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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to spend a £1000 pounds on Apple Macbook because I don't like Windows

62 replies

AReid · 21/02/2019 17:20

My laptop which I have had for eight years has recently started to slow down and the battery is critical and needs replacing. I think I've done well to get 8 yrs out of it so far.

I am a student and do need to have a laptop, but feel like a £1000 pounds is a lot of money to spend on a laptop. I've not used Windows for 10yrs+ and I've always have security issues in the past.

Should I just get a cheaper model. What do u's think?

OP posts:
ItStartedWithAKiss241 · 21/02/2019 17:21

It’s absolutely worth it for an apple product and you can get a discount for being a student and a payment plan I think?
I guess it depends on your personal finances x

PettyContractor · 21/02/2019 17:30

There are some refurbished Windows 10 laptops selling on ebay for £100. You could buy one of those and see if you liked Windows 10. If you did, and that laptop hardware was for some reason not good enough, you could then buy a better model and still not have spent anywhere near £1000 in total.

butteryellow · 21/02/2019 17:32

You could get a lenovo or something similar and put Linux on it - that's very good.

BUT. I have macs. I bought one 9 years ago, having been super anti-mac, and have never looked back.

BUT BUT - my air died last year, and I was somewhere with limited access to computers, and ended up with a 15" Macbook pro with touch bar, and it's diabolical. Do not buy one of these. Buy an Air, or a little macbook.

mirime · 21/02/2019 17:32

Up to you and if you can afford it. If you can't and would consider a Windows laptop I would say Windows has changed quite a lot in the last 10 years. Last time I had security issues it was because it was a dodgy version of XP that couldn't be updated...

(I'm the opposite to you, would rather not have anything to do with Apple, but think people should use what's right for them.)

PettyContractor · 21/02/2019 17:33

Though actually an existing laptop shouldn't be slowing down, computers don't get tired with age. I'm assuming a Mac has the equivalent of the Windows 10 refresh function, which restores the software to a new state, maybe you could try that? Replacing a battery should not be expensive either.

Having said that, you may well want a better screen or a lighter laptop, so it might be worth changing to get that.

PettyContractor · 21/02/2019 17:36

I don't think security issues are a reason to avoid Windows 10. Now that they've copied the Mac policy of free software upgrades forever, it will always be up-to-date.

Holidaycountdown · 21/02/2019 17:38

I swapped to a MacBook Air for uni this year and I love it, wrestles with the decision for weeks because it is a lot of money but I’m so happy with it. I got mine from John Lewis on interest free finance over 1 year so repayments are around £60 per month.

AGHHHH · 21/02/2019 17:38

If you haven't used Windows for 10 years then you may as well try it now, there have been several operating systems and updates since 2009. It's so much cheaper and much easier to upgrade.

You could buy a refurbished laptop and replace the hard drive with an SSD for around £60, which is the most effective way to boost speed. They are much faster than standard hard drives.

yunalis · 21/02/2019 17:39

Hardware certainly ages/wears Confused, and an 8 year old laptop will have multiple moving parts.

I would get a new mac. You should get a discount.

Soubriquet · 21/02/2019 17:41

If you can afford it, go for it!

I wanted a MacBook for myself...alas too expensive for me so I’ve got a Lenovo instead.

Does the job yes, but it’s not my dream laptop

yunalis · 21/02/2019 17:42

I use Windows and work and in parallels BTW. Much prefer the ease of osx/macos.

Ulysses · 21/02/2019 17:42

If you can afford it a MacBook is the bees knees. I've got an iPhone as well so all my photos and documents etc are synchronised too. I love the track pad on my Mac as well and although I've got the (really overpriced) proper Mac Mouse rarely need to use it. I still use a windows laptop for work but my MacBook is leaps ahead of it.

BIWI · 21/02/2019 17:43

Go for it! I have a Windows laptop and a MacPro, and by far prefer the latter.

Livid21 · 21/02/2019 17:45

I would save my MacBook from a burning building.

AuntieGeek · 21/02/2019 17:47

Linux is your friend here. Mint (one type of Linux) is very similar to windows. Need Office? LibreOffice is free. You can save the files to ones compatible with Microsoft products.

Back your files up to an external drive, dual boot it (to test out if you like it) and then if you do, back your files up and do a full install over your Windows OS.

It's free, maintained by people passionate about open source software and generally more secure than even Macs. You can even try it out via a pen drive installation which will allow you to road test it.

I promise you'll never look back.

Boom76 · 21/02/2019 17:48

I wouldn’t go back to Windows. I hate it. Have to use it for work and it’s just clunky.

RiojaHaze · 21/02/2019 17:50

I got a refurbished Mac book from the Apple site for a lot less than a new one. 6 years on its still going strong and I love it.

windysocks · 21/02/2019 17:50

Ive just bought a macbook air and i love it! Took a bit of getting used to the operating system but its great and much mire portable than mist other laptops

ShastaBeast · 21/02/2019 17:53

Go for it. I bought a refurb one too. It’s so fast and hasn’t slowed down. Although eight years is amazing for a windows machine. DH’s slowed quickly and he’s had to delete it and opt for Ubuntu.

I do miss Excel but can buy it if I want.

GardeningWithDynamite · 21/02/2019 17:54

If you don't like windows, why not run linux? You can either do a linux install or run something like Ubuntu as an app within windows 10.

mirime · 21/02/2019 17:56

LibreOffice is free.

Or use Google Docs? I have Microsoft Office, haven't installed it on my new laptop yet and may not bother unless I need Publisher for work. Haven't bothered installing it on new laptops in work either.

adaline · 21/02/2019 17:57

Do it. I did the same and I would never go back to Windows now. I love my MacBook.

SquigglySquaw · 21/02/2019 17:59

Everytime I've had to get a new laptop, I've gone for one with Windows because they're cheaper. I've had Dell, HP & Lenovo. Then I regret it within a year when it's inevitably crap. Get a mac, my DP has had his for 4 years and it works as well as the day he got it.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 21/02/2019 18:02

My Mac book is 8 years old. It has the latest software updates and a boot time of 5 seconds. It's never crashed.
It was a bit £££ but well worth he investment in my opinion.

theworldistoosmall · 21/02/2019 18:05

Dont forget about your student discount.
My last job, the Macs were at least 10 years old when I left and they were still performing a lot better than the shiny shitty new windows machines.
I converted over to Mac a few years ago and never looked back. Now have air and a pro with touch bar, love them both.