Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To get a Macbook for dd?

97 replies

Dancergirl · 25/01/2016 10:48

Tricky one. Both my older dds have a largish sum of money saved up given from various relatives over the years.

About 18 months ago, dd1 wanted to use some of her money to buy a laptop. We did some research, shopped around etc and we advised her not to spend too much on it as there were some good models around for less money. So she bought one for about £350 (can't remember the make, it begins with A). She's generally happy with it, can be a bit slow to start up.

Now dd2 would like to do the same and she has her heart set on an Apple macbook. People we've talked to say they really are worth the money, they last longer and have resale value. Took dd2 to John Lewis yesterday, we looked at all makes but she's really keen on the macbook. She has a (second hand) iPhone 5 which she loves so I suppose she's a bit of an Apple convert.

It is her money so it's really her choice (but she has a birthday coming up so may give her some extra towards it) but dd1 might be put out that we advised her to get a cheaper one and now we are going back on our word!

OP posts:

TooSassy · 25/01/2016 21:07

I should caveat, I am in a more likely position to afford them (if I live on beans on toast) but I don't. Whereas they will bankrupt themselves to have the 'in' designer.

BreakingDad77 · 26/01/2016 10:32

I wondered about chromium laptop as an option too, and save the rest of the money

00100001 · 26/01/2016 10:41

I have a chromebook for home, it's great :)

ShelaghTurner · 26/01/2016 11:42

I've just replaced my 6yo MacBook Pro. A relative (no slouch with computers) has been through 3 Windows laptops in that time before he gave up and bought a MacBook Air.

I haven't had a Windows machine since 1999 and I never will again. I see DH struggling with his year old Acer (not his choice) and bless my MBP every day.

BreakingDad77 · 26/01/2016 12:03

Thereafter, if it slows down (because someone has knowing or unknowingly installed dodgy software, for example by clicking on a dodgy pop-up on some site)

Relative was always having problems with their laptop and was this reason^^ FIL has laptop problem at moment and its definitely a virus as its only a couple years old and running ever so slowly.

00100001 · 26/01/2016 12:17

why did you replace 6 year old macbook shelagh?

DoctorTwo · 26/01/2016 13:30

"You can get a Windows laptop for £750 that'd beat a MacBook hands down."

I don't believe that. After a few months it'd be slow to start up and slowing down generally.

My Lenovo running Windows 7 is as quick now as when I bought it secondhand for £89 this time last year. I just run CCleaner every couple of weeks to free up space and clear up any rubbish that might be there. It takes a couple of minutes to scan and another couple to overwrite, a little longer if you want a secure overwrite.

ComposHatComesBack · 26/01/2016 13:49

00100001 great post!

briss · 26/01/2016 14:54

I can fix a PC

I can't fix a mac

hence all computers in the house are PCs

BertrandRussell · 26/01/2016 14:57

But surely your other dd still has money left and the Mac buying one won't once she's bought the Mac. Why should anyone be resentful?

HermioneJeanGranger · 26/01/2016 15:52

Probably because older DD was guided towards a cheap laptop, but then a few years later sees it's okay for her younger sister to get a top-of-the-range Macbook!

Dreamgirls234 · 26/01/2016 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Dancergirl · 26/01/2016 22:42

Reporting back after having conversation with older dd:

Rightly or wrongly, I brought up the topic with dd1, how would she feel if dd2 got a macbook etc...? Dd1 agreed that she's less fussy about branding (or at least she was when we got hers about 15 months ago), she likes her laptop and it's reasonably fast. But she does seem to have an issue with dd2 potentially getting something 'much better'.

I can really see both sides tbh, whatever we do one of them will be resentful! If we say no to the macbook and get dd2 a cheaper option, is that fair to her that she didn't get what she wants simply to spare her sister's feelings?

Being a parent is bloody hard sometimes, I want to be as fair as possible and do the right thing by both of them.

One possible solution is to buy (or contribute towards) a new better laptop for dd1 next Christmas. Her old one could be put away for dd3 (nearly 9).

OP posts:

HermioneJeanGranger · 27/01/2016 05:43

Could you sell DD1's laptop and buy them both a Macbook? I really wouldn't get one a top-of-the-range one when then other was made encouraged to get something much cheaper.

SofiaAmes · 27/01/2016 05:57

Different children have different priorities and wants. My dd got a brand new 13" macbook pro and ds got a hand me down 15" macbook pro plus money towards a gaming computer. Dd has an iphone and ds has a free non-smart phone. Dd gets lots of cheap and hand me down clothes, ds gets a few expensive branded clothes. Dd goes to Disneyland multiple times a year, ds doesn't. They are much more likely to fight over who gets to sit on which side of the backseat of the car (identical in nature) than whether one gets more purchased for them than the other.

I think that it's important to acknowledge and respect the priorities that a child sets for themselves, even if you wish them to be different or expect them to mature and change. How else are they supposed to learn the process of making mistakes in their choices. Much better they learn those lessons at 13 than 30.

howabout · 27/01/2016 10:39

Dancer I think you made a tactical error raising this with DD1. My miserly DD1 would not see the value of stumping up for the best brand herself but if she could manipulate me into doing it for her by guilt tripping me over showing favouritism to her sister she absolutely would.

Thymeout · 27/01/2016 10:53

Yes - focus on the money that dd1 still has in her account. Younger dd would only have the better laptop because she's used more of her savings, against your advice. The parental contribution needs to be exactly the same, though.

I do think you have to let them make their own choices at this age. Younger dd will never be happy with a cheaper laptop because she could have bought a macbook and you didn't let her.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 27/01/2016 11:03

I'm not sure if you said you bought DD1's laptop or she bought it with her money. If you bought it then you can really only give DD2 the same amount and she must make up the difference. If she bought it with her own money, then I think that's different if DD2 has the money.

I have a MacBook Pro and it was bought reconditioned 6 years ago. It's still going strong, running the most recent operating system and copes with all the software I need on it. It runs faster than my newer Asus PC laptop. It was probably just shy of £1000 but I think it represents good value for money. DH is a designer, so couldn't use my MacBook Pro now as it's too slow running all the software he needs, but for general home/typing/browsing/photo editing etc it's still perfectly fine.

You can get education discount via Apple (only 10% or so I think) and also buy education Microsoft Office products too (they make Word etc for Macs). I believe Apple have their own refurbished re-sells too, possibly buried on their website somewhere. It's a while since we purchased!

Also, I have to keep my PC laptop in tiptop condition and have purchased software to enable me to keep it clean (and I'm careful where I browse etc to avoid viruses, malware and adware). So on that front, you're never immune to these things with a Mac, but currently, you're much less likely to encounter something nasty to infect your Mac.

So, I think a Mac represents good value for money. If the girls bought them themselves, then I think you can go with DD2 having one as she's buying it and DD1 wasn't bothered what she had (and doesn't seem bothered now by brands either), she just has more money left in her bank account for other things. I guess as they get older, it could equate to things like clothes, if DD1 was a New Look girl and DD2 was a SuperDry girl, she'd just need to save longer and have less.

Be warned, I got a Mac, converted my brother and now my Dad has one (he switched from PCs to Macs at age 60!)

Original poster

Dancergirl · 27/01/2016 11:10

howabout I think you might be right, dh also said we shouldn't have talked to her. But I wanted to gauge if she was happy with her laptop, or wished she got something better/more expensive. And she said she was pretty happy with it. It's not that she really wants an expensive laptop herself, she just has an issue with what she perceives as dd2 having one much better than hers.

OP posts:

flashheartscanoe · 27/01/2016 11:15

But surely if they are paying themselves then DD1 will have loads of money leftover that DD2 doesn't have? Just tell her that. That's how money works if you spend les on one thing you can buy something else as well at a later date.
The most important thing is that you don't contribute more to DD2s than you did to hers. If she is happy with hers its a terrible message to replace it just to 'compete'.

Original poster

Dancergirl · 27/01/2016 11:24

Yes true flash Come to think of it, dd1 also spent some of her money on a load of dance wear and was very happy with her purchases. And dd1 does sometimes have a habit of making me feel guilty about things.

The most important thing is that you don't contribute more to DD2s Yes absolutely. We didn't contribute at all to dd1's so will say to dd2 if she really wants a macbook it will have to come out of her money. But at least with a reconditioned one we are talking around £550 rather than getting on for a grand. Didn't want to rush into a decision for her birthday (this weekend) and in any case, dd2 says she likes personal birthday presents. I've bought her a Pandora charm and ring which I know she will like very much and a few other smaller bits. She can then take her time deciding over the coming months and I can keep an eye out for good reconditioned ones.

Thanks MN, very helpful advice and much appreciated

OP posts:

HermioneJeanGranger · 27/01/2016 12:01

That sounds like a good solution, OP :)

Flip

1 2 3 4