MacBook Pro or Windows Laptop?

[kaptin1]

Looking to buy a new laptop to replace an ageing Windows laptop, but can't decide whether to go for a reasonable spec Windows ultra book (eg Hp envy 13 or Dell Xps) or stump up the extra for a similar spec MacBook Pro. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.

[South West Claret.]

Invest in an iPad (large screen) is my advice I did and don't regret it.

[LoveCurryPies]

You're going to get the usual 2 groups, the Mac lovers v the PC brigade.

Macs tend to last 5 or 6 years, only take minutes to update, and are usually 100% virus free.

[Jambounchained]

MacBook.

Switched from PC about two years ago. Don't think I'll ever buy a PC again.

[LoveCurryPies]

Perhaps the answer lies in the question what do you want to use it for?

[kaptin1]

Home use mainly and a bit of work (although that is essentially remote login to a Windows system).

[kaptin1]

MacBook.

Switched from PC about two years ago. Don't think I'll ever buy a PC again.

Why do you prefer the Mac?

[jurek]

I've had Macs since the first MacPlus came out back in '84.
So no doubt folk will think I'm bias.
There were times when I've been accused of all sorts usually by Window owners.

All I can say is that they seem to have lasted longer than those who had Window PC's,
are or certainly were much more intuitive and have rarely, if at all, let me down.

I've never pushed them onto others but have a few friends who have migrated to Macs
over the last 3-5 years. They were getting pixxed off with the number of viruses
and related problems they were getting on their PC's.
None of these folk have regretted moving to Macs and if anything
have been full of praise and wished they'd done it earlier.

Yes, they cost a good few hundred more but they come with some pretty decent usable software packages
and as LoveCurry Pies stated are virtually virus free. In fact I've never had to buy virus software for them.

Depending what you use them for then as SouthWestClaret has suggested an iPad
could be worth considering.

[kaptin1]

Thanks, really helpful. I have an iPad and iPhone so may make sense to hook up a Mac.

[ClaretEngineer]

Just buy a Mac.

The most reliable Windows laptop is a Mac running Windows OS via Bootcamp.

I have a Windows laptop, only because at the time you couldn't run the engineering software I use.

My wife has just bought a Mac Book Pro after initially deciding on a Dell Gaming Laptop (for her photography). The Mac cost another 400 quid but its money well spent if you don't want to spend half your life faffing about waiting for Windows.

The screen is something else, light years in front of any Windows based laptop.

Sure you cant upgrade the hardware like you can on a Windows, and you might feel short changed trying to compare like for like. However Macs are optimised purely for their OS and hardware (think remapped engine versus standard) unlike a wide ranging Windows based machine.

This coming from someone who was very Anti-Mac until actually using one.

[claptrappers_union]

MacBook

I've owned 1 MacBook, works perfectly fine for years, just like it did when I first booted it up. I run editing software, use large files, web browsing... everything - and when I sell it, it'll be worth almost the same as when I bought it new.

Girlfriend in the same amount of time has had about 3 laptops, uses only Sage and the internet, all slowed down after about 2 month, had a virus at some point and all stacked up in the spare room collecting dust, worthless.

[Stalbansclaret]

Bought a macbook pro 2 years ago and would never dream of anything else now...works like an absolute dream...all the time....fantastic screen quality, just excellent in every way. My main reservation , other than the price, was potential lack of compatibility with Microsoft Word and Excel but by installing something called LibreOffice Vanilla I've had no problem opening and working on documents in these formats.

[!aiboforceN]

There a only 2 reasons I can think of for not getting a Mac... Firstly, the initial outlay is higher - but if you can afford it - it's generally a pleasanter, more trouble-free experience. The second would be if you like PC gaming... Apple has almost no big titles. That's it. Personally - I don't think I could go back to Windows.

[gawthorpe_view]

Which is best for streaming direct from the sportsmania website?

[aggi]

There's not really much to choose between them nowadays. Windows 10 is pretty user friendly nowadays and very stable, if you're vaguely sensible then viruses aren't a problem with the built in Windows protection (they're actually becoming more of an issue on Macs because people are so confident that they won't get a virus that they don't bother with protection etc).

Personally I don't like Mac OS, I've tried it a few times over the years and have never got on with it. Other people love it though so it's worth trying before you decide.

I know a few people who've moved from Macbooks to the XPS and been very happy with the quality for the price (they're using Ubuntu so that's just on the quality of the machine, not the OS).

It was possibly the case that Macs lasted longer in years gone by but, unless you buy a cheap entry-level laptop, that's no longer really the case. My laptop is 4 or 5 years old now and still copes perfectly fine with pretty demanding stuff. A lot of time when people are talking about how good a Mac is compared to Windows it's comparing a £300 laptop to a £1,300 laptop. Once you get into things like the XPS13, Surface Book, etc then there is very little to choose between them. The screens are very impressive on the expensive Windows laptops (and you can have a touchscreen if that matters to you).

Also worth considering what software you use, the lack of software is another thing that I had issues when comparing.

Basically, either will do. If you're going for a Macbook then have a lengthy test on it if you're not familiar with it.

[claptrappers_union]

Bought a macbook pro 2 years ago and would never dream of anything else now...works like an absolute dream...all the time....fantastic screen quality, just excellent in every way. My main reservation , other than the price, was potential lack of compatibility with Microsoft Word and Excel but by installing something called LibreOffice Vanilla I've had no problem opening and working on documents in these formats.

I had a hooky copy of Word on Mac's for years... since signed up to OneDrive and it came with the lot.

[Jambounchained]

Why do you prefer the Mac?

The speed, I've always found that PCs tend to start running slowly after about 6 months (in my experience).

My macbook pro is a 2014 model and still incredibly fast.

We have an iMac as well, think that's a 2013 model and still runs incredibly fast.

I also prefer the software, much more simplistic than PC.

They also integrate well with my iphone.

[IndigoLake]

Macbook! I'd only ever had windows laptops but bought a Macbook Air late last year. Really happy with it. I suppose it really depends on what you'll use it for. I use mine a lot but mostly for internet and work (Google Docs and the like). Hated how Windows had changed over the years and the various updates were always an annoyance. Just find the Macbook a lot more convenient.

You can buy refurbished Macbooks on the Apple website for a slight discount. I believe they come with the same guarantee.

[ashtonlongsider]

You've got to pay a price for quality but in the long run it's worth it. MacBook Pro every time for me.

[Rick_Muller]

I have a Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10 and it is superb. I have also used MacBook Pro laptops for work, and they are also excellent. It is certainly horses for courses IMO, but please dont be naive enough to think that MacBooks are more secure, Microsoft have vastly improved the security of their OS with Windows 10, and are continuing to do so.

Here are some links with interesting reading for you...

https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/is- ... n-windows/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ibtimes.com/nope-apple-compu ... ss-2334220" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For the record, I have an iPhone so I am not "anti-Apple", for me it is the best device to achieve what I need - which is the same reason I have a Surface Pro 4 as opposed to an iPad.

[Sleeping Cat]

I have both, though my Mac is a 2007 model & apple long ago stopped releasing updates to the OS for my version (which was only 5 years old at the time) and that really annoyed me as I love the machine. It still works great in isolation but can't handle most new software now.

When I came to buy a new machine last year it was an absolute no brainier for me, I got the top spec Surface Pro 4. Beautifully designed, windows 10, compatible with everything I need for work. I just compared the specs of it compared to macs & it was so much better and cheaper.

Surface Pro
Processor - Intel Core i7
Storage 512GB
Memory 16GB RAM
Touch screen
Detachable Keyboard for Tablet mode
Stylus Pen
£1,619.10

MacBook Pro
Processor Intel i5
Storage 512GB
Memory 8GB
Touchbar
£1,949

I just couldn't bring myself to pay so much for a Mac which has a processor that is previous generation to the latest and less memory. Also, because you can't replace the parts on a mac, when things start to fail it becomes harder to replace, and as previously mentioned, Apple will decide when they will no longer provides OS updates to you machine, basically starting the clock on it's retirement way before it needs to be.

It completely depends what you want to do with it but I cannot recommend the Microsoft devices enough. They have put so much R&D into them over the last 5 years they are superb machines. I still like macs, still have an iPad & iPhone, but they have taken their eyes off the ball with their laptops whilst they pursue other sideline projects such as wearable & entertainment services.

EDIT: Just seen rick mullers post. I agree totally, the "Macs are less prone to viruses" is a slight myth. this was mainly the case 10 years ago when they made up a much less % off world PC's so the people writing viruses targeted Windows based devices to have a better success rate.

[RalphCoatesComb]

Mac every time

[NRC]

Surface pro every time

[whiffa]

The fact that people are saying Macs are virtually virus free is completely incorrect, maybe 10years ago....

I'd always go Windows. 3 main reasons to avoid a Mac are:

- Overpriced
- Cannot always get the software needed for everything to open/work as easily or available as Windows
- Cannot be repaired as easily should you have a problem in the future.

I've worked as a PC Engineer for over 10years and repair both Windows and Macs on a weekly basis. Ultimately it does still come down to preference however my vote always goes for Windows.

[IAmAClaret]

How do you know if someone has a Macbook?




They'll tell you.

[mattclaret83]

Had my Windows laptop since 2010 and it was bottom of the range even then - still works, never had any issue with viruses etc. Yeah it's slow, but runs office fine, and I just use Ubuntu for web with a super light desktop.

Got a HP for work - 16 gig ram, i5 processor. It's great. The only issue I've had with that is the anti-virus software (which I can't remove 'cause it's a work machine) sometimes clogs up the processor, and that's an issue with the software, not the machine.

Much prefer windows as an OS too. Can't get on board with the mac OS at all.

As a few people have said - it really just depends on what you want it for. I do a lot of tinkering and prefer that windows' and ubuntu let me get under the hood. I also have to use ms office a lot, esp. excel with some pretty heavy processinf. The macs I've seen are terrible at running excel under any kind of load so I can't be doing with them.

For your usage though, it sounds like a mac will do the job - if it's just home use and a bit of work, you'll probably find it slicker than a windows machine. So long as you can get on with the os.

[kaptin1]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Have just ordered new MacBook Pro 2016, so will see how it goes. I took the view that if I never tried it I would never know what it was like, so thought I would give it a go. Managed to get education discount too, so saved £150. Still cost a small fortune though. Hope it's worth it!

[claptrappers_union]

It will be worth it because you'll still be using it in 10 years probably

[CrosspoolClarets]

I bought a big iMac last year, the day the price shot up 20% due to sterling so I got in quick. Had an IPad but no apple laptop before. Won't touch an iPhone, prefer the S7.

Love the speed, the reliability of the Mac. Hate, absolutely hate, the shocking Finder compared to Windows Explorer, and equally detest Microsoft Excel on it - I expected it would be the same product but it is nothing like.

However my more portable Windows laptop is crashing all the time for unknown reasons.

My feelings - bring back what we had 5-10 years ago. This new stuff is much, much worse.

[Rick_Muller]

My feelings - bring back what we had 5-10 years ago. This new stuff is much, much worse.

just for you

http://www.temulator.com/flash/controlB ... aros=xpeng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[iluva64]

Lots of comments for and against, I'm a mac person, but you should have a look on the refurb web site.

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/browse/ho ... acbook_pro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I bought a 27" iMac yesterday and saved £300. We always buy off the refurb site you still get all the guarantees etc. Always worth a look.

As mentioned previously it really depends as to what you want to use it for. We have iMacs, macbook pros, and iPads some of the machines are 7-10years old and still working just fine.