Is a 15" 16gb macbook pro a waste of money if I just use it for simple stuff??

If you have the money and you think you'll really enjoy the laptop just get it. Enjoy it.

The latest OS supports:MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)Yup. An 8-YEAR OLD MacBook Pro. AND the OS is a FREE update.

Hello wrote:

pop_pop! wrote:

Uhhh. What's the last supported OS on that hardware?

The point is, a used Mac beyond 24 months is money wasted.

Give me a break. I'm not even an Apple fanboy but what's the last Windows OS worth using? Certainly not Windows 8 (came out in 2012), so Windows 7 (2009)? And Chrome OS might work fine for internet and email but that isn't a real operating system either if that's the base of your argument.

macbook novice wrote:

I know they are meant for hardcore video editing, gaming 3d modeling, etc..

Ahahahahahahahah. haahahahaha. No, no just no.

The basic 15" MBP doesn't even have a video card, just integrated graphics!

If you're willing to pay another $500 you can get an M370X - but using it to game or do any serious computational/modelling work will cause the whole machine to melt unless you're also carrying around a laptop cooler.

Or you could get a desktop and grab a GTX960 or M290X - which will cost less than $200 - both of which easily have 50% more horsepower than the M370X.

If you buy a macbook pro, what you are largely buying is a fashion statement. That's totally fine. Just make sure that's what you want to spend your money on.

What other laptops are built with the same tolerances as Apple and don't use crap plastic everywhere?

ChromeOS wrote:

maccccccccc wrote:

I use both an Air and a Pro. Get the Air with 8 gigs of ram and you'll be forever happy.

Regarding a chromebook. You get what you pay for.

I laugh my azzz off every day when I see kids toting around $1600 macs and using them for twitter, facebook, typical internet browsing and light word processing. Buy a $200 chromebook -- faster, better battery life, cheaper, etc instead.

Basically the Mac is a status symbol, nothing more. Hipsters and posers love them.

Literally, none of what you just typed is true.

The Air's have 12+ hours battery life.. Chrome books 6.5.

The 8gb Air's are under $1200, not anywhere near 1600

Processing speed is incomparable if you're doing anything more than browsing one chrome tab. It's not debatable.

Do you pay more? Yes.

But, I guarantee you will be unhappy with a chromebook if it is your primary device.

Here is a detailed comparison from someone who knows a thing or two about computers.

"At it core, the Chromebook is just a device that runs a web browser, and does so efficiently. "

That's a terrible link, several years old and completely out of date.

I suggest this one, which talks about how Chromebooks have taken over the edu sector, and are now growing rapidly into others as well:

http://betanews.com/2015/02/24/2015-is-year-of-the-chromebook/

Perhaps his best point is:

"If you closely examine the marketing strategy under CEO Tim Cook's leadership, sales focus is increasingly the 1 percent of buyers—those people who can pay more. That's not a criticism. "Premium" is a word Apple clearly wants associated with its brand. Let the people who can pay more and want the bitten logo have it. The driver choosing a BMW sports car isn't the same as the minivan buyer with a couple of kids—and they don't have to be, contrary to the prognostications of fanboys for whom reason is a lost cause."

For the vast majority of users, a Chromebook IS a better device than a Macbook.

and has a neckbeard

Would you really buy a chrome book ?

Are you trying to convince yourself that you are not a cheapskate?

You might was well buy a tablet with a stand.

ChromeOS wrote:

For the vast majority of users, a Chromebook IS a better value than a Macbook.

Corrected.

A Macbook is a better laptop. If you have the money and like using premium products that last, get it. If you don't, buy a Chromebook.

what do you think about the 2014 15" macbook for a bit under $2k? b&h photo is discounting them this weekend but they have the older (Crystalwell) processors. Still, $600 off the regular price sounds like a good deal or not?? Also, what's the deal with the non-replaceable battery?? You can't change them out after they start losing their ability to hold a charge so that means the laptop is pretty much worthless after that point?

I recommended Groupon earlier. I just checked it out. Groupon has several 15" laptops for under $400. Here's a Lenova i3 with 6GB RAM and 500GB hard drive for $304.

https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-lenovo-156-laptop-with-intel-core-i3-processor-and-500gb-hard-drive

Unless you need a Macbook for some specific reason, why spend $1,600 now? You can buy a basic laptop now, store your files in the cloud, and upgrade to Windows 10 free when it comes out. In three years, you can buy another $300 laptop. I've been doing this (versus buying an expensive computer) even couple of years for the past 30 years.

Folks are telling you that a Chromebook is not a good choice for your primary computer. As the owner of two Chromebooks, I would agree. The Chromebook will to a LOT more than just browsing and email, but you have to be reasonably tech savvy to figure out how to get full offline functionality out of a Chromebook.

macccccccc wrote:

The Air's have 12+ hours battery life.. Chrome books 6.5.

"At it core, the Chromebook is just a device that runs a web browser, and does so efficiently. "

You need to realize that all chromebooks are not the same. That's like saying the macbook & macbook air are the same laptop. Same OS, but different hardware.

Therefore, not all chromebooks have the same battery life. The Dell Chromebook 11 gets 10 hours 18 minutes. I've seen estimates as high as over 14 hours. It depends on what's being run when tested.

I have a variety of operating systems in my house. Android, chromebook, windows, apple etc. They're all very good at what they do. It's 2015. No technology is sucking right now. If it does, then it's likely the user who doesn't have a clue.

Chromebooks are very good devices. I've heard & read numerous old macbook pro users make the switch to a Chromebook because their Macbook Pro became very sluggish over the years. Look at the chromebook subreddit & you'll read testimonies. Macbook Pro's are fine laptops. But, for the majority of shoppers, they can get by with a Chromebook & enjoy the lightning fast startup, no slowdown over the years, inexpensive price, smooth OS, all day battery, quick update times.

And besides, what do you need a macbook pro for that a chrome book can't do? Google slides, docs, music, it's all there.

precision machining wrote:

What other laptops are built with the same tolerances as Apple and don't use crap plastic everywhere?

Just to name a few: zenbook, dell xps 13, pixel, samsung series 7 chronos, acer aspire, HP spectre, asus vivobook.

Do you really think Apple is the only one who makes aluminum or metal laptops?

holloman wrote:

precision machining wrote:

What other laptops are built with the same tolerances as Apple and don't use crap plastic everywhere?

Just to name a few: zenbook, dell xps 13, pixel, samsung series 7 chronos, acer aspire, HP spectre, asus vivobook.

Do you really think Apple is the only one who makes aluminum or metal laptops?

They all borrow features from the apple and have inferior build quality don't they? Plus they can't run Mac OS and Windows.

Apple is a better computer.

well let's see wrote:

holloman wrote:

Just to name a few: zenbook, dell xps 13, pixel, samsung series 7 chronos, acer aspire, HP spectre, asus vivobook.

Do you really think Apple is the only one who makes aluminum or metal laptops?

They all borrow features from the apple and have inferior build quality don't they? Plus they can't run Mac OS and Windows.

Apple is a better computer.

What features do they borrow from Apple? Lately, Apple is the one borrowing features from everybody. Ever heard of Apple music?

They don't have inferior build quality. Have you ever used or seen one of these in person? Why would you need it to run Mac OS and Windows? I doubt Windows or Mac OS are lacking enough that you need the other.

Apple is not a better computer. Like any computer, Apple is good at some things and not so good at other things. But looking at the overall picture, it's overpriced.

Of course it is overpriced... it is a premium product. BMW and porsche are overpriced too but they are better than a ford.

The build quality, tolerances, and design are all top notch on the apple.

When did those companies start producing unibody machined chassis and the large touch pad combined with extremely smooth multitouch and extremely high quality screens in one package before apple? Apple was starting this in 2008.

I am lenovo think pad guy and love the keyboards to death. I also use multiple OSs and have a $12k HP workstation at work.

But I am a mechanical engineer and can honestly say that NO other company is putting out the build quality and deisgn of apple.

let's just see wrote:

Of course it is overpriced... it is a premium product. BMW and porsche are overpriced too but they are better than a ford.

The build quality, tolerances, and design are all top notch on the apple.

When did those companies start producing unibody machined chassis and the large touch pad combined with extremely smooth multitouch and extremely high quality screens in one package before apple? Apple was starting this in 2008.

I am lenovo think pad guy and love the keyboards to death. I also use multiple OSs and have a $12k HP workstation at work.

But I am a mechanical engineer and can honestly say that NO other company is putting out the build quality and deisgn of apple.

BMW's are unreliable. I can't consider it a premium product when it's in the shop so often. I'd rather drive a Honda S2000. Performance & reliability.

Why are we even talking about an all metal body for a laptop? I've never once picked up my chromebook or Windows laptop & thought, - I really wish this was all metal. Just adds weight & cost. Is all metal more reliable? Doubtful. I can't recall the last time I've had a part malfunction on a phone, laptop, or desktop.

My iPad Air 2 power button on the other hand sticks, & since this latest update (8.4), the screen will no longer rotate & there's a TWO second delay after you hit the power button before it wakes up. Please tell me the hardware & software isn't starting to go already after only a few months.

You are a consumer with an anecdote.

The build quality and tolerances are superior.

I'd be happy if Apple could actually fix the pervasive problems with Wifi across all different versions of OSX. Years have gone by and still many report the same old problems month after month, year after year. Take a look at Apple's support forums sometime or Google "Apple Wifi OSX problems". Superior build quality and they can't even fix something that is a basic function. Stuff like this, from a pro-Apple site, earlier this year:

"Many Mac users who have been experiencing longstanding wi-fi issues with OS X Yosemite have discovered that updating to OS X 10.10.2 does not resolve their networking difficulties. Perhaps more troubling, some Mac users who had functioning wi-fi previously have discovered that new wireless difficulties have appeared on their Macs after updating to the OS X 10.10.2 release of Yosemite."

This crap has been going on for YEARS.