Laptop Dilemma.

[soundsystem00]

I got an MSI GS65 stealth and beefed it up to 32gb ram, 1tb samsung m.2 SSD with a seperate 512 ssd ( the stock one ) running linux and I have it set up to dual boot. I am really happy with this set up, but I don't like the laptop experience of it so much. The laptop itself feels kind of flimsy, and the trackpad is not as good as my macbook pro was. Also do not like the built in the speakers.

I had a 2017 macbook pro 15 inch and it made me give up on Apple all together. I had to take it in for repairs 4 separate times for fried logic boards, faulty keyboards, muffled speakers, you name it. Yes, apple was good about repairing the things ( after haggling with them a bit when getting a surprise $700 bill ) but it is just the principle of having a laptop fail on me multiple times during the middle of a tightly packed summer semester. I chose Mac because they were reliable, and this was the most unreliable laptop I have had in my 32 years of being on this planet.

In an angry and frustrated state of mind, I sold all of my Apple gear. My Macbook pro, iPhone, iPad, and even my Apple Watch 3. I felt great, like I was free. I now have a galaxy note 10+, a surface pro 6, and an MSI. I love this gear, but there is just something about this new Macbook Pro that is just so seductive. Everytime I go to Bestbuy and check it out, I just ask myself if it would be possible to get this thing.

I figured, maybe I can sell my MSI. I have over 2k invested in this MSI now that is it upgraded, but now I am worried because it has proven to be difficult to sell on craigslist. A lot of this could have to do with the fact that the MBP 16 has just been released. But then I got to thinking, maybe I should just get the macbook pro and use it for art and music, while keeping the MSI for gaming or anything that might not run on the entry level MBP. If I want the MBP to equal the same specs as my MSI, it is going to be around 4k anyway, so I figured I might as well just keep both. I just don't really like to have two computers, that is all. I don't even like having the surface pro 6 because it feels like all of my stuff is scattered across two OS's.

I wouldn't mind selling my MSI and Surface and getting an MBP 16 and Ipad Pro. I am an artist, DJ, and visual design student, so that combination has proven to inspire creativity a bit more. I Love the fact that I can run Adobe Illustrator on my surface pro 6, but it is just so buggy, and I miss the smooth and natural feel of drawing on the ipad. Not to mention, I now have an opportunity to use the ipad as a second monitor now, which is not something I had the option to do before.

Sorry for the long paragraph but this has been kind of bothering me, and I am tired of this 7 month long chase to figure out how to best utilize my financial aid money for my degree plan. I don't think buying a gaming laptop was a great route, but my mindset at the time was that it would be more reliable than a macbook pro, and that if it can run games, then it can run any of the adobe suite software good too, which has proven to be the case. But it just doesn't feel as ergonomic and inspiring to use.

Opinions? Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[soulreaver99]

I also have an MSI GS65. It’s a beast and I love it. If you are just dying to have a MacBook, go pick one up, set a return window reminder and put away your GS65.

See if you can live without it when you use the Mac for two weeks straight and if the experience of what you need to do on it is any better as it was on the GS65. If you feel that it has made your life better, improved your business, or just simply makes you happier then when you were using the GS65, keep the Mac and sell the MSI if you can’t afford to keep both.

Dwelling on whether or not you should buy something is a waste of time and energy. Just do it and see if you need it.

 

[maflynn]

Opinions? Thoughts? Thanks!

You're posting in a Mac forum and as such you'll be getting advice on buying the 16" MBP and selling the MSI and Surface. I'd have to say I think the MSI GS65 is a fine machine and if it does everything you want it (save mac stuff) then keep it. If you want to return back to the mac ecosystem then buy a mac ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Like you, I'd rather not spend 4k and you definitely get more computer for less money in the windows world, plus all of the issues that I see here would have me spooked but that's just me

 

[baypharm]

Sounds like you may be leaning toward a portable device. If not, have you looked into the new Surface Studio? I use one in addition to my Mac devices and love it, especially for drawing applications.

 

[jerryk]

Should this thread be in the MacBook Pro forums?

 

[maflynn]

Should this thread be in the MacBook Pro forums?

Well he is asking about buying a MBP

 

[faust]

I'd give it a go with the 16" MBP. It made me come back to Apple after a decade of feeling contempt for the brand! But set a reminder for the MBP's return window, and return it if you find it not making a meaningful impact on your life. If it does prove to be worthwhile for you? Go ahead and try to sell the MSI laptop you bought But yea, it's your student loans after all. Just be sure it's worthwhile for you!

 

[soundsystem00]

Exactly! Well the huge thing with my MSI notebook was that it is not very good with my DJ culture. Searching for tracks isn't as fast. With the macbook pro trackpad, I could fly through tracklists and skim through a track on beatport in no-time. Also, when I ran my radio broadcast, it always came out great and was instant on everything I needed to do with no interruptions. I really loved my macbook pro 13 inch and had it for 2 years, but once I started needed to edit video, it fell short. I got the macbook pro 15 inch, 2017 and it was a lemon! Apple was not going to give up on that device, they kept repairing it and repairing it until everyone was happy. They treated me respectfully even when I was being an *******. That was something that stored in the back of my mind and really left a good impact on me.

The msi, for GAMING, is a sweet setup. I can't believe how well it runs gta5 and red dead. But when I tried to run a radio broadcast on it, my stream was coming out sounding like 56k instead of 192kbps. It is weird, we tried everything and could not get to the bottom of it. I use a behringer audio interface that connects to usb. A lot of my crew uses it which is why I came to be with one.

The idea of having a decked out macbook pro 16 inch with dual boot is very appealing to me. But then again, I also dabble with linux and have a nice dual boot linux setup on my MSI. So there is that too which I really enjoy.

I am soon to buy a 4k black magic video camera. If I just get the entry level one macbook pro, I will have enough money left over for both.

Do you think the entry level macbook pro 16 inch will edit 4k video well? The 16gb of ram worries me. I feel like that will be outdated in 3-4 years. What do you think?

Sounds like you may be leaning toward a portable device. If not, have you looked into the new Surface Studio? I use one in addition to my Mac devices and love it, especially for drawing applications.

I liked the surface studio a lot when I messed with it, but it is too expensive for me. I like having a portable device. I move a lot and always am on the go. I like being able to take my laptop to work, school, family's house, girlfriends house, and anywhere in between. I have a large 4k monitor that I hook up to when I am at home, then when I get tired I unhook everything and take the laptop to bed and play some games. In order to do that, I have to get a cooling pad or it will burn me, lol.

I have a surface pro 6. I like it because it can run adobe illustrator. The reason I do not like it is because its buggy and the pen is not as responsive. You can not just flip the screen around like a mad man by using gestures while you draw like you can with the ipad. I really like all of these devices for their own reasons. But I really do think that the apple products better suited me as a creative. I have never been a big gamer, I have always been more about creating things.

But yeah, I really love that I can keep it in my bag at ALL times. Since I only gave 600 bucks for it, I am not too freaked out about carrying it in my backpack all of the time like I am my MSI, lol.

You're posting in a Mac forum and as such you'll be getting advice on buying the 16" MBP and selling the MSI and Surface. I'd have to say I think the MSI GS65 is a fine machine and if it does everything you want it (save mac stuff) then keep it. If you want to return back to the mac ecosystem then buy a mac ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Like you, I'd rather not spend 4k and you definitely get more computer for less money in the windows world, plus all of the issues that I see here would have me spooked but that's just me

I know right. The issues with the 2017 macbook pro were insane. But NOW those are all taken care of. RIGHT AFTER I SELL IT. Murphys Law in action??

 

[Sirmausalot]

As an educator and parent, I think you've got some serious responsibility issues. But let's acknowledge that what you say is true. The 15" MacBook Pro, by many accounts sucked. But the iPad is still the best tablet out there and the apple watch is also best of class. Although I prefer Android phones because the OS is more flexible, the iPhone still has better camera capabilities. So you made a mistake in selling the latter two.

But what truly worries me is that you are on financial aid and clearly spending, living, and getting educated on borrowed money. This will come to seriously haunt you in the years ahead. You need to get it together and stop using borrowed money to buy and sell excessive gear. If you are making money DJing or other graphic work, MAYBE you can justify throwing away thousands more dollars. But you're not.

So live with the equipment you have until you can start making some real money to pay and upgrade equipment. It's a matter of financial discipline. And you don't need a Black Magic camera because first of all unless you are a trained cinematographer, they are a huge pain to use with some serious limitations and crucially cost probably 4X more than their sticker price once you kit it out. And it will be outdated within 6 months.

For camera, you should be using school gear, borrowing, or renting equipment or if buying, looking on the used market.

Exactly! Well the huge thing with my MSI notebook was that it is not very good with my DJ culture. Searching for tracks isn't as fast. With the macbook pro trackpad, I could fly through tracklists and skim through a track on beatport in no-time. Also, when I ran my radio broadcast, it always came out great and was instant on everything I needed to do with no interruptions. I really loved my macbook pro 13 inch and had it for 2 years, but once I started needed to edit video, it fell short. I got the macbook pro 15 inch, 2017 and it was a lemon! Apple was not going to give up on that device, they kept repairing it and repairing it until everyone was happy. They treated me respectfully even when I was being an *******. That was something that stored in the back of my mind and really left a good impact on me.

The msi, for GAMING, is a sweet setup. I can't believe how well it runs gta5 and red dead. But when I tried to run a radio broadcast on it, my stream was coming out sounding like 56k instead of 192kbps. It is weird, we tried everything and could not get to the bottom of it. I use a behringer audio interface that connects to usb. A lot of my crew uses it which is why I came to be with one.

The idea of having a decked out macbook pro 16 inch with dual boot is very appealing to me. But then again, I also dabble with linux and have a nice dual boot linux setup on my MSI. So there is that too which I really enjoy.

I am soon to buy a 4k black magic video camera. If I just get the entry level one macbook pro, I will have enough money left over for both.

Do you think the entry level macbook pro 16 inch will edit 4k video well? The 16gb of ram worries me. I feel like that will be outdated in 3-4 years. What do you think?



I liked the surface studio a lot when I messed with it, but it is too expensive for me. I like having a portable device. I move a lot and always am on the go. I like being able to take my laptop to work, school, family's house, girlfriends house, and anywhere in between. I have a large 4k monitor that I hook up to when I am at home, then when I get tired I unhook everything and take the laptop to bed and play some games. In order to do that, I have to get a cooling pad or it will burn me, lol.

I have a surface pro 6. I like it because it can run adobe illustrator. The reason I do not like it is because its buggy and the pen is not as responsive. You can not just flip the screen around like a mad man by using gestures while you draw like you can with the ipad. I really like all of these devices for their own reasons. But I really do think that the apple products better suited me as a creative. I have never been a big gamer, I have always been more about creating things.

But yeah, I really love that I can keep it in my bag at ALL times. Since I only gave 600 bucks for it, I am not too freaked out about carrying it in my backpack all of the time like I am my MSI, lol.



I know right. The issues with the 2017 macbook pro were insane. But NOW those are all taken care of. RIGHT AFTER I SELL IT. Murphys Law in action??

 

[soundsystem00]

As an educator and parent, I think you've got some serious responsibility issues. But let's acknowledge that what you say is true. The 15" MacBook Pro, by many accounts sucked. But the iPad is still the best tablet out there and the apple watch is also best of class. Although I prefer Android phones because the OS is more flexible, the iPhone still has better camera capabilities. So you made a mistake in selling the latter two.

But what truly worries me is that you are on financial aid and clearly spending, living, and getting educated on borrowed money. This will come to seriously haunt you in the years ahead. You need to get it together and stop using borrowed money to buy and sell excessive gear. If you are making money DJing or other graphic work, MAYBE you can justify throwing away thousands more dollars. But you're not.

So live with the equipment you have until you can start making some real money to pay and upgrade equipment. It's a matter of financial discipline. And you don't need a Black Magic camera because first of all unless you are a trained cinematographer, they are a huge pain to use with some serious limitations and crucially cost probably 4X more than their sticker price once you kit it out. And it will be outdated within 6 months.

For camera, you should be using school gear, borrowing, or renting equipment or if buying, looking on the used market.

Yeah, you are right.
[automerge]1580073699[/automerge]

I think you've got some serious responsibility issues.

I think a large percentage of students accept the loans. At first, I was not using them. But I eventually took the bait and activated them. When I am so use to scraping by on very little money, it is really nice to actually be able to get some things to make school easier. The computers at the school are very capable, but they have "deep freeze" which makes them incompatible with each other because a lot of classes have different versions of Adobe Software which makes it to where you can't edit at school and then take it to the lab to edit, or home to edit.

I found it to be easier to just buy my own and bring it to class.

 

[baypharm]

What I would do concerning your want for a Black Magic cinema camera is to rent one. There are many rental houses that carry both the 4K and the newest model that records in 6K. Renting this camera makes so much more sense because after getting the body you have to “feed” it: tripod/fluid head (for static shots), a gimbal (for moving shots), batteries, Cfast storage cards, and finally lenses. The 4K model utilizes an MFT lens mount while the 6K version has an EF mount. Cinema lenses are extraordinarily expensive and that alone is why you would be prudent in renting vs buying.

 

[jinnyman]

I'm not sure. It appears that you've already made some serious purchases. It's better to enjoy whatever you've got, MSI, than selling it and getting a new MBP. That's what's reasonable. But then, you appear you've made your choice already. It's up to you really as it's your money that's at stake.

Whatever you do, good luck.

 

[soundsystem00]

I'm not sure. It appears that you've already made some serious purchases. It's better to enjoy whatever you've got, MSI, than selling it and getting a new MBP. That's what's reasonable. But then, you appear you've made your choice already. It's up to you really as it's your money that's at stake.

Whatever you do, good luck.

Thanks, I appreciate that! Yeah, I really like this msi. I don't think it is worth all of the hassle of trying to sell it, and there is no way I will get 2k out of it, which is what I have in it. You are right, I need to just enjoy what I got. I have mostly used it for Gaming, and I have a lot of expansion options. Plugging in a mouse is not that big of a deal if I have to edit or something.

It would be nice to get a macbook pro 16 and an iPad, but I may just have buyer's remorse again. I am turning off the loans after this last time so that I don't have to have these dumb thoughts.

What I would do concerning your want for a Black Magic cinema camera is to rent one. There are many rental houses that carry both the 4K and the newest model that records in 6K. Renting this camera makes so much more sense because after getting the body you have to “feed” it: tripod/fluid head (for static shots), a gimbal (for moving shots), batteries, Cfast storage cards, and finally lenses. The 4K model utilizes an MFT lens mount while the 6K version has an EF mount. Cinema lenses are extraordinarily expensive and that alone is why you would be prudent in renting vs buying.

That is such a good point. I don't even have a reason for a camera, I just love the feeling of shooting some great video and watching it back on the computer. I don't know if that feeling is worth thousands of dollars but I also know that if I had a capable camera I would shoot more often. All I have is my cell phone now, which takes decent video, but not good enough to inspire me to go out and shoot. I don't have any video classes this semester so I actually don't have as much of a reason to go out.

I am taking two Java classes, a portfolio class, and a business class. So really my current setup makes sense.