Offered to buy DH a MacBook and he's annoyed

[CelTa]

I offered to buy my DH a new MacBook - he's had his current one for 10 years and it's a bit slow.

My budget is £1250 and there are plenty of MacBooks online for this price.

We've just had an argument because he wants a better one at £1600.

He had no intention of buying it for himself and can't afford it. I came into some money recently and wanted to do something nice for him. I feel like it's just been thrown back in my face. He's always complaining about his laptop and how slow it is.

Aibu?

He doesn't need any specifics - he's not a photographer or a gamer.

He uses his laptop for checking emails and watching YouTube videos.

His main argument is that he wants "security." Which in my experience is software, not hardware.

He is not working for Mi5, he just wants his bank accounts to be secure. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Exactly this!

I have a feeling he will take the one you’ve offered if it means he has to pay out.

What a selfish twat. I hope you’ve now withdrawn your offer.

In that case sod him.

It depends. Do you have 100k to spend but you decided the limit for the MacBook is 1200?

Does he contribute more to your finances usually and that's why he can't afford it?

I think context matters, but on surface level it does seem like he's just being ungrateful.

If you can afford it though I agree it's always better to buy the more premium thing where it's worth it, if you're keeping it for years.

He uses his laptop for checking emails and watching YouTube videos

Yeah a £1200 MacBook is ridiculous for that.

He's a greedy, petulant and ungracious really... let him either make up the difference between what you're offering and what he wants or rescind your offer/spend it on something else you'd like. 🌹

God, offspring are a nightmare aren't they?

I'd keep it really breezy.

" no worries. Up to you"

OR ( a benevolent)

"no worries. The offer is there if you change your mind"

That's it. It's a lovely offer. He's ( sort of ) a grown up. He can take responsibility for his choice. You did your best.

Omg just realised this is your DH not your DS!!!!

Cheeky twat.

First response only.

What sort of question is that?

A relevant one.

If OP has a maximum of £1200 to spend but he wants one that’s £1600, then he can make up the difference or stick with the £1200 one.

@DrSbaitso - the OP said he can't afford it. Not everyone has a spare few hundred.

Why does he need a £1600 Macbook for browsing the internet and responding to emails?

My divorce cost less than £500...
Just saying...

If your DH split his inheritance 50:50 with you, why are you buying him a gift rather than splitting yours with him?

Apple does have safety features built into the hardware though, and generally iOS is more secure than Windows (debatable with Linux etc). Companies generally don't use them as they're harder to network and harder to customise as it were. That said there's zero reason for someone just using a device for emails, banking and browsing to spend £1200 or £1600 on a macbook.

And no don’t let him make up the difference. In the future he will see it as something you both bought rather than him adding a few hundred. Rescind the offer as it’s not good enough for him. Have you ever done this to him when he’s offered to buy you something? I really doubt you have

@luckylavender

OP said her budget is £1250.

So he either makes up the difference, has the £1200 one or has none.

Read up on TPM modules - hardware based crypto devices (most recent laptops/PCs will have one of these). Apple had something similar with the T2 chip but this is now built into the M1/M2 CPU.

So hardware based security does exist and is very much in wide use (e.g. BitLocker)

@SayHi - obviously

I'm literally viewing this thread on a brand new MacBook that I bought today. It cost me less than £1,000, has an M2 processor, and is absolutely fabulous! Tell him he's an ungrateful git, and buy yourself a new MacBook, so he can watch you using yours, see how fast it is, etc., and then see him turn green!!

Where did the money come from.and how much is there? Why is it yours and not family money?

I don't really know about computers. But don't the different macbooks have different levels of capabilities? If the macbook that can be afforded in your price range "can't do" what he needs it for, it would be a bit pointless to buy one and more for the novelty of being able to say he owns a macbook? I don't think that makes him ungreatful. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

@luckylavender I was just explaining it as you seem confused about the PPs comment.

I’m not sure why you asked what sort of question it was when you’ve now said it’s obvious.

Save your money then. He is very very ungrateful.