Laptops

[ChefBoyRG54]

So for Christmas my wife wants earrings...easy enough.

I'm also thinking about a new laptop since ours is toast and she uses my work one when I'm home.

She is picking up her new hipster iPhone 6 this weekend and I'm thinking of surprising her with a new Macbook pro for Christmas from the kids.

My question for anyone Apple savvy or up to date on laptops in general...is it really worth all that extra coin? I'm thinking the 15" Pro with 256GB. Talking $2000 give or take! Yikes.

I've always been a Windows guy and solid spec laptops can be had under a grand. Is it worth it or is it Apple hype?

Or do I just do it to make my wife happy? (Is she ever happy? )

Thanks

 

[erjaq]

Put me in the 'Apple hype' category. PCs are faster and cheaper, period.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Put me in the 'Apple hype' category. PCs are faster and cheaper, period.

But how do they compare on long time success? I feel like I'm buying a new pc every few years...

Wouldn't it be cute with her having an iPhone and MacBook lol

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Also I believe part of the difference is Apple comes with a lot of pre loaded sw where pcs come with trials so maybe that's worth a few hundred bucks?

 

[erjaq]

Apple laptops get replaced just as quickly. You might have a point about the software, I really don't know. What would she be doing with it?

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Apple laptops get replaced just as quickly. You might have a point about the software, I really don't know. What would she be doing with it?

Being a chick lol

Pictures, videos, simple stuff

 

[erjaq]

It doesn't seem like you'd have to pay for that kind of software on a PC. I'm probably the wrong person about this, though -- I despise Apple. Maybe somebody else here can be more objective.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

It doesn't seem like you'd have to pay for that kind of software on a PC. I'm probably the wrong person about this, though -- I despise Apple. Maybe somebody else here can be more objective.

Lol I despise Apple as well. I'm looking for opinions from both sides. My wife finally got an iPhone after I gave up on listening to her complain her android forever. I'll pay for less bitching any day haha

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

I'm in the same boat with you Chef. I've always been a PC guy but I do like apple products. The only reason I'm thinking of an Apple laptop is the fact that I do not like Windows 8.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

I'm in the same boat with you Chef. I've always been a PC guy but I do like apple products. The only reason I'm thinking of an Apple laptop is the fact that I do not like Windows 8.

Great point, I'm pretty sure the wife would hate windows 8!

 

[SailorAg]

I've had a macbook for almost three years. I switched from Windows and don't regret the change. The single best part of owning a mac is the support that Apple provides. The hard drive gave out on my computer some months ago. I walked into my local Apple store and they had it replaced in less than two hours. They even cleaned it up a bit.

I do agree that there is a lot of hype surrounding apple products. But to a large degree they do "just work." Not all of their stuff is worth it, in my opinion, for example, I'm a diehard Android fan.

Since your wife uses an iPhone, a mac will offer lots of cool usability features that simply can't be replicated on a Windows. She can access I messages, take calls and explore the new continuity features. Living in an apple world is definitely a walled garden, but it sure is a damned lovely garden.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

I've had a macbook for almost three years. I switched from Windows and don't regret the change. The single best part of owning a mac is the support that Apple provides. The hard drive gave out on my computer some months ago. I walked into my local Apple store and they had it replaced in less than two hours. They even cleaned it up a bit.

I do agree that there is a lot of hype surrounding apple products. But to a large degree they do "just work." Not all of their stuff is worth it, in my opinion, for example, I'm a diehard Android fan.

Since your wife uses an iPhone, a mac will offer lots of cool usability features that simply can't be replicated on a Windows. She can access I messages, take calls and explore the new continuity features. Living in an apple world is definitely a walled garden, but it sure is a damned lovely garden.

Great feedback, that's some of what I was interested in hearing. The goal is make life easier on her(thus me)

 

[WaRevo]

The only thing I can say for mac is they Security is better on Mac. Like Unix it is harder to get a virus on Mac and Unix

With that said lets look at the Plus for windows, Software, Value. I have to say that Mac has better looking graphics for pictures I think. But after having a Mac for a year I was much happier going back to PC.

James

 

[eastcoast paul]

The only thing I can say for mac is they Security is better on Mac. Like Unix it is harder to get a virus on Mac and Unix

With that said lets look at the Plus for windows, Software, Value. I have to say that Mac has better looking graphics for pictures I think. But after having a Mac for a year I was much happier going back to PC.

James

Not true about a virus being harder to get. In the past it was true only because few were written for apple, now it is more dangerous because apple users have a false sence of security. A few years ago i was working at a compuuter repair shop, guy brought in his wife's laptop (can't remember the apple product now) because it was running slow. About an hour later i had to phone him and tell him to contact his bank and cc and change passwords. We found a virus and found evidence all his banking info was compromised.

 

[cgraunke]

Not true about a virus being harder to get. In the past it was true only because few were written for apple, now it is more dangerous because apple users have a false sence of security. A few years ago i was working at a compuuter repair shop, guy brought in his wife's laptop (can't remember the apple product now) because it was running slow. About an hour later i had to phone him and tell him to contact his bank and cc and change passwords. We found a virus and found evidence all his banking info was compromised.

Exactly. It used to be of no benefit for real hackers to mess with Apple products.

 

[cgraunke]

Lol I despise Apple as well. I'm looking for opinions from both sides. My wife finally got an iPhone after I gave up on listening to her complain her android forever. I'll pay for less bitching any day haha

I thought this would be a win as well and caved, letting her go down the iPhone path. "It just works" has got to be about the single most laughable statement I've ever heard. She's SO frustrated with it and cannot wait to get back to an Android when her contact is up in January. Her iPhone 5 fails in every comparison to my Galaxy S4. (same network provider) Call clarity, picture quality, dropped calls, random reboots, apps cost more, apps failing/closing. Just wrong on every level. This is her third phone (second replacement) in two years and January can't come fast enough. Now she realizes that all the Apple fanboys have tech problems too, they just don't talk about them for fear of being ostracized from the club. Lucky for me she now sees through the hype, no longer wants anything to do with a Mac, and this iPhone will be the last Apple product purchased in this household for a LONG time!

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

I thought this would be a win as well and caved, letting her go down the iPhone path. "It just works" has got to be about the single most laughable statement I've ever heard. She's SO frustrated with it and cannot wait to get back to an Android when her contact is up in January. Her iPhone 5 fails in every comparison to my Galaxy S4. (same network provider) Call clarity, picture quality, dropped calls, random reboots, apps cost more, apps failing/closing. Just wrong on every level. This is her third phone (second replacement) in two years and January can't come fast enough. Now she realizes that all the Apple fanboys have tech problems too, they just don't talk about them for fear of being ostracized from the club. Lucky for me she now sees through the hype, no longer wants anything to do with a Mac, and this iPhone will be the last Apple product purchased in this household for a LONG time!

My greatest fear...

I don't buy into it just works thing but my hope is her getting the iPhone six is she can't complain since I finally let her get the phone she wants. Wish me luck there.

Interested in hearing from some more MacBook users

 

[SFerrojr]

Guess I'm in the minority here by I vote Mac. I've worked in Enterprise IT for almost 20 years. I've done desktop/laptop support for 1500+ angry Wall Street traders, I've built pc's, I've fixed pc's, I've upgraded pc's, compiled my own Linux kernel, you name it, I've done it. I still vote Mac. I switched about 8 years ago for my personal laptop and never looked back. Especially for a "less-savvy" user, I always recommend Mac. It just works. Plug in an iPhone, it just works. No software, no drivers, just works. I have had less issues with the 2 MacBooks I've owned then any one of my Windows laptops in the past. Do they cost more, yes. Could you get better performance specs for the same dollar in a PC, yes. But in terms of user experience, seamless integration with iOS devices, and ease of use the Macs can't be beat.

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

Guess I'm in the minority here by I vote Mac. I've worked in Enterprise IT for almost 20 years. I've done desktop/laptop support for 1500+ angry Wall Street traders, I've built pc's, I've fixed pc's, I've upgraded pc's, compiled my own Linux kernel, you name it, I've done it. I still vote Mac. I switched about 8 years ago for my personal laptop and never looked back. Especially for a "less-savvy" user, I always recommend Mac. It just works. Plug in an iPhone, it just works. No software, no drivers, just works. I have had less issues with the 2 MacBooks I've owned then any one of my Windows laptops in the past. Do they cost more, yes. Could you get better performance specs for the same dollar in a PC, yes. But in terms of user experience, seamless integration with iOS devices, and ease of use the Macs can't be beat.

Thanks Sal, great feedback

 

[dscl]

So I've run Mac, Windows and Linux over the years (professionally at the SysAdmin level) and Macs are my favorite hands down. Now I do agree they are extremely pricey, but at the end of the day if you're a power user OR a 'mommy/daddy' they are the machine for you. It's a just-works system with all the power a scientist could need underneath without ever getting in your way.

This message brought to you on a 2010 MacBook Pro that is still kicking ass.