I don't get why you'd bother when you can get a better machine for half the cost. Install Linux on it if you don't like Windows. Unless you're hired to work on some Mac-exclusive software and it's a work laptop I just don't get why anyone would buy a Mac laptop when they're so objectively overpriced and underfeatured.
Objectively is a hard claim when it comes to an integration of software and hardware. What is the integration of hardware and software worth to any particular person? What is Apple doubling down on privacy worth to another one?
Current MBP hardware is nothing exciting to me. But my previous MBP was lasted me 2009 to 2016 I believe, with a few upgrades. And I like the OS.
I don't mind working in Linux or Windows but I prefer a lot of things about the Mac.
A lot of conveniences, and things that I feel have better execution. Rather predictably decent performance and good integration between software and hardware. That sort of thing.
I was OK with USB-C as it matches my Android phone and the iPad Pro. I'm down to a single charger for travel. It has drawbacks but makes a bit of sense. Not a fan of the new keyboards, really don't like the Touchbar. But overall I'm still fairly happy.
So that's why I, personally, bother. I care about whether they improve it because in spite of the Mac as a platform not hitting the sweets sports as well as previously for me it is still worth the premium they charge. To me.
I consider Macs expensive, I'm not sure that I consider them overpriced. Under-featured I'd dismiss out of hand, I'm sure they could be to some but it really depends on what you are looking at.
128GB SSD vs 1TB HDD, you can buy your own 1TB SSD for around $150, far from the $800 upcharge Apple wants to charge you for that option
And mine doesn't need dongles to do basic tasks like plug in a mouse or ethernet cable or monitor.
I've used Mac OS for a week at a time and it really seemed like nothing special.
So $500 less and I get a bigger screen, more RAM, better CPU, much better GPU, much better disk space, actual USB/HDMI/ethernet ports, with no tangible downsides unless for some reason you literally cannot just get used to using Windows 10, which is a perfectly fine OS. Plus being able to run basically whatever games I want.
Edit: And I just noticed the MBP doesn't even have a numpad. Another dealbreaker for me.
Doesn't the model you link to have a non-retina display? It's hardly comparable. You're not paying for raw specs when you buy a mac. You're paying for the screen, the trackpad, the aesthetics, the thin profile, the battery life, the speakers and microphone, and the OS. Apple has the good taste not to max out the specs if it means sacrificing other, more important features.
If you look for Windows laptops that check all the aforementioned boxes (leaving aside the trackpad, as none of them have good trackpads), you'll be paying just as much as you pay for a macbook.
I've used the trackpad and looked at the screens of MBPs and it was nothing special. Didn't even realize the resolution was more than normal 1080p at the time. Battery life/speakers/microphone/trackpad are fine on mine. I don't see how you could think aesthetics are important enough to skimp out on power.
I'm sure I could tell it was over 1080p if I was paying close attention. It's mostly just passing familiarity being around coworker computers. Maybe Macbook trackpads really are that great but I have no complaints about mine. And I'm sure the battery life is fine if you turn on power saving features and don't leave intensive stuff running.
I'm just pointing out that there are real differences between a macbook and an $800 Windows laptop. Those differences may not matter to some people, which is fine. But it's simply not the case that the laptops you're linking to are comparable to macbooks. E.g., I would not switch to those laptops primarily because of the trackpad, screen, battery life and overall build quality.
Well. I'm glad you can find computers that you find worth their price.
I do use Windows 10 for gaming and some audio/video editing stuff, mostly because of ports and fat hardware. I don't enjoy dev work on it. I could get used to it. But I vastly prefer the way my workflow matches with MacOS. Good terminal, decent package management, good battery for travel.
If I wanted another dev OS it would probably be a Linux.
But I find the quality of execution on MacOS and the surrounding ecosystem to generally be better. I prefer the experience. If it costs a premium but shaves some frustration for me, that feels worthwhile at this time.
It is fine that you don't want to pay that. Is it bothering you that I don't mind the higher price?
I feel like you are jumping to a lot of conclusions. I have worked with a number of different bash implementations and terminals on windows. I haven't found one I appreciated as much as the ones I use on MacOS or have used on Linux.
Am I correct to understand that you dismiss my arguments about why I prefer another operating system and prefer a certain computer type in spite of higher cost as entirely invalid and part of some intellectual bankruptcy?
You seem to have no interest in seeing how another perspective might make sense to another person. If I were to argue like you I'd go with "No one cares to pay for hardware and software anymore. That's why Google gets away with eroding our privacy. Your hardware is full of bloated driver management tools. Your operating system has ads. It is just one data point telling me that people have no standards and lousy taste."
That's how I experience your arguments, no curiosity. I've been politely considering that your opinion probably reflects your needs. I would have appreciated the same courtesy. But what do I know. I'm just a signifier for humanity's decision-making. Bah.
After considering everything I've seen and experienced about Apple products, I just can't help but feel like there really is nothing substantial to them these days, and it follows from that that I find it questionable people still buy them. I wouldn't quite use this to call people intellectually bankrupt. Maybe there really is to something to them providing enough value to be worth the markup to some people but I doubt that's the case for most.
