how to convince parents

so i told my parents that i want the pavilion dv6tqe that cost 840 something with taxes/coupon, and they still think i should get macbook white which cost 940 something after taxes. their only reason is that it will last longer and have better quality because apple is a good company and hp is known to have quality issues. they pretty much think that its not worth it to spend 800 on a pc/hp but they dont want to spend more than 1000 on mac -_- macbook white is so much inferior. the coupon for hp expires today. how do i convince them to get the hp?

 

Show them the difference in specs between the two...

 

apple is like a religion. people who believe in it swear by it.

i don't think your parents care too much about the specs of the computer. instead you should show them things like this 2011 Computer Reliability Report

the hp = fail mentality is very outdated. they have improved immensely over the last 2-3 years.

also you have to know that apple has little complaints about quality because all of their laptops are $1k+, whereas other companies have budget lines that are under $600, which has much lower quality than the premium laptops (e.g. hp G series). the premium laptops (dv6/7, envy, xps, etc...)for these other companies (hp, dell, etc...) are very much comparable to the macbook pros in terms of overall quality.

 

Tell that to the guy to was on his 5th dv6tqe before he got one that worked. And the universal problems with dynamic graphics. And me, who is on my third non-working computer...

Well, tell your parents that the Mac is already outdated hardware wise while the dv6tqe is top of the line so it will be able to run new apps for a long time

 

Just tell them that to get a Mac laptop with the same specs as HP (with coupon) will cost 2-2.5 times more. Oh, and both HP and Apple laptops are made at Foxconn factories in China.

 

Tell them you want Blu-ray.

 

tell your parents that for every dollar spent on an apple product, 40 cents goes to advertisement/marketing, and 10 cents go to Steve Job's pocket. Apple is also a sponsor of child labor in China, with one of its factories having very high suicidal rates (Foxconn).

 

That won't work, as I said above, HP is also made by Foxconn...

 

Apple is overrated but they are fairly well-built and designed and reliable.

But HP's specs and price are so much better

 

Show them these responses. Done. Don't judge HP because of a few lemons that may very well be noob user error.
("oh, I' don't know how to turn off my mouse pad, RMA!", "Oh no, where is such and such program located. RMA!")

 

Thanks a lot.... "User noob error..."

 

Don't buy that configuration. That low price implies you have the 1366x768 screen and not the upgraded 1920x1080 display.

You're going to want to get the display upgrade first thing. The 1366x768 display is bad quality first of all, and the low resolution makes the computer difficult to use as a primary machine, because not much will fit onscreen at once. 1366x768 is the same resolution used in 11.6" and 13.3" laptops, and isn't really meant for a 15.6" screen aside from in budget laptops.

Upgrade to the 1920x1080 display. Not only is the image quality significantly better, but you get more space to fit items onscreen. Side-by-side windows will actually fit unlike with low-res screens, and you won't have to scroll all the time just to read a single paragraph in a web page.

A mac is a much better computer unless you get this screen upgrade, because the 1366x768 display is terrible, but the 1920x1080 display I'd say is even better than the High-res anti-glare display offered as an upgrade in the 15" MBP, a configuration that will set you back around $2000 versus $1000 with this laptop.

Do not buy the HP DV6tqe without upgrading to the 1920x1080 display

Another note: do not get the 2GB graphics. It's a waste, and actually isn't any better than the 1GB graphics, since no game will be able to utilize even a full 1GB of memory in a midrange graphics card.

 

lol my parents talked the same way. When i found the dv6t they told me that for a 100$ more i could get a macbook. It's incredible how apple brainwashes people. when some people think about apple they just think about reliability, no viruses and more speed. It's all in their marketing i can just say that i own a dv6tqe and the build quality its incredible, its super fast (to get these specs on a mac you should pay 2000$ and up), and the screen its just beautiful to watch.

As edit said absolutely get the screen option because without it depending on your needs you won't see a difference in speed between the two so i would go with the macbook just for the resale power maybe.

But if you get the screen option get the laptop, you will regret it not getting it and for what it costs its way undervalued.

Then in the end it all depends what you are comfortable with Mac OS or Windows? if you can answer this question you probably know already know what laptop do you want

 

If your parents are yuppies, they will opt for the overpriced Apple; if not, they'll be sensible and got more for their money by buying a non-Apple PC which, btw, has far more s/w available for it. Also, Steve Jobs is the devil, IMO. Does he give away billions, as does Bill gates?? ANSWER: no.

 

There is an old saying, "Those who favor form over functionality, deserves neither."

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You could say it's going to be your laptop, you should have and do as you see fit. Be happy, that you save them some cash.
Plus a HP consumer laptop is a good learning experience of strange software/hardware adventure

 

Err...

Tell that to my girlfriend, who's mac is almost two years old.

And the thing has been falling apart since before it went out of warranty. They wanted to charge her to fix the plastic while the stupid thing was actually in warranty...

Apple products are some of the absolute worst quality I have ever seen in my life being totally honest..

my first ipod- scratched the day I got it on christmas back when I was about 18. I assumed it was 'pocked safe' if nothing else was in my pocket. Turns out I was wrong.

My Girlfriends mac- lets see.. where to start.. its held together by masking tape in a place or two where the plastic is falling apart.

Oh also, what bugs me about this is anytime I call BS on the quality of apple products.. people seem to feel the need to make a giant correction "OH WAIT WHAT ABOUT THE MAC PRO!"

Great so my girlfriend should have wasted another 200$+ on a comp that already cost over 1000$... seriously?

When people talk about the "quality" of apple products, I start questioning what their definition of "quality" is and any time the issue of mac comes up, they say "well we mean the mac pro is quality" but, never clarify that BEFORE I point it out.

I admit I can't comment on the mac pro's with the aluminium casings..

However, I am really starting to feel like people more and more don't really know what they are talking about any time apple is mentioned.. I want to ask "are those your words? or the guy who sold you the computers?" I think people (not just involving apple really) are so quick to complement things they like, things they feel are cool, they really don't care what the complement is anymore. "quality" is really more "I like it!".

Also if you really want to get out of it.. just say you hate OSX and windows 7 would be another 200$.

then point out that no matter what you do.. you really can never fully remove the "apple" from the computer.

VS. any other pc in the world can be a linux box, windows box, whatever else for the most part..

I would really stress that when people talk about "quality" they talk about the mac pro line..

I would also stress that the specs on the mac are going to be inferior at a higher price than a similar pc.

Ugh.. i hate how people preach the quality of apple products.. Maybe if you use a case, and baby it like my mom does.. sure it may look great forever.. but, if you baby anything as much as my mom does then, it will never break.

 

The plastic MacBooks fall apart, but the MacBookPros are the most durable things ever invented. Plus no issues out of the box like *most* of the d6tqes (Or at least based on my 3 returned laptops). But yeah, most of the "quality" of Macs is that they paid twice as much for it and they have to figure out a reason to justify it, and its certainly not the specs. I mean, OS wise, Mac IS far better than Windows, but there are no apps for it and it's not worth $1000. But they really are infinitely more reliable, but for the price you could buy 2 different windows laptops for the price of 1 mac, so when the windows breaks just buy another and you'll have updated hardware too. The other thing about Mac is that it's easy to use when it does go wrong, it's never a hardware issue so all they really have to do is re-install the OS. Apple does have really good quality hardware and since they make most of the stuff it works together well too. But as I said, not worth 2x the price.

 

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Tell your folks that the software you will need isn't Mac compatible. Tell them that 90% of the computer labs in college are PCs.

 

But 90% of the student computers in college are Macs.

I should know, I go to college

 

Buy a Mac and be cool knowing you fit in with everyone else trying to be unique with a Mac.

 

could be, but when you get out in the real world, Mac users are in the minority.

 

If you're talking about enterprise then sure but if you're talking for personal use Macs are eventually going to catch on as the overwhelming majority of college students use macs and will continue to use them into their careers

Of course I am by no means denying that macs are overpriced and better laptops are out there for the $

 

I guess you haven't looked at mac vs pc stats much? Macs just aren't as popular worldwide, as PCs. The percentage of use of Mac has stagnated around 10% (give or take a point) for many years. They cost more; they aren't as versatile as a PC. hell, you can't even get one with Blu ray, thanks to Steve Jobs. The amount of s/w available for PC's is staggering, by way of comparison to what you can get on a Mac. I sure wouldn't buy a Mac to run Win 7, so don't bring up that option, please.

Many can point to stats that show macs had only 3-5% of the market, so the 10% is pretty generous on my part.

 

Not when I went to college. Colleges with Macs are for show, colleges with PCs are for real world education. Sorry, but that's the truth.

 

those machines aren't even comparable in performance

 

That's ridiculous

I wouldn't be surprised if there were more Macs than PCs among the student body at Harvard

I don't go to some BS school

Look, I'm not defending Macs cause I could care less for one.

But there are some facts

1) Macs are fairly well-built, functional, and reliable

2) Macs are the overwhelming computer of choice among many if not most college kids

 

See post #22

 

college kids are peer-dependent (it's a function of their young age). they would buy anything "cool" that they or their parents can afford. It's just the nature of people. It's ok, but doesn't make a Mac any "better" for some purposes, because in reality there are many s/w packages you can't get for a Mac. PC wins for function. Macs win the "coolness" race. If you want to THINK you are cool, by all means opt for the hipster Mac. If you want access to most S/W on the market, common sense demands you go with a PC.

 

I would... Apple's target consumer has ALWAYS BEEN: "Computers for the rest of us" ... translation: "Computers for the technically inept". That is NOT to say Apple engineers are technically inept, they aren't, but their machines are more of a statement, than a tool. Apple is a marketing mega-force with decent products... just not quite as revolutionary as SJ tries to pretend. Wouldn't it have been cool if the IPhone actually sounded good as a telephone.

Besides, I read people who own Apple products have more s#x ... well at least that is what they are hoping for. If TRUE, by inference, I guess they would get MORE STDs TOO! ... Tell that to Mommy & Daddy.

 

lots of schools have more macs than pc's. my brother is in college, and the few times i've been there to pick him up and stuff, i've eaten at the dining hall. i counted i think 9 macbook pro's and i think 1 pc. also, i just graduated high school, and my last semester and throughout the summer, i've been hearing so much talk about people getting macbooks. like others have said, macs are "hip," and parents are usually willing to dish out the money for a "reliable" laptop.

that said, i'm an "apple-hater" to speak. macbook pro's are very nicely built, and osx can't be that bad, but they're way overpriced, and 90% of the apple userbase is stupid and flaunts their macbooks and iphones like they're tech geniuses, and i just really don't want to be part of that.

 

I'm referring to computer labs, not the student body.

 

Nobody really cares about computer labs as it is obvious that the enterprise segment is not Apple's target customer. They target everyday people like you and me.

While you can get better quality for the buck elsewhere, it is ignorant to say Macbooks aren't good. They are very good laptops, and very functional.

Nobody really cares about being hip with computers. You're getting this mixed up with Apple's original fan base. Now, people perceive the MacBook as quality because of its widespread adoption. And if they were crap, they wouldn't have become so viral. But the fact of the matter is that they are pretty good portable machines that get the job done and look nice too.

 

I call BS.

My girlfriends mac is falling to pieces and has been since before it was out of warranty.

Really? I see more macs in my school now than before.

To say they are the overwhelming choice is outright wrong :/

And keeping this in mind.

Never seeing anyone use a mac before means seeing 2 in a classroom of 100 kids looks a lot more impressive than it really is.

 

Really? The original Iphone didn't come with STANDARD FEATURE's and people still got them.

The MacBook is crap and I stand by that.

And you use the same excuse my girlfriend does "it gets the job done"

To which I respond "yes and its held together by masking tape too!"

The truth is Macbooks are crap.

Macbook pro's I can't comment on.

And for whatever its worth, I hate to say this but, if your going to use popularity as a reason for justification.

Just try to keep in mind that pet rocks were popular too.

However it should be noted that you deny that people use them because they are popular, then turn around and say "well they wouldn't be so popular if they weren't good". I see a certain irony there. They can't be popular because, apple has the best marketing department in the world can they?

I mean look at how big dell was with complete crap products. "Dude, your getting a dell!"

 

If anyone thinks Apple products are the end-all and be-all they need look no further than the Apple support forums, and spend some time perusing just the last few years worth of Apple's screw-ups. Apple products DON'T always "just work". There have been so many issues I don't know where to begin listing them, but they have had monumental screw ups in both engineering and in OS's, and now in Final Cut pro X.

 

In a classroom of 100 kids at my top 20 university, you'll probably see around 80 macs.

Despite what you claim about Macs being poor quality that simply isn't true. The college environment is arguably the most rigorous reliability test you could give a laptop.

Every product will have a support forum full of complaints, because that is what the support forum is for.

It is incredibly ironic that I am arguing in favor of Macs when I don't own one and don't plan to. But some of the criticism its receiving is baseless and plain inflammatory.

Just as you might say its cool to own a Mac, I find that it's also a fad among the geek community to hate on Apple and Mac products. It's "cool" to say that Macs suck on the internet.

 

the obvious solution for you would be to tell them to just put that extra money into the extended warranty option for the HP and you should be good. It's win/win, they get peace of mind cuz ur is covered on reliability, and you get to spend the difference in money on upgrades :]

 

You guys are still missing the point. If the computer lab uses PCs, a PC will be far easier to use for compatibility. The original poster wanted to know how to convince his parents to buy a PC and not a Mac. I don't give a crap what you think is better, a PC is the better choice for compatibility with university labs and software that may be required.

 

The Macbook is very popular because people will usually buy the cheapest PC they can (and the cheapest PC uses many cheap components from many companies); load A LOT of software on it (made by different companies and sources) and run them without any knowhow of fixing issues that come with all the cogs in the machine running into compatibility issues, etc. Then they blame the PC...and then when they see that if they shell out $1000 for a computer, which gives Apple the ability to provide an aluminum case, nice battery, and components, on top of that, you have one company putting it together and making most of the software for it, of course you have much less issues.
The Macbook is naturally user friendly, but what you sacrifice is the power of the notebook. And OSX looks beautiful and simple to use, although I have to say I am very happy with Windows 7 and actually prefer it. The Macbook is a very good laptop, but in my opinion it is decent if not mediocre because of it's price and performance cost. I've gone for a couple years without premium protection (on my older Dell) and uses free things like Avira and AVG, no virus issues.
I had been searching since I got into college for a Laptop and found a compromise of POWER, DURABILITY, Aesthetics all for a great price (~900 with coupon) and because of two shipping delays got off the rest for final price. Take a look at my sig.
In my two years at college. I have seen many students with Macbooks and if you combine all other PC makers, it comes closer to a 50/50 especially cause of the cheap Netbooks.
Most students use it to browse the web and take notes...and that is it!
Apple's products are great because of their appeal, but that doesn't mean that you can't get a decent (even better product) for less, it just takes some searching.
I can tell you that HP has turned around their line of notebooks. I've seen the older ones with heating issues that caused internal components to malfunction, but since my brother bought a DV6z before I got mine, they have really turned it around. This computer is built really well, and will last with the right amount of care (as in just don't drop it).
If you don't already have them convinced, go see it in store at Sam's Club, where you can actually purchase it and return it if you're not satisfied without a restocking fee (90 days) but you have to be a member or get a friend who is. What about the fact that with the price difference between the two, you could get a 2,3 year accidental warranty?
And lastly I used a %33 off coupon, what are the current ones, try to get rid of things like Blu-ray and idk if you added a 1080p screen, unless those are really important to you. How many DVD's have you bought, rented, much less Blu-ray's (unless that's free of course!)
I did a quick check and there are no great coupons at the moment, if you wait a couple weeks for a month or for a sale they will turn up.
I started looking at HP especially cause they had a $400 off coupon once, I noticed the 2nd Gen i7's were coming so I waited. There were $300 off, even a $500 off once, a %30 off as well. I use offers.com/hp

And if I ever, ever got a Macbook, I couldn't go a day without partitioning it and installing Windows 7 and that's the truth.

 

Do not get rid of the 1920x1080 screen. Make sure you have that upgrade before buying, because it's the most worthwhile upgrade you can get.

 

Look walden, computer lab compatibility is hardly a necessity at most colleges.

The only students who require PCs are engineers because of Matlab and AutoCAD and those applications (I don't know if they are on OSX).


Not sure why people who probably aren't even in college are arguing about what is better for college. I know from firsthand experience when I entered college around three years ago.

Look don't get my argument messed up. I 100% support buying a PC because it's superior in price/performance and can do everything a Mac can and more. I am simply arguing that you ought to be fair to Macs because they are good quality computers that are very suitable for college students.

 

Well in my CS department, the only type of people who uses a macbook are the freshmen, seniors, and CSE students. The freshman are really clueless, eventually only use a pc for the next few years.

The seniors use them cause they eventually learn enough how to perform workaround and correctly configure their development.

Well, the macbooks are decent, just they are a real pain to configure under tight time configuration in our environment.

They are still minority in our department, only like 1 out of 40. But rest of the campus is 1 out of 5.

 

dont really get the big discussion of which is better in the real world. Whoever you go to work for after college is going to make the choice what technology you use and Its most likely going to be a PC. Another thing. Didnt we just hear about Apple having delays due to a fire in a Foxcom plant in China? They are having the Macs built by the same company in China as the HP and most others as well. Read up an you will find that Foxcom makes more than half the electronics in the world! Why would they make a Mac better than any other notebook?

 

You are right--they don't

Apple loves to make things THIN and to people who value form over function, they THINK that such products are uber-cool. I've got a few ipod Touchs, and would have preferred longer battery life, to the silly-thinness that Apple elected to go for, instead of being able to install a thicker battery. Steve Jobs bugs me! His products are as skinny as his skin & bones body.

 

The Macbook White is very very outdated! It has a 2008 Core 2 Duo, for god sake!

Otherwise, if your options were other, like an i7 Hp Dv6-6XXX series vs a 2011 13'' i5 Macbook Pro... I would take the Apple Laptop....

My two cents.

 

My son is entering his senior year at a University in Tennessee. His sophomore year room mate got rid of his Dell Inspiron for a Macbook. Within a month or so...he sent his father the macbook and got his Dell back. Seems the school wasn't totally up with Mac...

 

I like Macbook Pros. The build quality is fantastic and OS X is great. Everyone in my family has a Macbook, except for me, because I pay for my own computers and I just can't justify an $800+ markup for design and marketing.

 

It's nice to see someone with a thinking brain in their head. Kudos!

 

It's equally nice to see someone giving a fair evaluation of the Macbook's quality.