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Another way to look at this post: Here are some of the best laptops that you will be able to buy used for cheap in 12-18 months while the new Macbooks are still

Another way to look at this post: Here are some of the best laptops that you will be able to buy used for cheap in 12-18 months while the new Macbooks are still expensive. I used this approach in my student days and it worked pretty well given the very limited budget.

wyager 10y ago
They lose value quickly because they're liable to break.
astrodust 10y ago
The resale value on a MacBook is actually crazy high, so that's something to consider. I've heard stories of people buying Apple hardware at a steep student discount (20% or more) and re-selling it at the end of the year...for a profit. Most PC laptops are worthless after 12-18 months of use. You either give them away or throw them out. If you buy a low-end system it's junk, and if you buy a high-end one, the only people looking for such a system would want to buy it new anyway, so you're stuck in a trap. A MacBook often sells for a minimum of 50% of its purchase price if in good condition, possibly more depending on demand. The metal cases generally hold up a lot better than the plastic housing on less expensive laptops.
- gnicholas 10y ago
  Student discounts used to be much better 10-15 years ago. These days, the only really good deals are on older hardware—sometimes previous-generation. I've seen these units sold at campus bookstores of large universities (Stanford, UCLA) but never on the web. The last time I bought a Mac with an education discount, the computer was about 7% cheaper, but the AppleCare was 30% off. Not a bad discount overall, but not enough in the hardware department to break even on a resale, even new in box.
- mr_spothawk 10y ago
  > Most PC laptops are worthless after 12-18 months of use. I'm on a Lenovo x220... it's plenty fast for most of my work. runs ubuntu like a champ. has, hands down, the best laptop keyboard that's ever been made. and only cost me $350, plus there's a strong aftermarket parts option. Since i don't spend my time watching media, i don't have to worry about fancy monitors or display ports (though i could have gotten a Thunderbolt port). This is a 5 year old laptop. The battery lasts at least 6 hours.
  - astrodust 10y ago
    I'm not denying that these laptops work for people, but the resale value on a 5 year old Lenovo x220 is $0. I'd say it has less value than five year old used underwear, but there's actually a market for that.
    - mr_spothawk 10y ago
      I mean... there's definitely a market for the x220, and it's parts. Take a look on Amazon.

wyager 10y ago

They lose value quickly because they're liable to break.

astrodust 10y ago

The resale value on a MacBook is actually crazy high, so that's something to consider. I've heard stories of people buying Apple hardware at a steep student discount (20% or more) and re-selling it at the end of the year...for a profit. Most PC laptops are worthless after 12-18 months of use. You either give them away or throw them out. If you buy a low-end system it's junk, and if you buy a high-end one, the only people looking for such a system would want to buy it new anyway, so you're stuck in a trap. A MacBook often sells for a minimum of 50% of its purchase price if in good condition, possibly more depending on demand. The metal cases generally hold up a lot better than the plastic housing on less expensive laptops.

gnicholas 10y ago
Student discounts used to be much better 10-15 years ago. These days, the only really good deals are on older hardware—sometimes previous-generation. I've seen these units sold at campus bookstores of large universities (Stanford, UCLA) but never on the web. The last time I bought a Mac with an education discount, the computer was about 7% cheaper, but the AppleCare was 30% off. Not a bad discount overall, but not enough in the hardware department to break even on a resale, even new in box.
mr_spothawk 10y ago
> Most PC laptops are worthless after 12-18 months of use. I'm on a Lenovo x220... it's plenty fast for most of my work. runs ubuntu like a champ. has, hands down, the best laptop keyboard that's ever been made. and only cost me $350, plus there's a strong aftermarket parts option. Since i don't spend my time watching media, i don't have to worry about fancy monitors or display ports (though i could have gotten a Thunderbolt port). This is a 5 year old laptop. The battery lasts at least 6 hours.
- astrodust 10y ago
  I'm not denying that these laptops work for people, but the resale value on a 5 year old Lenovo x220 is $0. I'd say it has less value than five year old used underwear, but there's actually a market for that.
  - mr_spothawk 10y ago
    I mean... there's definitely a market for the x220, and it's parts. Take a look on Amazon.