Please stop me from buying a MacBook Pro

[raqball]

Cool let us know on SB2 not seen one in Thailand but maybe in KL in a few weeks or UAE but not UK for price

It came yesterday.. TLDR version --> I dig it! I basically, in the end, swapped my Lenovo X1C for it. I got $1300 from the X1C sale and the SB 2 cost me about that after discounts ect.

I posted some initial thoughts on it in the Surface Book 2 thread..

 

[Silver2k]

Yeah I would agree the spec'd out ones are definitely pricey. I love my 17 MBP, I travel all the time for work and it's lighter than the MBA I was using. The only downside is the USB-C dock I need to use, it's a pain.

I had a 2013 13" MBA... it was my bae... that thing was a reliable lightweight tank. My fiancees one saw her all the way through college and still works and is used to this day! Has had spills, drops, you name it.

I agree though, as awesome as the 17 MBP's are, the USB-C situation sucks.

 

[alphaod]

If you need a Mac, just get a Mac.

Or just learn Premiere. I like Final Cut also but once you learn Premiere you have a very powerful cross-platform software and you don't need a Mac anymore.

 

[Miltz]

So I needed a new laptop this year. I decided to go with the XPS 15 since it had the best value for the specs, along with a great design and quality. What I really wanted was the MacBook Pro, but I couldn’t justify spending $1000 more for the equivalent specs of my XPS. Well, my XPS has been great, but I’m regretting it now honestly.

I’ve been getting back into creative software, and I’m majorly missing Final Cut Pro and Logic. I’ve been trying to get used to Adobe Premiere Pro and Ableton, but it’s just nowhere near as intuitive for me. There are so many apps that I use or would like to use on my iPad and iPhone that sync, but only have Mac apps, so my XPS is left out. Not to mention, I’m missing having iMessages and (a much better implemented) iCloud on my XPS too.

I’m really thinking about selling my XPS and getting a MacBook Pro, but I would lose so much money. The XPS was $1000 cheaper than the equivalent MBP when I bought it, but I’ll be lucky to have the difference be $1500 after selling the XPS. Help

Honestly, After using the 2016 MacBook Pro for 1 full year now I love it. Yes I did have one keyboard issue with it. It was fixed and I hope that's it. Other than that, it's been amazing. I use it for on site work and honestly, I wouldn't get anything else. It's super stable, and I've had no issues other than keyboard. I would get the 2017 model due to the newer keyboard with the 560 4GB video card.

 

[xxray]

Thank you everyone for the replies. They are much appreciated. I've been doing some calculations when it comes to costs, and I've realized that while switching to the Mac would cost more money upfront, the cost over time would be significantly lower than sticking with Windows + Creative Cloud.

• $1500 - MacBook Pro after selling XPS
• $200 - Pro Apps for Education Bundle (Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X)
• Total for 4-5 Years: $1700

• $240 - First year of Adobe Creative Cloud
• $600 - Each subsequent year of Adobe CC
• $449* - Ableton Live 9
  
• Total for 4-5 Years: $2040-$2640
• *Total w/ Ableton: $2489-$3089

This is assuming that I will get all subsequent updates of FCP and Logic free. Even though the MacBook Pro costs more upfront, assuming I would get a new laptop every 4-5 years, going with the MacBook Pro would be cheaper in the long run.

Now I just need to figure out whether I really am going to sell this XPS, and if I am, whether to wait for the 2018 MBP or not. If I do, I'll lose more money on the XPS, and I'd be buying a more expensive MBP (I was originally going to buy a refurbished 2017 model), but the performance boost is supposed to be significant and it'd be appreciated with my uses. Hmm...

 

[Legionnaire]

Queen6 is actually a very helpful member here and always has been. Attacking him is uncalled for in my opinion.

I am a computer having nutcase. Right now I have a Lenovo X1C, a Google Pixelbook and guess what I decided to buy yesterday? Yup a 2017 MacBook Pro. I got the 13" nTB 256GB SSD. Why? Well I miss MacOS. Do I think the MacBook Pro is a good value? No! Do I like it better than the other computers I have? Not really. Do I dig MacOS? yup!

I'll probably sell my Lenovo and keep the MacBook and the Pixelbook for now.

I don't have any issues with Windows 10, I have no issues with ChromeOS and I don't really have any issues with MacOS. I've had the Pro now (I had a 2016 when it was released and sold it) for 2 days and I've already got the dreaded beachball when opening a website...... YAWN!

Anyways, if Windows works better for someone then so be it. Get what works best for you and rock onward. As of right now I am diggin having MacOS back. The MacBook Pro? Meh, but I can't have one without the other.

My .02

Not really same category, but I had a fully loaded Y510 or 520 Lenovo, i7, 256gb msata, 2tb hdd, 16gb ram, graphic card etc etc. Paid like 1500 for it, used it only a few times, sold it for 800 bucks, and just bought a rmb 12 lol. No regrets, screw windows. I used my Chromebook 99% more than I ever touched the Lenovo, now that I have my rmb, im giving away my chroembook to a friend.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Thank you everyone for the replies. They are much appreciated. I've been doing some calculations when it comes to costs, and I've realized that while switching to the Mac would cost more money upfront, the cost over time would be significantly lower than sticking with Windows + Creative Cloud.

• $1500 - MacBook Pro after selling XPS
• $200 - Pro Apps for Education Bundle (Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro X)
• Total for 4-5 Years: $1700

• $240 - First year of Adobe Creative Cloud
• $600 - Each subsequent year of Adobe CC
• $449* - Ableton Live 9
  
• Total for 4-5 Years: $2040-$2640
• *Total w/ Ableton: $2489-$3089

This is assuming that I will get all subsequent updates of FCP and Logic free. Even though the MacBook Pro costs more upfront, assuming I would get a new laptop every 4-5 years, going with the MacBook Pro would be cheaper in the long run.

Now I just need to figure out whether I really am going to sell this XPS, and if I am, whether to wait for the 2018 MBP or not. If I do, I'll lose more money on the XPS, and I'd be buying a more expensive MBP (I was originally going to buy a refurbished 2017 model), but the performance boost is supposed to be significant and it'd be appreciated with my uses. Hmm...

Your pricing maybe wrong for subsequent years

"Eligible students 13 and older and teachers can purchase an annual membership to Adobe® Creative Cloud™ for a reduced price of US$239.88 for the first year. At the end of your offer term, your subscription will be automatically billed at the standard subscription rate, currently at US$359.88/year "

Also what about AC+ is not factored in and you get 20 other apps with the Adobe bundle

It likely the mbp will work out more or at least similar
[doublepost=1517004127][/doublepost]

As a long time Mac user (from back in the Mac SE days), this is certainly interesting to hear this take.
For years and years one the primary knocks on the Mac was the lack of software available. Obviously it is influenced by a person's individual needs, but software was usually the deal breaker and not the deal maker on choosing between Windows and Macs.

Debatable, but given the mac non professional user base is ~85% of owners this will heaviy iinfluence the perceived value or type of availability of software.

In the windows world for professionals it may swing greatly in thier favour

 

[xxray]

Your pricing maybe wrong for subsequent years

"Eligible students 13 and older and teachers can purchase an annual membership to Adobe® Creative Cloud™ for a reduced price of US$239.88 for the first year. At the end of your offer term, your subscription will be automatically billed at the standard subscription rate, currently at US$359.88/year "

Also what about AC+ is not factored in and you get 20 other apps with the Adobe bundle

It likely the mbp will work out more or at least similar
[doublepost=1517004127][/doublepost]
Debatable, but given the mac non professional user base is ~85% of owners this will heaviy iinfluence the perceived value or type of availability of software.

In the windows world for professionals it may swing greatly in thier favour

Thank you for correcting me. I didn't realize there was still another discount after the first year. In that case, I should stick with the XPS. Also, I never buy AC+, and you're right there are 20 other apps in the Adobe bundle, I just don't know how much I will actually use them, but we'll see. Thanks again!

 

[Silver2k]

Thank you for correcting me. I didn't realize there was still another discount after the first year. In that case, I should stick with the XPS. Also, I never buy AC+, and you're right there are 20 other apps in the Adobe bundle, I just don't know how much I will actually use them, but we'll see. Thanks again!

Just get a mac! else you'll always have that voice at the back of your head the longer you leave it the more money you'll lose.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Thank you for correcting me. I didn't realize there was still another discount after the first year. In that case, I should stick with the XPS. Also, I never buy AC+, and you're right there are 20 other apps in the Adobe bundle, I just don't know how much I will actually use them, but we'll see. Thanks again!

Your welcome

I'm not suggesting you should not get a mbp but based on simple costs you note sticking with the XPS currently does not mean you will be any worse off if you decide to swap in 1,2 or 3 years time. If anything it's like having intrest free credit that you can opt out off, plus a bit more value out of your current purchase and you can port Adobe over to macos.

I doubt there would be many who do not recommend AC for the mbp given a simple defective key could cost in excess of $700 after 1 year

 

[eltoslightfoot]

The one thing that I think Windows has over macOS is its richness. You can do so much more in windows, then you can with macOS. That complexity means a higher learning curve. I came across an article recently, that I've now forget where I read it were a long time mac user switched to windows and after adjusting to its pecularities (all os's have pecularties), he felt it was a better solution. Windows has a lot to offer, but its not perfect. Some things can be done better in macOS then Windows, but also vice versa.

YMMV, and people like macos better then windows, I get that. In fact for me, its the ecosystem, just yesterday I had a web-ex meeting that I dialed in on my cell phone and easily used the iMac as a speaker phone.

I agree with you somewhat. However, as a long-time user of both Windows and Mac, I love that with Mac there is no registry. There is very little in a user’s profile that compares to the craziness of a user profile in Windows. I like that I can always drop to a REAL command line and use any Unix (and most Linux) commands. I like that it integrates very tightly with my phone and iPad.

Also, it doesn’t show ads to me, which I can only minimize and not completely eliminate even in Win 10 Pro. Meanwhile, Omnifocus is mac only and there is no real equivalent in Windows (don’t say Todoist...). Apple Notes means I don’t have to pay for Evernote. Printers and Scanners work out of the box with Mac. Scrivener has a Windows app, but it is behind the Mac app. The rest of the apps I use do have Windows equivalents, but the rest of it is pretty compelling to me and so I stick with Macs. (And only game on Windows. Because gaming sucks on a Mac.)

 

[SteveJUAE]

I agree with you somewhat. However, as a long-time user of both Windows and Mac, I love that with Mac there is no registry. There is very little in a user’s profile that compares to the craziness of a user profile in Windows. I like that I can always drop to a REAL command line and use any Unix (and most Linux) commands. I like that it integrates very tightly with my phone and iPad.

Also, it doesn’t show ads to me, which I can only minimize and not completely eliminate even in Win 10 Pro. Meanwhile, Omnifocus is mac only and there is no real equivalent in Windows (don’t say Todoist...). Apple Notes means I don’t have to pay for Evernote. Printers and Scanners work out of the box with Mac. Scrivener has a Windows app, but it is behind the Mac app. The rest of the apps I use do have Windows equivalents, but the rest of it is pretty compelling to me and so I stick with Macs. (And only game on Windows. Because gaming sucks on a Mac.)

It's nice you have a solution for your needs but given that these laptops are used by so few professionals and the common user probably has little need or knowledge of regististry or command lines. Yes printers are simple to use on Apple or Android products but one new app everytime you buy a printer is no deal breaker for most.

The Imessage thing seems more of a unique occurance in US with whole families and friends with IPhones but elsehere its of little significance and even last time we checked Facebook messenger was the most popular in US with WhatsApp and line etc elsewhere by a big margin

Whilst I appreciate the Apple Eco and cross apple device simplicity of use and the little smile it brings when triva events are triggered across devices most of this is replicated these days without the financial entrapment of Apple. The lack of cross platform support with a conscious effort to limit products and encourage muliple purchases I find distasteful from casting to your TV upwards. Give me a few ads over having to spend another few $100 at the Apple store due to a walled garden of capped product line.

I own and have bought many Apple products but have never boxed myself in

As you know GTD software is highly personal and the habit and process is far more important than the software

https://gettingthingsdone.com/common-tools-software/

 

[eltoslightfoot]

It's nice you have a solution for your needs but given that these laptops are used by so few professionals and the common user probably has little need or knowledge of regististry or command lines. Yes printers are simple to use on Apple or Android products but one new app everytime you buy a printer is no deal breaker for most.

The Imessage thing seems more of a unique occurance in US with whole families and friends with IPhones but elsehere its of little significance and even last time we checked Facebook messenger was the most popular in US with WhatsApp and line etc elsewhere by a big margin

Whilst I appreciate the Apple Eco and cross apple device simplicity of use and the little smile it brings when triva events are triggered across devices most of this is replicated these days without the financial entrapment of Apple. The lack of cross platform support with a conscious effort to limit products and encourage muliple purchases I find distasteful from casting to your TV upwards. Give me a few ads over having to spend another few $100 at the Apple store due to a walled garden of capped product line.

I own and have bought many Apple products but have never boxed myself in

As you know GTD software is highly personal and the habit and process is far more important than the software

https://gettingthingsdone.com/common-tools-software/

I agree with you, it is nice that I have a solution that works for my needs. I disagree with Apple financially trapping someone. I could (and have at times) switched out of the apple ecosystem and it isn't that bad financially. Most software apps and programs have cross-grade pricing if you want the other licenses.

One other interesting tidbit. Once you buy a program on the Mac App Store, you can use it on up to five Macs, which can save a lot of money. I disagree on the ads. Apple actually gives away their OS and has no ads, I PAY for Windows and should not be getting any ads through the file explorer or anywhere else. Even Google allows me to disable tracking better than MS.

But either way, what a great time to live! I can use the system that works for me (gaming on Win10, Macbook Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone) and you can use what works for you. If MS ever lowered the price on their surface book 2 with 1060, I would reconsider, but they won't, and when you are making a Macbook look cheap, you are probably out of my price range.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I agree with you, it is nice that I have a solution that works for my needs. I disagree with Apple financially trapping someone. I could (and have at times) switched out of the apple ecosystem and it isn't that bad financially. Most software apps and programs have cross-grade pricing if you want the other licenses.

One other interesting tidbit. Once you buy a program on the Mac App Store, you can use it on up to five Macs, which can save a lot of money. I disagree on the ads. Apple actually gives away their OS and has no ads, I PAY for Windows and should not be getting any ads through the file explorer or anywhere else. Even Google allows me to disable tracking better than MS.

But either way, what a great time to live! I can use the system that works for me (gaming on Win10, Macbook Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone) and you can use what works for you. If MS ever lowered the price on their surface book 2 with 1060, I would reconsider, but they won't, and when you are making a Macbook look cheap, you are probably out of my price range.

It's not the getting out its the opting in that costs, you pay heavily to buy in to the eco etc for little niceties between devices

The SB2 is only exceptional value if you have good use for its additional functionality and touch support etc else it just another premium clam shell laptop with comparable pricing to a mbp but for creatives with no OS preference it should be a no brainer portable solution

 

[eltoslightfoot]

It's not the getting out its the opting in that costs, you pay heavily to buy in to the eco etc for little niceties between devices

The SB2 is only exceptional value if you have good use for its additional functionality and touch support etc else it just another premium clam shell laptop with comparable pricing to a mbp but for creatives with no OS preference it should be a no brainer portable solution

Agreed on the initial cost, but you can also sell apple devices and get most of your money back to buy something else. I had an SP2 and an SP3, but I needed a more powerful desktop anyway, (as well as something that could reliably sleep and hibernate) so I sold them and went with the iPad with Pencil for art and a MBP for the rest of the creative type stuff. That SB2 is seriously sweet. I just wish it were a better tablet (and cheaper in cost).

 

[SteveJUAE]

Agreed on the initial cost, but you can also sell apple devices and get most of your money back to buy something else. I had an SP2 and an SP3, but I needed a more powerful desktop anyway, (as well as something that could reliably sleep and hibernate) so I sold them and went with the iPad with Pencil for art and a MBP for the rest of the creative type stuff. That SB2 is seriously sweet. I just wish it were a better tablet (and cheaper in cost).

Agreed . You were brave with the SP2/3 I only opted in with SP4 and never had any issues nor my son.

SB2 is very appealing esp battery endurance after the SP4 I may even be tempted with the 15" having several other smaller toys and my eyes are not what they were with small screens