Right Decision?

[UKapple]

Well I’ve just placed my order for a MacBook Pro 13 256gb. Historically I’ve been a PC user since 1999 but having been immersed in the Apple ecosystem over the past 12 months (iPhone X, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple 4K TV) it’s almost made sense to take the final hurdle.

For years I’ve always found myself playing around with the MacBooks in store and I’ve always wanted one but never took the plunge, mainly the cost was putting me off. But like most windows users I’ve found that the PCs I’ve had up until now have been really fast for day the first 12 months or so but then that dreaded slow down begins along with crashes and all that other stuff which causes headaches.

Now I’ve had friends who’ve owned MacBooks and can’t praise them highly enough and over the next year or so because of work I will be doing a lot of reports and research. Having experienced how good the typing and overall experience is with using a MacBook I think (in my head anyway!) this will now be a good reason to upgrade.

One advantage I suppose is that I can always return the thing if I have second thoughts during the first 14 days.

Anyway, I’m curious to know if anyone else has made a similar move but regretted it or feel it’s wasn’t really justified?

 

[Schranke]

No one that I know have regretted it, they have though hard about it because it is an expensive machine. But all have enjoyed the move and have less troubles with their machines then when they used windows.
But I will say that your timing might be a little bad, speculation are that we will see new machine sometime in september so the recommendation is to wait with buying unless you absolutely need a machine now.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Other than the risk of buying a lemon KB and possibility of upgrade pending the good news is you can run your new MBP exclusively as a Win10 device should you wish and just dabble in MacOs when needed

 

[UKapple]

Thanks guys. I’ve already purchased MS office for Mac 2016 as I already have a lot of docs I will have to transfer over from my windows 10 machine and it is my preferred word processor (at the moment!).

As it’s been said, it such a big investment there’s always that niggling doubt about whether it’s justified but I have to say from my short time using it in store, it a joy to type on and the quality of the build is second to none.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Enjoy

 

[deeddawg]

Congrats. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I do suggest spending some time on learning the nuances and how macOS does things slightly differently from Windows.

Two not-so-obvious examples for folks used to Windows:

Where Windows uses ALT-TAB to switch or cycle through all open applications/windows, macOS lets you separately switch/cycle apps (⌘-TAB) and switch-cycle windows within a single app (⌘-`)

Where Windows will close down an application when you close the last open window, macOS does not.

 

[UKapple]

Congrats. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I do suggest spending some time on learning the nuances and how macOS does things slightly differently from Windows.

Two not-so-obvious examples for folks used to Windows:

Where Windows uses ALT-TAB to switch or cycle through all open applications/windows, macOS lets you separately switch/cycle apps (⌘-TAB) and switch-cycle windows within a single app (⌘-`)

Where Windows will close down an application when you close the last open window, macOS does not.

Thanks I’ve been looking at a few YouTube vids so there’ll be lots to learn. Simple things like copy and paste are different but I’m sure I’ll get to grips with it. One of the big things for me is how seem less the whole Apple ecosystem works. For the past 4 years I been with Android (Note 8, S8, 7 etc) and windows and everything just seems so more fragmented.

 

[deeddawg]

Thanks I’ve been looking at a few YouTube vids so there’ll be lots to learn. Simple things like copy and paste are different but I’m sure I’ll get to grips with it. One of the big things for me is how seem less the whole Apple ecosystem works. For the past 4 years I been with Android (Note 8, S8, 7 etc) and windows and everything just seems so more fragmented.

Glad to help. Just try to focus on how it is done rather than how it is not like what you're used to. There's (usually) a certain logic to it with how Command (⌘), Control, and Option/Alt combinations are set up for the myriad keyboard shortcuts.

I'll also say that I've yet to find a PC trackpad that works worth a darn, and always use a mouse with my work Windows PC -- yet I really like using the Apple trackpad even back in 2010. No idea why the PC makers just can't get it right.

 

[Painter2002]

I mad the switch years ago, after hearing my brother continually rave about how awesome his Macs were. I switched and haven't looked back. It will take a little getting accustomed to because it has a slightly different layout and file organization system than Windows machines do but you won't regret it.

I use Windows for my day job work, and I can't stand the bugginess of Windows 10 in comparison to MacOS. But unfortunately this is the mandated hardware for me to use because of the work I do.

Enjoy your Mac! You will have a great machine that will last you forever, and you should have a lot of fun with it!

Oh and there is an app that works great if you are beginning and want to learn the Command (⌘) shortcuts, its free and relatively easy to use, its called CheatSheet and can be downloaded here: https://www.mediaatelier.com/CheatSheet/

 

[sdwaltz]

Took the plunge in 2008 after being a Windows user all my life - a white MacBook for college.

I'm on MacBook number 4 now. Just picked it up Monday!

I didn't regret my decision whatsoever and you won't either. It's simply a far more premium, fluid experience...particularly with iCloud. It works so much better than OneDrive.

 

[Painter2002]

Took the plunge in 2008 after being a Windows user all my life - a white MacBook for college.

I'm on MacBook number 4 now. Just picked it up Monday!

I didn't regret my decision whatsoever and you won't either. It's simply a far more premium, fluid experience...particularly with iCloud. It works so much better than OneDrive.

I hate OneDrive! We use it in our office and to is miserably designed IMO. Now if only Apple would give us at least 50GB on the iCloud for free that would be just peachy, but I know I am asking too much. $3 a month for the 200gb iCloud isn't breaking the bank, so I guess it could be worse.

 

[Ma2k5]

Do consider if you need the Pro version or if you would be better off with either the 12" MB or nTB variants. Reason being is, if your main reason for one is to sync with all your devices and use it as an entertainment hub, you'd probably be better off with them.

If you want to use it for productivity (if it is just MS Office, you don't need a Pro), do check if there are any hurdles from moving your productivity from Windows to macOS (some hurdles are more difficult than others to overcome).

Gaming is also not the best on the machines - and bootcamp/paralells have their short comings (although they are useful tools).

As others have stated, there may be revisions for pretty much all the models coming later this year. I think it is worth waiting - your post indiciates you are not sure if you should invest, which makes me think you can wait. I think it will be a very worthwhile revision (even for resale value, if it is dubbed the one with the fixed keyboard).

 

[madrich]

Once I had my first Apple computer laptop, MBP 15" early 2008, I fell in LOVE!

 

[skaertus]

It is a great laptop. You will certainly like it. At times, you may miss Windows, some of its software or features. But even if you end up deciding that Windows is a better fit for you than macOS, you would have to admit that the Mac is a great piece of hardware, very well done. And if you ever make the switch to a Windows PC again, you will sorely miss some of the small things that make it great, and the quality it exhales. In any case, you may install Windows in a separate partition, and have both systems working on your laptop.

 

[maflynn]

Anyway, I’m curious to know if anyone else has made a similar move but regretted it or feel it’s wasn’t really justified?

There's a lot that apple does right and the more you're immersed in the ecosystem the better the experience you will have with the MBP, at least that's my contention. Almost all reviews of the MBP especially ones that compare it against other machines, the MBP is shown as the gold standard in design and build quality.

 

[SteveJUAE]

There's a lot that apple does right and the more you're immersed in the ecosystem the better the experience you will have with the MBP, at least that's my contention. Almost all reviews of the MBP especially ones that compare it against other machines, the MBP is shown as the gold standard in design and build quality.

Whilst there is an element in this that rings true and certainly for maybe a 5 out of 10 year period Apple led the majority of the premium market, but were not alone. This certainly seems more past glory than current IMO

There are far more competitors these days and unibody is just old hat now and was never the most premium compared to some more exotic offerings

However that does not detract from they were always in the top end but so they should given the price, it's relatively easier to be gold standard at a high price

Software bugs may get a lot of attention but hardware are the real issues and Apple are equally prone in this area of late

YMMV but many perceive the crown has somewhat slipped in more recent times, be it hardware with no updates for 100's of days or faulty KB's etc, that gold is a bit more bronze

 

[skaertus]

Whilst there is an element in this that rings true and certainly for maybe a 5 out of 10 year period Apple led the majority of the premium market, but were not alone. This certainly seems more past glory than current IMO

There are far more competitors these days and unibody is just old hat now and was never the most premium compared to some more exotic offerings

However that does not detract from they were always in the top end but so they should given the price, it's relatively easier to be gold standard at a high price

Software bugs may get a lot of attention but hardware are the real issues and Apple are equally prone in this area of late

YMMV but many perceive the crown has somewhat slipped in more recent times, be it hardware with no updates for 100's of days or faulty KB's etc, that gold is a bit more bronze

Well, there are certainly more competitors these days. Competition became fierce in the high-end segment. Nearly all other manufacturers are making high-end laptops, and some of them are very close or equal to the MacBooks in build quality.

But still the MacBooks are great machines. There are other great machines as well, but Apple stands out by making only good laptops. Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and others, have great machines as well, but they have both hits and misses (which is natural, since they try to reach all market segments and price points with a variety of products). Apple limits its offerings, so it must focus on delivering good products - if one of them ends up being a disaster, it will hurt much more than in HP’s plethora of devices.

This is the reason why Apple still has the crown, and will keep it for some time. Apple’s devices are still great, even though the company may not update them as frequently as they should.

 

[Painter2002]

Well, there are certainly more competitors these days. Competition became fierce in the high-end segment. Nearly all other manufacturers are making high-end laptops, and some of them are very close or equal to the MacBooks in build quality.

But still the MacBooks are great machines. There are other great machines as well, but Apple stands out by making only good laptops. Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and others, have great machines as well, but they have both hits and misses (which is natural, since they try to reach all market segments and price points with a variety of products). Apple limits its offerings, so it must focus on delivering good products - if one of them ends up being a disaster, it will hurt much more than in HP’s plethora of devices.

This is the reason why Apple still has the crown, and will keep it for some time. Apple’s devices are still great, even though the company may not update them as frequently as they should.

I think this sums it up very well. People expect Apple to be perfect, but no company can be perfect. The limited number of models and devices that Apple makes allows them to better design those products, but also causes any errors they make to be much more obvious.

Personally I still think Apple is a great company with great products, although they could improve their speed at acknowledging design issues or repair programs. If people don’t like their product quality, they should go try their hand with similarly priced Windows machines.

 

[cobracnvt]

Enjoy your MacBook Pro.

 

[maflynn]

but were not alone. This certainly seems more past glory than current IMO

The issue I have is that apple has removed a number of features that make it unique and special, yes these are minor things but they helped make a mac a mac. The glowing light to indicate that its on, off or asleep. The glowing apple logo, the bong at start up (yes I know that can be re-added). While these don't really affect day to day operation they were part of a design that made the Mac special.

Will I buy another MBP or Mac? Possibly. Are there other makers out there that build premium laptops yes. The Razer laptop has a very mac feel, solid build,greate design imo, beautiful matte display. Great keyboard, though the backlighting on the numbers and f-keys is not the best, as the shift-<number> and fn-<fkey> are not illuminated.

 

[skaertus]

The issue I have is that apple has removed a number of features that make it unique and special, yes these are minor things but they helped make a mac a mac. The glowing light to indicate that its on, off or asleep. The glowing apple logo, the bong at start up (yes I know that can be re-added). While these don't really affect day to day operation they were part of a design that made the Mac special.

Will I buy another MBP or Mac? Possibly. Are there other makers out there that build premium laptops yes. The Razer laptop has a very mac feel, solid build,greate design imo, beautiful matte display. Great keyboard, though the backlighting on the numbers and f-keys is not the best, as the shift-<number> and fn-<fkey> are not illuminated.

I particularly like the non-glowing Apple logo. I think it is subtle and fits well the laptops.