recently bought a ~£400 HP Windows laptop as my wife wanted a basic laptop for web browsing - the build quality in comparison is terrible, the trackpad is rubbish, keyboard isn't nice to type on, etc., - but all of this is hardly surprising though given that it cost a fraction of the price of a Mac.
As others have said, if you spend the same amount of money on a Windows laptop, you'll get a similar build quality.
We recently bought a ~£400 HP Windows laptop as my wife wanted a basic laptop for web browsing - the build quality in comparison is terrible, the trackpad is rubbish, keyboard isn't nice to type on, etc., - but all of this is hardly surprising though given that it cost a fraction of the price of a Mac.
As others have said, if you spend the same amount of money on a Windows laptop, you'll get a similar build quality.
A mate in IT says PC laptops are much of a muchness unless you spend serious money - the kind of money that's towards what you'd pay for an Apple. Cheaper laptop - cheaper parts. The high end Dell XPS range has similar build quality to Macbook Pros and is probably still a cheaper option - but a child won't see a capable laptop, they'll just see the Apple badge isn't there.
I have a mid 2012 MBP which is built like a tank and still works well, although I rarely use it now for anything other than browsing - after a lifetime of Windows I just can't get used to the Mac way of doing things. I never feel like I'm in control of it, whereas with my desktop PC, I do.
Like others above, a used Macbook is probably your best bet - I don't think the quality is the same as it was when I first bought mine but used ones are still a good bet.
I have a mid 2012 MBP which is built like a tank and still works well, although I rarely use it now for anything other than browsing - after a lifetime of Windows I just can't get used to the Mac way of doing things. I never feel like I'm in control of it, whereas with my desktop PC, I do.
Like others above, a used Macbook is probably your best bet - I don't think the quality is the same as it was when I first bought mine but used ones are still a good bet.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff