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I also decided against another macbook. Apple quite obviously sees the notebook market as secondary. I don't blame them. i-device sales far outpace notebook

I also decided against another macbook. Apple quite obviously sees the notebook market as secondary. I don't blame them. i-device sales far outpace notebook sales. But not everybody feels that way. I can get a pretty damn impressive linux box for the same cost.

freedomben 9y ago
It's become a bit of a joke that every year is "the year of the linux desktop," but seriously I've been amazed at how awesome machine I can get with linux for half the price of a macbook. Linux UX has come a long way. Both Gnome and KDE these days have a pretty complete and nice experience.
- jsz0 9y ago
  Gnome and KDE both still make me want to puke up blood but I would agree there will come a point in the not too distant future where Apple's going to have to look at cutting Mac prices. I mostly buy second hand these days just because I don't want to spend $2k+ when a $1k used machine is good enough for my needs.
  - lederhosen 9y ago
    I would pay _more_ for a Linux laptop than a Mac if I _had_ to. It is a matter of taste and also what you are used to. I have the choice not to use KDE and Gnome and choose xmonad instead. Macs are horrible for many of those that are not used to them.
- nkkollaw 9y ago
  Every time I go back to desktop Linux, my experience is a nightmare. It usually includes updates (or myself by mistake? not sure) making my system so broken that I have to reinstall and start again from scratch. This year I thought I'd try with the Pro after the MacBook Air wasn't upgraded with retina, but if I have to spend almost EUR 2,000 and have faulty hardware and a broken OS that shows my password in clear text, might as well spend 1/3 to get a just-as-good laptop with elementary OS on it.
  - antod 9y ago
    > It usually includes updates (or myself by mistake? not sure) making my system so broken that I have to reinstall and start again from scratch. I hear that a lot, but I always wonder what distro people are using or what they do to their machines or what hardware they have etc. My current laptop at home has been getting every 6 monthly Ubuntu in-place upgrade since 13.04 and hasn't had an issue. Same with the kids second hand laptops. But I choose Thinkpads and make sure I always get Intel graphics and wifi chipsets for compatibility. Based on my colleagues experiences though - I don't have anywhere as much upgrade confidence at work with my Macbook Pro though (still on El Capitan).

freedomben 9y ago

It's become a bit of a joke that every year is "the year of the linux desktop," but seriously I've been amazed at how awesome machine I can get with linux for half the price of a macbook. Linux UX has come a long way. Both Gnome and KDE these days have a pretty complete and nice experience.

jsz0 9y ago
Gnome and KDE both still make me want to puke up blood but I would agree there will come a point in the not too distant future where Apple's going to have to look at cutting Mac prices. I mostly buy second hand these days just because I don't want to spend $2k+ when a $1k used machine is good enough for my needs.
- lederhosen 9y ago
  I would pay _more_ for a Linux laptop than a Mac if I _had_ to. It is a matter of taste and also what you are used to. I have the choice not to use KDE and Gnome and choose xmonad instead. Macs are horrible for many of those that are not used to them.
nkkollaw 9y ago
Every time I go back to desktop Linux, my experience is a nightmare. It usually includes updates (or myself by mistake? not sure) making my system so broken that I have to reinstall and start again from scratch. This year I thought I'd try with the Pro after the MacBook Air wasn't upgraded with retina, but if I have to spend almost EUR 2,000 and have faulty hardware and a broken OS that shows my password in clear text, might as well spend 1/3 to get a just-as-good laptop with elementary OS on it.
- antod 9y ago
  > It usually includes updates (or myself by mistake? not sure) making my system so broken that I have to reinstall and start again from scratch. I hear that a lot, but I always wonder what distro people are using or what they do to their machines or what hardware they have etc. My current laptop at home has been getting every 6 monthly Ubuntu in-place upgrade since 13.04 and hasn't had an issue. Same with the kids second hand laptops. But I choose Thinkpads and make sure I always get Intel graphics and wifi chipsets for compatibility. Based on my colleagues experiences though - I don't have anywhere as much upgrade confidence at work with my Macbook Pro though (still on El Capitan).