Please help - spouse wants me to return MacBook Pro

[dacoffee]

If she wants to minimise her investment into a computer, there are certainly better ways to spend you money than a Lenovo Flex

I agree. I am sure there are other better laptops out there. I think her use case is very basic. I almost want to tell her, "let us buy MacBook otherwise we will stick with $400 Windows laptop"

Quite honestly, this has been very stressful to me. I did not sleep well last night. I think the mindset plays a role as well. We have been using Windows since childhood and buying MacBook sure seems a premium thing. I only wish the financial part was little easier for me.

There are still few cyber monday deals that I can grab. I called my wife 15 mins back and she said, " we will keep the MacBook, I know you too wanted one for several years".

I will take a decision tonight when I go back home. But, thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts. It has been very helpful to talk to someone (at emotional level).

 

[oneMadRssn]

This is how I always justify it: if not abused, and barring any catastrophic accident, a Macbook will easily last 6+ years of fast frustration-free use.

I have two 2013 Macbook Airs, and they still run as good as new, and I expect to use them for at least another 2 or 3 years or so. I bought my little brother a 2012 Macbook Air a few years ago, he uses it for school, and I don't expect to replace it until he goes to college in 3.5 years. All run perfectly still. A family friend just replaced her old polycarbonate Macbook from 2008 earlier this year - not because it broke or was too slow, but because the WiFi card was no longer compatible with the WiFi in the building she moved into. 9 years (!) of reliable daily use from what was considered a low-end Macbook.

Windows-based laptops may have better specs and whatnot, but it is rare they last as long. Updates tend to really slow them down, and PC hardware makers aren't that good about providing updated drivers and support for that long. I would be upset if a PC laptop purchased today lasted me less than 2 years, but I would be surprised if it was still quick and frustration-free after 4 years.

So do the math - on a per month basis, which costs less? A $2000 macbook for 6 years comes out to $28/month. A $1500 PC for 3 years come out to $42/month.

 

[SteveJUAE]

You seem to be way over spec'ing for your modest needs and I wonder why you did not even consider the MacBook on a special offer somewhere, However that's a different story

Whilst it is true MBP are a premium product this does not have to equate to value, as premium also includes many aesthetic and other features or materials that contribute little actual functionality value. They well make it a joy to use and look but add nothing to performance or reliability.

Many premium devices use limited production or enhanced components that may well increase risks to longevity and certainly add to costs to repairs and even scarcity in the future. Given the now unfriendly batteries replacing them is dearer than buying a cheap and higher performing W10 laptop in 4/5/6 years time

Reliability is a fickle thing whilst it is true many previous MBP have had good reliability and often out score other OEMs in the 1st one or 2 years this soon tappers off at 3 or more. The bottom line is if MBPs were always more reliable they would come with 3 years warranty, but they do not.

Due to your large outlay you may feel more compelled to get AppleCare to enjoy 3 years of some of the best support adding more cost. Some MBP have proven not to be reliable and the current Gen only has little over year track record.

Most good OEMs use the same or similar quality components, some components may be better or high performance but no better quality eg Intel CPU's

It certainly seems with you frugal mind-set on there is little real gains for you in the Apple world and buying brand new is also hard to justify. You should also consider actual portability and accessibility ie if you use the device more as it is more portable then you will be gaining more value

Your familiarity with W10 and existing software may also play a factor and the simple risk that your wife may not enjoy learning and using macOS

Stick with what you know with a reasonable spec and quality to suit your lifestyle and actual needs

PS Also check secondary costs eg Your all risk household insurance may ceiling at say $1000

 

[Bart Kela]

One important consideration: you already have a Microsoft Office for Windows license. If you get a new Windows notebook, you should be able to install Office on the new machine and license it.

If you acquire a Mac, you will likely be forced to pay for Microsoft Office for Mac.

There's an argument favoring the Mac when you consider total cost of ownership over the entire period you own the device, but since cash is a concern, buying the Lenovo is a legitimate option.

After all, many people take out loans to buy cars even though it's way more expensive than paying cash up front.

Again, not sure why you aren't considering a refurb MacBook or MacBook Air. Everything she is planning to do could be handled by any PC built in the past five years.

 

[dacoffee]

Again, not sure why you aren't considering a refurb MacBook or MacBook Air. Everything she is planning to do could be handled by any PC built in the past five years.

That is a fair point. I am looking into the Cyber Monday deals right now to find a decent one. That might work for both of us.

 

[FutureDancer]

Thank you for your response. I think her rationale is that she might get 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-7500U processor, 16 GB RAM and 556 SSD for $900 (Lenovo Flex Laptop) which might run fine for next 5-10 years. In her world, this means, "using the money to get the best bang for her dollars".

I do agree that MacBook has several advantages around stability, battery life, longevity etc. I will talk to her tonight and take a decision. It might go either way. Also, I understand that folks on this forum cannot take a financial decision for me but the posts here have been very helpful.

To be honest, I would hate to return something I wanted to gift her. I am probably validating my decision

Thank you!

Let me given you an example. I had a similar Lenovo. After 2 years, it wouldn't switch on at all. There is a low probability she would have it more than 3 years, doesn't matter about the specs. What is the motherboard quality? what is the case quality? Power supply quality etc.

 

[Miltz]

Hello

So, I bought 2017 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Display 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 2.3 gigahertz, Intel 7th Generation Core i5 from Best Buy for $1,299 before tax. After tax and surcharges, it came out to $1,415.

The thing is that this was a gift to my wife on our anniversary. We both are very frugal and I have been saving for few months to get the laptop on Black Friday. I am yet to collect the laptop from Best Buy but I did share this with her yesterday night (she accidently found out). She is very happy but at the same time she is not ready to move to such an "expensive" system. And, when I told her that I would be taking Apple Care (or similar) later in the year, it just added to her doubt of the purchase.

We both love each other and she understands that we don’t really need this system. I bought it for her, I know she wouldn’t go beyond checking emails, browsing internet, watching Netflix, playing basic games, storing music files, and using word/excel etc. I could have bought MacBook Air but I really like the screen resolution, retina display and the fact the CPU cycle was better in Pro. Even though this a gift to her, we both know that I would use it as well (for same purpose mentioned above) but we won't create different login ID's.

She did a search yesterday night and was able to find other Windows laptops with same or even better configuration. I think she may have found a 12 GB, 512 GB SSD, i7 7 generation Leveno Flex for under $900.

My question is, for the type of work we need to do with the laptop, is it financially justifiable to get this machine or am I better off with a Windows PC? She is a very rational person and I can make the argument of "quality" vs "quantity" and more "stability and reliability" with Mac with her and she will buy it but I don’t want to lie to her. Her thought is that if the additional $500 spent on MacBook is pure luxury then our family doesn't need it and I kind of agree with her.

I am hoping I can get some response here to make a decision. This is a big financial decision for someone like me. It seems I am mixing "emotions" with "reality".

Thanks!

Have you considered a 2016 MacBook... It's an amazing machine, and heavily discounted right now. Once you go Mac you never go back.

 

[Closingracer]

Have you considered a 2016 MacBook... It's an amazing machine, and heavily discounted right now. Once you go Mac you never go back.

Meh I split my usage about 30-70 between my windows 10 laptop and MacBook pro. Even the AMD gpu in the Macbook it can't really play games. My windows laptop has a 1070 inside and supports all Pc games.

 

[dacoffee]

Considering her very basic usage and my wish to buy Apple, I am considering following options from ebay (the seller seems reputed with 98.9% positive feedback and around 4500 positive feedbacks).

1) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD32LL/A - Intel Core i5 (June 2017), 1.80GHz, 128 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $750

2) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD42LL/A - Intel Core i5 (Mid 2017), 1.80GHz, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $919

Is the additional 128 GB worth $169?

 

[Closingracer]

Considering her very basic usage and my wish to buy Apple, I am considering following options from ebay (the seller seems reputed with 98.9% positive feedback and around 4500 positive feedbacks).

1) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD32LL/A - Intel Core i5 (June 2017), 1.80GHz, 128 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $750

2) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD42LL/A - Intel Core i5 (Mid 2017), 1.80GHz, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $919

Is the additional 128 GB worth $169?

Yes but I wouldn't buy the Air Tbh. Yeah it will work but that TN panel is pretty bad. If you really don't want to buy a used pro I would just go with a Windows laptop. You'll get the performance plus a better screen.

 

[Ries]

Depending on how much she types and uses spreadsheet and co, an iPad may cover your needs and be a lot cheaper.

 

[jerryk]

Considering her very basic usage and my wish to buy Apple, I am considering following options from ebay (the seller seems reputed with 98.9% positive feedback and around 4500 positive feedbacks).

1) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD32LL/A - Intel Core i5 (June 2017), 1.80GHz, 128 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $750

2) Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop, 128GB - MQD42LL/A - Intel Core i5 (Mid 2017), 1.80GHz, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM) - $919

Is the additional 128 GB worth $169?

The MacBook Air is an old design, with a low resolution screen. I would avoid it.

 

[Miltz]

Meh I split my usage about 30-70 between my windows 10 laptop and MacBook pro. Even the AMD gpu in the Macbook it can't really play games. My windows laptop has a 1070 inside and supports all Pc games.

I've never heard of a gamer buying a Mac for games so that doesn't really matter... It's not designed for it.

 

[Closingracer]

I've never heard of a gamer buying a Mac for games so that doesn't really matter... It's not designed for it.

My point was more for effect... I mostly use my windows laptop because of the fact macs are bad at playing games. As much as I prefer windows overall I just like using macOS because it's just easier at doing certain things

 

[bruinsrme]

I have an 2017 15” mbp.

90% Windows.
If there wasn’t a 10% need for Mac I would have logged into the Lenovo site for a new purchase.
Decent machines, plenty of ports without the need for a hub or new peripherals.
If you don’t think Macs break try to make a Genius appointment and see how many days it will take.
Lenovo offers warranties with on site repairs.
I will say you get what you pay for.

 

[DanGoh]

Now's the time to get a great Windows machine. There's plenty $600-$1000 ultrabooks and 2 in 1's from Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, and HP.

My only concern is how long they might last. I've had my 2013 13" Macbook Pro for almost 4 years now and it's still going strong. I don't have experience with how long Windows laptops last so that should be something you should think about.

 

[High Desert]

First off, whatever you buy is out of date, technology wise, tomorrow. Just the nature of tech. Apple does make a quality product in both fit and finish and specs are generally pretty good. My real complaint about the MacBook Pro line is that they are overpriced, but then again, I think all Apple products are overpriced, for what you get. Before you get your shorts in a knot here, people, I use a have a MacBook Pro / retina screen, 13 inch. I also spent 30 years working for IBM in Storage Technology and OEM, so do have a bit of understanding about computers, etc. If you are doing a lot of graphics, photography work, then I think Mac is a great way to go. It is a somewhat closed system as not just anything will work on it, so tends to be a bit safer in use - viruses, etc. Lenova (which purchased the IBM Thinkpad / laptop line that used to be made in Raleigh, N.C.) has come a long ways with a better product than what IBM offered in a DOS based system. Like an Android phone, there is a lot more out there for a Lenova laptop than Apple, software wise. Bottom line, is what do you plan to do with it? If it is just going to be a e-mail, surf the net, home budget type of use - go with the Lenova, no doubt about it. If you are going to be doing graphics, digital photo work, etc., then I think the Mac is a better use, if you can stand the price. Generally, DOS based laptops are good for 2 - 4 years if taken care of. Get the Lenova, take the extra $500 and take your wife somewhere nice for the evening!

 

[rafark]

How many times do you buy such an expensive device? Not many. It's pure pleasure and you've the right to please yourself with nice things from time to time from your hard earned money. You don't have rationalize every single thing you buy, especially since you don't but these things everyday.

My mom back in the day gifted my dad a nice and expensive PDA and he returned it for the same reasons as yours. We hated it he returned it.

Keep it and enjoy it, you deserve it.

 

[leman]

First off, whatever you buy is out of date, technology wise, tomorrow. Just the nature of tech. Apple does make a quality product in both fit and finish and specs are generally pretty good. My real complaint about the MacBook Pro line is that they are overpriced, but then again, I think all Apple products are overpriced, for what you get.

Look around and you'll find that any computer with overall comparable features will be priced very similarly.

If you are doing a lot of graphics, photography work, then I think Mac is a great way to go.

This is nothing more than myth, simply because many designers traditionally have used Macs. Industry standard software (e.g. Adobe) nowadays is better supported on Windows and also performs better. Where Mac software truly shine is multitasking and automation.

It is a somewhat closed system

Its a Unix system where the kernel, the base system and the developer toolkit is open-sourced. Its not remotely as closed as many would believe.

Generally, DOS based laptops are good for 2 - 4 years if taken care of. Get the Lenova, take the extra $500 and take your wife somewhere nice for the evening!

DOS died over twenty years ago.

P.S. Its Lenovo. I understand that everyone makes typos but your insistence of using the wrong word is a bit weird.

 

[mvtm]

I would looke at any current deals on Dell & Lenovo. Including all lines on Dell, even if the XPS gets the star crown. I think, for your wife's mindset, your current situation. It's better to make her happy by doing the most rationalized "best bang for buck" decision.

Look into Dell also, Lenovos are good but dell is competitive also. I would take the extra cash and keep it to pay other priorities. I would love to buy a windows computer but i'm hooked to the mac os system. If i could get high spec windows computer running smoothly mac os x wiithout any frustration and problems with drivers i would be hooked and leave Apple for good.

Look at Dell, Lenovo and Asus. I know some models and specs but in a higher windows price range, so i cant think now of a very good very cheap windows model. But you should look into something lightweight, portable, good screen and stylish looking if you go windows for your wife.

Doesn't matter much the specs, i think a MBP will be overkill in the sense that they are indeed overpriced and you can get by for sometimes much less on the windows side, but still, if you research get a nice premium win product.

If i think of anything, or get an idea will post back with some suggestions when i have time. I do think, however that you should have bought on Black Friday to optimize savings and not looking right now on Cyber Monday. But not much to sweat for.

 

[Marshall73]

Hello

So, I bought 2017 MacBook Pro 13 Retina Display 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 2.3 gigahertz, Intel 7th Generation Core i5 from Best Buy for $1,299 before tax. After tax and surcharges, it came out to $1,415.

The thing is that this was a gift to my wife on our anniversary. We both are very frugal and I have been saving for few months to get the laptop on Black Friday. I am yet to collect the laptop from Best Buy but I did share this with her yesterday night (she accidently found out). She is very happy but at the same time she is not ready to move to such an "expensive" system. And, when I told her that I would be taking Apple Care (or similar) later in the year, it just added to her doubt of the purchase.

We both love each other and she understands that we don’t really need this system. I bought it for her, I know she wouldn’t go beyond checking emails, browsing internet, watching Netflix, playing basic games, storing music files, and using word/excel etc. I could have bought MacBook Air but I really like the screen resolution, retina display and the fact the CPU cycle was better in Pro. Even though this a gift to her, we both know that I would use it as well (for same purpose mentioned above) but we won't create different login ID's.

She did a search yesterday night and was able to find other Windows laptops with same or even better configuration. I think she may have found a 12 GB, 512 GB SSD, i7 7 generation Leveno Flex for under $900.

My question is, for the type of work we need to do with the laptop, is it financially justifiable to get this machine or am I better off with a Windows PC? She is a very rational person and I can make the argument of "quality" vs "quantity" and more "stability and reliability" with Mac with her and she will buy it but I don’t want to lie to her. Her thought is that if the additional $500 spent on MacBook is pure luxury then our family doesn't need it and I kind of agree with her.

I am hoping I can get some response here to make a decision. This is a big financial decision for someone like me. It seems I am mixing "emotions" with "reality".

Thanks!

Stick with the MacBook, it should last you years and will be in one piece long after the Windows alternatives have broken.

 

[Bart Kela]

I know she wouldn’t go beyond checking emails, browsing internet, watching Netflix, playing basic games, storing music files, and using word/excel etc.

Is the additional 128 GB worth $169?

Considering she wishes to store music files locally on the system, the answer would probably be yes. Of course, it mostly depends on how large her current music library is and how much she'd expect it to grow over the next several years.

The future versions of the operating system and applications will likely increase in size, something to be factored in.

 

[Altis]

I'd only recommend getting a MacBook Pro if it were used.

You could probably get a good deal on a circa-2014 model.

Otherwise, definitely save the money and get something that will do the job without costing too much. For what you're looking to do, pretty well any modern computer (with an SSD) will perform equally well. It is certainly nice to get a good screen, but at 13" even a 1080p IPS display can look great.

 

[960design]

Many other members said the very thing until their keyboards failed on them. I'm not saying its a 100% failure rate, but there's enough people complaining about it here and elsewhere to be concerned.

As for the OP, you're posting on a mac site, so of course the preponderance of posts will be pro-Mac. Nothing wrong with that, but keep that in mind. With the Lenovo you get more computer for less money and Lenovo's quality is quite high.

I've heard rumors, but haven't met anyone with a funky keyboard. Our office has ten MBPr15 2016 and none have had any keyboard issues. Actually the only issue was someone closed a pen in the lid broke the display. That was fairly expensive to replace.

 

[PhoneI]

You mean the Mac with its defective keyboard?

I find it incredibly strange that a moderator at a Mac site posts this type of garbage.