New Member - Probably a Recurring Question

[DallasCowboysFan]

I am on my 3rd iPhone. iphone7, SE2, and currently an iPhone13.
I love them all. I will never buy another Android product.
I have always bought PC's. I have owned Dell and HP laptops, and desktops. My laptops have always been entry level or midlevel products.

They only last 2,3 years before they need to be replaced, and because they are lower end laptops, the housing is made of plastic and they are often cracked towards the end of their life, just like my 15 inch HP is doing now.

I want to upgrade to a Macbook. But I have a few questions, because it's new territory for me, and it will probably cost twice as much as I have paid for a laptop in the past. I paid $799 for my iPhone13, and that is more than I have ever paid for a PC. I want to make the right choice.


I was leaning towards the MacBook Air 13 inch. With 8 GB @ $1199, it will meet my needs. I vaguely recall someone recommending an Air with the 512GB's. That there were some issues with the 256GB. I don't remember the details.

Is the only advantage of the Pro version, the touchbar at the top?

Is the new 15 inch that Apple revealed Monday as extraordinary as the reviews make it out to be? Or, all the reviewers excited because it is a new design? The major difference I saw was a larger screen and 2 extra speakers.

Thanks

 

[ndouglas]

You summed up my experience with PC laptops very well, before getting a Macbook I got so annoyed by PC build quality, and one part of it or another breaking, to where I had to replace them every 1-2 years or more.

I can’t really determine based on your post what specific Macbook model, air or pro etc., or 13 vs. 15” size would be best for you, everything’s a tradeoff between more or less battery, money, screen, other stuff. Whatever you choose I suspect you’ll enjoy it though, similar to how you mention iphones, the laptop quality also is so much better than other brands that you’ll feel able to keep it for several years at least.

If you’re on the fence about size and model it sounds like the $1199 Air you mention would be a good start. Good luck with deciding!

 

[DallasCowboysFan]

You summed up my experience with PC laptops very well, before getting a Macbook I got so annoyed by PC build quality, and one part of it or another breaking, to where I had to replace them every 1-2 years or more.

I can’t really determine based on your post what specific Macbook model, air or pro etc., or 13 vs. 15” size would be best for you, everything’s a tradeoff between more or less battery, money, screen, other stuff. Whatever you choose I suspect you’ll enjoy it though, similar to how you mention iphones, the laptop quality also is so much better than other brands that you’ll feel able to keep it for several years at least.

If you’re on the fence about size and model it sounds like the $1199 Air you mention would be a good start. Good luck with deciding!

I don't use it for work....nothing technical.
I just use it for email and surfing the internet.
It will probably be a good choice.


Thanks

 

[russell_314]

I don't use it for work....nothing technical.
I just use it for email and surfing the internet.
It will probably be a good choice.


Thanks

Get the base model. The 256 GB SSD is a single NAND chip so slightly slower. It's not going to effect web browsing or email. If you were doing video editing then I would say upgrade, but then you will need more storage anyway. They have a 15" Air now just in case you need a larger screen. I have the 13" but I like smaller laptops.

I'm curious how are you breaking the shell of plastic laptops? I don't currently have a Windows laptop because my gaming is done with my desktop, but I've never physically cracked the shell on one. Sure they're plastic but it's not like they should just fall apart. The MacBook has better construction, but with enough force it will bend or break. Don't think it's a Panasonic Toughbook, or anything like that. I'm fairly certain if you apply in the force to the top of the lid, the screen will probably crack.

The only damage I've done to mine so far is a small mark on the screen because I closed the lid on some type of debris. It was probably a grain of sand or something. I'm very careful not to drop it because I don't think it will withstand any type of fall. I could be wrong, but I don't want to test that.

 

[DallasCowboysFan]

I cracked it when I removed the back to upgrade the RAM. It cracked around one of the ports and then it led to cracking elsewhere.

I have also had the misfortune of spilling drinks on the keyboard. I have never had a waterproof keyboard. I lost one that way.

I'll go with the base model. I like the idea of a smaller laptop and I think it will meet my needs and probably be superior to anything I have had.

Apple also provides some kind of virus protection as well, don't they?