Is a MAC worth it for the build quality only?

Thanks for your help, the graph was useful, it made me realize that perhaps I should go for a business grade laptop, or with a computer like the SONY where I can buy two of those computers and still only break my budget by $800 anyways, instead of spring for the Macbook pro and not really being able to pick up anything other then a super cheap computer if something goes wrong, because then I would break my budget by like $2200.

Or I could go ahead and get a 3 year protection plan because it looks like all computers fail reasonably often, so a 3 year plan is probably worth it. I unfortunately probably can't afford Apple Care + MBP being a college student. That would probably come to around $2500. Plus I don't need phone support, just part replacement, I'm fairly proficient with a computer.

Luckily for me though there are like 2 apple stores within a 15 minute drive of where I am (the place where I live has tons of Apple fanatics). So that does improve the quality of the warranty I guess. I should probably head down there and see if OSX is really worth the extra cash.

 

If you still decide for Apple, AppleCare can be bought really cheap on Ebay.

 

I'm curious as well. If anything, my colleagues' new unibody 13s and 15s seem better-built than my mid-08 MBP.

 

The first run of unibody macs were abysmal.
We had so many brick that unibody macs were banned from support here at work.

Before that, mac laptops were tanks... so yeah, quality HAS gone down and frankly I think fashion is the primary reason.

The newest unibodies may very well be better than the first run of unibodies, but they still aren't the old mac laptops.

While the mac fanbois will always claim that macs are better than everything for anything for anybody, the truth is they are simply a personal computer with upsides and downsides.

Mac build quality is currently average to above average in comparison to the rest of the field.

To answer the OP:
You buy a mac for its ability to run OSX. This is its advantage and what truly sets it apart from other personal computers. OSX is a preference. It is a user interface which is tuned to a specific type of thought process and works very well for some people. OSX is more efficient with resources than Windows, but falls short of its *nix brethren as Apple's development has significantly diverged from that of its FreeBSD roots.

If you don't need or prefer OSX, then the only reason left is fashion.
This is kinda like buying a car for its cupholders...


And yes, I own Windows and *nix PCs... but this is due to preference.
I have worked on more macs than most of the mac users here have ever seen.

 

please provide proof that anyone ever made that claim.

kthanks.

 

I've been seriously considering a MBP13 instead of other PC laptops from Dell or Asus just for the build quality.

I've been pretty happy with my Dell service in the past, next business day technician visiting etc. and accidental damage warranty would be great, but I'm still very tempted by the unibody structure of the MBP.

 

This line is classic. You aim to draw a metaphor with automobiles, and suggest that preferring a computer that is stylish and attractive is akin to preferring an automobile that has more attractive ..... wait for it ...... cupholders!

Well, a lot of people do pay extra for a car that looks good, and when they do, they aren't usually looking at cupholders. I thought your post was pretty good overall but this bit is just too much.

 

The only question you should ask yourself is: are you buying a Mac to use OS X as your main operating system? If yes, then get one; if no, then don't. Threads like these are pointless as they always diverge into irrelevant discussion. /thread

 

actually, studies have shown that many women eliminate cars from consideration based on the placement of things like cup holders.

Top Ten Things Women Like About Cars

 

I'm in the position from choosing a PC laptop (premium) or a macbook pro 15 inch i7 for college...

both are pretty similar except.... of course ... the OS.

I've heard that almost 90% of the people are satisfied with their macs?

also...

Do you mac os x users ever feel...limited in software/driver choices?
Like lack of printer driver support...etc.?

 

I don't have my new Mac yet, but I have worked on them...

I've never met the printer that I couldn't get a Mac to print from.

As for software...do a simple test for yourself: look at all the software you have installed presently. Find out if the same applications are available on OSX. for those that aren't, find out if there are alternative apps that do the same thing.

In my case, I run what I felt like were a ton of apps. my short list:

-Adobe Creative Suite (6 of the apps)
-MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher)
-Rosetta Stone
-Cute FTP
-Hulu desktop
-VLC Media Player
-Zune Player
-iTunes
-Firefox
-Notepad
-Maya
-Skype
-Handbrake
-Teamviewer
-UltraVNC
-Calculator
-Games

of my list of apps, only 2 (Zune Player, CuteFTP) were incompatible. I don't need Zune Player (I don't own a Zune) and there are plenty of FTP clients on Mac. everything else has a OSX version. Games will have to be played on Win7 regardless, but since I rarely play, it's fine for me. I'll boot into Windows when I want to play or run some unforseen specific app not available in OSX. for everything else, OSX's got it.

 

Interesting. But we all know women don't buy computers anyway.. (hah!)

But seriously. If the metaphor was about convenience then cupholders might apply. Fashion?

 

Other than the cupholder comment, can't agree with you more. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but here in Hong Kong, the majority of people buy Apple products because of the iPhone craze. It's trendy, it's fashionable, it makes you a step above the rest but ironically enough, everyone and your mama has one.

To the OP, I'd say no, it's not worth it just for the build quality (which isn't perfect for the price to begin with). As KernalPanic said, you should only consider a Mac if you intend to give OSX a shot. Otherwise it's not worth the price premium over the equivelant PC.

 

I'm sorry but I have to bite on the car statement. I think a better comparison of the usual Mac vs pc argument is more like this...

Someone buys a brand new Honda Accord with the leather heated seats, sunroof for $30,000 and brags to his buddies at lunch. One of them has just bought a brand new f150 and shakes his head. "why did you buy that piece of crap" he says and goes on about how much more he can do with his big truck. He explains that it can tow a big boat if he ever wants to buy one, he can fit lots of trash in the bed and he can make it even more useful by using a bunch of aftermarket parts (lift kits, mod chips, headers, loud muffler). The Accord guy tries to explain that he doesn't need to tow, doesn't want a bunch of trash in his vehicle, and is quite happy with the performance of his car that gets twice as many miles per gallon. The truck owner brings up that the f150 has more power and capability while costing 20% less than the Honda because he got the low end model. The Honda owner explains again that he has no need or want of a pickup and thinks its worth paying more to have a comfortable ride, better resale and efficient engine. The f150 guy decides to leave but not before telling the Honda guy that he's just a fanboy who's trying to justify paying more while getting less.

 

^ LOL perfect...

 

indeed, that was well done.

 

Excellent!!

 

Jesus Christ ... Are you seriously equating video game performance to how efficient an OS is?

You might as well pick any badly ported software, Office 2008 comes to mind, and make your case.

I use Windows XP, Windows 7 and OS X every day. Windows 7 is by far better than XP and runs better than my MBP only because my dektop has an i7 compared to the C2D in the MBP.

That being said, OS X is much more efficiently written than Windows 7 ... Most of the utilities you need are in house, no need for external drivers that could lead to potential hardware conflicts etc.

Windows 7 is great and all but give credit where it's due.

Lastly, I still find it funny you used video games to make your case.

 

I like the car anology but like the Ford F150 is quite large and heavy for a car and comes with an old fashioned engine, the MBP 13 is quite large and heavy for a 13" notebook and comes with a old fashioned CPU

 

You obviously didn't understand the story.

 

Nicely done indeed!

 

This is a bit of hyperbole don't you think? The gap between an F150 and an Accord is a good bit wider than anything you'll find between a Mac and a similarly equipped PC. Your avg PC isn't any more a pick up truck than a Mac is as utilitarian as an Accord. You can get a PC in a spec similar to a Mac in a less sleek chassis...you're not going to find the Accord drivetrain in a Full size pickup.

The difference between a Mac and a consumer PC is more akin to the gap between a Lexus ES and a Toyota Camry. The Lexus has a nicer stereo, leather, navi, features, and slicker design but underneath it all is the same engine, suspension, brakes, and engineering as your run of the mill Camry. The two can even be made in the same factory. The difference comes down to the positioning of features and marketing. Sure in this case the 2 models are from the same manufacturer but I'm pretty sure the Camry/ES share fewer components than your avg PC/Mac.

 

Unless the PC we're comparing is a Panasonic Toughbook, I don't see the link between an Accord and an F150

 

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Kamin_Majere

Dude, not everything is speed...there's an upper limit to driving an ugly car just b/c its faster. Driving a car w/ a giant scoop on the hood and an exhaust that that sounds like rapidfire flatulence isn't for everyone. Besides, people are doing a lot to mod up 335's to be plenty fast despite costing an arm and a leg. If speed were the entire goal, we'd all have an '87 Mustang w/a crate motor and skinnies up front w/ 14" wide slicks out back.

I'm not exactly ready to pay the kind of premium Apple's demanding for a 15" MBP (shopping for my g/f) but work on providing some rationale for your arguments.

 

I didn't say it was a perfect comparison. In the end many pc users like to brag about all the heavy lifting their system can do (spec comparison) and how much cheaper a pc is. Mac users many times will talk about efficiency, battery life and style. I wouldn't really try to compare an f150 to a tough book, f250 with the turbo diesel maybe (talking reliability not power wise).

I'm not even gonna try to respond to the hater since all he seems to have is an ability to call names. He seems to fit my analogy quite nicely as the f150 owner.

 

Just a second ago one of your fellows was talking about how some Valve statistics taken out of context prove that the Valve port of Portal is "5x more stable" than Windows (what version of Windows? old XP machines? New Windows 7 systems?) So which is it? Is it a crappy port, or is it a good one?

Games are fine measures of a OS's efficiency. Modern 3D games stress multiple parts of a computer's hardware all at once.

But I guess I can't fault you for not understanding that. I mean, OS X isn't exactly known for its examples of modern 3D games and all. Portal's based off a graphics engine that's how old, exactly?

 

lol, Subarus and hurt feelings.

I don't even know where to start. I know...I'll start at BMW, as I own one. See...the reason why I love my BMW and will buy another (lol, Subaru) is because the fit is impeccable, the finish is superb, the service and support are fantastic, the engine sings, and even though it's engine is smaller than say...an S5, it will *still* beat it on a race course. you know why? because power isn't everything in the end. because the equation for determining "the best" doesn't stop after measuring the engine. because the ownership experience entails more than torque. things like responsiveness, breaking, handling, weight and such all matter. things that may be lost on the typical Subaru owner who may be simply looking for more power for as little as he has to pay for it. if you just care about power, you can buy a Civic, put a couple of giant turbo's on it and have yourself a rocket. it may even beat my BMW in a straight line. but trust me I'll be laughing at him when I put down my hard top convertible, turn up my 13-speaker HK system, adjust the lumbar support on my supple leather seats and enjoy life. and the resale value of my BMW is pretty good too. BUT...I understand that those things might not be of value to a Subaru hunter...I understand his motivations for car buying probably aren't what interest me, so I won't begrudge him for his choice. but I will be irritated by him if his insecurities lead him to always try to race me or badmouth BMW. He should find a way to be happy with his purchase enough to not constantly feel the need to prove his purchase justified than to worry about me, because I for damn sure am not worry about a Subaru on the road.

learn the lesson?

let me make it simple: neither car ownership nor the computing experience are best summed up simply by screen resolution, CPU and GPU. it's dumb to do so. you can have of those 3 things, yet still have an uninspired, unimpressive, mediocre computing experience. You see...to many of us, things like display quality, quality of keyboard, features, touchpad, service, support, battery life, weight, efficiency, style, resale value, and intangibles all matter in our buying decision.

Interestingly, I had an opportunity to look at the computer in your sig and test it out...and I promptly crossed it off my list. See, I needed something with features that computer didn't offer: good color accuracy + battery life + size + power + styling that didn't make me look immature in a business meeting in a single computer. Imagine me--a 30 year old man--pulling a "Stealth" out at a business meeting and flipping it open for all your colleagues to see "Gamer's Republic" on the back. fail. so I had to look at other computers. the reality is for my needs, the MacBook Pro was the only computer that offered all of my needs without compromising on the features most important to me. If I were a hardcore gamer and didn't need battery life (or was willing to carry around 3 extra batteries) maybe I would have bought something like an Envy 17 or HP 8740w. I was very close to doing just that...until finding out they were either delayed, had a history of problems throughout the product line, or otherwise had issues that made me nervous.

enough of this talk. I literally *just* took delivery of my new 17" MBP. time to open the box up, take pics and take my first steps into the OSX world.

 

Ok I think the OP's questions have been answered by now.

For more discussions about cars please use the off topic forum.