The only argument left for buying a MacBook

[Deanster]

. To try to make the case (as a previous poster did) that they are more economical because of residual value is silly.

Sorry, you're cracked.

The actual cost of ANYTHING is what you paid for it, minus what you sell it for later. If you never sell it, either by choice or because there's no market for it, then it's just what you paid.

A Lexus is often more-economical to own than a Chevy for just this reason. It costs more up front, but it retains value infinitely better. If you pay $50K for a Lexus, but sell it five years later for $35K, it was cheaper to own than a Chevy that you bought for $30K but got $7K for after five years of ownership.

If you're not thinking that way, then you suck at math.

 

[cmaier]

I am a mac owner, and being a student basically everyone I know owns a mac and none of them care about resale value, it's about the starting price for them which is now beyond extortionate

When *I* was a boy none of us could afford Macs, so we bought TI-99/4A's or IBM PC XT's or Commodore 64's and we paid our dues until we got jobs and could afford the good stuff. We didn't claim extortion based on some misplaced sense of entitlement to a budget Mac that met our personal needs.

That said, until pretty recently *everyone* bitched about the buy-in price for Macs, and everyone else pointed out the better resale value, longer longevity, and lower cost of ownership. None of this is particularly new.

 

[Deanster]

I am a mac owner, and being a student basically everyone I know owns a mac and none of them care about resale value, it's about the starting price for them which is now beyond extortionate

Sorry, then you and everyone you know are not thinking about the right things.

I agree that the starting price is high, and in many cases out of reach for budget-oriented consumers. They should be looking at the MBA or MacBook, which will ALSO have high resale values in a few years, likely making them cheaper to own than a $500 Windows craptop.

I'll grant that you have to somewhat discount the expected resale value for the chance you'll kill the machine before you have the chance to sell it, but a little caution goes a long way there.

You're free to buy the thing that's cheaper up front, of course. Do whatever works for you. I'm just saying that failing to consider resale value is how people end up buying crappy things that don't hold their value, and spending more in the long run.

HP, FiatChrysler, and other purveyors of low-initial-price shitboxes will no doubt be happy to take your money.

 

[gooseta]

When *I* was a boy none of us could afford Macs, so we bought TI-99/4A's or IBM PC XT's or Commodore 64's and we paid our dues until we got jobs and could afford the good stuff. We didn't claim extortion based on some misplaced sense of entitlement to a budget Mac that met our personal needs.

That said, until pretty recently *everyone* bitched about the buy-in price for Macs, and everyone else pointed out the better resale value, longer longevity, and lower cost of ownership. None of this is particularly new.

I don't have any sense of entitlement. Apple used to meet my needs and budget and now it can't fulfil either. Simple as.

 

[HalloweenMisfits]

I love MacOS and also love Garageband and iMovie. They are wonderful and the hardware has been wonderful for the past 4 years with the original MBP retina design. I hate the new macs. Too expensive, ports that require dongles, no magsafe, no included extension cable, it just makes no sense for many current MBP users.

 

[burgman]

To be honest, OSX has been pretty stale the last few cycles too...

So have the whiner's rants on Macrumors. Deal with it or move on, pretty simple don't ya think?

 

[Deanster]

I don't have any sense of entitlement. Apple used to meet my needs and budget and now it can't fulfil either. Simple as.

Then go spend your money on something that better meets your perceived needs. I wish you the best of luck in having the experience you're hoping for.

 

[Pootmatoot]

So have the whiner's rants on Macrumors. Deal with it or move on, pretty simple don't ya think?

Or stop pretending everything's fine, in a hope that a once-great company stops getting worse?

"Deal with it or move on" is the attitude that will ruin the company for good.

 

[Deanster]

That's exactly what consumers do.

Go buy something that meets your needs - the invisible hand of the marketplace doesn't usually write a letter when you buy something else.

IMHO, this generation of MBP's is going to work out just fine... high-spec PC's and laptops are getting expensive again. In a world where the 13" Surface Book sells for $3300, Apple is where the market is, sadly.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I am a mac owner, and being a student basically everyone I know owns a mac and none of them care about resale value, it's about the starting price for them which is now beyond extortionate

Ah the wisdom of a student, I remember the days when I thought I knew it all. With age you learn that there is so much more to learn especially from people who have the experience.

Yes I totally they don't care about resale value, initial capital outlay is important. In fact I deemed it so important that I just bought a pack of floppy discs that I could use in library computers Whilst the cost has come down considerably I really would hope that college funds aren't spend on buying your Mac or worse replacing a 2015 model. I guess the lecture regarding life's priorities hasn't been given yet? But granted many will, and my daughters can have my hand me downs which will give me a great excuse to upgrade. In effect that is exactly what I do.

Be wise buddy, use what you got, don't fall in the trap of having to have the latest. It really isn't necessary.