Macbook Air $1000 vs Inspiron 14 7000

[Forever Oleg]

I am really tight on budget. I need a decent laptop for college that can play light games, is comfortable, reliable, and fast.

I will end up loaded with homework and projects for sure, so a good screen is a must.

Because of my planned degree, I won't have time to spare, so productivity and fast loading times are a priority (SSD). Perfection is in the details. Which laptop will provide me with it?

If anyone has other suggestions, I can only buy directly from either Dell or Apple website.

14 7000: http/www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetails/inspiron-14-7460-laptop/cai147w10p7b2559
15 7000 2 in 1: http/www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop/productdetails/inspiron-15-7579-2-in-1-laptop/dncwsbb0013h
Gaming: http/www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/inspiron-15-7567-laptop/fncwf514s?selectionState=eyJGUHJpY2UiOjk0OS45OSwiT0MiOiJmbmN3ZjUxNHMiLCJRdHkiOjEsIk1vZHMiOlt7IklkIjo3NjAsIk9wdHMiOlt7IklkIjoiRkhETlQiLCJQcmljZSI6NTAuMH1dfSx7IklkIjo1NzIsIk9wdHMiOlt7IklkIjoiRkcwMDI4In1dfV19
Macbook: https/www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air

 

[jaslion]

Hello, Oleg:

Let me just fan the embers by offering this opinion: Get the MacBook!

If it's an award, i.e. you don't have to put up any money, then it's a free MacBook! How often is that going to happen to you?

But seriously, the MacBook is likely to serve you perfectly well for all your stated needs. This is not a criticism of Dell, they generally enjoy a good reputation for their high-end panels and the build quality of their Precision line. The Inspirons are more of a mixed bag.

The models on your list feature specs that blow the Mac out of the water. But let's be realistic: You don't absolutely need the extra storage or the slightly better IGP - nice to have, of course, but once again: If you can choose between a free MacBook Air that will do the job, or a Dell with impressive specs that you don't really need - then get the MacBook.

Lastly, the MacBook weighs 2.96lbs and battery life is listed at 12 hours. Worth considering.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.


PS: I'm not paid by Apple or attempting to troll anyone into a cyber-rage. Really.

That's what all my family is thinking, and that's what I am leaning towards.

I can remark that when I go on Apple's website, I feel like I'm going to be robbed. Their starter MacBook Air is $1000 while the exact same laptop with 256GB SSD (not base 128GB) is freaking $200 more?

Since I will have a few games + school projects on the laptop, I wanted to be safe with storage. That's probably the only deterrent I have with them.

Hello, Oleg and others:

I'm not arguing the traditional invective against Apple products - I'm simply stressing the point that it's friggin' FREE. Yes, they overcharge. Yes, their products are ludicrously under-powered. Yes, they are, stereotypically, aimed at people who have never seen the inside of a computer and don't care one bit.

And, Yes, 12 hours of battery life is obviously a 'perfect world' scenario - probably more like 8 hours IRL. But Dells are not exactly at the forefront of battery life, either (if you can get 5 hours of useful up-time on a half-decent Inspiron, consider yourself very lucky, or very inactive).

I'd still say look at this scenario as an opportunity: My guess is you would never pay for a MacBook with your own money - and now you don't have to!

If you want extra storage, $200 will buy you a 500GB external SSD from this Apple web site:
https/www.apple.com/shop/product/HKQR2ZM/A/g-technology-500gb-g-drive-slim-ssd-usb-c-portable-drive?fnode=5f

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

Still it's an extra thing you need to carry around so why not get a laptop that has all of it already in it?

 

[captaincharisma]

I never equated Free with 'a good experience' - that's clearly beyond anyone's control. Rather, I suggested that this could be an opportunity to try out a product you would never buy otherwise. I shall maintain that the MacBook will serve OP's needs and as such is hardly comparable to the electric car analogy.

The underlying premise is that OP is a PC-person who either has a PC already or is considering buying one. The MacBook is therefore always going to be a risk-free bonus, in my opinion: Either it works for him as expected, which is great. Or it won't, in which case OP will buy the PC he was going to get anyway.

right and my argument goes toward what the OP is going to be using the computer for schoolwork and the majority of schools and colleges use software that is mainly on PC's

editied

 

[Forever Oleg]

This message is for everyone. The laptop is actually not free.

The award only covers up to $700...

So everything above $700 I will have to cover out of pocket which... is why I am deterred from Macbooks in general.

14 7000 is right now the main game. I've read a few reviews, but they all say the same thing about it being great. I have seen nobody who owned it for longer than a month and/or anyone who had something substantial to say in terms of downsides.

I have also been looking at refurbished Apple products. They have a 2015 Macbook Pro for about $900: https/www.apple.com/shop/product/FF839LL/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

Anyone has any other advice? Or for example, your opinion on displays and which one would be easier on the eyes when reading text?

 

[GreyCatz]

Hello, Oleg:

Let me just fan the embers by offering this opinion: Get the MacBook!

If it's an award, i.e. you don't have to put up any money, then it's a free MacBook! How often is that going to happen to you?

But seriously, the MacBook is likely to serve you perfectly well for all your stated needs. This is not a criticism of Dell, they generally enjoy a good reputation for their high-end panels and the build quality of their Precision line. The Inspirons are more of a mixed bag.

The models on your list feature specs that blow the Mac out of the water. But let's be realistic: You don't absolutely need the extra storage or the slightly better IGP - nice to have, of course, but once again: If you can choose between a free MacBook Air that will do the job, or a Dell with impressive specs that you don't really need - then get the MacBook.

Lastly, the MacBook weighs 2.96lbs and battery life is listed at 12 hours. Worth considering.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.


PS: I'm not paid by Apple or attempting to troll anyone into a cyber-rage. Really.

That's what all my family is thinking, and that's what I am leaning towards.

I can remark that when I go on Apple's website, I feel like I'm going to be robbed. Their starter MacBook Air is $1000 while the exact same laptop with 256GB SSD (not base 128GB) is freaking $200 more?

Since I will have a few games + school projects on the laptop, I wanted to be safe with storage. That's probably the only deterrent I have with them.

Hello, Oleg and others:

I'm not arguing the traditional invective against Apple products - I'm simply stressing the point that it's friggin' FREE. Yes, they overcharge. Yes, their products are ludicrously under-powered. Yes, they are, stereotypically, aimed at people who have never seen the inside of a computer and don't care one bit.

And, Yes, 12 hours of battery life is obviously a 'perfect world' scenario - probably more like 8 hours IRL. But Dells are not exactly at the forefront of battery life, either (if you can get 5 hours of useful up-time on a half-decent Inspiron, consider yourself very lucky, or very inactive).

I'd still say look at this scenario as an opportunity: My guess is you would never pay for a MacBook with your own money - and now you don't have to!

If you want extra storage, $200 will buy you a 500GB external SSD from this Apple web site:
https/www.apple.com/shop/product/HKQR2ZM/A/g-technology-500gb-g-drive-slim-ssd-usb-c-portable-drive?fnode=5f

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

Still it's an extra thing you need to carry around so why not get a laptop that has all of it already in it?

I agree. That's what I'd do myself, and that's probably what OP would do, too. But as I indicated earlier, this could be seen as an opportunity to try out a product you wouldn't normally consider at no cost, except $200 for the external SSD and the 'inconvenience' of carrying a 3.68oz peripheral with you.

 

[GreyCatz]

This message is for everyone. The laptop is actually not free.

The award only covers up to $700...

So everything above $700 I will have to cover out of pocket which... is why I am deterred from Macbooks in general.

14 7000 is right now the main game. I've read a few reviews, but they all say the same thing about it being great. I have seen nobody who owned it for longer than a month and/or anyone who had something substantial to say in terms of downsides.

I have also been looking at refurbished Apple products. They have a 2015 Macbook Pro for about $900: https/www.apple.com/shop/product/FF839LL/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

Anyone has any other advice? Or for example, your opinion on displays and which one would be easier on the eyes when reading text?

OK, Oleg - in that case I'll bow out as discreetly as I possible can...

 

[Forever Oleg]

This message is for everyone. The laptop is actually not free.

The award only covers up to $700...

So everything above $700 I will have to cover out of pocket which... is why I am deterred from Macbooks in general.

14 7000 is right now the main game. I've read a few reviews, but they all say the same thing about it being great. I have seen nobody who owned it for longer than a month and/or anyone who had something substantial to say in terms of downsides.

I have also been looking at refurbished Apple products. They have a 2015 Macbook Pro for about $900: https/www.apple.com/shop/product/FF839LL/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

Anyone has any other advice? Or for example, your opinion on displays and which one would be easier on the eyes when reading text?

OK, Oleg - in that case I'll bow out as discreetly as I possible can...

Does that mean you admit to the power of Dell?

 

[GreyCatz]

I never equated Free with 'a good experience' - that's clearly beyond anyone's control. Rather, I suggested that this could be an opportunity to try out a product you would never buy otherwise. I shall maintain that the MacBook will serve OP's needs and as such is hardly comparable to the electric car analogy.

The underlying premise is that OP is a PC-person who either has a PC already or is considering buying one. The MacBook is therefore always going to be a risk-free bonus, in my opinion: Either it works for him as expected, which is great. Or it won't, in which case OP will buy the PC he was going to get anyway.

right and my argument goes toward what the OP is going to be using the computer for schoolwork and the majority of schools and colleges use software that is mainly on PC's

editied

OK, I understand your electric car analogy better now - I was assuming that OP already had considered these potential limitations.

 

[GreyCatz]

This message is for everyone. The laptop is actually not free.

The award only covers up to $700...

So everything above $700 I will have to cover out of pocket which... is why I am deterred from Macbooks in general.

14 7000 is right now the main game. I've read a few reviews, but they all say the same thing about it being great. I have seen nobody who owned it for longer than a month and/or anyone who had something substantial to say in terms of downsides.

I have also been looking at refurbished Apple products. They have a 2015 Macbook Pro for about $900: https/www.apple.com/shop/product/FF839LL/A/refurbished-133-inch-macbook-pro-27ghz-dual-core-intel-i5-with-retina-display

Anyone has any other advice? Or for example, your opinion on displays and which one would be easier on the eyes when reading text?

OK, Oleg - in that case I'll bow out as discreetly as I possible can...

Does that mean you admit to the power of Dell?

No, it means that the only way I would consider a MacBook, for you or for myself, would be as total freebie. If you have to pony up $300 to get the device and then add $200 to get decent storage, then I can't honestly recommend the MacBook any longer - opportunity or not.

I'm a Lenovo person at heart, but I have no problem with Dell - in fact I'm using my desktop Inspiron right now - and Dell's laptops are generally held in high esteem on the forums I consult.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.