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Three choices: which would you choose?

profmjh

profmjh

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 7, 2015
1,734
1,801
UK
I want a laptop. And I kinda want it now.

I used to have a MacBook Pro (bought in early 2014) but I sold it after the intermittent WIFI drove me crazy. I bought an iPad Pro, which I like but it's not a replacement for me. I tried the new MacBook but it was too small and uncomfortable to use on my lap.

So I now have three choices:

Buy the new MacBook Pro (how much better in practice is it?)

Buy the 11-inch MacBook Air (will the non-retina display drive me crazy?)

Wait for the MacBook of my dreams to be put on sale (but when: March? June?)
 
I your position I would wait or look outside of Apple;
  • WiF issue if at home may well repeat, was Mac`s do not play well with all routers.
  • 11" Air has the poorest quality display of any Apple portable, not worth considering unless it fills a specific need, and "if" update the Air next month you will be literally "kicking yourself"
  • Will be March or June, possibly split with the 15" coming later, patience is a virtue
  • If you have no issue with Windows there are plenty of other options

Q-6
 
xmichaelp said:
Why get the 11 inch MacBook Air if the MacBook was too small for you? Makes no sense.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not understanding this at all.

What will you be using this computer for? If you had a MacBook Pro in the past, either wait for a great deal on the 2015 models or, like others have said, hold on for a bit to see if there's a March announcement.
 
It's true that I'm incredibly indecisive when it comes to Apple products. Everything was going swimmingly until my MacBook Pro fell out with my Virgin Superhub and got me thinking about buying something new. Plus I'm always suckered in by new Apple products.

I had hoped the iPad Pro would work as a laptop replacement, but it's just not the same and I really miss having something with a physical keyboard that literally sits comfortably on my lap.

I had an 11-inch MacBook Air when they first came out and got on very well with it. I may be wrong but I remember it being wider than the new MacBook and certainly more comfortable to use. It made my shortlist because it's relatively cheap. But the non-retina display is probably a deal-breaker.

What I've done is order a new MacBook Pro, with the lowest spec and cheapest price. If the WiFi issue is a general problem, then obviously it will have to go back. Sure, something new and better may come along. But when? No-one really knows. Add on Apple's recent supply issues and it could easily be May before I'd get one.

I really wanted to like the new MacBook, but I just couldn't get on with it. I know I like the MacBook Pro . . . when it worked, lol. Who knows if the all new MacBook Pro (whenever it arrives) will work for me.

Let's hope the WiFi issue wasn't a general one ...
[doublepost=1455033917][/doublepost]My hopes are diminishing . . . I just typed "MacBook Pro V" into Google and the top autocomplete suggestion was "MacBook Pro Virgin Superhub connection issues", which led to a page of links complaining about exactly the problem I was having.
 
If I had to buy a laptop today, it would be the rMB. No way I'm getting a rMBP or MBA just because of the chassis design. I don't like the sharp edges of the MBA and I don't like the probability of getting my fingers pinched when opening the rMBP while resting it on one hand. Neither of those are problems with the rMB.

But I'm waiting for Skylake and will get one as soon as that is released.
 
Last edited:
osnola ibax said:
Can you change broadband provider?
Click to expand...

No. I'm tied into a contract, and no other provider offers anything like the same speeds.
[doublepost=1455119936][/doublepost]
SteveJUAE said:
Why not piggyback another router that the MBP does not have issues with ?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of buying an Apple Time Machine, though I resent having to pay another couple of hundred pounds just to make the thing work.
[doublepost=1455119984][/doublepost]Oh, and PS: the new MacBook Pro arrived today and I'm having exactly the problems I feared.

I hate Apple so much right now I can taste it.
 
profmatt said:
I'm thinking of buying an Apple Time Machine, though I resent having to pay another couple of hundred pounds just to make the thing work.
[doublepost=1455119984][/doublepost]Oh, and PS: the new MacBook Pro arrived today and I'm having exactly the problems I feared.

I hate Apple so much right now I can taste it.
Click to expand...

Agreed but you can spend less to get around the problem, hopefully :)
 
As others have suggested use a second router. I frequently travel internationally as a function work, so I too can incur the same issue. My solution is to use a Huawei portable router, as it has the capability to have 4G (LTE) or act as a repeater, this solves any issue with hotel WiFi networks that the Mac`s will not connect, and adds another layer of security.

This is your only realistic solution as it very clear that your Mac will not play well with your home router.

Q-6
 
Queen6 said:
This is your only realistic solution as it very clear that your Mac will not play well with your home router.
Click to expand...

I basically came to that conclusion myself. If I want a MacBook that I like, i.e. the Pro, and if I want it to actually work, then I need a new router.

So I've just shelled out yet more money to Apple for the AirPort Extreme.

Thus far everything seems to be working. The speeds are a bit erratic. I'm assuming that's something that settles down.

I'm somewhat irritated that I've had to spend more money to make it work. Apple is pushing my patience at the moment. For example: does the current line-up of laptops make any sense to anyone?
 
profmatt said:
I basically came to that conclusion myself. If I want a MacBook that I like, i.e. the Pro, and if I want it to actually work, then I need a new router.

So I've just shelled out yet more money to Apple for the AirPort Extreme.

Thus far everything seems to be working. The speeds are a bit erratic. I'm assuming that's something that settles down.

I'm somewhat irritated that I've had to spend more money to make it work. Apple is pushing my patience at the moment. For example: does the current line-up of laptops make any sense to anyone?
Click to expand...

Did you hardwire the Airport as this may help and try 2.4GHz before you play with 5, also if you have turned on time machine this will be working hard at first
 
profmatt said:
I basically came to that conclusion myself. If I want a MacBook that I like, i.e. the Pro, and if I want it to actually work, then I need a new router.

So I've just shelled out yet more money to Apple for the AirPort Extreme.

Thus far everything seems to be working. The speeds are a bit erratic. I'm assuming that's something that settles down.

I'm somewhat irritated that I've had to spend more money to make it work. Apple is pushing my patience at the moment. For example: does the current line-up of laptops make any sense to anyone?
Click to expand...

Well in reality it`s always been like that, and an aspect of Apple I don't care for basically arogance, given even the cheapest of devices generally work without any issue on the vast majority of WiFi routers

Q-6
 
I had a reverse problem. My Airport Extreme kept giving me trouble needing reboots. I got rid of it and everything works fine with the wifi provided by the service provider's modem!
 
Hilariously this morning my Virgin internet connection died altogether. An engineer is coming tomorrow.

Is this a coincidence? I don't know. But I'm pretty close to stabbing people right now. Don't stand next to me.
 
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Reactions: Queen6 and Newtons Apple
As I was smashing stuff up and swearing this morning, I mentioned to my student that I remember the happy days when all teachers had were blackboard and chalk.

I'm really not persuaded that anything has gotten better since then.
 
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