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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

SinkGirl · 21/02/2019 18:06

We’ve just switched from a MacBook to a Surface Book - windows 10 is awesome. We have been loyal to macs for the last 15 years but I’m done with them - the cheaper models break so easily, the MacBook Pro is really hard and expensive to repair, they’re no longer worth the money compared to the alternative. The Surface book is fantastic, I won’t be buying any more MacBooks, especially now you need bloody dongles for everything. At least go and try them out for yourself.

chipsandpeas · 21/02/2019 18:08

i made the switch from windows 10 to a macbook last year and would never go back

GregoryPeckingDuck · 21/02/2019 18:08

Well worth it. They can survive a nuclear apocalypse. I have had an air for five years and it still works really well despite having endure two children/my extreme clumsiness. It’s been dropped, bashed, stepped on, poked, mashed, you name it.

FermatsTheorem · 21/02/2019 18:09

If you can afford it and like them, go for it. (I'm linux first choice, reluctantly windows 10, have never managed to get my head round Apple, but I suspect it really comes down to personal preference).

Re. Libre Office - the word processing is fine, but the presentation software (powerpoint-alike) seems a bit shit and I can't get the spreadsheet to work at all. Fortunately the last two don't matter for home use (and I have Microsoft on the work computer for presentations). I'm a bit wary of google docs because its security is flaky as shit. It is brilliant for multi-person editing of a shared project, but I wouldn't trust anything where security mattered.

Original poster

AReid · 21/02/2019 18:10

thanks for all ur replies. It’s given me alot of ideas.

I keep thinking i’d rather spend it on a holiday than a laptop! But i suppose you get what u pay for. Torn!

OP posts:

Theunreasonableone · 21/02/2019 18:14

I’ve also got a surface 2in1 and really rate it. It’s as thin and light as a MacBook and loads in an instant. Windows 10 is really good.

theworldistoosmall · 21/02/2019 18:15

@SinkGirl dongles for what?
You mean the converter for USB? Yes it was a bit of a pain, but they are dirt cheap, I paid a couple of quid and got a few from amazon.

SinkGirl · 21/02/2019 18:17

My MacBook and my MacBook Air both developed major faults in less than two years - the hard drive died in one, the trackpad died in the other. DH’s MacBook Pro lasted five or six years, but would only work when plugged in for the last two years at least.

Generally I do like Mac OS but some of it is just not intuitive - I hadn’t used Windows for 15 years but have been so impressed by the latest version. Microsoft have really upped their game. Things like being able to annotate images, draw etc on the surface book has been more valuable to me than anything MacBooks offer these days, and I hate the increasing lack of connectivity.

sportinguista · 21/02/2019 18:23

I'm a designer so I've never really touched PC's, don't like Windows TBH at all. Us designers we love our Macs and our fonts and pantones! I have an iMac, an iPad and iPhone all linked up which means it all works seamlessly and I don't have to think about it too much. Can't see me ever getting a PC. Go for the Mac!

mirime · 21/02/2019 18:37

@SquigglySquaw how much are you spending on your laptops? My Windows laptops have lasted well. My last one was a HP, bought it in 2011, refurbished, for £500. Still works fine, but I need more memory and a better processor/graphics card so I've just upgraded. Thinking of popping an SSD in it to speed up start up, get a bit more use out of it.

The one before that was a £1,000 plus laptop (we didn't pay for it, just ended up with it) Lasted ages, screen gave out eventually, but we weren't kind to it, lots of gaming and it got quite bashed about.

Just got myself a Lenovo, we have them in work and they're decent, if you get a decently specced model.

The absolute minimum you want to spend is probably £5-600. Any less than that, you're looking at something just for browsing and media consumption and should probably get a tablet.

SquigglySquaw · 22/02/2019 09:39

@mirime yeah tbf I was only spending around £400, I could never afford more when I needed a new laptop but wish I'd just saved for longer. I was only ever using them for browsing and YouTube etc. My DP got me a surface pro a couple of years ago which he assured me should work well for a long time and we've just recently sold it as it was driving me up the wall. I just use my phone or my partner's Mac now!

oovojavver · 08/03/2021 14:19

@AReid

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?

If you really want a brand new laptop, you can always get one that comes with Windows (sans the apple tax) and install Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) on it

Hadjab · 08/03/2021 14:30

I’ve been using macs for close to thirty years. I find most PCs tend to get ‘clogged up’ and slow, within a year, whereas all the three MacBooks I’ve had have been brilliant, one of which my kids are still using. It is initially a large cost, but it’s worth it

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 08/03/2021 14:40

Do it. My Lenovo keeps going to the brink of death and I keep rescuing it. Once it's goone I'm getting a mac book.
I had a Mac desk top and love using Apple computers, more than windows.

RonObvious · 08/03/2021 14:42

Might be worth getting a new battery and upgrading the RAM in your existing laptop (unless it is already maxed). You might find that it gives it a new lease of life and you can put off a big purchase for a bit longer.

JackieTheFart · 08/03/2021 14:54

I couldn’t care less what you spend your money on - I wouldn’t buy a Mac. But then I use my laptop for gaming and they’re not suitable for that so I guess we’re coming from different angles.

Having said that - what do you want to do on it? Is it really worth it if you’re going to use it for internet and word processing only?

NoseOfJericho · 08/03/2021 14:55

I have been thinking about changing, I loathe Windows now. However I know nothing about Mac. so think I might be back to square one if I change, any thoughts on this?

SofiaMichelle · 08/03/2021 15:04

I wouldn't switch from Windows to Mac OS.

The company I work for issue all Apple products and I had to get used to it - great at first to receive the latest iPhone, IPad, MacBook Pro, etc, etc, but then a complete pain in the ass for work purposes.

Excel, for example, is pants on Mac if you're used to running big, heavily function-laden spreadsheets. The functionality is not there and the processing is mind-numbingly slow compared to running the same sheet on a half decent windows machine.

I eventually persuaded them I should have Dell XPS laptops instead and they relented.

Haffiana · 08/03/2021 18:17

I use Excel all the time on my Macs - huge spreadsheets etc. Works brilliantly.

I also run Windows both on my Macs and on a Sony and a Lenovo laptop. Windows runs faster and better on the Macs...

Morgoth · 08/03/2021 18:25

I bought a MacBook Air this year for my studies because I too hate Windows and I adore it!

RozHuntleysStump · 08/03/2021 18:53

My latest MacBook was 1600. Still looks like new and is a couple of years old now. It’s never given me any trouble. Before MacBooks I had a series of windows laptops. HP etc. They were all shit. I think it’s false economy to buy windows ones. Obviously if you are on a tight budget they work but they need replacing sooner. I’d always get a MacBook.

CharlotteWeb · 08/03/2021 18:57

I love my Macbook Air. PCs are so clunky.
Can you not get a student discount from the Apple site?

CharlotteWeb · 08/03/2021 18:58

NoseOfJericho You just need to get used to the OS (give yourself a day or two) and you'll be fine. You'll never go back!

Weirdbutwonderful · 08/03/2021 19:18

I've had my Macbook for 10 years and it's been fantastic! Never had a problem with it and it has just seen us through homeschooling 2 primary age children. I've only had to replace the charger but only because the cat chewed the wire. My husband has gone through 3 laptops (non-macbook) during the period of me having this one. Worth every pound paid!

NoseOfJericho · 09/03/2021 15:10

@CharlotteWeb

NoseOfJericho You just need to get used to the OS (give yourself a day or two) and you'll be fine. You'll never go back!

Thank you. It can't be worse than Windows 10 (can it?).

How does it work if everything you have saved and need to use is Microsoft though?

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