What are your favorite nuances of the MBP that you don't find out of box in other PCs

[maflynn]

Glad to see more people defending Windows a bit.

Windows 7 is Microsoft's best OS to date, there are a lot of things in that OS that I wished apple would *cough* emulate *cough*

The PC vs. Mac holy war is all but over. Both platforms have advantages and disadvantages. I'm partial to OSX and apple's hardware but I also work on windows desktops and servers and see things there are quite great.

I guess the bottom line is who cares if one platform does this or that. Use what works best for you and don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[jacg]

I love how so many Cocoa apps by Apple and 3rd party developers are so easy to pick up due to the shared conventions and interface elements. Also the way system-wide features (like spellings/grammar, font collections, speech, services, definitions, etc) span all these apps just maximises productivity.

OK, maybe that's not out of the box, but you'll probably start downloading new apps pretty quickly, and this feature is big in my mind.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Glad to see more people defending Windows a bit.
I really have no preference over what system I use when I get home now.

Windows 7 or OSX both do what I need, usually with perfect reliability.

Bobby, you really need to get your hands on some quality Windows based laptops. Your comparing Apples (lol) for oranges.
If you're going to have to compare a Macbook to a laptop, look at the higher end Vaios/competitors. You'll find top build quality, decent materials, good screens and great performance.

Aside from the touchpad thing, I really think there isn't that much in it between any Macbook Pro and a similarly priced Windows based machine.

Well the quality models are in the same price range so they don't usually come up in a debate.

The topic is usually that the cheap laptops are just as good, but they are not, so it becomes challenging to convey this when someone just makes an offhand comment like... Ohh they are just brainwashed fanboys who believe all the hype. when the simple reality is that it is the better product. And then the question becomes, well HOW EXACTLY.

This has come up a lot. Am I allowed to make this list? Is it OK? Are my motivations that crazy?

Its annoying people are acting like Mac vs PC debates aren't still up there with religion and politics debates elsewhere IRL besides on MR.

Windows 7 is Microsoft's best OS to date, there are a lot of things in that OS that I wished apple would *cough* emulate *cough*

The PC vs. Mac holy war is all but over. Both platforms have advantages and disadvantages. I'm partial to OSX and apple's hardware but I also work on windows desktops and servers and see things there are quite great.

I guess the bottom line is who cares if one platform does this or that. Use what works best for you and don't sweat the small stuff.

Im always big on being realistic and not saying something that is not true of windows anymore. That is why I made the list to see if anyone can point out things I got wrong or are no longer currently advantages anymore. Viruses are a big one ever since they made admin passwords default, added built in firewalls, solid non bloated anti viruses have become free, and the internet is less of a jungle and has been more standardized. (People pretty much only check Facebook and wikipedia instead of fumbling around on the deep web.)

The fact is that if you install many programs, over time the system will slowdown and behave sluggish. As of today that still happens and it is unacceptable.

It literally makes you not want to install anything unless you absolutely need it at the risk of slowing your whole systems' behavior down. It makes you be stingy with what tools you want to equip yourself with.

 

[thundersteele]

I just came up with a funny analogy:

The DNA of humans and gorillas is highly similar, only about 5% of it is different. In the same way, Macs and PCs have the same hardware for most components. Still, when compared to a macbook, most PCs feel like gorillas to me.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

That "it just works"

 

[dba415]

the welcome video in snow leopard

 

[Jake99]

I am going to add stuff I think has not been mentioned before, forgive me if there is a duplicate but I am not going to analyze this thread that much before posting

- chassis carved from a solid block of aluminum; makes it very stable, sturdy, lightweight (and looks great)

- no stickers or flashing lights all over it like a windows laptop!

- I know every laptop has a keyboard, but the quality and feel of the MBP keyboard is outstanding.

- Apps that come with the MBP are well integrated and work well married to the hardware, and easy to use

- MBP is designed intentionally for it to be easy for the user to upgrade their hard drive or RAM by themselves. And doing so yourself does not void the warranty.

- The MBP is as good looking on the inside (if you are a geek like most of us) as it is on the outside.

- the general design (the glowing apple on the cover, etc) is outstanding; general look is being copied by several major manufacturers - immitation is the highest form of flattery. (Unless you are Steve Jobs, then its a reason to get very angry! lol)

- Power Brick is small, a lot smaller than most windows laptops, and has a built in/collapsable rack to wrap the cord.

- Superdrive has no flimsy tray that pops out to load a disk

Forgive me I did not use BRB in front of each line. Still don't get that. BRB = be right back.

----------

I just came up with a funny analogy:

The DNA of humans and gorillas is highly similar, only about 5% of it is different. In the same way, Macs and PCs have the same hardware for most components. Still, when compared to a macbook, most PCs feel like gorillas to me.

Love that!

 

[bdodds1985]

now those are legitimate pro's about the macbook. maybe jake99 should have started the thread.

 

[Votekinky06]

I just got my first macbook after 10 years of using PC's, and while some may be trivial, here are my favorite 5 features:

-Power cords have had two sizes in all of my pc's; too long, and too short. Apple gives you the power to choose the length. Mag-Safe charging tip offers durability, and one less port to become filled with dust, and the indicator light on the tip itself is more useful than I could have imagined. Also the handy claws that retract from the power brick are AWESOME!

-Backlit keyboard allows me to work in dimly lit areas, which is especially important at night when I am trying to catch up on emails while my wife sleeps next to me. The super-quiet operation is great too, some of my PC's sounded like they were gas-powered.

-Multi-touch gestures are so intuitive and useful that I couldn't imagine life without them after only a couple of weeks of use. The ability to go back and forward in safari without having to move and click a mouse, and to switch between windows without having to move the mouse down to the little bar and find the one I'm looking for, I could go on forever

-Everything just moves so smoothly...so very smmmooooottthhhllly.

-The lack of bloatware is an enormous plus to me.

I know people say they love things all of the time, but I think I feel true, emotional love for my macbook, I may need to seek help

I'll come back and update my post as I find more things.

 

[theSeb]

The little lights on the side to show me battery level. Very useful. I actually miss this feature on the MBA

 

[thundersteele]

now those are legitimate pro's about the macbook. maybe jake99 should have started the thread.

That was my thought too... finally some points that is really an MBP features.

- The power brick is a really good feature. I know that Sony charges $99 extra if you want a slimmer/smaller adapter, and it's still huge compared to the MBP power adapters.

- The lid is held shut with magnets - no plastic lock that can break.

- No air intake on bottom of laptop - I don't have to worry so much about sucking in dust and dirt

- All ports & connectors on the sides, easy access.

- Thunderbolt

 

[bdodds1985]

-dynamic switching between onboard and discrete graphics (higher end 15" and 17" models

-facetime hd camera has a flash for low light uses

-between 13, 15 and 17" theres only a 1 pound difference.
my old pc laptop was almost 8 pounds and it was smaller than my 15"

-and one of my favorites is the backlit keyboard.

also good point about the magnets that keep the lid closed. gives it a much better feel when closing and opening than that of a plastic laptop.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

I think it took 6 hours to download and install almost 400 updates in total.

That's because your internet is slow. I did the same thing, and it took maybe 30 minutes to get through all the updates, just like OS X.

Plug-and-play is, if anything, better on Windows (but only by a hair).

----------

The fact is that if you install many programs, over time the system will slowdown and behave sluggish. As of today that still happens and it is unacceptable.

Yes, because if you fill up your HDD enough you begin to run out of space for the OS to use for virtual memory, which bogs down your computer. That, or you install programs that continually run in the background.

However, I've never had a problem keeping tabs on what's running in the background, regardless of what OS I'm using. So I've had both OS X and Windows machines with many, many applications/programs installed and experienced no slowdown at all.

 

[TheJing]

That's because your internet is slow. I did the same thing, and it took maybe 30 minutes to get through all the updates, just like OS X.

You installed Vista, downloaded and installed the 300 updates then installed Windows 7 and downloaded and installed all the updates in 30 minutes? Wow. My 23mbps really is slow!

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

You installed Vista, downloaded and installed the 300 updates then installed Windows 7 and downloaded and installed all the updates in 30 minutes? Wow. My 23mbps really is slow!

Missed the Vista part. I did a straight-up install of Win7. Also note that I said I worked through the updates in 30 minutes, not completed the entire installation and all the updates in 30 minutes. If you're going to poke fun like this, get your facts straight.

Also, if your goal was Win7, why did you install Vista first? I'm assuming it's because you have an upgrade copy of Win7, but that still doesn't explain why you applied all the updates to Vista first, as Win7 contains every single one of those updates (as far as the OS is concerned, 3rd party stuff is obviously outside of that). You could also have cut that time SIGNIFICANTLY by simply installing Win7 fresh and flipping a registry bit to convince it that it installed as an update. Nothing illegal about that, considering you own Vista already.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

I am going to add stuff I think has not been mentioned before, forgive me if there is a duplicate but I am not going to analyze this thread that much before posting

- chassis carved from a solid block of aluminum; makes it very stable, sturdy, lightweight (and looks great)

- no stickers or flashing lights all over it like a windows laptop!

- I know every laptop has a keyboard, but the quality and feel of the MBP keyboard is outstanding.

- Apps that come with the MBP are well integrated and work well married to the hardware, and easy to use

- MBP is designed intentionally for it to be easy for the user to upgrade their hard drive or RAM by themselves. And doing so yourself does not void the warranty.

- The MBP is as good looking on the inside (if you are a geek like most of us) as it is on the outside.

- the general design (the glowing apple on the cover, etc) is outstanding; general look is being copied by several major manufacturers - immitation is the highest form of flattery. (Unless you are Steve Jobs, then its a reason to get very angry! lol)

- Power Brick is small, a lot smaller than most windows laptops, and has a built in/collapsable rack to wrap the cord.

- Superdrive has no flimsy tray that pops out to load a disk

Forgive me I did not use BRB in front of each line. Still don't get that. BRB = be right back.

----------



Love that!

NO stickers or flashing lights!!! Thats a great detail to put on the subtle list! I love it thanks!

-Considering putting keyboard "feel" on the list too maybe.

Also maybe iPhoto.

Thanks!!! Are you the legendary Jake99 someone else mentioned? Some one aware me?

now those are legitimate pro's about the macbook. maybe jake99 should have started the thread.

^ he's right there though! lol

Yeah I wanted to make it all the way legit leaving the controversial debatable stuff out and only including the subtle advantages that are really substantial to a consumer! I haven't really found such a thing elsewhere.

I just got my first macbook after 10 years of using PC's, and while some may be trivial, here are my favorite 5 features:

-Power cords have had two sizes in all of my pc's; too long, and too short. Apple gives you the power to choose the length. Mag-Safe charging tip offers durability, and one less port to become filled with dust, and the indicator light on the tip itself is more useful than I could have imagined. Also the handy claws that retract from the power brick are AWESOME!

-Backlit keyboard allows me to work in dimly lit areas, which is especially important at night when I am trying to catch up on emails while my wife sleeps next to me. The super-quiet operation is great too, some of my PC's sounded like they were gas-powered.

-Multi-touch gestures are so intuitive and useful that I couldn't imagine life without them after only a couple of weeks of use. The ability to go back and forward in safari without having to move and click a mouse, and to switch between windows without having to move the mouse down to the little bar and find the one I'm looking for, I could go on forever

-Everything just moves so smoothly...so very smmmooooottthhhllly.

-The lack of bloatware is an enormous plus to me.

I know people say they love things all of the time, but I think I feel true, emotional love for my macbook, I may need to seek help

I'll come back and update my post as I find more things.

Everything about the brick is so beneficial. Its pretty much already on the list under Magsafe. After I finish adding to the list I plan to also define each point in more detail.

I considered back lit keyboard but I know other laptops have them as options.

Will add "everything just moves so smoothly, very smooooooothhlly" to list lol. It is significant.

Yes please do return when you think of more!

The little lights on the side to show me battery level. Very useful. I actually miss this feature on the MBA

I would include this but the new Dells have them I'm pretty sure.

That was my thought too... finally some points that is really an MBP features.

- The power brick is a really good feature. I know that Sony charges $99 extra if you want a slimmer/smaller adapter, and it's still huge compared to the MBP power adapters.

- The lid is held shut with magnets - no plastic lock that can break.

- No air intake on bottom of laptop - I don't have to worry so much about sucking in dust and dirt

- All ports & connectors on the sides, easy access.

- Thunderbolt

Huge entry! That is perfect.

So most laptops have a latch right?

-dynamic switching between onboard and discrete graphics (higher end 15" and 17" models

-facetime hd camera has a flash for low light uses

-between 13, 15 and 17" theres only a 1 pound difference.
my old pc laptop was almost 8 pounds and it was smaller than my 15"

-and one of my favorites is the backlit keyboard.

also good point about the magnets that keep the lid closed. gives it a much better feel when closing and opening than that of a plastic laptop.

Dynamic switching further saves battery. It should probably be included for sure tho on the list.

I would add the flash but I am sure other laptops have nice built in webcams with flash too right??

 

[shyam09]

-P

lol this is going to sound really stupid, but after i read your post [which was quite excellent btw ] and saw the -P, the first thing that came to my mind was, Where is the OTHER eye!!!...lolz, and then i realized that was your sig.

____________________________________
and now to the BRB thing...

i dont know if these have been mentioned but here goes:
-- The keyboard position. I just like how "centered" it is. I have used many keyboards, in fact I'm typing this on my Windows Desktop Keyboard, and I really miss the Mac keyboard. I have seen way higher WPM on the mac then on the PC.

Sure it can be the keys [which btw are awesome] but the position of the keyboad just seems really important ergonomically [i think that's the word ]​

-- I prefer the Caps Lock "Lock" where it doesn't activate unless pressed properly. I tend to "confuse" TAB and CAPS LOCK when blind typing, so it's nice to know that I don't press CAPS LOCK on accident

-- The bottom of the MBP. On many PC's the bottom is filled with screws and vents, and a bunch of information of the model, the battery stuff, etc. But the mac is really "bare" with only 4 black thingies [sry for the lack of description" and it just supports the aesthetic looks

-- the side "battery lights" i really don't use it that much because i usually leave my MBP on sleep, but it's great knowing that it is there. It's simply marvelous in design.

-- the sleep lights. It's so calming

CONS:
-- 13" MBP resolution... ugh!!!!

 

[thundersteele]

I wonder how this list will be used... is it for a debate club or something?


Anyways, to win the discussion, it's also important to be aware of the weaknesses of a MBP and how to downplay/ignore them. So lets make another list:

- battery not removable, extended battery not available, expensive battery replacement
- no USB 3.0
- holding onto expensive technology with little use for end users (firewire, thunderbolt)
- repair costs can be higher than the price for a new windows laptop
- glossy screen, no IPS display
- no higher resolution on 13'' model
- no windows license - must pay extra to run most games
- expensive, only 1 year warranty included in base price
- current design more than three years old
- battery drains under load, even when charger is connected
- USB ports too close, can't connect two devices


Just a collection of complaints that I read here in the last months. Most of them are ridiculous in my opinion, but it's something the OP should prepare for.


Have fun

 

[AuroraProject]

It doesn't feel like a cheap, plastic piece of garbage.

When I connect something IT JUST WORKS.

It has never said to me "***STOP:OXOOOOC1F5 (OXOOOOOOOO, OXOOOOOOOO, OXOOOOOOOO, OXOOOOOOOO"

Backlit keyboard was a major deal to me.

It doesn't ask me 17 times if I'm really certain I want to uninstall an app.

 

[dusk007]

When I connect something IT JUST WORKS.

Windows 7 does better in that respect also autoinstalls. Sometimes there aren't any drivers for OSX and you have to launch a Windows VM just to print a stupid piece of paper.
I like the MBP but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Just thought of another:

Superior more intuitive shortcuts. (i.e. push option + sound vol for immediate sound output switching)