10 Reasons I Spent $3,000 on a MacBook Pro

[radnor]

To TomsGuideRachel:

This article is nothing but a e-peen statement. Educated ? yes, but none the less a e-peen statment.

1 - Keyboard i can understand, although i disagree. It is a matter of opinion. Nothing new, nothing original, diferent design. A mater of personal taste should be a plus for all.

2 - Uniboby ? Great maketing stunt. Check rugged or semi rugged laptops or any professional lines from lenovo, hp or Dell. You like the look ? Fine by me. But again, is personal taste.

3 - Yes, it is a light laptop. But if you need a 17" for writing articles, your out of your mind. Again, personal taste. Again it is proven that laptop comes with the Nvidia 9600 time bomb on it.

4 - Premium for magsafe ? I prefer to pay a premium for Dell Complete Care for 5 years. Go read it. Professionally ive activated several times. Most times was for exchange for an updated version.

5 - Backlite LCDs are nothing new. You better inform yourself. neither is 1920x1200. Color gamut ? If you are just writing articles, it is nuts. Anyway there are equally good solutions there. For a bit less.

6 - Spyware, malware,virus, flooders and others ? You are the first line of defense. Software can help up to a point. This is a non-argument.

7 - 7 hours ? Not bad. Check Dell or Lenovo by that matter. Samsung has a model with 12 hours.

8 - Apple Customer support ? With the premium you pay it should be. With that premium talk to Dell Customer support.

9 - Being Apple a software and design house nowadays, i doubt their pollute much. Estimated battery life ? But i'm sure they only will give it one year warranty. For your information, computers now are made to last 5 years. Almost all of them. Except the ones made by Quanta. Read the china financial times.

10 - I don't want to be a bitch. But i had Hack OSX, Vista 64 and Ubuntu 8.04, triple booting on my lappy. You guess it isn't a mac. It worked perfectly. I kept Ubuntu. Compiz-Fusion kick he crap out of OSX or Windows.

Lets face it. You bought because you could and you liked it. Nothing but that.

Of the 10 points, 4 are personal preferences , 4 are non-arguments, 1 is silly (the malware one) and 1 you could only prove in five years. I would like to ask you hows that batery in 5 years.

For less, with this crisis I bought a 309 GTI 2.0 (mint condition) to add to my Lancia HF Turbo. I have a lappy well enough for my needs , and a computer that needs a small upgrade so i can game. It can't take more OC for now.

At least you could finished the article saying you did it because you liked shiny things. Every reader would understand. We all like shiny things, whatever the brand is.

 

[hoopla]

I really don't get all the negativity here. Do you all drive Kia Rio's and give anyone with anything else a hard time about wasting money (and we're talking about a lot more money on a car).

If you just want a basic laptop to surf the web and do word processing, you can get one for a lot less money. However, if you want or need top-end features, you are going to pay for them, and it will cost about the same for a Mac as for a Panasonic, Lenovo or Sony.

If your computer is an integral part of your work, and a better keyboard, faster processor, clearer or bigger screen make you even a little more productive, then it is worthwhile. Beyond that, there is also an element of choosing the system that you feel most comfortable with, and that is worth something to most people.

 

[cadder]

I wonder if everyone would have said the same if I had gotten an Asus M70 and complained about what it lacks.

Of course, they will find something to complain about. If the readers agreed 100% with you, they wouldn't post at all.

 

[fuzzymath10]

I think money begins to play less of a role when someone is 110% adamant on features. Typically, most people will sacrifice one feature if it means saving a significant amount of money, much like how few people would buy an Extreme-Edition CPU. However, when even one item on a checklist goes unchecked, that might be make or break for a particular individual. Overall, if the MBP is the only solution (which it seems to be, for that given weight class), then so be it.

However, some points I'd make: I would choose a 15.4" 1920x1200 laptop any day of the week over a 17", matte LCDs should never cost more and should be the default option, and there should always be at least two graphics options to choose from. Manufacturers tend to overprice upgrades across the board, but sometimes it's still worth it over getting the cheapest option and then buying the upgrade separately (except for difficult-to-upgrade components)

Several things I like about Dell and why I continue to use them is their product reliability (my Inspiron 8500 is now 5.5 years old and had water spilled on it while opened and powered), modularity (my Inspiron 8500 can use the DVD+-RW from my D630 and my D630 can use the bay battery from my I8500, and they both use the same dock), and customer support (if you pay for the "good" support, you can get folks coming the next day with new LCDs plus a new keyboard if you told them yours felt greasy or gritty ahead of time).

 

[mavroxur]

Hmmm a $2,800 MacBook pro. Basicaly $2,000 worth of hardware with a $800 name attached to it.

 

[EYE]

WOW!!! why is the ability of running OSX, windows and Linux a plus??
Now that Windows is loosing market share maybe they can add that feature too, Windows 7 only runs in non-apple branded products Hahahha

 

[Guest]

Thought I'd chime in and give a somewhat different perspective (if ti already hasn't been given somewhere in these 6+ pages of responses)...

The first MacBook Pro was introduced in January 2006--which I purchased. After owning this laptop for just over three years I sold it for $700.00--which translates into a roughly 57% depreciation for the computer.

I turned around and purchased a 15" MacBook Pro (Unibody) with the $700 I had from the sale and profits from my clients (photography). So, to add to the ten things already listed:

1. Resale value historically has been MUCH higher than comparable PC laptops (and desktops for that matter). Need proof? Go cruise eBay/your local paper/craiglist. You get the drift. Does this mean that my 15" (or the 17" in this article) will hold value? No guarantees...but the odds are in my favor.

2. Apple software + hardware = a system that simply gets out of the way and lets me do what I need to do. The elegance and simplicity of the previous sentence cannot be overstated given that my time and the time of my clients is valuable. The frankenstienian approach that the business model Microsoft has allowed for with it's operating systems; a bevy of vendors supplying a plethora of components (and drivers) cobbled together into a computer doesn't work as well as the integrative approach taken by Apple.

3. Reliability. No hardware failures on my old laptop. Hoping for the same on the new one. OSX is amazingly stable system that allows for me to simply restart crashed applications instead of having to perform a reboot (and the applications rarely crash). Reliability translates directly into dollars for me...not increased time with my favorite video game. Clients are more apt to do repeat business with a photographer who has working equipment than one without. And the term "working" is relative here...think just any old laptop will post process with tight control of color management? Think again.
Security plays a part of this reliability factor I am talking about. Do you think I really care why OSX has less viruses, trojan horses, and the like? People are so caught up in the whys and wherefores of which O/S is more secure that they overlook the fact that one DOES carry less risk than the other. I am more interested in being more secure than arguing the merits of either O/S. Less people targeting OSX because of Apple's smaller market share? Good. Hope it stays that way.

4. Client impressions. When I take the laptop out for a round of tethered shooting or to review photos with a client they see what most of us see. A sleek, very good looking, brightly displaying machine. Does the glowing Apple logo help? Yep, more so than a Dell, HP, Sony, or Levono ever will. I'm sure if I were an accountant this would be different (duh). Impressions count...especially with someone who is going to be giving you their money.

So flame away. The win / lose approach most take with this argument is simply pointless. I have the tool that works for me. I am very aware why it works for me and reap the benefits. Windows works very well in a bunch of situations. Just not mine. And not my clients.

 

[BillLake]

Well thanks for some good comments and some long and dramatic complaints. I use my laptop every day, I don't just write articles for a living, I do it for fun.

Windows 7 has been loaded on a MacBook Pro already

http/www.gearlog.com/2008/11/windows_7_on_a_macbook_pro.php

 

[BillLake]

Thanks for a great post. Buy the laptop that work for you. Shop around and get the one that fits your budget, your needs and makes you the most money. Excellent point about the resale value, I was going to say something about that but not really a good reason to buy anything, resale value could change if something drastic happens or another vendor suddenly makes the next superstar of the computer world. Who knows it could be someone reading this article and thinking how they can make the best laptop ever and they go and do it.

[citation][nom]maxxamillian[/nom]Thought I'd chime in and give a somewhat different perspective (if ti already hasn't been given somewhere in these 6+ pages of responses)...The first MacBook Pro was introduced in January 2006--which I purchased. After owning this laptop for just over three years I sold it for $700.00--which translates into a roughly 57% depreciation for the computer. I turned around and purchased a 15" MacBook Pro (Unibody) with the $700 I had from the sale and profits from my clients (photography). So, to add to the ten things already listed:1. Resale value historically has been MUCH higher than comparable PC laptops (and desktops for that matter). Need proof? Go cruise eBay/your local paper/craiglist. You get the drift. Does this mean that my 15" (or the 17" in this article) will hold value? No guarantees...but the odds are in my favor. 2. Apple software + hardware = a system that simply gets out of the way and lets me do what I need to do. The elegance and simplicity of the previous sentence cannot be overstated given that my time and the time of my clients is valuable. The frankenstienian approach that the business model Microsoft has allowed for with it's operating systems; a bevy of vendors supplying a plethora of components (and drivers) cobbled together into a computer doesn't work as well as the integrative approach taken by Apple. 3. Reliability. No hardware failures on my old laptop. Hoping for the same on the new one. OSX is amazingly stable system that allows for me to simply restart crashed applications instead of having to perform a reboot (and the applications rarely crash). Reliability translates directly into dollars for me...not increased time with my favorite video game. Clients are more apt to do repeat business with a photographer who has working equipment than one without. And the term "working" is relative here...think just any old laptop will post process with tight control of color management? Think again.Security plays a part of this reliability factor I am talking about. Do you think I really care why OSX has less viruses, trojan horses, and the like? People are so caught up in the whys and wherefores of which O/S is more secure that they overlook the fact that one DOES carry less risk than the other. I am more interested in being more secure than arguing the merits of either O/S. Less people targeting OSX because of Apple's smaller market share? Good. Hope it stays that way.4. Client impressions. When I take the laptop out for a round of tethered shooting or to review photos with a client they see what most of us see. A sleek, very good looking, brightly displaying machine. Does the glowing Apple logo help? Yep, more so than a Dell, HP, Sony, or Levono ever will. I'm sure if I were an accountant this would be different (duh). Impressions count...especially with someone who is going to be giving you their money.So flame away. The win / lose approach most take with this argument is simply pointless. I have the tool that works for me. I am very aware why it works for me and reap the benefits. Windows works very well in a bunch of situations. Just not mine. And not my clients.[/citation]

 

[topdog347]

russ

i dont care what any body states about apple!! i am a custom pc builder. i just bought a 17" mac book pro and i love it hands down blows a pc away!!!!!!!!!!!! the only thing a pc has over a mac is the gaming, overcloking ability

 

[BillLake]

You can game on a MacBook Pro, you can either play the games that are ported to it or load windows and play your games there. Not a gaming laptop by any means but capable enough to do it.

[citation][nom]topdog347[/nom]russi dont care what any body states about apple!! i am a custom pc builder. i just bought a 17" mac book pro and i love it hands down blows a pc away!!!!!!!!!!!! the only thing a pc has over a mac is the gaming, overcloking ability[/citation]

 

[dh580]

Amazing how people who post how overpriced the MacBook Pro is dont bother to compare other high end laptops first. Im guessing they are the same people who go post on the Mercedes web site about how great their Hyundai is. Premium design/quality/whatever always demands a premium price, in cars, laptops, life in general. Its called capitalism, if I make something that has a better widget, even if you dont need that widget, I can generaly charge a premium for it. By the look of Apple's sales over the past couple years I would say there are more people who want that premium whatever than the people trolling Tom Hardware waiting for another chance to bash Apple.

 

[Mr_Man]

I actually like this article. While almost $3,000 is ridiculously expensive and not worth it, in my opinion, I do see that certain features do make the laptop attractive in comparison to others. If money were no object, I could see myself buying one (though I'd be running Windows on it, of course).

 

[mpasternak]

I'm not sure whats up with the sudden recent "love" that Tom's Guide has been showing for Apple. I don't think they are bad machines. They're pretty and they're well Designed. But it is irrefutable that purchasing a Mac product will almost always result in a higher cost per performance.

While i know this is a "toms guide" article, and is mainly an opinion piece, as a responsible journalist the author should at least take into consideration the negatives when recommending a product to the readers. Unfortunately this does not, and it comes across as a very lame attempt to up sell the readership towards buying a Macbook pro over the competition.

If someone would like some credibility to this argument, I think a strong structured comparison between why the macbook wins out needs to be stated.

Aesthetics. I'll give this. Mac's are pretty. They just are. So far most of the other companies all play catchup to make a box that looks as pretty.

Apple seems to have some good deals to enable release of technology slightly earlier on their platforms. Mac pro will be the first multi-chip i7 Platform on the market due to it's clout. However, this negates itself as within months of release all other companies will have the same tech out for cheaper, but Apple doesn't budge their price scheme till their "refreshes".

I could write Article after article myself as to why my opinion can justify specific purchases, but in the end the only opinion that does matter is a truly informed opinion that allows the reader and the buyer to make an informed decision with all the facts and not just smoke and mirror opinion pieces on why the author can justify to themselves purchasing their machine.

I am glad the author is happy with his purchase. Macbook pro's will be suitable for many people out there. But it is by far not the best choice for everyone.

 

[mpasternak]

And i have to laugh one final time at point 1 that i didn't mention on.

Keyboard thats "easier to read". Anyone in the journalism bus, or been using computers for a long time should be far and above better typers and at no point need to look at the keyboard while typing!

I'm sorry, but That is a no brainer to me. Perhaps non computer savvy individuals. But once you've moved into the realm of "professional" in the tech field, or publishing field. If you need to stare at your hands to type, you need to go back to typing class.

 

[Guest]

Bought the cheapest aluminum Macbook in Dec '08 after 13 years in the DOS/Windows camp. Still have my 17" Dell XPS M1730 for the odd games and for photoshop. Won't be selling it as I still have another 2 years warranty and it does a fantastic job at what I require from it.

But I have to say that buying the Macbook was the best decision I had made. The XPS will be the last Windows machine I'll be buying as I feel I get more value when using a Mac. OS X is a easy to learn and to use and the hardware has been put together with care and attention. And it shows.

 

[doopydoo22]

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]Ahh, the Micro-humpers are at it again...[/citation]

You seem to be under the illusion that people use Standardized PCs because they like Microsoft. Your entire post screams "high horse."

You are one of the reasons so many people steer clear of Apple.

This article is absolutely right. By a sheer measure of craftsmanship and quality Apple products are great. However, it seems to be the snobbish users and the Apple image that drives so many people away from Apple products.

If there would be one tarnish brought about directly by the company, I suppose it'd be that they don't play well with others. While the rest of the industry has some semblance of collaboration, Apple is off trying to be a special and unique snowflake, and where they succeed it looks to be a failure on the part of the rest of the industry as opposed to a success of the industry as a whole. Theirs seems to be a divisive approach.

 

[BillLake]

Well the article is why I bought it, not comparing it to other laptops. I did directly point out the following, it is not for everyone, it cost is very high, you could easily save money and buy something else, I point out some things Apple fails to do. Seem that you just want to complain about Apple love, well maybe they are making a very good product that might actually service some windows only users that have never even looked at them. Pick the product that works for you and stop looking at the brand, you can't afford any of the Apple laptop product line then you can not afford a lot of other brands competition. As I said in the article, Apple is a premium vendor, they charge a premium for their product because they offer something others don't.




[citation][nom]mpasternak[/nom]I'm not sure whats up with the sudden recent "love" that Tom's Guide has been showing for Apple. I don't think they are bad machines. They're pretty and they're well Designed. But it is irrefutable that purchasing a Mac product will almost always result in a higher cost per performance. While i know this is a "toms guide" article, and is mainly an opinion piece, as a responsible journalist the author should at least take into consideration the negatives when recommending a product to the readers. Unfortunately this does not, and it comes across as a very lame attempt to up sell the readership towards buying a Macbook pro over the competition.If someone would like some credibility to this argument, I think a strong structured comparison between why the macbook wins out needs to be stated.Aesthetics. I'll give this. Mac's are pretty. They just are. So far most of the other companies all play catchup to make a box that looks as pretty.Apple seems to have some good deals to enable release of technology slightly earlier on their platforms. Mac pro will be the first multi-chip i7 Platform on the market due to it's clout. However, this negates itself as within months of release all other companies will have the same tech out for cheaper, but Apple doesn't budge their price scheme till their "refreshes".I could write Article after article myself as to why my opinion can justify specific purchases, but in the end the only opinion that does matter is a truly informed opinion that allows the reader and the buyer to make an informed decision with all the facts and not just smoke and mirror opinion pieces on why the author can justify to themselves purchasing their machine.I am glad the author is happy with his purchase. Macbook pro's will be suitable for many people out there. But it is by far not the best choice for everyone.[/citation]

 

[zodiacfml]

I don't agree on the keyboard, greener, powerplug, and OS security parts, yet i do agree on the unibody, which is really appealing.
In my case as a poor guy, a macbook pro, highend gpus, sli's, highend processors are not worth my money.
Yet, given more than enough money, the $500 to $1000 value I lost buying a macbook pro just to get that aluminum unibody wouldn't be much of a problem.

 

[BillLake]

OK close your eyes, now rub your hands over your eyes, now keep your eyes closed and move your hands down to the keyboard and start typing. I am work in some very dark areas, the lighted keyboard just helps to find the keys faster.

[citation][nom]mpasternak[/nom]And i have to laugh one final time at point 1 that i didn't mention on.Keyboard thats "easier to read". Anyone in the journalism bus, or been using computers for a long time should be far and above better typers and at no point need to look at the keyboard while typing!I'm sorry, but That is a no brainer to me. Perhaps non computer savvy individuals. But once you've moved into the realm of "professional" in the tech field, or publishing field. If you need to stare at your hands to type, you need to go back to typing class.[/citation]