Thinking of buying a MacBook? Take a look at this video first

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For those unaware Louis Rossmann is the owner of Rossmann Repair Group, an independent repair firm in New York that specialises in MacBook repairs. He recently made a video describing not just a number of defects in the design of MacBooks, but also highlighting their frankly abysmal value for money.

I haven't actively been recommending MacBooks for a long time, solely due to the ridiculous cost of their hardware but this video sums up a number of reasons why someone might want to reconsider buying a MacBook.

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(Original post by Acsel)
For those unaware Louis Rossmann is the owner of Rossmann Repair Group, an independent repair firm in New York that specialises in MacBook repairs. He recently made a video describing not just a number of defects in the design of MacBooks, but also highlighting their frankly abysmal value for money.

I haven't actively been recommending MacBooks for a long time, solely due to the ridiculous cost of their hardware but this video sums up a number of reasons why someone might want to reconsider buying a MacBook.

I loved the ending. Small number. Small percentage... Yeaaah is it tho? :rolleyes:

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Acsel

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(Original post by 8472)
I loved the ending. Small number. Small percentage... Yeaaah is it tho? :rolleyes:

You're such a small percentage that you probably don't even exist.

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TheNamesBond.

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Yh tell me about it, received a MacBook for a grand a few years ago and it stopped working after about 2 years.

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(Original post by TheNamesBond.)
Yh tell me about it, received a MacBook for a grand a few years ago and it stopped working after about 2 years.

It's unfortunate as older MacBooks were renowned for their longevity. New Apple has messed things up completely.

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I honestly can't see any positives to owning a Mac unless you have literally everything within the apple ecosystem... And if you have then you have done exactly what they want you to do

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(Original post by xDron3)
I honestly can't see any positives to owning a Mac unless you have literally everything within the apple ecosystem... And if you have then you have done exactly what they want you to do

Some people generally prefer MacOS, and may even need it to complete certain tasks. IIRC developing software for iOS and MacOS requires Xcode, which is software designed to run exclusively on a Mac. There are alternatives, like using the cloud or running a VM but it's a more finicky solution than just having a Mac. Creative software used to be a major selling point due to how better optimised MacOS is, although nowadays you can just buy a cheaper Windows device and make up the optimisation deficit with raw power.

There are a few sensible technical reasons why one might prefer to own a MacBook, but for the most part they've not been a competitive option for years. However because they've traditionally been strong devices they've built up brand loyalty and the image as a "luxury" product. I've said it before, but Apple has turned into a fashion company and that's not something you can debate using objective reasoning and common sense. Kids that need to own the latest iPhone and MacBook to not appear poor in the playground will not be won over through logical reasoning.

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(Original post by Acsel)
It's unfortunate as older MacBooks were renowned for their longevity. New Apple has messed things up completely.

I have a Powerbook G4 from 2003 which is still a little cracker. Fab build quality and still works fine with my legacy PowerPC software. I've replaced them with a MacBook Pro or its equivalent every couple of years since, and the quality has definitely gone downhill. And they just get more and more expensive.

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(Original post by Acsel)
Some people generally prefer MacOS, and may even need it to complete certain tasks. IIRC developing software for iOS and MacOS requires Xcode, which is software designed to run exclusively on a Mac. There are alternatives, like using the cloud or running a VM but it's a more finicky solution than just having a Mac. Creative software used to be a major selling point due to how better optimised MacOS is, although nowadays you can just buy a cheaper Windows device and make up the optimisation deficit with raw power.

There are a few sensible technical reasons why one might prefer to own a MacBook, but for the most part they've not been a competitive option for years. However because they've traditionally been strong devices they've built up brand loyalty and the image as a "luxury" product. I've said it before, but Apple has turned into a fashion company and that's not something you can debate using objective reasoning and common sense. Kids that need to own the latest iPhone and MacBook to not appear poor in the playground will not be won over through logical reasoning.

That last section is annoyingly true, 90% of clients I've had who have asked for a mac have the reasoning of "I just want one". And after me trying all my persuasion and reasons why, I still get angry calls when they complain about compatibility, printers issues and unreliable VPN connections while in a windows enterprise environment. The joys

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I can definitely recommend buying a MacBook Pro... from 2015. After that they basically went to shite.

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(Original post by Dez)
I can definitely recommend buying a MacBook Pro... from 2015. After that they basically went to shite.

I might genuinely start recommending used MacBooks Pros whenever someone wants a MacOS laptop recommendation. If all you want is MacOS then there's no sense paying Apple's silly premium. You're getting outdated hardware on the new models anyway, might as well save a few quid and just get a used model to begin with.

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(Original post by Acsel)
I might genuinely start recommending used MacBooks Pros whenever someone wants a MacOS laptop recommendation. If all you want is MacOS then there's no sense paying Apple's silly premium. You're getting outdated hardware on the new models anyway, might as well save a few quid and just get a used model to begin with.

Indeed, and if it's just being used as a Facebook browsing machine the older hardware should hold up just fine. Plus it's "vintage" or something, that's hip these days right?

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If mac os played a lot of games I like, you never know, but it doesn't.

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(Original post by random_matt)
If mac os played a lot of games I like, you never know, but it doesn't.

Not to mention if they sold any options with graphics hardware at remotely reasonable prices.

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how about surface laptop 2...
I bought it for £1299, i7 and its good for what i do.
Really helps me for programming and coding when during late at night.

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(Original post by Aadilkharl123)
how about surface laptop 2...
I bought it for £1299, i7 and its good for what i do.
Really helps me for programming and coding when during late at night.

The Surface Laptop 2, Dell XPS 13, ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Asus Zenbook, HP Envy and many other ultrabooks that exist are all excellent alternatives to the MacBook range, offering similar build quality but also offering substantially stronger hardware options. Not to mention the countless laptops in the £500-600 range offering stronger hardware without the amazing build quality, and laptops that hover in the £700 range offering something in between.

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(Original post by xDron3)
I honestly can't see any positives to owning a Mac unless you have literally everything within the apple ecosystem... And if you have then you have done exactly what they want you to do

Hierarchical folders laid out side-to-side in the Finder, for a start. I still can't understand how people who have to use PCs deal with having to click through folders to find files.

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(Original post by Reality Check)
Hierarchical folders laid out side-to-side in the Finder, for a start. I still can't understand how people who have to use PCs deal with having to click through folders to find files.

I've worked in IT to re-affirm my opinion that a slightly more friendly UI that a Mac has, does not make up for the negatives of it, by a long shot.

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(Original post by xDron3)
I've worked in IT to re-affirm my opinion that a slightly more friendly UI that a Mac has, does not make up for the negatives of it, by a long shot.

Yes, but most of us don't 'work in IT'. Most of us just want a computer that's easy to use - and that Finder layout is something which I find extraordinarily useful. You don't like Macs (clearly). I do. End of.

At the end of the day it's personal choice. I'm not sure why people get their knickers in a knot about people who like Macs so much. It's as if they're transgressive or something.

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(Original post by Reality Check)
Yes, but most of us don't 'work in IT'. Most of us just want a computer that's easy to use - and that Finder layout is something which I find extraordinarily useful. You don't like Macs (clearly). I do. End of.

At the end of the day it's personal choice. I'm not sure why people get their knickers in a knot about people who like Macs so much. It's as if they're transgressive or something.

If you're happy overpaying for a Unix based operating system with bang average specs then I'm fine with that, you're the one that quoted my original post. "End of".

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