If the MacBook Pro didn't have Mac OS X, would you still buy it at the same price?

[Slivortal]

I used to think this until I discovered Ubuntu. Now the only things keeping me tethered are the unibody design, the responsive trackpad, and the fact that all my media is now integrated into Apple software. Those and the fact that the drivers natively work.

Had Snow Leopard still been around, it would have been a tougher decision. But Lion was a huge step back.

 

[SpyderBite]

I know it is. But some Mac haters keeps on bragging about how our systems are overpriced and how we can get a cheaper one.

So you're picking a fight?

Redundant discussion. Apple doesn't sell computers w/o OS X & Haters can buy PCs.

What if D O G really spelled Cat?

 

[Aodhan]

My answer is no, I would not buy it at the same price. But pretty close. The reason I go for Macs is not just for OSX, which is awesome, but also for the build quality and materials used in Macs. They are more durable, they last longer, and stay looking nice longer. There are pretenders, but there is no real competition for the MacBook Pro. It's a solid, lovely piece of engineering.

That said, another tremendous appeal of Apple is that things just work. The software is friendly to use, but powerful. Coming from a Linux and FreeBSD background, I appreciate the unix underpinnings of OSX. I love being able to crack open Terminal and change permissions, encrypt files, or quickly edit documents with vi.

It's a whole package. And it's worth the price.

 

[minifridge1138]

Very good question.
Obviously your audience is biased, but still a good question.

No I wouldn't buy a MacBook Pro if it didn't come with OS X.

The apple hardware is great, but not great enough to justify the additional cost.

I didn't switch from Windows & Linux to Apple for the hardware (It's all Intel anyway).

I was sick of the various problems that Windows has always had.
I love linux for development and enterprise servers, but I don't think it's ready for average consumer use.

OS X was a nice mixture of things:
1) It had the backing of a major company that wants it to succeed (and therefore is widely supported)
2) A much more secure kernel and permission scheme
3) Reliability

For me, its the OS that justifies the extra cost.

 

[Ryan1524]

No.


Half the value proposition is gone.

 

[ryane67]

I voted no, I don't think that the typical "macs cost too much" applies to the new retina macbook pro, this is only one example but it was cake to find.

I just went to dell's site and said "I want a laptop with a 3rd gen core i7 processor, and a solid state drive"
what results do I get? their lowest price laptop is the "new xps 14 ultrabook" coming in at $1999.

Take the low end rMBP with EDU discount (lets face it everyone can somehow get it) comes in at only $1999

Straight up spec dell vs apple comparison:
Display: 14" HD+ vs 2880x1800 Retina
CPU: i7 dual core 1.9 vs i7 quad core 2.3
RAM: 8gb vs 8gb
SSD: 512gb vs 256gb
GPU: 630M vs 650M
Warranty: 1yr vs 1yr
OS: Windows vs OSX/Windows
Couldnt find approx battery life on the new dell

So for the same price, or even excluding the EDU discount, do we need to count the "price" of OSX in this comparison?

Edit: I guess this means my answer should be yes

 

[FluJunkie]

Yes, because the Windows/Linux laptops I'd consider for my professional machine have virtually identical price points.

 

[traumuhhtize]

Its a package deal
Style, design, peripheral integration, OSX, iOS integration

That's the beauty of it
It isn't a standalone

Agreed.

 

[M87]

No. OS X is the big selling point for me, not that I don't love the hardware as well.

 

[Sahee]

I voted no, I don't think that the typical "macs cost too much" applies to the new retina macbook pro, this is only one example but it was cake to find.

I just went to dell's site and said "I want a laptop with a 3rd gen core i7 processor, and a solid state drive"
what results do I get? their lowest price laptop is the "new xps 14 ultrabook" coming in at $1999.

Take the low end rMBP with EDU discount (lets face it everyone can somehow get it) comes in at only $1999

Straight up spec dell vs apple comparison:
Display: 14" HD+ vs 2880x1800 Retina
CPU: i7 dual core 1.9 vs i7 quad core 2.3
RAM: 8gb vs 8gb
SSD: 512gb vs 256gb
GPU: 630M vs 650M
Warranty: 1yr vs 1yr
OS: Windows vs OSX/Windows
Couldnt find approx battery life on the new dell

So for the same price, or even excluding the EDU discount, do we need to count the "price" of OSX in this comparison?

Edit: I guess this means my answer should be yes

This comparison is flawed, the 512GB SSD on the Dell makes a huge impact on the pricing... the Retina-Macbook with 512GB SSD gets charged for 2700€.

 

[steviewhy]

Sure, as soon as debian has compatibility.

 

[sireShonBohn]

It's not the same without OSX. OSX may not be quite as *perfect* as the hardware, but, it's really good, better than windows by a mile. I use iOS on an iPad 2 and it's so intuitive, so that's the only reason I'd knock OSX slightly. I know iOS doesn't have nearly the feature set as OSX but what it does have is executed flawlessly. The OS is the real difference maker it either completes or essentially is the experience minus a few details.

 

[Nozuka]

One of the big reasons Macs usually run so stable and without much problems is that the Hardware and Software comes from the same Company.
Makes it easier to optimize the System and make changes and improves the Usability.

Where as Microsoft always has to be carefull with updates and other Manufacturers need to fix and provide drivers. There is no way Microsoft can test every possible configuration.
And alot of those drivers are bloatware and not nicely integrated into the OS.

With OSX you dont even care about drivers, except maybe for external devices.

I only started using OSX with my rMBP and at work i Deploy Windows Clients.

It really is nice for a change to have a System that just works and not messing with drivers.
Even my printer (that happens to be AirPrint compatible) was just recognized and just worked. Even showing how much Ink is left. and the Scanning (over the air) feature was available after clicking "install" - didnt have to look for drivers or anything, they were just ready.

Where as on my Windows Computer i had to install several Programs and Drivers to get the Network Printing and Scanning working properly. And now it always starts with my Computer, slowing it down.

So no - without OSX i wouldnt care about Macs at all.

 

[jbolden1517]

Fuji

Put me down as a no, and I'm a 11 year Mac user and current rMBP owner. If I could buy any laptop I'd get the Fujitsu. Unfashionable as they are now the Windows Tablets are excellent, machines and the Fuji has an excellent screen that works well for stylus or as a typical laptop monitor. Stylus is a really good way to interact with a laptop. I have a bit of regret in not having a stylus option. IMHO the only reason Windows tablets didn't take off is that Windows / Microsoft customer base is too cheap to pay the few hundred extra for a good screen, and a good hinge; from a software perspective Microsoft did a great job by Vista in getting all tablet functionality working with Windows and One Note is bar none the best note taking app on the market (for use with a tablet).

That being said, I consider OSX to be $1000 feature, and that's why I buy Apple. I generally feel like the hardware I buy from them is pretty reasonable relative to a similar high end laptop from a high end vendor. The rMBP was cheaper than anything similar at the time, but if I were in the Windows realm I would be able to get "exactly what I want" as their slogan used to go.