I’d care to argue that Apple designs a longer lasting machine. After 6 years can you say that that XPS will still be running as fast as that equilavently specced MBP? You pay the extra for longer longevity. You also don’t have to buy a yearly subscription for malware protection, and deal with buggy Windows and bloatware
That used to be the case back in the day, but Windows 10 is a very efficient OS. It should last much better than the repuation of-old, so far it has. Very old laptops can run Windows 10, older than 2011, can run Windows 10 today whereas 2011 laptops will be losing support for Mojave simply because they don't support the proprietary metal api. Macs ran windows 10 better than they did OS X back when Yosimete came out, because of how scalable it is. It really "fixed" many of the problems and poor reputation that befell Windows in the mid-late 2000s
Today's high end Windows laptops are not the same as high end windows laptops from 2011...they provide the same horsepower (the processors are identical) and similar competetive premium design's. Moreover, you can get an incredible laptop such as the Matebook Pro X for a price that is more akin to the MacBook Air with Broadwell chips and a TN display. That poster had a valid point regarding the extra $$$ and premium. The premium is harder to justify today than it was 6 years ago.
Most people can adapt to Windows and vice versa, but there is always a minority that prefers one to the other. They're both great, and if you are invested in the Apple ecosystem, then there's not much incentive to switch, but its not a wide gap as it once used to be. Apple has been playing catch up more so than they used to in recent times.
On windows you can also get access to much more software. Signature Edition lacks bloatware, and macOS arguably comes with its fair share of bloat now a days too. I can't argue with you on the virus and malware protection though, but you can get some free light programs that work well, and the Windows Security team is night/day difference to Balmer's Microsoft. His reign was probably the lowest point for Windows. Satya Nadella has completely rejuvenated the company imo.
My late 2013 performs well, has the same core retina display, has the same quantity ram and ssd as the low end tb models, and has a superior keyboard... but I also only do Office Suite work and web page related functions, and nothing related to professional video, sound, photo work beyond importing my own personal videos and photos.
The current MacBook Pro design is also suddenly, getting quickly outdated. A few years ago they were sleek, but the slim bezel trend has been pushed forward with high end windows pcs.
To the general price structure increase, I certainly empathize with those who are critical of the price increases.
My current late 2013, I purchased for 1250 CDN pre tax. Granted, the $ was on par back then but even taking into account the modern day different, it would be closer to 1500$...The current base price MBP of same configuration is 1980$ CDN pre tax (~2000$ for the non touch bar) or 2400$ CDN for the tb model
Thanks to Apple switching to PCIe SSDs, the general performance one gets for every day functions is very similar.
This third gen of their current design is fantastic, and its a great time to invest for anyone who wants one though, especially with the 8th gen chips that offer a considerable performance boost.
It is completely fair criticism however when looking at "bang for buck"...today's MacBooks do not offer it as well as they once used to.
