Need help convincing my sister in law.

[Sun Baked]

Yeah, 699 is a good deal. There are free antivirus programs (AVG) that work well and there are way better ones to pay for that cost less (Kaspersky) and work way better than Norton.

Yep, good deal -- hard to change somebody's mine when they are focused on a price.

Especially when a comparable refurb MacBook with Applecare would set you back at about 80-100% more than that.

That's if you can find the refurb and can buy it in time.

About all that can compete with that on the Mac side for that price is the Mini, and you lose portability.

 

[FF_productions]

Yep, good deal -- hard to change somebody's mine when they are focused on a price.

It makes it very hard to convince somebody when their eyes are glued to the price tag.

Heres one way to think about it:

If you can go 6-7 years without getting a new computer, does anybody say "I paid too much for that laptop, I knew I should have gotten a PC."
They don't say that. Ever.

<Here comes bad car analogy that I keep editing so it can make a little bit of sense>
It would be like driving a Mercedes Benz for 6 years and then say, why the hell did I buy a mercedes? I should have gotten a Ford!


Thats why a computer is an investment, they should feel that the money spent on a MacBook is worth it and not a bad idea at all.

 

[heatmiser]

Fanboyism aside (though that's an aside few on this thread are willing to make), there's very little reason for the couple in question to pay twice as much for exactly the same hardware. If they're looking for an inexpensive machine to do basic stuff--ie, the stuff 99% of the population does with computers--any variety of PC desktop will suit them just fine. It would be rather selfish to go out of your way to badmouth PCs/prostitute Apples simply because you couldn't bear the thought of them being happy using Windows.

 

[FF_productions]

It would be rather selfish to go out of your way to badmouth PCs/prostitute Apples simply because you couldn't bear the thought of them being happy using Windows.

I've used Windows, and not for 2 minutes. I've dealt with them for about 5 years now.

I really can't bear the thought of people being happy with a Windows computer, it just doesn't make sense to me. For all the crap I went through Windows, I can never turn back. Why would I turn back anyway?

Price shouldn't be focused on. I'd pay double for a machine that works over a machine that will have problems.

 

[heatmiser]

I really can't bear the thought of people being happy with a Windows computer, it just doesn't make sense to me.

But why does it matter to you what other people use? This is total fox-in-the-manger-ness. What's it to you if people are as satisfied using XP (or Vista) as you are using Tiger (or Leopard)? How does this affect your usage of whatever you use? Some people are happy with Windows. Others are happy with OS X. Live and let live, I say! Clearly, OS X works better for you than Windows does. But that doesn't mean other people shouldn't be allowed to use Windows if that's what they want to use.

 

[FF_productions]

Of course some people can live with Windows, why do you think over 90% of the world uses it?

I'm just saying, it sucks seeing friends buy a windows computer, they then bug me to fix it for them because spyware took over or some random incident happened.

 

[heatmiser]

I'm just saying you'd probably be a lot happier if you stopped spending so much time wringing your hands over other people's abilities to enjoy Windows :^)

 

[heatmiser]

Back on topic...to the OP, if you really want them to switch, why don't you offer to pay the difference between whichever Windows computer they want and the Mac you want them to get? If you're dead certain the Mac would be a better value, put up the cash and help them get it. That way, you'd not only show them how much faith you have in Apple, but you'd also have something at stake in terms of whether things worked out or not, instead of simply asking them to get an Apple and not being out a penny if they couldn't use it. If they want a $700 Dell, and you want them to swing for a $1200 iMac, put up the $500 and help them buy the Mac. Otherwise, help them get what *they* want to get.

 

[Sun Baked]

Yep the 1520 updated with the stuff that you would actually want is $850, so comparing that to a refurb MacBook might be a better fit.

That $700 machine likely will be a bit slower running the 1.46GHz cpu, and it likely won't last 6 years with Vista.

 

[amac4me]

I suggest that you start out by informing her about the capabilities of today's Macs. Not only can they run Mac OS X (which a more advanced, secure, and capable OS when compared to Windows) she has the ability to run Windows on a Mac as well. She can still use Windows if she needs to via Boot Camp or virtualization programs (Parallels / VMWare Fusion).

She can spend once and get more for her money. I'd also try to convince her that there are benefits to purchasing a Mac and there's a misconception that Macs are too expensive.

Good luck!

 

[stainlessliquid]

If she cant afford it then she cant afford it. Stop insulting her by throwing your money in her face (you may not be doing it intentionally but Im sure thats how she is taking it).

If shes buying a $700 laptop then its for a reason. You are not going to convince her to get a mac because she most likely cannot afford it or cant justify the extra cost when there are other things that have higher priority.

You can talk forever about just how much greater the mac is compared to the dell just like I can talk about how much greater the MBP is over the MB. People are going to buy what they can afford, telling people they should have gotten the expensive thing that they couldnt afford is just plain insulting.

 

[heatmiser]

If she cant afford it then she cant afford it. Stop insulting her by throwing your money in her face (you may not be doing in intentionally but Im sure thats how she is taking it).

If shes buying a $700 laptop then its for a reason. You are not going to convince her to get a mac because she most likely cannot afford it or cant justify the extra cost when there are other things that have higher priority.

Exactly. This is why the idea I wrote about above makes perfect sense. OP, if you want her to buy a 1200 dollar computer instead of the 700 dollar computer *she* wants to buy, then have the decency to put up the extra 500 dollars for her. Otherwise, stop asking her to buy something she clearly can't afford without digging deeper into her savings.