please convince me not to buy a macbook (update: MISSION FAILED)

[Scarpozzi]

I totally get it... Sleek design and decent quality hardware. I feel like Apple has done alright in making hardware that doesn't FEEL cheap. The truth though...it's all made in China and is just as cheap as the computers that have more plastic parts. The problem with investing that much money in a laptop is the fact that laptops are prone to more breakage. Just like a cellphone or anything else mobile...they are prone to accidents and cost much more to repair than a desktop. I like to max out at $500-600 for a laptop and buy every 3-5 years. I've got a Dell laptop for work and a HP at home... I like both.

I'm running Xubuntu on my desktop and laptop with Windows 7 in VirtualBox. (allows me to run IE for testing/Outlook/MS Office)

I've been happy with this setup. Linux gaming still isn't windows gaming, but I do console gaming more than PC gaming in the last 8 years. I kind of gave up first person shooters and simulators cold turkey. I still can't do either on a console...

 

[blankslate]

maybe some light gaming

Getting a Mac with those thermal restrictions for anything but the lightest 2D gaming is a mistake. If that doesn't convince you... well, they don't call it an RDF for nothing.


....

 

[lxskllr]

I totally get it... Sleek design and decent quality hardware. I feel like Apple has done alright in making hardware that doesn't FEEL cheap. The truth though...it's all made in China and is just as cheap as the computers that have more plastic parts. The problem with investing that much money in a laptop is the fact that laptops are prone to more breakage. Just like a cellphone or anything else mobile...they are prone to accidents and cost much more to repair than a desktop. I like to max out at $500-600 for a laptop and buy every 3-5 years. I've got a Dell laptop for work and a HP at home... I like both.

God damn, someone gets it. All computers are Chinese shit. Some get a little extra polish, but they're still shit. And fuck everything about not being able to easily make repairs. Not being able to open a machine is a deal breaker.

I paid $100 at a pawn shop for my last machine, and it does everything I need on the road. Its hd went into my work desktop, so I got a shiny new ssd. a nice upgrade, and I'm still under $200. It may not get the envious looks from the useless bits of fluff, and has zero Starbucks cred, but it does some computing, and I can smash it over the hood of my truck(like I did a couple portables ago), and go buy another one.

 

[Murloc]

there's plenty of ultrabooks with good cases that don't feel cheap too.

I tried cheap laptops in the past. They can't handle MS Word and feel sluggish. Maybe it's changed and the hardware got better but Word didn't get more bloated, it's been a few years.

 

[Rakehellion]

they are super overpriced and i know its stupid to buy one, but dang it, i want one. 15" macbook pro looks sweet.

first world problems amirite?

Buy a MacBook.

 

[Rakehellion]

iFixit gave them a repairability score of 1, which I believe is their lowest score they've ever handed out. So if it brakes, you've got a $2000 paperweight.

iFixit is a website that sells screwdrivers. I've repaired every model MacBook there is with no prob. Take it into the shop if you're an electronics newb.

 

[Rakehellion]

While it is true that if you go to a PC manufacturer's website (Dell, Lenovo, etc) and spec out a laptop similar to a Macbook Pro you do get a somewhat similar price, it is important to remember that you are looking a the regular retail prices there. With Apple you might be lucky to get maybe 15% off on a deal, with a PC you are looking at 50% off.

For example (and granted this isn't really the same type of laptop as the 15" macbook, but it illustrates the price differential), the Yoga 2 Pro, i5 256GB SSD, 3200x1800 Touch screen for $779 brand new

Deal expired. Though you can go to Apple's refurbished page if you're on a budget. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

 

[Rakehellion]

God damn, someone gets it. All computers are Chinese shit. Some get a little extra polish, but they're still shit. And fuck everything about not being able to easily make repairs. Not being able to open a machine is a deal breaker.

I paid $100 at a pawn shop for my last machine, and it does everything I need on the road. Its hd went into my work desktop, so I got a shiny new ssd. a nice upgrade, and I'm still under $200. It may not get the envious looks from the useless bits of fluff, and has zero Starbucks cred, but it does some computing, and I can smash it over the hood of my truck(like I did a couple portables ago), and go buy another one.

If you're trying to convince people that they should spend no more than $100 on a computer, you're on the wrong website.

 

[mnewsham]

Just build a hackintosh desktop if you really need the OSX environment, cheaper and more powerful, then dual boot windows so you can still play your games without dealing with WINE or something.

Get a windows laptop for something portable.

And you probably spent 1/2 as much as that 1 macbook pro would have cost.

 

[Mixolydian]

Wait until after the Oct. 16 event no matter what.

 

[lxskllr]

If you're trying to convince people that they should spend no more than $100 on a computer, you're on the wrong website.

There's an intergalactic gap between $100 and $1800. Pick something in the middle...

 

[rflcptr]

There's an intergalactic gap between $100 and $1800. Pick something in the middle...

You didn't.

 

[lxskllr]

You didn't.

Because I didn't want to. My computer is 100% post consumer recycled content, and most importantly, it's suitable for the task.

Regarding Rakellion's comment about someone who uses a $100 computer not being suitable for this site; he's probably right. Technologists and hackers have turned into consumerist n00bs. A technologist now is someone who buys the most expensive kit, and gets stuff to create envy amongst the other facebook drooling "technologists", instead of making sensible hardware do tricks, and using one's brain to make the computer better.

 

[brianmanahan]

Wait until after the Oct. 16 event no matter what.

thanks, didnt realize they were having one - will check it out on thursday to see whats shaking

 

[ultimatebob]

God damn, someone gets it. All computers are Chinese shit. Some get a little extra polish, but they're still shit. And fuck everything about not being able to easily make repairs. Not being able to open a machine is a deal breaker.

I paid $100 at a pawn shop for my last machine, and it does everything I need on the road. Its hd went into my work desktop, so I got a shiny new ssd. a nice upgrade, and I'm still under $200. It may not get the envious looks from the useless bits of fluff, and has zero Starbucks cred, but it does some computing, and I can smash it over the hood of my truck(like I did a couple portables ago), and go buy another one.

Sorry, but I can't agree with that. I've used cheap $500 plastic laptops that started falling apart and having component failures after six months, and $1,500 business class laptops that gave me 3 or 4 years of trouble-free operation. The difference is like night and day. If you're doing real work on your laptop, the extra cost is worth it just from the reliability standpoint.

 

[Mixolydian]

Sorry, but I can't agree with that. I've used cheap $500 plastic laptops that started falling apart and having component failures after six months, and $1,500 business class laptops that gave me 3 or 4 years of trouble-free operation. The difference is like night and day. If you're doing real work on your laptop, the extra cost is worth it just from the reliability standpoint.

This x1000.

 

[rflcptr]

Because I didn't want to. My computer is 100% post consumer recycled content, and most importantly, it's suitable for the task.

Your task != to anyone else's.

Regarding Rakellion's comment about someone who uses a $100 computer not being suitable for this site; he's probably right. Technologists and hackers have turned into consumerist n00bs. A technologist now is someone who buys the most expensive kit, and gets stuff to create envy amongst the other facebook drooling "technologists", instead of making sensible hardware do tricks, and using one's brain to make the computer better.

I'm an engineer, does owning a MacBook Pro also make me a n00b?

 

[CurseTheSky]

FWIW, I bought one in late 2012 (I believe).

The actual body, keyboard, and screen are superb. They're extremely well built, and I was very impressed.

The internal specs were so-so. It wasn't behind the times, but it wasn't cutting edge either. The worst parts were the integrated graphics in a laptop that size (13" MBP), the low screen resolution (1280x800 for the generation I bought), and the weight. In hindsight, I would have been happier with a 13" Macbook Air, but you live and you learn.

I couldn't get used to OSX at all. I work on a Linux server at work, but still prefer Windows for my day to day tasks. OSX feels very closed compared to Windows, and searching for the answers to problems often ends up with people saying, "that's how it was designed, Apple made it perfect for you, you need to adjust yourself." Whereas with Windows, the answers are often, "So-and-so built this program to make Windows do exactly what you're talking about, enjoy!"

I tried running Parallels + Windows 7, but still couldn't get used to it. Windows ran sluggish compared to having it as the native OS. I was considering dual booting OSX and Windows, but heard there were too many compromises - processor not idling down properly, battery life being absolute crap compared to a similar spec laptop, etc.

In the end, I upgraded to a Windows laptop a year later, and I'm much happier. I like Apple's build quality, but I don't like being locked into Apple. Many Windows-based manufacturers have really stepped up in terms of build quality, so the gap has closed.

 

[lxskllr]

Sorry, but I can't agree with that. I've used cheap $500 plastic laptops that started falling apart and having component failures after six months, and $1,500 business class laptops that gave me 3 or 4 years of trouble-free operation. The difference is like night and day. If you're doing real work on your laptop, the extra cost is worth it just from the reliability standpoint.

I've had one laptop that didn't last a minimum of five years. The one that died early was a free Dell(absolute bottom end) I got for opening up a credit account. A heatpipe died on it, and it wasn't worth fooling with. I did use it as a spare desktop machine with the keyboard removed, and an old heatsink epoxied to the top

I'm an engineer, does owning a MacBook Pro also make me a n00b?

You tell me. I spend a lot of time cleaning up behind engineers. Do you know what you're doing?

 

[TheSlamma]

If I was in the market for a laptop I would buy a gaming laptop. I've always found gaming equipment always goes longer since gaming is one of the most strenuous tasks a computer is put through.

I'd get something like this http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4927&dl=#kf

Dual hard drives, up to 16GB of regular RAM you can replace yourself, nVidia 860m with 2GB or 4GB of video RAM, replaceable battery, back-lit keyboard, it's only 14" and the body is light and thin.

 

[Rakehellion]

Because I didn't want to. My computer is 100% post consumer recycled content, and most importantly, it's suitable for the task.

If you were a a real engineer, you'd be using a slide rule, n00b. MS Word? I use typewriters for that.

Stop spouting stupid bullshit to defend your political stance.

 

[Rakehellion]

searching for the answers to problems often ends up with people saying, "that's how it was designed, Apple made it perfect for you, you need to adjust yourself."

Then you're asking on the wrong websites. You can do anything through the command line.

 

[lxskllr]

If you were a a real engineer, you'd be using a slide rule, n00b. MS Word? I use typewriters for that.

Stop spouting stupid bullshit to defend your political stance.

Awe, did the little boy get his feelings hurt? :^D

 

[Hacp]

I bought a 13 inch macbook air for around 1k last year. It is worth every penny. The battery life is great. I used to get 12 hours on it, but after 250 charge cycles, I'm getting 8. That is still excellent. I primarily use it in Bootcamp mode with Windows 8 to surf the web and play video games. It plays games like League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Torchlight2 just fine.

From what I see, the macbook airs are going further down in price. It is a great deal.

 

[olds]

OP you are the macbook demographic to a t.