Do Macbooks still have the design edge?

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Pooky

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Recently manufacturers are releasing more good looking Laptops/Ultrabooks that can compete with the Macbook's good aluminium looks.

I think the Macbook still has a slight edge over other laptops but it is very small.

Personally, I prefer Windows. Having used both quite extensively I think Windows is simply more user friendly for me. OSX is a bit gimmicky in the way it works and you can see it is designed for a specific group of people, maybe not so much the tech enthusiast but someone who is using their laptops for eg. Photoshop and not much else. However, I think Windows is better for the wider range of applications. That is just my opinion though, I'm sure some will disagree.

So with the OS out of the way, the only thing the Macbooks have going for them is the design, which I also feel is becoming a bit 'cliche'. They are kind of like 'show off' laptops for hip and happening people. I still like the aluminium design for longevity though, they are really built to last.

So at the end of the day, Is the pretty design worth the huge price difference? Hmm I'm not so sure especially with alternatives that also look good.
 
Pooky, you've got an Air, correct? They were launched in '08 and, IMO, the rest are still trying to catch up. The new iMacs are straight up gorgeous, the Mac Mini is design simplicity personified and yeah, I am going to disagree on OSX. ;)
 
Pooky said:
Recently manufacturers are releasing more good looking Laptops/Ultrabooks that can compete with the Macbook's good aluminium looks.

I think the Macbook still has a slight edge over other laptops but it is very small.

Personally, I prefer Windows. Having used both quite extensively I think Windows is simply more user friendly for me. OSX is a bit gimmicky in the way it works and you can see it is designed for a specific group of people, maybe not so much the tech enthusiast but someone who is using their laptops for eg. Photoshop and not much else. However, I think Windows is better for the wider range of applications. That is just my opinion though, I'm sure some will disagree.

So with the OS out of the way, the only thing the Macbooks have going for them is the design, which I also feel is becoming a bit 'cliche'. They are kind of like 'show off' laptops for hip and happening people. I still like the aluminium design for longevity though, they are really built to last.

So at the end of the day, Is the pretty design worth the huge price difference? Hmm I'm not so sure especially with alternatives that also look good.
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I agree with you, the Macbook air is nice and everything but a laptop with the exct same specs will cost you a few thousand rand less and with all the choices on the market chances are your laptop will look better and will def be more power full under the hood.
 
GoofySmurf said:
I agree with you, the Macbook air is nice and everything but a laptop with the exct same specs will cost you a few thousand rand less and with all the choices on the market chances are your laptop will look better and will def be more power full under the hood.
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How will that same laptop look after 2years? Mac's are built to last..
I have a company issued Dell 6220, the build quality is ridiculously stupid and the price of it is comparable to a Macbook Air.. I have the dell for about 6months, and I hate it :) It sits collecting dust on my desk while I use my Macbook Pro for actual work.
 
Rishalin said:
How will that same laptop look after 2years? Mac's are built to last..
I have a company issued Dell 6220, the build quality is ridiculously stupid and the price of it is comparable to a Macbook Air.. I have the dell for about 6months, and I hate it :) It sits collecting dust on my desk while I use my Macbook Pro for actual work.
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even a mac breaks down after 6 months.mac, windows doesn't really matter when it comes to durability.
 
GoofySmurf said:
I agree with you, the Macbook air is nice and everything but a laptop with the exct same specs will cost you a few thousand rand less and with all the choices on the market chances are your laptop will look better and will def be more power full under the hood.
Click to expand...

Could you provide an example of that?
 
kimimaro said:
Rishalin said:
How will that same laptop look after 2years? Mac's are built to last..
I have a company issued Dell 6220, the build quality is ridiculously stupid and the price of it is comparable to a Macbook Air.. I have the dell for about 6months, and I hate it :) It sits collecting dust on my desk while I use my Macbook Pro for actual work.
Click to expand...

even a mac breaks down after 6 months.mac, windows doesn't really matter when it comes to durability.
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Hmm that's a pretty bold claim.. I know people still using the white MacBook and its going perfectly strong..
 
I own an Asus Zenbook if you are looking for a Windows based comparison and the Brushed Aluminium is damn sexy in my opinion.

Maybe I'm being biased,but I fell in Love with the Zenbook the first time I laid my eyes upon it.

Zenbook U500_575px.jpg
 
Do Macbooks still have the design edge?
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Well they still have the tech edge. Do you get any other 15" laptop with 2880-by-1800 resolution? The Chromebook pixel is 13" and 2,560-by-1,700 but I don't think that will ever be sold in SA. Even the 10" Nexus is 2560x1600 pixel. Windows (an even Linux) laptop displays currently suck.
 
Had about 2 1/2 years on my 13" MB Pro on building sites...still going fine, but bought the 13' Retina now...best thing about switching to Mac is no more money spent on Tech Support and time spent waiting for someone to fix a Win XP issue!
The initial learning curve was not at all bad, and I could go after-hrs to iStore Canal Walk and a few min. later sorted.
If you like drama and fixing issues..... don't switch to Mac!
 
The comments about price of Macs being high...I have not looked at non Mac prices, but savings in OS update >R200 for Mountain Lion, my time ....no issues to really speak of, no AV costs, no / very little tech costs...some initially when set up Time Capsule and switch from Windows...I feel i have saved money.
The other thing is good battery life...as i often use a CellC or 8ta stick.
 
Rishalin said:
Hmm that's a pretty bold claim.. I know people still using the white MacBook and its going perfectly strong..
Click to expand...

+1. My fiancee still has one and she won't let it go! Thing still holds 3 hours battery after all these years. Windows laptops cannot come NEAR to this durability. Windows OS is totally ridiculous with it's blue screens and crashes. I cringe every time I have to use Windows for anything. Mac OS is so slick and smooth and their computers are the best looking on the market. Period.

PS: Not to mention a battery life second to none on the Apple laptops.

Anybody who says different cannot afford Apple computers. Sorry...
 
nfbs said:
Well they still have the tech edge. Do you get any other 15" laptop with 2880-by-1800 resolution? The Chromebook pixel is 13" and 2,560-by-1,700 but I don't think that will ever be sold in SA. Even the 10" Nexus is 2560x1600 pixel. Windows (an even Linux) laptop displays currently suck.
Click to expand...
What do you use a retina display on a laptop for? HD Excel?
D tj said:
Had about 2 1/2 years on my 13" MB Pro on building sites...still going fine, but bought the 13' Retina now...best thing about switching to Mac is no more money spent on Tech Support and time spent waiting for someone to fix a Win XP issue!
The initial learning curve was not at all bad, and I could go after-hrs to iStore Canal Walk and a few min. later sorted.
If you like drama and fixing issues..... don't switch to Mac!
Click to expand...

2008 phoned, they want their OS back.
 
Velenoso said:
+1. My fiancee still has one and she won't let it go! Thing still holds 3 hours battery after all these years. Windows laptops cannot come NEAR to this durability. Windows OS is totally ridiculous with it's blue screens and crashes. I cringe every time I have to use Windows for anything. Mac OS is so slick and smooth and their computers are the best looking on the market. Period.

PS: Not to mention a battery life second to none on the Apple laptops.

Anybody who says different cannot afford Apple computers. Sorry...
Click to expand...
Here is something that no iLover should be without. I honestly didn't know they really make stuff like this.
NSFW!
iLove
 
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