MacBook Pro Alternatives?!

olivier renault · 6 Mar 2012 at 12:40

jubei said:
I certainly wouldnt rag on the design of the macbooks i think they look lush, but just dont think they offer enough power for the cost.

The MBP is not about power, and most people don't care about power either. You buy the design and build quality, and tbh I have never been impressed by the MBP clones (perhaps maybe the Vaio Z, but even it had its problems and was even more expensive than the MBP). PC clones have (either / and) shoddy screen quality / view angles / reflective screens (looking at you Samsung), rubbish trackpads, unlit keyboards (imo very useful in a laptop), poor build quality and materials, really pants battery life... The MBP has its place, it's expensive but you get a well rounded machine, that you can be turned into a PC as well.

Too expensive for me though, so I tend to fall back to 12'' E-350 / CULV laptops. I have a UL30A, and although it serves its purpose, its screen is pants, it's trackpad is not great by any measure, the keyboard is so-so, and it's not exactly bomb-proof. However, it's very functional, big batteries, and is great to have when I go places.

Izi · 6 Mar 2012 at 13:04

Apple make great quality products. The OS is pretty much irrelevance these days, unless there is a specific task / software a certain OS does better.

labcoattech · 6 Mar 2012 at 15:19

Same reason why some people prefer to buy designer clothes and others are happy to shop at Primark.

olivier renault · 6 Mar 2012 at 21:55

labcoattech said:
Same reason why some people prefer to buy designer clothes and others are happy to shop at Primark.

no... There is just no decent alternatives at competitive prices.

FreeStream · 6 Mar 2012 at 22:18

The same old argument happens time and again.

Buy want you want. It's your money and do what you like with it.

Specs are NOT everything.

xb8browney · 6 Mar 2012 at 22:21

I used to be anti apple but their build quality is far superior to your i5 spec £500 laptop. The only thing that I feel compares is a Hp Probook.

manic111 · 6 Mar 2012 at 23:47

I bought my first Macbook last year, and haven't looked back. No, it's not the most highly specced machine I'll ever own. However, I don't think there's a laptop with a screen, battery life, keyboard, or trackpad to match it. The sheer quality and ease of use of the trackpad alone is worth £100 to me - using a mouse feels like a step backwards.

That said, I'd advise him to look at some of the new Windows ultrabooks coming out as well. If he wants to be gaming, he'd be better off with a Windows machine, and they are getting closer and closer in quality to the Mac equivalents. In another year or so, I'll be considering moving back to Windows if the laptops continue to develop as they are.

Izi · 7 Mar 2012 at 06:43

I looked at the ASUS Zenbook next to MacBook air and must say, I couldn't choose between them.

Lakeland · 7 Mar 2012 at 07:31

Don't think there is a problem with the macbook at all, lots of mac products are overpriced but not this one (or the ipod touch).

I get 7hrs battery, which is a God send. The track pad sets it apart from the crowd, but I suppose it won't be long till windows copy this feature. Lastly, the application store is great, you often find neat little programs to make your experience easier or more pleasurable.

Saying that, if these features (and probably a few that I've missed) were available on a Windows machine I would happily swap back. Going in a mac store makes me cringe and I especially hate their condescending swagger.