3 ms·

One has to consider the total cost of ownership for the average user as well. Most of the people who come to HN probably know how to avoid or clean up malware o

One has to consider the total cost of ownership for the average user as well. Most of the people who come to HN probably know how to avoid or clean up malware on a Windows machine, but your average computer user doesn't. Macs are the perfect mix of usability and obscurity that keep them relatively stable in the hands of the less internet savvy. Case in point, my landlords have an old AMD64 (single core, 2.4 GHz, I think) system with 1 gig of RAM, running Vista. For the past five years, they've called me at least four times per year to come out to their house and clean up browser extensions and unwanted software that piggybacked on other program's installers. I don't charge them since I consider it a favor, but each time they pay me at least $50. So that cheapo computer cost them $1000 over the past five years. They could've spent less than that, up front, and got a middle of the road refurbished Mac and likely would've never (or rarely) had to call me at all. I've suggested this or a flavor of Linux too, but they're afraid of change. Instead, they recently bought a little Dell netbook running Windows 10 for $270, and I expect the calls will keep coming.

criley2 10y ago
Frankly, a $300 Chromebook serves that "usability / obscurity" niche for 95% of those users for 1/5 the price. You don't need a $1200 laptop to browse the internet safely. This is a part of the "price blindness" of pro Apple users who are unwilling to consider the sub $1000 market, and seek to rationalize the value of what is fairly the worlds most expensive mass produced luxury laptop. Wanting a Mac is fine, but pretending it's a cost-conscious decision that returns great value for the average internet browser is pretty ridiculous IMO. What does a $1200 macbook do that a $500 iPad can't for the average user?
- pinaceae 10y ago
  you're arguing yourself in circles. so we're against any notebooks now, as a typical user only ever needs a tablet? great, you've confirmed Apple's strategy across PCs and iPads (incl. the iPad Pro). they're abandoning the Air and cheaper lines for that very reason - the iPads and iPhones are good enough now. MPBs are now a testing ground for new inputs (Touchbar) and port unification. Eventually they all add a full touchscreen keyboard, once it can do haptic response (see the iPhone7 home button for a preview). first the Touchbar will become haptic, so we're at least 2 iterations away from it. Actually more likely that this thing then ends up in the iPad product line, fully destroying the classic PC line. but who knows.
- iamatworknow 10y ago
  As I stated, >I've suggested this or a flavor of Linux too, but they're afraid of change. But go ahead and continue making assumptions about how "price blind" I am. I'm far from an Apple fanboy, but Apple is a brand that most people recognize, and yet usually stays free from the issues that Windows has among the less technologically inclined (which includes my 60-something year old landlords).

criley2 10y ago

Frankly, a $300 Chromebook serves that "usability / obscurity" niche for 95% of those users for 1/5 the price. You don't need a $1200 laptop to browse the internet safely. This is a part of the "price blindness" of pro Apple users who are unwilling to consider the sub $1000 market, and seek to rationalize the value of what is fairly the worlds most expensive mass produced luxury laptop. Wanting a Mac is fine, but pretending it's a cost-conscious decision that returns great value for the average internet browser is pretty ridiculous IMO. What does a $1200 macbook do that a $500 iPad can't for the average user?

pinaceae 10y ago
you're arguing yourself in circles. so we're against any notebooks now, as a typical user only ever needs a tablet? great, you've confirmed Apple's strategy across PCs and iPads (incl. the iPad Pro). they're abandoning the Air and cheaper lines for that very reason - the iPads and iPhones are good enough now. MPBs are now a testing ground for new inputs (Touchbar) and port unification. Eventually they all add a full touchscreen keyboard, once it can do haptic response (see the iPhone7 home button for a preview). first the Touchbar will become haptic, so we're at least 2 iterations away from it. Actually more likely that this thing then ends up in the iPad product line, fully destroying the classic PC line. but who knows.
iamatworknow 10y ago
As I stated, >I've suggested this or a flavor of Linux too, but they're afraid of change. But go ahead and continue making assumptions about how "price blind" I am. I'm far from an Apple fanboy, but Apple is a brand that most people recognize, and yet usually stays free from the issues that Windows has among the less technologically inclined (which includes my 60-something year old landlords).